Surrey council votes unanimously to pursue SkyTrain to Newton

Surrey council voted unanimously on the evening of Nov. 9 to pursue a new SkyTrain extension south along King George Boulevard, from Surrey City Centre to Newton.

Council adopted a list of 16 priorities put forward by Mayor Doug McCallum and his Safe Surrey Coalition, drawn from their election campaign promises, Daily Hive Vancouver reported. Staff were directed to begin the work and will return with next steps, including costs and timelines. Global News BC reported that logistics, timelines and budgets will be settled at future meetings.

Coun. Harry Bains, the only re-elected Surrey Connect member and the one councillor outside McCallum's supermajority, supported the proposal. He said he fully supports SkyTrain to Newton, but hopes TransLink's bus rapid transit line still continues to 16th Avenue and King George Boulevard. McCallum said the decision on a truncated BRT rests with TransLink, not the city.

That BRT line is planned at 19 km with 12 stations and an estimated cost of about $700 million, replacing the R1 King George Boulevard RapidBus. The previous council moved it into detailed design in May 2026. Preliminary funding covers design and planning, but significant funding is still needed for construction.

TransLink did not dismiss the approach but said it would need significant construction funding and ongoing operations and maintenance funding. Lorne Doerkson's incoming Conservative provincial government backs the Newton priority and has promised to work with Ottawa to fund and build it. The Surrey-Langley SkyTrain, now in advanced construction, is set to open in 2029.

The TransLink Mayors' Council holds its first meeting since the civic election on Nov. 19.