Surrey’s population is growing fast. Discover how the city plans to expand transit and whether it can meet future demand.
Is Surrey Transit Ready for the Population Boom? A Look at Future Plans
As Surrey continues to grow at a rapid pace, questions are being raised about whether the city’s transit system is equipped to handle the increasing number of residents and commuters. With projections indicating Surrey could surpass Vancouver as B.C.’s most populous city within the next decade, transportation infrastructure is a key concern.
Growing Demand on Public Transit
Surrey’s population currently exceeds 600,000 and continues to rise, largely due to immigration, housing development, and economic opportunity. As more people move into neighbourhoods like Clayton, Fleetwood, and South Newton, public transit usage is also expected to rise significantly.
Transit ridership has rebounded since the pandemic and is now pushing past pre-2020 levels in many parts of Metro Vancouver. Surrey, with its growing suburbs and reliance on bus services, is particularly feeling the strain.
Existing Challenges
Surrey has long dealt with limited rapid transit access. The Expo Line of the SkyTrain ends at King George Station, leaving much of the city reliant on buses and personal vehicles. Many commuters face long travel times, overcrowded buses during peak hours, and gaps in service frequency, especially in outer neighbourhoods.
Additionally, the city’s sprawling layout makes it difficult to serve all areas efficiently with current transit infrastructure.
Major Projects on the Horizon
To address these growing concerns, several key projects are underway or in planning:
- Surrey-Langley SkyTrain Extension: This highly anticipated project will extend the Expo Line from King George Station to Langley Centre. It is expected to be completed by 2028 and will bring much-needed rapid transit access to Fleetwood, Clayton, and beyond.
- Fleet Expansion and New Buses: TransLink has committed to increasing its bus fleet, including electric and hybrid models. This is expected to improve service capacity and reduce environmental impact.
- Frequent Transit Network Improvements: Several major routes, including Fraser Highway and King George Boulevard, are set to receive more frequent service and improved bus shelters to accommodate higher volumes of passengers.
Long-Term Vision
Surrey’s long-term transportation plans include building transit-oriented developments, increasing cycling infrastructure, and reducing dependence on cars. City planners are working closely with regional transit authorities to design systems that can evolve alongside population growth.
Efforts are also underway to improve accessibility, digital wayfinding tools, and connections between buses, SkyTrain, and community shuttles.
Can the City Keep Up?
Whether these initiatives will be enough remains to be seen. The pace of population growth may still outstrip infrastructure timelines, leading to pressure on existing systems in the short term. However, investments in rapid transit expansion, route redesigns, and better service reliability suggest that the city is taking the issue seriously.
Continued cooperation between municipal leaders, TransLink, and the provincial government will be essential to ensuring Surrey’s transit keeps pace with its booming population.
