Mayors south of the Fraser River are pulling together in a united bid to get the transportation, jobs and other infrastructure they need to handle the lion’s share of growth in the next 30 years.
A new committee – composed of mayors in Surrey, White Rock, Delta, the two Langleys and Abbotsford – met last week to hash out initial ideas, which range from pushing light rail to potentially one day forming their own regional district.
Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts said it’s crucial for the communities, which are expected to welcome 70 per cent of the new population in the Lower Mainland by 2040, to manage growth, create economic opportunities and move both goods and people.
Abbotsford will play a key role because of its airport, she noted, while traffic is also expected to come from DeltaPort, Surrey Fraser Docks and the border crossings with the U.S.
“With the rate of growth coming south of the Fraser, it was important for all of us mayors to come together and work co-operatively on managing growth,” Watts said.
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By 2040, Metro Vancouver’s population will have surged to 3.4 million, while the Fraser Valley will have more than 462,000 people.
Yet mayors argue the communities, which were late getting into the density game and are suffering from urban sprawl, are playing catch-up.
The committee, which hopes to produce a South of the Fraser plan later this year, is still in the early stages of determining its game plan, but Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender said the focus will be on “planning for the future so we don’t make the same mistakes.”
Among the goals likely to be discussed, he said, is a comprehensive rail and bus network to move both people and goods throughout municipalities as well as between them. The mayors note transportation issues are significantly different than in the more densely built-up metro area, because neighbourhoods are spread out and people need to use their cars to get around.
“One of the things that has been really challenging for us is the south of the Fraser region grew very quickly,” Fassbender said.
The group has long been pushing for sustainability, having signed a “livability accord” a few years ago to deal with transportation, policing and health. One of main focuses has been a push for light rail, which can be built more cheaply than SkyTrain.
Abbotsford Mayor Bruce Banman said the imaginary line at the Abbotsford and Aldergrove/Langley border has to be erased in light of the looming growth pressures. “If cities plan in silos, nothing gets done. You’re going to make mistakes if you don’t consult your neighbour.”
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