Surrey develops Sidewalk Action Plan to improve access and safety

Posted by ReyFort Media

Surrey, B.C. – At the July 14, 2025 Regular Council Meeting, Surrey Council endorsed the Surrey Sidewalk Action Plan that will expand the city’s sidewalk network and improve pedestrian safety and connectivity across the city through a structured, priority-based approach. Over the next two years, the plan will deliver approximately 7.5 kilometres of new sidewalks through 23 projects, improving safety and access to 23 schools, 55 bus stops, and 23 parks across the city. 
 

“Sidewalks are essential to building accessible, connected communities and a sustainable city,” said Mayor Brenda Locke. “This Sidewalk Action Plan demonstrates our commitment to road safety and investing in our infrastructure by building sidewalks where they matter the most – near schools, parks, transit, grocery stores and other high-traffic corridors areas where people live, work, and play.”   

The City’s goal is to provide sidewalks on both sides of all major roads and on at least one side of most local roads, excluding cul-de-sacs, lowlands and the Agriculture Land Reserve (ALR).   

Staff estimate 558 kilometres of sidewalk are still needed citywide to achieve this goal and could cost $400 to $500 million. At current funding levels, it could take nearly 50 years for the City to complete the desired network. 

“The new framework helps us prioritize sidewalk investments where they will have the greatest impact while maximizing City resources,” said Rafael Villarreal, Director of Transportation. “We’ll continue to prioritize arterial roads due to speed and traffic volumes posing greater safety risk but will also focus on “brownfield” areas which are built-up urban areas with limited redevelopment opportunities, and roads within an 800m radius of schools, transit, parks, and grocery stores where residents want to be able to walk to.” 

The City’s new framework for prioritizing capital sidewalk investments is as follows in order of priority: 

1. 63 km of major roads with no sidewalks in brownfield areas within 800m of schools/transit/grocery/parks;  
2. 118 km major roads with one sidewalk, in brownfield areas and within 800m proximity to schools/transit/grocery/parks;  
3. Local roads in brownfield areas with no sidewalks within 800m proximity to schools/transit/grocery/parks; and lastly 
4. Greenfield areas, such as Tynehead, West Clayton, and Grandview, where there is currently limited pedestrian activity and high re-development potential in the near-term. 

The City plans to fund the sidewalk projects through a combination of funding from the City’s Roads and Traffic Safety Levy, Development Cost Charges (DCCs), and external grants.   

For more information on the Sidewalk Action Plan and the prioritization framework, read Corporate Report 8630-01: Sidewalk Prioritization Framework and Action Plan.  

Media Enquiries:                                                                     
Amy Jugpal                                                                               
Communications & Media Relations Lead                               
Office of the Mayor                                                                  
778-846-1480                                                               
amy.jugpal@surrey.ca