Traffic congestion in B.C.'s second largest city is impacting both business and family life, and Surrey can't wait until next November's transit referendum to figure out a solution for moving people around B.C.'s second largest city.
That's the message the Surrey Board of Trade (SBOT) hoped to send November 21 to British Columbia's minister of transportation, Todd Stone. Stone was in Surrey to speak to members of Surrey's business community about the transit referendum and other transportation topics.
"We asked him to speak on transportation priorities for Surrey and south of the Fraser, and also an update on the referendum for TransLink," Anita Huberman, president of the Surrey Board of Trade, told Business in Vancouver.
Stone also promised a review of B.C.'s tolling policy, in light of an expected rebuild of the Patullo Bridge and a new bridge to replace the George Massey Tunnel.
Stone was not able to give SBOT members any details of the referendum question or timeline. But, along with TransLink's mayors' council, SBOT will likely be involved in the refendum campaign, said Huberman.
"The referendum is very important to surrey, because Surrey is lacking in transporation infrastructure despite our burgeoning population growth," Huberman said.
Along with the City of Surrey, SBOT is advocating for more transit for the municipality, and particularly a light rail system.
Huberman said travel time along the 152nd Street corridor in Surrey has doubled in the past 15 years.
"We have to get our workers to business on time to enhance productivity, and we need to ensure that our families have a balanced lifestyle," Huberman said. "If you're spending an hour in traffic, that's time away from the family."
Huberman said the SBOT also has high hopes that the South Fraser Perimeter Road will divert truck traffic off of city streets when it is completed this December.
Premier Christy Clark promised the referendum on transit funding during the campaign for the last provincial election. The referendum may happen as early as spring 2014 and as late as November 2014, to coincide with the next municipal election.
