{{Short description|Metro Vancouver SkyTrain station}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox station | name = Surrey Central | symbol_location = vancouver | symbol = expo | type = SkyTrain station | style = TransLink (BC) | style2 = SkyTrain | image = Surrey Central–City Parkway entrance.jpg | image_caption = Surrey Central's north stationhouse on City Parkway | address = 10277 City Parkway | borough = Surrey, British Columbia | country = Canada | coordinates = {{Coord|49.189473|N|122.847871|W|region:CA-BC_type:railwaystation|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | line = <!-- line information is detailed under "services" --> | other = | structure = Elevated | platform = Centre platform | depth = | levels = | tracks = 2 | parking = | bicycle = | baggage_check = | opened = {{start date and age|1994|03|28}} | closed = | rebuilt = 2017–{{start date and age|2019}} | electrified = | accessible = yes | code = SC | owned = TransLink | zone = 3 | smartcardname = | smartcardstatus = | former = Whalley Central (planning) | passengers = {{formatnum:{{TransLink (BC) ridership|Surrey Central}}}} | pass_year = {{TransLink (BC) ridership|year}} | pass_rank = {{TransLink (BC) rank|Surrey Central}} | pass_percent = {{TransLink (BC) ridership/percent|Surrey Central}} | pass_system = | mpassengers = | connections = {{rail-interchange|vancouver|rapidbus|r1|size=18}} R1 King George Blvd | services = {{Adjacent stations|system=TransLink (BC)|line=Expo|type=Surrey|left=Gateway|right=King George}} | map_locator = }} thumb|right|The Surrey Centre Library and City Hall are adjacent to the station. thumb|right|Platform level at Surrey Central '''Surrey Central''' is an elevated station on the Expo Line of Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain rapid transit system. The station is located in the Whalley / City Centre district of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, just east of the North Surrey Recreation Centre. The station is within walking distance of the Central City shopping centre, Surrey City Hall, and SFU Surrey, the Surrey campus of Simon Fraser University.
==History== Surrey Central station was opened in 1994 along with two other stations when the Expo Line was extended from Scott Road station farther into Whalley, to the "Surrey City Centre" district.<ref>{{cite web |title=SkyTrain Your City to City Connection|url=https://www.translink.ca/-/media/Documents/rider_guide/Buzzer-Vault/1990s/1994/Buzzer_1994_03_11.pdf|date=March 11, 1994 |work=The Buzzer |publisher=BC Transit |accessdate=March 12, 2019}}</ref> Prior to the opening of the station, there was a bus loop on the site known as "Whalley Exchange", which opened in 1975.<ref>{{cite news |title=Surrey-Delta-White Rock |url=http://www.translink.ca/-/media/Documents/rider_guide/Buzzer%20Vault/1970s/1975/Buzzer_1975_05_23.pdf |date=May 23, 1975 |work=The Buzzer |publisher=British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority |accessdate=July 16, 2017}}</ref> The station was briefly known as "Whalley Central" during planning;<ref>{{cite web |title=Another 15 routes becoming accessible |url=https://www.translink.ca/-/media/Documents/rider_guide/Buzzer%20Vault/1990s/1992/Buzzer_1992_09_25.pdf|date=September 25, 1992 |work=The Buzzer |publisher=BC Transit |accessdate=March 12, 2019}}</ref> however, the name "Surrey Central" was chosen in December 1992 as the winning entry in a public contest.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 17, 1992 |title=Surrey SkyTrain station gets down-to-earth name |page=B1 |work=Vancouver Sun |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-surrey-skytrain-statio/126191556/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=June 10, 2023}}</ref>
Over the years, the station has earned a reputation for being unsafe and a magnet for crime, including violence and drug trafficking. In 2009, it had the second-highest number of violent crimes in the SkyTrain system (with Commercial–Broadway station having the highest).<ref name="surrey-now-leader-sept-2009">{{Cite news |title=SkyTrain crime falls but surrey stations still worst |last=Nagels |first=Jeff |date=September 11, 2009 |work=The Surrey Leader |id={{ProQuest|373135528}}}}{{Subscription or libraries}}</ref><ref name="vancouver-sun-july-2010">{{Cite news |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/More+than+crimes+plagued+Metro+transit+stations+2009+data+shows/3322224/story.html |title=More than 3,500 crimes plagued Metro's transit system in 2009, data shows |last=Skelton |first=Chad |date=August 3, 2010 |work=The Vancouver Sun |access-date=January 28, 2018}}</ref>
In an effort to combat the station's rundown image, and to show off experimental urban design, the City of Surrey and TransLink agreed to have Surrey Central station participate in the GVTA's Urban Transit Village program. The Transit Villages were defined by TransLink as "a new approach to station design and access." While the original schedule called for construction to be completed by the second quarter of 2007, nothing beyond design plans were completed. The Surrey Central plan specifically called for improvements in four areas: station access, street design, King George Boulevard, and land use.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}
Officers from the Metro Vancouver Transit Police can be found patrolling the bus loop and SkyTrain platform in an effort to reduce crime and disorder, with supplemental volunteers patrolling the area and reporting any suspicious or dangerous behaviour.<ref name="surrey-now-leader-mar-2015">{{Cite news |url=https://www.surreynowleader.com/news/transit-watch-provides-more-eyes-and-ears-for-police/ |title=Transit Watch provides more eyes and ears for police |last=Reynolds |first=Sheila |date=March 31, 2015 |work=Surrey Now-Leader |access-date=January 28, 2018}}</ref> By the mid-2010s, with extensive police patrols and redevelopment of the area, violent crimes shifted from Whalley south to Newton, which has taken over the area's reputation of being the most dangerous part of Surrey.<ref>{{cite web |title=Newton taking over Whalley's crime reputation |publisher=The Vancouver Sun |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/Newton+taking+over+Whalley+crime+reputation/10128821/story.html |accessdate=August 18, 2014}}</ref>
In March 2017, station upgrades started on Surrey Central station to create two new entrances on the north side of the station at Central Avenue and City Parkway to reduce congestion. Accessibility and lighting was also improved with three additional escalators and an elevator.<ref>{{cite web |title=Surrey Central SkyTrain Station Upgrades Begin |publisher=TransLink |url=http://www.translink.ca/en/About-Us/Media/2017/March/Surrey-Central-SkyTrain-Station-Upgrades-Begin.aspx |accessdate=May 22, 2017 |archive-date=January 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129140936/http://www.translink.ca/en/About-Us/Media/2017/March/Surrey-Central-SkyTrain-Station-Upgrades-Begin.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> Construction work was completed in February 2019, and the new stationhouse opened to the public in March 2019.<ref name="expansion-completion">{{Cite news |url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/skytrain-surrey-central-station-expansion-completion-photos-2019 |title=$24-million expansion of SkyTrain's Surrey Central Station now complete (PHOTOS) |last=Chan |first=Kenneth |date=February 22, 2019 |work=Daily Hive |access-date=February 24, 2019}}</ref><ref name="expansion-opening">{{Cite tweet |number=1102316053701554182 |user=TransLink |title=[Surrey Central] open now! I hear it's pretty nice! ^LA |author=TransLink BC |date=March 3, 2019 |access-date=March 3, 2019}}</ref>
==Services== Surrey Central station is a transfer point for several bus routes that serve various areas of Surrey, White Rock, North Delta and Langley.
