B.C. NDP pledges $250 million for TransLink’s Surrey rapid bus line

B.C. NDP Leader David Eby says that, if re-elected, his party’s provincial government would commit $250 million to TransLink’s King George Boulevard bus rapid transit (BRT) line in Surrey. The provincial contribution is intended to help secure additional federal funding. The line would connect Surrey Central Station on SkyTrain with Semiahmoo Town Centre in South Surrey, effectively reaching White Rock. Eby said the project would make daily commutes smoother, support economic growth and create higher-paying jobs in the community.

The line is expected to cost about $700 million as of 2026, up from TransLink’s 2023 federal funding request estimate of $250 million to $300 million. The 19-kilometre route would have 12 stations, extensive bus-only lanes, traffic signal priority at intersections and station-like stops with weather protection, digital displays and other features. TransLink estimates the end-to-end trip would take about 40 minutes with those priority measures, making it as fast as or faster than driving at peak times.

The BRT would replace the existing R1 King George Boulevard RapidBus route. The R1 runs between Guildford Town Centre and Newton bus exchange via Surrey Central Station; the new line would not follow the R1’s existing route between Guildford Town Centre and Surrey Central Station. TransLink says ridership could exceed 25,000 a day by 2035. The R1 averaged about 14,000 boardings per weekday in 2025. TransLink has set no construction schedule, but has previously said building and implementing BRT could take three to five years after all funding is secured.

During the separate civic election campaign, some Surrey municipal parties and candidates have called for a SkyTrain extension along the King George Boulevard corridor from Surrey City Centre, reaching at least Newton or as far as South Surrey. Construction is well underway on the 16-kilometre Surrey-Langley extension of the Expo Line along Fraser Highway. The $6-billion project is expected to be completed and open in late 2029.

The B.C. NDP’s announcement did not include commitments for TransLink’s other two priority BRT projects: the Langley-Haney Place line and the proposed Metrotown-North Shore line. Eby’s party also pledged to make the B.C. Bus Pass free for 350,000 low-income seniors across the province and broaden income eligibility so tens of thousands more residents facing financial pressure can use TransLink and BC Transit services for free. Enrolled participants currently pay a nominal annual fee of $45.

Earlier this week, the B.C. NDP made its first TransLink-related campaign pledge: introducing legislation to create a new revenue source for Metro Vancouver’s transit authority. The party provided no details about that source. Eby has ruled out a new TransLink vehicle levy, road tolls and mobility pricing. Without a new revenue source or continued provincial operating subsidies, TransLink faces renewed fiscal-cliff issues beginning in 2028, which could lead to major service cuts if unresolved.

The B.C. NDP has not made a specific platform promise to advance the proposed extension of SkyTrain’s Millennium Line from Arbutus to the University of British Columbia. Detailed technical design and planning work has been underway for several years to support the business case and seek federal funding. UBC SkyTrain was a key priority in the party’s platform for the October 2024 provincial election.

The provincial election’s main voting day is Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. Voters will elect MLAs in provincial ridings and help determine which party forms the next provincial government. Advance voting runs for six days, from Friday, Oct. 16, to Wednesday, Oct. 21. The municipal election’s main voting day is Saturday, Oct. 17, a week earlier. It will fill local positions including mayor, City Council and other representatives.