NEWS RELEASE: Chamber Applauds Surrey’s King George Blvd as priority transit corridor and completion of four-lane Nicomekl River crossing bridge

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

South Surrey & White Rock Chamber of Commerce Applauds Surrey’s King George Blvd as priority transit corridor and completion of four-lane Nicomekl River crossing bridge

SURREY, BC – November 16, 2023 

In a groundbreaking development for the region, the South Surrey & White Rock Chamber of Commerce proudly supports two transformative projects that promise to reshape transit connectivity and improve infrastructure in Surrey. The completion of the four-lane Nicomekl River crossing is complemented by the announcement of three new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes, including the vital King George Boulevard corridor. 

New Bus Rapid Transit Routes Transforming Connectivity 

The Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation, in collaboration with TransLink, has selected three priority corridors for Metro Vancouver’s first new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes: 

• King George Boulevard from Surrey Center to White Rock (BRT) 
• Langley Center to Haney Place (BRT) 
• Metrotown to Park Royal (Extension of the R2 RapidBus to Metrotown while advancing rapid transit planning through the Burrard Inlet Rapid Transit Study) 

These corridors have been strategically selected based on ridership potential, increasing access to jobs, future housing and development growth along the corridor, feasibility of implementing new transit priority infrastructure, and early support from local governments. 

The South Surrey & White Rock Chamber of Commerce welcomes this announcement, recognizing the positive impact it will have on local businesses by improving transit connectivity for their employees and clients, while also fostering sustainable economic development. 
 

Benefits of Bus Rapid Transit 

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a high-frequency rapid transit service with dedicated bus lanes and rail-like stations. BRT routes will operate with high frequencies in traffic-separated lanes, providing signal priority at intersections. They will feature high-capacity buses, rail-like stations with real-time information, shelter, enhanced safety measures, and convenient boarding. 

“Bus Rapid Transit is the future of transit in Metro Vancouver. With dedicated lanes, high frequencies, and premium stations – Bus Rapid Transit is the best possible bus service that can be deployed quickly for our rapidly growing region. We look forward to working with our senior government partners to fund these important projects.", says Kevin Quinn, CEO of TransLink.

"This is a welcome announcement to see King George Boulevard identified as one of the 3 priority corridors. It is an important artery through the City of Surrey, connecting residents, employees, students, and goods from the top to the bottom of the city and into White Rock," says Ritu Khanna, Executive Director of the South Surrey & White Rock Chamber of Commerce. 

Khanna adds, "It will also attract and give better access to our business areas to people coming from the Greater Vancouver Area and from south of the border. This will certainly be an important contributor to the economic development and growth for Surrey and the region." 

Nicomekl River Crossing: A Safer and Wider Connection 

In tandem with the BRT announcement, the City of Surrey, in partnership with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, has successfully completed the $22.5 million Nicomekl River crossing project on King George Boulevard. 

This significant infrastructure upgrade replaces the aging single-lane Bailey Bridge and the two-lane timber trestle bridge with a new, safer four-lane Nicomekl River crossing. Mayor Brenda Locke highlighted the importance of the project, stating, "The new wider crossing alleviates the bottleneck seen with the previous three-lane configuration, making the corridor safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike." 

"This is a significant milestone for our region. The Nicomekl River crossing project, combined with the expansion of the King George Boulevard corridor, represents a substantial investment in our community's infrastructure and future growth," says Ritu Khanna, Executive Director of the South Surrey & White Rock Chamber of Commerce. 

Next Steps 

TransLink and local government partners will immediately begin work on the concept designs and community engagement to gather public input and ensure the BRT corridors align with community needs. The Chamber has offered to facilitate that in South Surrey & White Rock. The Nicomekl River crossing project has already opened to the public, showcasing its resilience to earthquakes and floods, and its focus on safety and connectivity for all. 
 

About the South Surrey & White Rock Chamber of Commerce
The South Surrey and White Rock Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit membership-based organization that was established in 1937 to support, advocate for and promote the interests of local businesses. For over 85 years the Chamber is committed to supporting local economic development and promoting the interests of its members and the community. It has been recognized in the BC Legislative and Canadian House of Commons as a pillar of our community. 
 
To learn more about South Surrey and White Rock Chamber of Commerce please visit our website: click here.


More information:

TransLink BRT Webpage


Media Contacts:

TransLink Media Relations
media@translink.ca

Ritu Khanna
Executive Director
South Surrey & White Rock Chamber of Commerce
info@sswrchamber.ca