Surrey-Langley SkyTrain Extension Named in Honour of Former Premier Dave Barrett

Surrey-Langley SkyTrain Extension Named in Honour of Former Premier Dave Barrett

SURREY, B.C. — The British Columbia government has officially named the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension the Dave Barrett Extension, honouring the province’s former premier and his contributions to public transportation and public service.

The announcement was made September 15, as construction continues on the major rapid-transit project connecting Surrey with Langley City Centre.

The 16-kilometre extension will run from King George Station in Surrey to Langley City Centre, adding eight new SkyTrain stations along the Fraser Highway corridor. The project is expected to enter service in 2029.

Premier David Eby said Barrett's government helped expand transit services in Surrey, Delta, White Rock and Langley during the 1970s. Provincial officials said the new SkyTrain extension carries forward that legacy by providing a rapid-transit connection between communities south of the Fraser River.

Dave Barrett served as British Columbia's 26th premier from 1972 to 1975. During his time in office, his government introduced several major provincial programs and institutions, including the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, the Agricultural Land Reserve and the PharmaCare program. His government also conceived, planned and approved the SeaBus service connecting Vancouver and the North Shore.

Construction on the SkyTrain extension is progressing along the Fraser Highway corridor. The provincial government says more than 60 per cent of the elevated guideway has now been installed.

The extension will include eight stations: Green Timbers, 152 Street, Fleetwood, Bakerview–166 Street, Hillcrest–184 Street, Clayton, Willowbrook and Langley City Centre. Three of the stations will also include new transit exchanges.

Once completed, the extension is expected to make the trip between Langley City Centre and King George Station in approximately 22 minutes. The province estimates that weekday ridership could reach 80,000 passengers by 2050.

The project also includes approximately 14 kilometres of active-transportation routes, including dedicated cycling and multi-use pathways intended to connect communities with the new stations.

For residents across Surrey, Langley and the broader Fraser Valley, the project represents a significant expansion of rapid transit south of the Fraser River. When service begins in 2029, the Dave Barrett Extension will become the first rapid-transit project south of the Fraser in three decades.