City staff are asking Surrey council to sign off on an agreement with the provincial government that would see the city deliver landscaping design, construction and installation for the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain project, with the province contributing up to $7.06 million toward the work.
It’s estimated that 2,056 trees will be felled, with the same number to be replaced.
Council will be voting on this Monday night, on the recommendation of Surrey’s engineering and parks, recreation and culture departments.
The $4.01 billion SkyTrain extension project will see 16 kilometres added to the Expo Line from King George Station to Langley City, with eight new stations – six of them in Surrey. A corporate report by Scott Neuman, Surrey’s general manager of engineering and Laurie Cavan, general manager of parks, recreation and culture, indicates procurement is expected to be completed early this year with the construction done by late 2028.
The report states “significant” boulevard and median space will be required for column placement along Fraser Highway.
“To facilitate the construction of the SkyTrain system, road widening and accompanying relocation of BC Hydro services, sizeable areas of boulevards, and medians will be impacted resulting in a large number of trees that need to be removed along Fraser Highway,” it reads.
“As part of the proposed landscaping plan, these trees will be replaced by the city under the proposed agreement.”