200th streetcars

The Streetcar CityA Vision For Langley

Presented by Jordan Bateman to South Fraser OnTRAX on June 8, 2008

Regional Transportation

I support an Interurban light rail route:• Based on community rail model to start• Important for regional transportation needs• It is vital to the future of the South Fraser region that Surrey, Langley and Abbotsford be better connected

Transit Service in Langley

The majority of trips made by Langley residents stay in Langley.

Think about your own life: you most likely shop locally, many of you work locally, you go to church locally, you serve in clubs locally.

The 200th Streetcar Line

Langley has changed. We are no longer an east-west community; we are north-south.

The vast majority of Langley’s population and jobs lie along the 196th to 216th corridor. This is also where virtually all growth and densification will occur in the future.


Brookswood Fernridge

• Presently 14,000

• Future Development Area

(2010-2030?): minimum 35,000, but

more likely 50,000


City of Langley


• Pretty much built-out, but pursuing

aggressive densification;

could top out at 39,000


Willoughby


• Current Development Area

(2008-2020): likely 70,000,

including high rises along 200th


Walnut Grove


• Very modest opportunities for in-

fill; will top out at 25,000

The 200th Streetcar Line200th Corridor Total (from 196 to 216)

• Presently 76,000 (65% of the present total population of

Langley)

• Will top out at 184,000 (80% of the

projected total population of Langley)

The 200th Streetcar LineEmployment Areas• NW Langley Industrial Park• Walnut Grove

Interchange• 200th Office Parks• Langley Regional

Town Centre• Brookswood

• Campbell Heights Industrial Park


Township of LangleyHigh Density Zoning

• High-rises of up to 20 storeys

The 200th Streetcar LineOther Factors

• Regional links: The Golden Ears Bridge and the Interurban•The Langley Events

Centre• Open space still

exists along 200th for TransLink to

purchase and develop for funding

Why Streetcars?

TransLink’s long-range plan is for Rapid Buses along the 200th Street corridor.

This will not sufficiently influence the style of development along the corridor nor attract drivers out of their cars.

Why Streetcars?

It works in Portland and in cities around the world.

Streetcars are less expensive than full light rail, but still have that train attraction for people.

Streetcar Benefits

• We know from studies of places like Portland that streetcars do two things:• They get people out of their cars• They attract quality development

• We need both of these on 200th Street.

Streetcar Benefits

• Streetcars with signalization priority can average about 30 km/h • This would keep Langley tight knit; people would stay in Langley for what they need to buy, where they play, where they work• The connection to the Interurban and GEB gives access to the rest of the region

Transit Oriented Development

• Walkable• Far fewer car trips• People out of their cars on day 1• Sustainable (less GHG)• “Density done right” • Good sense of community• Safer (“eyes on the street”)

Imagine…

All of those thousands of Walnut Grove families being able to hop a train to go shopping at Willowbrook.

Or Brookswood residents riding the rails to take their kids to gymnastics at the Langley Events Centre.


What about the hill?

I’m not a technical expert, but my understanding is that Calgary operates with a 6.5% grade near the South Alberta Institute of Technology, and Little Rock’s system manoeuvres up a 7.8% gradient.


What about the interchange?

In order to run a rapid bus line along 200th, the freeway interchange will have to be dealt with. A rail line can be handled in the same manner as the BRT would be.


What about the right-of-way?

200th Street has the widest, protected right-of-way in the Township. There is room for street cars and pull-out stations.

The 200th Streetcar LineWon’t this distract the powers-that-be from the Interurban?

No. A 200th Streetcar strengthens the case for the Interurban to be put back into use, at least to Langley. That gets us past the ‘first gap,’ and gives us the ability to prove this will work. Like the Portland Model: MAX and streetcar network.

My Streetcar DreamIn the future, I envision street car lines (and the Interurban) running throughout Langley.

Progress

On May 5, Township Council voted unanimously to pursue funding for a full ridership and routing study for the Interurban.

This is a vital first step for light rail.

Progress

Langley Township is also working with its partners in the Livability Accord—the high-growth communities of Surrey, Abbotsford and Coquitlam. A light rail joint committee is in the works.

Progress

The public and experts continue to move toward light rail.

Patrick Condon looked at the $2.8 billion UBC SkyTrain line and projected that for the same cost, 175 km of modern tram/streetcar could be done.

UBC SkyTrain vs. Streetcar

Next Steps

I’d like to encourage the public, through groups like South Fraser OnTRAX, to send their MLAs and MPs letters and e-mail supporting streetcars and light rail. We need to keep the pressure on by presenting the very logical arguments in our favour.