TransLink’s cash grab at a South Surrey park and ride draws criticism

Parking all day for only two dollars sounds like a great deal for most city dwellers, but TransLink’s new park and ride fee at a South Surrey lot is drawing a lot of criticism and ire. Many commuters are refusing to use the lot, and resident in the area are saying its having an unpleasant side effect on their neighbourhood.

The provincial government spent $4.5 million building and expanded Park n Ride in South Surrey and along with the additional parking spaces came a two dollar per day fee. Commuters weren’t happy and in order to avoid the daily fee, have taken to parking along the streets in the adjacent neighbourhood.

Residents in the area are not happy with increased congestion of cars along the roadside, saying it makes it difficult for those who live in the area to find parking during business hours.

TransLink responded to Global News in a statement saying it’s too early to tell if commuters will accept paid parking, so currently they have no changes planned.

Money made from the parking fee is considered ‘new money’ for TransLink due to taxpayers via the provincial government have already paid for the $4.5 million expansion to the park and ride, which originally free. With TransLink slapping a $2 fee and with more than 800 stalls, that equates to $1,600 a day, if it was full.

But two and a half months since the new toll, the lot is mostly empty, which is annoying for one Surrey city councillor, who believes TransLink’s tax grab is counterproductive and now he has to deal with a lot of angry citizens.

“We want to encourage transportation, rapid transit, light rail, whatever it may be in the future,” Tom Gill, Surrey city councillor said. ” But certainly their needs to be an incentive for an individual to get out of their cars and into these vehicles.

“We are of the opinion we would have been better purposed if that $2 charge hadn’t been mandatory.”

Moving forward, for those who live next to the empty parking but whose own streets are full, Surrey is considering imposing resident parking only permits.

~ with files from Ted Chernecki