Is light rapid transit going to be a possibility for Delta in the future?
That question was posed to the candidates vying to form government in the upcoming B.C. provincial election.
Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson, who made a campaign stop in North Delta Wednesday, told the Optimist light rail could be on the horizon, at some point, accommodated on a new bridge to replace the aging George Massey Tunnel.
“This bridge will be designed to be highly flexible for the next 50 years. Ten lanes and they’ll be dedicated transit lanes, and how transit evolves over the next 50 years is going to be anticipated by a bridge that’s ready for it. Not like rebuilding the Pattullo (bridge) with just four lanes or Lions Gate (bridge) with three lanes, because that’s the NDP approach. We’ll will build for the future. It’s going to be flexible so that in the next 50 years people have the bridge they need for whatever purpose including the possibility of LRT,” Wilkinson said.
Accompanying Wilkinson at the campaign stop, Delta South Liberal candidate Ian Paton noted he’s still stunned by “a whopper of a statement” earlier this year by then Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Claire Trevena that there’s no need for light rail in the future south of the Fraser.
Asked for his take on the issue Wednesday, Delta South Green candidate Peter van der Velden pointed to his party’s position on transit issues.
“I think that you can see from this that we would support initiatives such as this if they are forwarded through community participation. Part of this is our vision of ‘livable communities’ and ‘vibrant cities’ to enhance quality of life and provincial economic strength,” he explained.
The Greens state they would work with local governments to establish a vision for sustainable transportation and come up with a regional transportation strategy, prioritize investment in transit service coming out of COVID-19 to support economic recovery, as well as invest to support expansion of public transit options to help people move around more easily and build frequent and affordable public transportation links between cities.
“Look at Delta. Years ago, government spent money on bus lanes only to have TransLink say they couldn’t afford more buses or drivers. Transit to this area has clearly been an afterthought,” added van der Velden.
Delta South New Democrat candidate Bruce Reid said “ultimately it’s going to have to happen” but the current ridership numbers don’t justify building a project into Delta.
The City of Delta has been hoping the province and region consider beginning early planning for light rail for Delta and the rest of the south of the Fraser
Noting LRT could eventually be incorporated into the planned new tunnel to replace the existing crossing, he said initiatives can be undertaken now to reduce vehicle traffic.
“It’s interesting because I was just taking with somebody about the LRT and he made a really good point. He says there isn’t the population in Delta to justify an LRT, and he’s probably right. It may be 20 or 30 years before the population here is enough to make a demand for an LRT. However, I asked how about the ferry and might that be a factor. That might be a factor that would bring LRT here sooner,” said Reid.
“In the meantime, our plans are to really to revise the bus system. You’ve already seen we have double decker buses coming in. It isn’t is fast as LRT but has capacity,” he added.
Following Trevena’s comments this year, Delta Mayor George Harvie said he was shocked and disappointed.
Noting at the time he has a good working relationship with the minister, Harvie said he had spoken with his fellow mayors, and the region’s transportation staff are aware of the need, while his staff have been looking at the future closure of the Vancouver Landfill and how it can be turned into a future transit hub.
He said proposals will be coming forward and that they have to be visionaries.
Harvie added, “One of the reasons we’re in a mess is because politicians 20, 30 years ago were not brave enough to make a decision with regards to getting moving on these major projects,” he said.
The Delta Chamber of Commerce expressed support for Harvie’s idea, saying it encourages TranLink’s Mayors’ Council and the province to explore the concept.
Three years ago, a motion by former mayor Lois Jackson at the Mayors’ Council for the region to start early planning for LRT to connect Richmond with Delta, White Rock, Surrey, Langley, and possibly out as far as Chilliwack, was quickly shot down.
