Federal government announces $1.3B for SkyTrain extension from Surrey to Langley

The federal government is providing up to $1.3 billion to extend Metro Vancouver's SkyTrainline through Surrey and Langley.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement in Surrey Friday with theSkyTrainline in the background and several protesters yelling in the plaza behind him.

He says the extension is 16 kilometres long and includes eight stations andthree bus exchanges.

Trudeau, who was flanked by Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna, B.C. Premier John Horgan, Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum and other politicians, says the project will create thousands of jobs and cut pollution.

In 2018, Trudeau announced federal government funding for a light rail line through Surrey, but a newly elected council passed a motion just months later cancelling the system in favour of aSkyTrainextension linked to other Metro Vancouver cities.

Trudeau has made several campaign-style stops this week in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta.