By 2050, 1.2 million more residents and 500,000 new jobs are anticipated in the Metro Vancouver region. This includes a projected 420,000 new residents and 147,000 new jobs in the City of Surrey, City of Langley and the Township of Langley. The proposed Surrey Langley SkyTrain (SLS) Project would extend the Expo Line from Surrey to Langley City Centre, providing high-capacity rapid transit service to these growing communities and enabling sustainable community growth along the corridor. This project expands on the objectives for delivery of the transit system to include active transportation, community benefits, and affordable housing.

Transit-oriented development (TOD) around the eight new SkyTrain stations presents opportunities to build more sustainable, livable communities, meet the Province of British Columbia’s climate targets, and unlock economic and social benefits for people across the region. Through legislation promulgated in 2022 and the associated Integrated Development Initiative, the Province’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure may acquire land near transit facilities for housing. The initiative will spur higher-density development and maximize opportunities along the alignment to create transit-adjacent developments that are at the core of communities, with seamless transitions for passengers from transit to shops, restaurants, work, or home.

We are examining approaches to developing nodes for high-density transit-oriented communities and affordable housing integration at select stations. Our goal is to maximize opportunities along the alignment to create integrated transit station developments that are at the core of communities and create seamless transitions for passengers from transit to shops, restaurants, work, or home.

These community hubs are typically located within an 800-metre radius of transit stations, a distance from which people can easily access public transit by walking, rolling, or biking. The TOD will benefit local residents, workers, families, and the environment by:
• Promoting transit ridership by locating housing, jobs, and services close to SkyTrain stations
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by increasing transit access and use and reducing the need for motor vehicle use
• Promoting active transportation by developing neighborhoods that make it convenient for people to walk, cycle, and use mobility aids to access transit and amenities
• Including parking/storage and new active transportation facilities that connect to existing municipal networks
• Increasing the stock of housing, affordable housing, and purpose-built rentals
• Encouraging the development of connected communities near transit stations

Our services inform zoning modifications and agreements between the province and its municipalities that are needed to support higher-density development through parameters such as building height, floor-space ratio, tower geometry and proximity, and plaza configuration.

This project was initiated by VIA prior to becoming a Perkins Eastman Studio.