TransLink is holding a series of consultations to gather stakeholder opinion on the future of rapid transit in Surrey and Langley. The goal of the study is to determine the corridors and technologies for rapid transit in the South Fraser area.

Ironically enough, despite a commitment to a “comprehensive and open process”, the following meetings have not been posted on TransLink’s website. How they determine who is a stakeholder and who is not is unknown. I for one believe we are all stakeholders in our collective future, and thus am posting the information below. [click to continue…]

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City and Kwantlen sign historic agreement

by Paul Hillsdon on March 5, 2010

The City has struck a memorandum of understanding with Kwantlen Polytechnic University to pursue the shared goals of building an economically vibrant Surrey. The agreement is similar to the MOU the City signed with SFU in 2008, which will result in new space for that university in the Civic Centre project.

In the next two years, it is anticipated that Surrey and KPU will pursue:

- Development of a plan for a new Health Sciences Centre with SFU and Fraser Health. The goal will be to expand the current sciences program and establish a new graduate school in the South Fraser region. Kwantlen currently offers a number of nursing programs.

- Establishment of a Business Incubator to aid in the commercialization of ideas from KPU. A possible location is the Cloverdale campus for Trades and Technology. A partnership with SFU and other levels of government is suggested.

- Encourage the expansion of both the Surrey and Cloverdale campuses, with the goal of establishing a School of Architecture and Engineering.

- Establish a shared-use plan to develop recreational facilities at Newton Athletic Park. This has already resulted in a cost-sharing agreement to develop an artificial turf field in the park.

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Build Surrey, six year infrastructure plan, launched

March 3, 2010

From the desk of the City Manager comes a new capital infrastructure program named Build Surrey which has the intention of encouraging “city building”. The program will help Surrey facilitate and manage more growth over the coming decade and continue developing the City Centre into a major regional hub. It’s also described as a proactive [...]

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Stimulus funding for Hwy 99 rapid bus

March 1, 2010

In perhaps one of the oddest stimulus projects announced, Surrey will receive a combined $13 million from the federal and provincial governments to build a northbound rapid bus lane along Hwy 99, between King George and Hwy 91. Stimulus projects have short term, fixed completion dates attached their funding, meaning the rapid bus lane will [...]

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New renderings of Civic Centre project [pics]

February 23, 2010

Kasian Architecture, the designers of the Civic Centre project, have updated the development pamphlet that is distributed by the Surrey City Development Corporation. Inside are the latest renderings for City Hall and its associated buildings. These new renderings build on initial mockups from January. The previous pamphlet included conceptual drawings by Bing Thom Architects.

The new [...]

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Globe features two stories on Surrey

February 20, 2010

The Globe and Mail has published two stories on Surrey. One, by urban critic Lisa Rauchon, describes efforts underway to urbanize our sprawled city:
How Surrey accommodates an exploding population and ramps up development has enormous repercussions, not only for the young families and new immigrants living here, but also for many similarly amorphous suburbs in [...]

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What are Surrey's Major Challenges? [survey]

February 10, 2010

The Voice, an Indo-Canadian publication, recently had an interview with Councillor Bob Bose about the major issues and challenges in Surrey. Bose took issue with Mayor Watts, saying she isn’t confronting these problems:

RCMP Credibility and Crime Issues
Ward System Viability and Electoral Reform
Poor Growth Management
Poor Public Consultation on the Budget
Inadequate Staff
No Bylaw Enforcement
Secondary Suites

So I’ll put [...]

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Major road projects in next few years

February 4, 2010

The Surrey Engineering Department has released their 10 Year Servicing Plan (2010-2019). Included below is a Google map of the major road expansion projects to be completed in the short term (1-3 years). New roads are in orange, while widened roads are in purple.
View Surrey Engineering Plans in a larger map
The plan includes some critical [...]

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Watts steps down as TransLink Chair – but why?

February 3, 2010

Mayor Dianne Watts has decided to step down from Chair of the Mayor’s Council of TransLink. She has been the Chair since the inception of the Mayor’s Council, part of the reshuffling of TransLink’s structure by former Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon.
According to the Surrey Leader, Watts was stretched too thin and wants to focus on [...]

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Check out the new bus shelters [pics]

February 3, 2010
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