Better Surrey Rapid Transit skytrainforsurrey.org

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10th March, 2015

Better Transit and Transportation Coalition Co-Chairs: Peter Robinson, Gavin McGarrigle, Bahareh Jokar, Iain Black Please forward to: all BTTC partners Subject: Light Rail promotion destroying Surrey yes vote

To all coalition supporters, organizers, chairs

The Better Surrey Rapid Transit is proud to support a YES vote for better transit in Metro Vancouver. We are updating our website to integrate YES messages and informing our supporters that a YES vote is the first step to moving a better transit future in Surrey.

As stakeholders in the transit outcome, we believe it is imperative that we communicate a major issue with the YES campaign in Surrey. At the moment, Surrey and the South-of-Fraser should be on the minds of all YES supporters: it has the lowest and worst YES support percentage of any area in the region, in a region thats already seemingly favouring the NO vote altogether.

This should not be taken lightly and there are serious questions that need to be raised about the YES campaign in the South of Fraser. I have personally seen the strength of the desire for transit improvements in the South of Fraser for the past 3 years. Transit needs became a top, turning-point issue in the last municipal elections. Surrey is a city where residents have been so concerned about transit improvements for years upon years. This is not how it should have turned out.

A recent support stated that one of the top reasons the NO vote share in Surrey is growing is the odd, ambiguous mention by our Mayor that the big-ticket Surrey item in the Mayors transit plan - Light Rail Transit (LRT) - can proceed with or without the Congestion Improvement tax.

I believe the entire mention and focus on Light Rail altogether has had major implications on the YES transit vote. I have heard from several people existing supporters, and even others who havent heard about the Better Surrey Rapid Transit campaign - who are declaring theyre voting no, because of the choice for Light Rail

There have been several letters-to-the-editor from citizens dissatisfied with Light Rail in local newspapers (at least 6 issues since 2015 begun) citing major issues left out of the consultation process by the City, and just about all of them encouraging NO votes in the plebiscite..

Better Surrey Rapid Transit skytrainforsurrey.org

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I have even seen this image circulating on Twitter:

While we appreciate that theres an active knowledge on the serious flaws with on-street Light Rail, our campaign been operating under the principle that the technology debate should not be part of the transit funding debate altogether. As of the time and date I sent this letter, Better Surrey Rapid Transit has not published any statements regarding the upcoming plebiscite.

The fact is, many Surrey voters arent prepared to permanently approve a specific technology. They remember that theyve been lied to by the City of Surrey on LRT and its benefits, as weve been pointing out on our website and regular news releases for two years. They realize that the downsides dont beat the positives that Light Rail will solve some of our problems, but create more new ones to deal with instead. They realize there could be a better plan.

Better Surrey Rapid Transit skytrainforsurrey.org

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Thats probably a part of the reason why the provincial minister, who is also a supporter of the YES vote, changed Light Rail Transit in Surrey to Rapid Transit in Surrey on the ballot.

We saw this as good news it means that Surreys funding is not tied to a Light Rail Project (leaving room for that aforementioned better plan, posted on our website) and the rapid transit debate is open as it needs to be. It would avoid the conclusions from now-skeptical voters that we would be stuck with LRT, and I was hoping this change would extend to YES campaigners I was wrong. Light Rail has been a central part of every YES campaign in Surrey and, as far as Ive been aware, is even on the citys electronic billboard advertisements encouraging YES votes.

This needs to stop. Now.

The province has taken a lead by removing the lock-in to Light Rail Transit in Surrey from the referendum ballot; Yes campaign supporters need to be doing the same. Say rapid transit, not Light Rail. Surrey residents do realize that rapid transit of any technology (including enhanced Bus Rapid Transit or BRT) would be a huge improvement from what we have now.

Well be doing our part, advising those who want to say NO because of Light Rail that the province has kept the debate on transit technology separate, and open. I am asking the YES campaign to do their part. It would be a major disservice to everyone if we continue to center our promotion on a transit technology not everyone agrees with, and allow that to destroy the vote.

I hope I have gotten your attention and established a need to take action.

Sincerely,

Daryl Dela Cruz Campaign Manager Better Surrey Rapid Transit Campaign website: skytrainforsurrey.org