BC NDP leader also renews gas-price pledge, promises Surrey-Langley SkyTrain for 2029 and proposes a municipal charter for Surrey
SURREY, B.C. — October 15, 2026 — BC NDP Leader David Eby announced a package of transportation, affordability and municipal-governance commitments in Surrey on Thursday, including a proposed $250-million provincial investment in Bus Rapid Transit along King George Boulevard and free transit passes for eligible low-income seniors.
The announcement comes ahead of the October 24 British Columbia provincial election. Eby said the measures are intended to reduce transportation costs, improve transit connections and give Surrey greater authority to address the needs of its growing population.
The commitments include a proposed gas-tax reduction of up to 30 cents per litre, expanded access to free transit for low-income seniors, funding for the King George Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit corridor, a 2029 target for the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain and a proposed Surrey municipal charter.
$250 million proposed for King George Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit
Eby pledged $250 million toward delivering Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) along King George Boulevard, connecting Surrey with White Rock, in partnership with TransLink and with the aim of leveraging federal funding.
The proposed corridor is already part of TransLink’s regional rapid-transit planning. TransLink’s published project information describes a planned 19-kilometre route with 12 stations linking Surrey City Centre and Semiahmoo Town Centre.
The proposed service is intended to improve travel times and reliability through measures such as dedicated bus lanes, traffic-signal priority and improved stations.
However, TransLink says the corridor still requires additional funding to be fully delivered. Eby’s announcement is therefore a campaign funding commitment, not confirmation that the entire project budget has been secured or that construction has been scheduled.
Free transit passes for low-income seniors
The BC NDP says it would make the provincial Seniors’ Bus Pass free for 350,000 low-income seniors across British Columbia.
The party also proposes expanding income eligibility so that tens of thousands of additional seniors facing financial pressure could qualify for free transit.
The commitment is provincewide rather than limited to Surrey. The announcement does not provide a specific implementation date for the proposed changes.
Gas prices: proposed savings of up to 30 cents per litre
Eby also reiterated the BC NDP’s proposal to reduce gas prices by as much as 30 cents per litre.
According to the party, the plan would suspend a portion of the provincial gas tax while regulating oil-company profit margins. Eby said the measures could save drivers as much as $20 when filling their tanks.
The 30-cent figure is a maximum claimed saving, not a guaranteed reduction for every driver or at every filling station. The actual impact would depend on how the proposed measures were implemented and how prices responded.
In his announcement, Eby criticised the BC Conservatives over their approach to fuel costs and automobile insurance. Those criticisms are the NDP leader’s political claims.
Surrey-Langley SkyTrain target remains 2029
Eby reiterated his commitment to opening the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension in 2029.
The extension is intended to expand rapid-transit access between Surrey and Langley. The announcement presents the opening year as the BC NDP’s commitment; the project’s delivery remains subject to construction progress and implementation.
Eby promises a municipal charter for Surrey
Alongside the transportation measures, Eby announced that a re-elected BC NDP government would give Surrey its own municipal charter, providing the city with a framework for greater local authority similar in some respects to Vancouver’s.
Eby said the proposed charter would give Surrey decision-makers more flexibility to address housing, transit, infrastructure, parks and community facilities as the city grows.
A charter would not automatically provide funding for every local project. Its practical effect would depend on the legal powers and arrangements established through the province.
The announcement did not set out the full proposed charter legislation or a date for its introduction.
What Surrey residents should know
Eby’s October 15 announcement combines a new funding pledge for the King George Boulevard BRT corridor with proposed provincewide transit benefits, a gas-price policy, a SkyTrain opening target and a governance commitment for Surrey.
The distinction between a campaign promise and an approved project is important. TransLink already has the King George Boulevard BRT corridor in detailed planning, but says additional funding is required for full delivery. The $250-million pledge would contribute toward that effort if the proposed commitment proceeds.
The senior transit-pass changes, gas-price measures and Surrey charter are also proposals that would require implementation by a re-elected government.
With the provincial election approaching, voters can compare the parties’ stated commitments while examining project funding, implementation details and timelines.
StudioX News will continue tracking the parties’ transportation and affordability proposals, including funding and delivery milestones for Surrey-area transit projects.
Sources: BC NDP announcement, October 15, 2026; TransLink’s Bus Rapid Transit Program information.
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving diaspora communities across 44 languages. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, NEPMCC, and the Canadian Freelance Union (Unifor). Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
