The public was invited to look over detailed plans and provide input on the Surrey/Langley SkyTrain extention at open houses hosted by TransLink.
People could review and provide input on the design of the eight new SkyTrain stations, including station entrances and adjacent plazas. There is much about the project the public can't influence, though. TransLink dictates such things as the track and supports, station design to ensure requirements for such aspects as safe operation of the rail system, and other factors.
Jennifer MacLean, associate vice president overseeing the project, explained that all the materials used have a function. For instance tactile tile, with raised bumps on it, is used on the platforms. The bumps help people with visual impairment navigate on the platforms.
From Surrey to Langley, the new station names and locations are Green Timbers (140 Street and Fraser Highway), 152 Street (152 Street and Fraser Highway), Fleetwood (160 Street and Fraser Highway), Bakerview-166 Street (166 Street and Fraser Highway), Hillcrest-184 Street (184 Street and Fraser Highway), Clayton (190 Street and Fraser Highway), Willowbrook (196 Street and Fraser Highway), and Langley City Centre (203 Street and Fraser Highway).
MacLean explained that the stations all differ in size depending on the neighbourhood and the expected use. The station beside the Jim Pattison Cancer Centre will allow people to access the medical facility easily while the terminal station in Langley City is large, as it's part of a transit hub that will see people coming there on foot and bike, as well as buses from around the Langleys and out into the eastern Fraser Valley.
MacLean noted that TransLink no longer includes parking at SkyTrain stations, something that was only done at a couple of stations in Surrey. But there will be pick up and drop off points at stations.
“Projects are designed to get people out of cars,” she said. “There's no parking specifically planned at the stations. We do have pick up a drop-off locations for people to drop their friends and relatives off, and closer to the time that the station… open, TransLink will be looking at a brand new bus plan that helps bring people in from the outlying areas to the stations directly through the bus routes.”
The four design open houses were June 18 in Clayton, June 20 on the Langley/Surrey border, June 22 in central Surrey, and June 26 in Langley City. There was also a virtual open house June 24.
Feedback will be compiled and considered in finalizing station designs. A second round of public engagement will take place in the fall to report back and present the final designs, including additional details about landscaping and public art.
More project details are found on www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation-projects/surrey-langley-skytrain. Work on the 16-kilometre extension is expected to begin this year.
