Image Credit: Flickr / Don Craig Photography

By Langley MLA Andrew Mercier

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SOUND OFF: Bringing more people together through transit hubs

Nov 22, 2023 | 10:30 AM

RELIABLE TRANSIT CLOSE TO WHERE PEOPLE LIVE benefits everyone. As British Columbia continues to grow, building housing and infrastructure close to transit options like Skytrains and buses will help us build more vibrant communities across the province.

That’s why last week we announced new legislation to help cut red tape and get more housing built close to transit and amenities.

Our government has spent billions of dollars investing in reliable transit for British Columbians, like the Surrey-Langley Skytrain project, and we know that world class, livable communities are fostered by connecting people through transit.

In some communities throughout B.C., restrictive zoning and delays in development approvals continue to slow down the delivery of homes, and this legislation aims to speed up those zoning processes and allow more people to live in the neighbourhoods they want.

We want more people to find a home that is not only close to transit, but also other amenities they need — from child care and schools to healthcare facilities or public gathering spaces.

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This legislation will mean housing developments that meet the provincial standards for allowable height and density must be permitted. The minimum allowable density requirements near transit will be based on the type of community and proximity to the transit hub. So, for example, the height and density requirements near a bus loop in a smaller community will be much less than development requirements near a Skytrain station in Metro Vancouver or the Fraser Valley.

Our government and BC Housing will also continue to support the building of homes in these areas. We recently designated $394 million to purchasing land near transit infrastructure, and it’s expected that with these purchases we will support significant housing development at or near transit stations.

When I think of my community of Langley and how it is growing, I’m excited about how the Surrey-Langley Skytrain will benefit people. By creating more homes near this crucial amenity, more people will be able to take rapid, reliable transit to and from work, spending less time in traffic and more time at home in their neighbourhood, where they have everything from groceries, to daycare, to healthcare close by.

We are tackling the housing crisis from all angles, including supporting communities with their growth through investments in schools, hospitals, our $1 billion Growing Communities Fund, and more. We are committed to building more homes for people, faster, and making British Columbians’ lives easier and more convenient.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.