Street-level LRT trains are a poor choice for Surrey

Re: Hepner restates need for light rail as part of Surrey’s ‘10-Year Vision’, Oct. 5

It is ironic that Surrey’s present mayor, Linda Hepner, and our former mayor, Dianne Watts, have been lobbying to have street-level trains removed from White Rock and Crescent Beach while they extol the virtues of LRT street-level trains in northern areas of Surrey.

In Japan, millions of passengers travel by rail every day. Their experts have determined the safest and most efficient way to move passengers by rail in populated areas is to separate road and rail traffic by elevating the rails or putting them underground. Why should Surrey have the danger and inefficiency of street-level LRT trains?

Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Coquitlam and New Westminster have all opted for SkyTrain. By promoting street-level LRT, Surrey’s politicians have betrayed the best interests of Surrey’s citizens.

There will be unimaginable chaos and congestion during the years of construction. And what about when the LRT system is complete? Thousands of vehicles a day will have been permanently displaced from 104 Avenue, King George Boulevard, and Fraser Highway. Where are all those cars and trucks supposed to go? These roads are already congested. Permanently removing volumes of vehicular traffic from these roads by replacing traffic lanes with LRT rail lines will create traffic gridlock and chaos.

Construction of an LRT street-level train system has not yet begun. Surrey deserves better than the folly of more street-level train tracks. There is still time for Surrey to expand SkyTrain like our neighbouring municipalities have. Dennis Charles Hutton, Surrey