The Case for Rail
Interregional passenger rail represents an opportunity to improve transportation access across the Fraser Valley using a corridor that already exists. By building on publicly owned land, the South Fraser corridor has the potential to provide long-term connectivity at a significantly lower cost than many traditional rapid transit expansion projects.
A Cost-Effective Transportation Solution
A Passenger Rail Line using the existing Inter-urban Corridor represents 3.7% of the cost per KM of the Surrey to Langley SkyTrain, while serving a significant larger population.
All municipalities retain the right-of-way for passenger use on this corridor, representing a unique no-cost-for-use opportunity for the communities south of the Fraser.
Surrey Center to Langley City (16KM) – Total Cost: $7 BILLION, Cost Per KM: $437.5 MILLION
SkyTrain population catchment area approx. 250,000
West Coast Express (North of the River):
Translink pays $20,000,000 per year to lease from CP Rail
South Fraser Community Rail
99 km from Scott Road to Chilliwack, projected cost
$12,500,000 per KM
$0 Cost For Use
Because of the Passenger Use Right-of-Way.
Comparison:
Interurban Interregional Passenger Rail, 99KM stalawasam/Pattullo Bridge to Chilliwack est total cost – $1.65 Billion
Interurban Interregional Passenger Rail, 99KM stalawasam/Pattullo Bridge to Chilliwack est. per KM cost – $16.62 Million
South of Fraser population catchment area 1.3 Million
3.7% of the per KM cost of Surrey to Langley SkyTrain
3.9% of the per capita cost of Langley to Surrey SkyTrain