a case for new transit options in the south fraser region

South Fraser OnTraxA case for new transit options in the south Fraser region

February 27, 2009

WHO IS SOUTH FRASER ONTRAX ?

Not For Profit / Non-Partisan BC Society Founded in April 2008

Need for advocates that don’t head-butt MoT & TransLink

Advocate for smart growth development and transit options

Sponsor several free public education workshops each year

Meet 2nd Thursday of each month in the Township of Langley

We advocate by engaging public officials in open discussions

We do not engage in political name-calling

We listen to reason – We encourage middle ground

“We engage – We DON’T Protest”A Holistic Approach to Transit

THE ISSUES WE SEE AND HEAR “Transit Deficit” in south Fraser (SF) region

Current focus = get people to Vancouver

TransLink numbers show need for SF community connections

SF = roads and buses only - no LRT or Streetcars

Aging population - transit for seniors and handicapped needed

Disconnect between development (TOD) & transit due to focus

We are built around roads (mobility) vs. people & walkability

We have set ourselves up for what we have today

Local work options growing – much more needed

Long-term sustainable living/working/transport solutions

No progressive alternatives to goods movement implemented

Lack “complete roads” LRT – walkers – cyclers – automobiles

THE SOLUTIONS WE SEE AS PRACTICAL Re-activate Light Rail Transit from Abbotsford to Surrey

Open to alignment – Safety & Serves the Greatest Good

Can eventually connect to Chilliwack when there is a biz case

Local streetcar systems = Abbotsford, the Langleys & Surrey

Frequent LRT service with connection to YXX

Community Shuttle Service is exceptional – connect to LRT

Local bus or Community Shuttle 15/15/7 – integrated LRT

Land use & transportation planning fit together (TOD)

Build Complete Communities (Metro Van Livable Region)

Build Complete Roads – mandate as a condition of funding

Install rail lines with all complete roads

Coordinate all new underground utilities to facilitate LRT

POPULATION

1910: 18,000 1951: 77,583

2031: 3,000,000846,166

From Stats Canada

2006:2012: 1,000,000

TRANSPORTATION DEMAND

20%

80%

30% - No Car

ROAD NETWORK DEMAND

Increasing truck demand on our road network-- MoT Gateway Program Discussion

Assuming a 50% goods movement by railBC Port Traffic x3 by 2020

ROAD NETWORK DEMAND

Change in nature of our trips

A = Traditional downtown pattern

B = Increased population & location of job creation = Complex Travel Patterns

ABBOTSFORD PATTERNS

ABBOTSFORD PATTERNS

Destinations

ABBOTSFORD PATTERNS

“Horseshoe” Concept Transit & Other Corridors

ABBOTSFORD COMMUTER PATTERNS

31% From Langley & Surrey + 18% From Further West (49%)

SURREY PATTERNS

Surrey = 2,428 vs. Burnaby 2,387 people per sq km

SURREY PATTERNS

Blue = Private Auto Use / Red = Public Transit Use

LANGLEY CITY “MASTER PLAN”

LANGLEY CITY “MASTER PLAN”

Transit Hub

The200thStreetcarLineBrookswoodFernridge

•Presently14,000

•FutureDevelopmentArea(2010‐2030?):

minimum35,000,butmorelikely

50,000

The200thStreetcarLine

CityofLangley

•Presently20,000

•PreBymuchbuilt‐out,butpursuing

aggressivedensificaHon;

couldtopoutat39,000


Willoughby

•Presently18,000

•CurrentDevelopmentArea

(2008‐2020):likely70,000,

includinghighrisesalong200th


WalnutGrove

•Presently24,000

•VerymodestopportuniHesforin‐fill;willtopoutat

25,000

The200thStreetcarLine200thCorridorTotal(from196to216)

•Presently76,000(65%ofthepresenttotalpopulaHonof

Langley)

•Willtopoutat184,000(80%ofthe

projectedtotalpopulaHonofLangley)


EmploymentAreas

•NWLangleyIndustrialPark

•WalnutGroveInterchange

•200thOfficeParks•LangleyRegionalTown

Centre•Brookswood

•CampbellHeightsIndustrialPark

The200thStreetcarLineTownshipofLangleyHighDensityZoning

•High‐risesofupto20storeys


OtherFactors

•Regionallinks:TheGoldenEarsBridgeand

theInterurban•TheLangleyEvents

Centre•OpenspacesHllexistsalong200thforTransLinktopurchaseanddevelop

forfunding

StreetcarBenefits

WeknowfromstudiesofplaceslikePortlandthatstreetcarsdotwothings:

•Theygetpeopleoutoftheircars•TheyaBractqualitydevelopment

Weneedbothoftheseon200thStreet.

System Cost System Cost –– UBC Study UBC Study

$2.8B = 12 km. UBC SkyTrain

$2.8B = 175 km Streetcars/LRT

Rapid Bus vs. LRTRapid Bus vs. LRT

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) / Rapid Bus LRT / Streetcar

Rapid Bus vs. LRT

• 400% higher per capita transit ridership (589 vs. 118 annual passenger-miles)

• 887% higher the transit commute mode split (13.4% vs. 2.7%)

• 36% lower per capita traffic fatalities (7.5 vs.11.7 annual deaths per 100,000 residents)

• 14% lower per capita consumer transportation expenditures ($448 average annual savings),

despite residents’ higher income.

• 19% smaller portion of household budgets devoted to transportation (12.0% vs. 14.0%)

• 21% lower per capita motor vehicle mileage (1,958 fewer annual miles)

• 33% lower transit operating costs per passenger-mile (42 cents vs. 63 cents)

• 58% higher transit service cost recovery (38% vs. 24%)

FROM: “Rail Transit in America”, Todd Litman - Oct. 2008 Victoria Transport Policy Institute Report

Compared with Bus Only cities - Large Rail cities have:

Light Rail Transit (LRT)Fraser Valley Heritage RR (2010 Tourist) = $325,000/per km

Typical North American LRT = $35M/per km Typical Light Rail Station = $ 5K - $ 10K

SkyTrain Canada Line = $105M/per km Evergreen Line $127M/per km UBC Line = $233M/per km Typical SkyTrain Station = $30M - 40M

COST TO BUILD LRT vs. SKYTRAIN

More InformationWebsite: www.sfot.info

Blog: www.southfraser.net

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a case for new transit options in the south fraser region

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