Ei-Leen Ong

FINALLY! Expansion of the skytrain track INTO Surrey! I'm so glad to read this in the latest board newsletter. I've been a resident of Surrey ever since moving here from Singapore in 1992 & I've always felt that the transit system could be more efficient. I've been spoilt in Singapore where there's an AMAZING transit system - SMRT Singapore mass Rapid Transit. I LOVE IT! It takes less than an hour to get from one end of the island to the other end. North to South or East to West. A high speed train every couple minutes, frequent buses, everything is walk-able & LOW cost. They're always building & expanding the line to make it more accessible - "a necessary investment". I remember how I reacted when I found out how much transit cost in this country & I still don't understand why the transit company is wasting resources on unproductive issues like checking tickets...it wastes time for commuters who have to stand in a line when they're in a hurry to get to their destination & it wastes money to hire staff for this purpose. What's the point of a ticketing machine if someone can walk right onto a train without paying? Transit is a public system. People who use it should pay for it. Instead of hiring ticket checkers, install gates that'll only let you in with a valid ticket! Singapore does not have fare evaders because they have a computerized ticketing system & electronic gates at train stations. Just like Japan! One ticket, pre-paid. You stick the ticket in when you enter the transit system (bus or train) & then again when you leave. The system figures out the distance traveled & subtracts the appropriate amount from your card automatically. A short trip costs under a dollar. You pay more when you travel greater distances. Makes sense to me. You can even set it up so your credit card is automatically billed to reset your card balance once it runs below a certain level. Everything's automated! More efficiency! The technology is all there...why aren't we spending money in the right area? Why are we paying for a pay hike to the transit board & fare increases? What is the money used for? Why are these expansions taking so long?

I'm fortunate to live 7 minutes (driving) to King George skytrain...but if I had to bus there, walking & waiting times which would make the bus trip anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes long! Add another 39 minutes to get to downtown Vancouver & I'd rather drive. Think about those who live in other areas of Surrey where it could take up to an hour just to get to a skytrain station. Next step is south-bound towards Langley and/or South Surrey...I wonder how long that'll be if expanding from King George to Guildford is going to take another 12 years.

The original article from the FVREB's NewsReal follows:

Guildford to see skytrain according to transit plan

On January 14, BC’s Transportation Ministry rolled out a massive $14 billion dollar Provincial Transit Plan for the
Lower Mainland that could end up changing the face of Guildford in Surrey within 12 years. One small portion of the ambitious plan, which aims to double transit ridership in Greater Vancouver by introducing rapid bus service and expanding and upgrading the skytrain, includes a six kilometer extension of the current Expo Line from King George station in Whalley to a new station in Guildford by 2020. The new track, proposed to follow the Fraser Highway and end in Fleetwood would not only dramatically change the appearance of Guildford, it could affect future property values near the track and stations.
The Board contacted Jim Hester, Director of Transit for the Ministry of Transportation, to get as much detail as
possible about the proposed extension.

Q: Is the proposed 6 km Surrey line extension slated for completion by 2010 or 2020? (Your info package says 2020, however some news stories say 2010.)
A: The Expo line extension in Surrey is to be complete and operational by 2020. However, the intent is to initiate capacity improvements on the existing Expo line with station improvements underway by 2010.

Q: Will the expansion of 4-car to 6-car trains apply to this proposed stretch as well?
A: Yes, that is the intent.

Q: Can you be more specific on where the Surrey line conceptually will align? On the map, it appears to follow alongside the Fraser Highway ending at 168th St.
A: Unfortunately we cannot be more specific at this time. Conceptually the intent is to extend the Expo Line to Guildford and Fleetwood areas. The Ministry will be working with TransLink on corridor and route planning in the future to mature the alignment. This next phase of planning has not yet been initiated.

Find more information about the Provincial Transit Plan at www.th.gov.bc.ca/Transit_Plan.

I read the following article from News 1130 the other day & found it interesting. I've heard different numbers, but there's a rule where for every complaint received, there's 100-200 similar concerns that are never expressed...I first heard this when I was writing a letter to the local MP. I wonder how many people are truly feeling that they did not get what they paid for. Some of these home owners are just moving into their new homes after waiting years for it to be constructed! Will they justify the small space with the amount they've saved from purchasing it at the pre-sale vs. the increased current market price? If they had to do it over, will they use a real estate salesperson next time or the developer's sales staff?

I love this analogy...do you use the same lawyer in court as the other party? Wouldn't you want someone working for YOU exclusively? New or re-sale, the sales commissions have already been calculated & included as a percentage of the selling price; it does not vary depending on the number of agents involved in the transaction. What this means is that it doesn't cost the buyer any more to use their own real estate salesperson who is looking out for their best interest, not the developer's. So I don't understand why more people aren't taking advantage of this. Do we need to educate the public? Do we need to fostering better working relationships with developers? What do you think?

Here's the article for those who haven't seen it:

Developers hire the best marketing staff for pre-sales who know how to make a tiny one bedroom condo look like a palace. Jay Mitchell with the Financial Institutions Commission of BC says consumers should take an expert along with them when viewing a potential home. "When they go into a pre-sale presentation centre, they [should] first of all realize that the individual selling is working for the developer. So they should have someone with them, a real estate agent, to represent them in the negotiations."

Mitchell says British Columbians have a 7 day grace period after signing a purchase agreement, more than enough time to get a lawyer to go over the document with a fine toothed comb. If you're on the market for a pre-sale condo, it's buyer beware.

For more helpful tips for condo buyers log on to www.fic.gov.bc.ca or phone 604-953-5200."

Friday, January 11 - 10:24:08 AM Lyle Fisher