==Station information== ===Design===
Surrey Central station was designed by Musson Cattell Mackey Architects and includes a series of references to Victorian-style train sheds, which the ''Vancouver Sun'' criticized as "attempts to create instant heritage where none exists".<ref>{{cite news |last=Ward |first=Robin |date=September 10, 1994 |title=Saturday Review column<!--No title given--> |page=D8 |work=Vancouver Sun |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-saturday-review-surre/126323961/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=June 12, 2023}}</ref>
===Entrances=== thumb|right|Lower concourse of Surrey Central's north stationhouse * North stationhouse {{Access icon}}: located at the corner of Central Avenue and City Parkway, the stationhouse provides access to Surrey City Centre Public Library, Surrey City Hall and the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Civic Plaza campus. Renovations on the north entrances started in March 2017 to improve circulation and accessibility and the new stationhouse opened in March 2019.<ref name="expansion-opening" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Translink Surrey Central Upgrades |url=http://www.translink.ca/en/Plans-and-Projects/Station-and-Exchange-Improvements/Expo-Line-Upgrades/Surrey-Central-Station-Upgrades.aspx |accessdate=June 25, 2017 |archive-date=June 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628230107/http://www.translink.ca/en/Plans-and-Projects/Station-and-Exchange-Improvements/Expo-Line-Upgrades/Surrey-Central-Station-Upgrades.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> * Rec Centre entrance (east) {{Access icon}}: located on City Parkway and provides access to downtown Surrey and the North Surrey Recreation Centre. R1 King George Blvd stops are also located in front of this entrance. * Bus Exchange entrance (southwest): located within the Surrey Central station bus exchange. An up escalator and stairs connect the bus exchange with the station platform via the concourse. This entrance also serves the Central City shopping centre and SFU Surrey Campus.
===Transit connections=== {{See also|List of bus routes in Metro Vancouver}} thumb|right|The bus exchange is located at the south end of Surrey Central. Bus bay assignments are as follows:<ref>{{cite map|title=Surrey Central Station Map|url=http://infomaps.translink.ca/System_Maps/skytrain_station_maps/surrey_central_station.pdf|publisher=TransLink|date=January 2024|accessdate=April 2, 2024|archive-date=April 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402083129/https://infomaps.translink.ca/system_maps/skytrain_station_maps/surrey_central_station.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- ! Bay number !! Location !! Route !! Notes |- ! 1 | Bus loop | Unloading only | |- ! rowspan="3" |2 | rowspan="3" |Bus loop |501 Langley Centre | * Via Carvolth Exchange |- |509 Walnut Grove | * PM peak hours only |- |N19 Downtown | * NightBus service |- ! 3 | Bus loop | 335 Newton Exchange | * Via Guildford |- ! rowspan="2" | 4 | rowspan="2" | Bus loop |323 Newton Exchange | * Via 128 Street |- |393 Newton Exchange | * Via South Newton * PM peak hours only |- ! 5 | Bus loop |320 Langley Centre | * Via Cloverdale |- ! 5A | University Drive<br />{{small|Northbound}} | 337 Fraser Heights | |- ! rowspan="2" | 6 | rowspan="2" | Bus loop |371 Scott Road Station | |- |373 Guildford | |- ! rowspan="2" | 7 | rowspan="2" | Bus loop |316 Scottsdale | * Via 116 Street |- |325 Newton Exchange | * Via 140 Street |- ! rowspan="2" | 8 | rowspan="2" | Bus loop |324 Newton Exchange | * Via 132 Street |- |326 Guildford | * Via Fleetwood |- ! 9 | Bus loop | {{plainlist| * 321 White Rock Centre * 321 White Rock South * 321 New Westminster Station }} | * Some trips extend as "White Rock South" * Limited service to New Westminster Station on Sundays and holidays only when SkyTrain is not operating |- ! 10 | Bus loop | 503 Fraser Hwy Express to Langley and Aldergrove | |- ! 11 | City Parkway<br />{{small|Southbound}} | R1 King George Blvd to Newton Exchange | * RapidBus service |- ! 12 | City Parkway<br />{{small|Southbound}} | 502 Langley Centre | * Via Fraser Hwy |- ! 13 | City Parkway<br />{{small|Northbound}} | R1 King George Blvd to Guildford | * RapidBus service |- ! rowspan="3" | 14 | rowspan="3" | City Parkway<br />{{small|Northbound}} | {{plainlist| * 314 Sunbury * 314 Scott and 96 Avenue }} | * Sunbury portion: Monday to Saturday only during daytime * Scott and 96 Avenue portion: evening, Sunday, and holiday service |- |321 Scott Road Station | *Peak hours only |- |329 Scottsdale | * Monday to Saturday only |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Commons-inline}}
{{TransLink Services}} {{Surrey, British Columbia}}
Category:Expo Line (SkyTrain) stations Category:SkyTrain stations in Surrey Category:SkyTrain stations opened in 1994