Exciting News Regarding the Expansion of Transit in the City
Big news from the Provincial Government this week! They have promised to raise their contribution to the Broadway Subway Line and Surrey LRT from 33% of the total to 40% of the total cost of the project, which gets us that much closer to seeing that this project is completed. The province will match the federal government’s commitment of $2.2 billion (40% of total projected cost) over the next 11 years.
The cities involved will now be responsible for paying the final 20% (about $1.1-billion) to get the projects underway. One idea is for the city to use profit from future development near the transit stations to fund the project (extra bonus points for Vancouver Home Buyers: more development!)
This is great news for Mount Pleasant and Kitsilano residents in Vancouver! The Broadway SkyTrain extension will extend the Millennium Line from its current VCC-Clark endpoint station southwest to Broadway and Main (where the new “Independent on Main” condo building is being built), and then west to Arbutus and Broadway in Kitsilano. The Surrey-Newton-Guildford LRT would add two street-level light rail transit systems running from Surrey Central and King George to Newton Exchange and Guildford.
For more information on this project, see the following CBC article or visit the Translink Website regarding the upgrades.
Broadway Extension of the Milenium Line
The Broadway Extension of the Subway line will be 6km along new above and below ground tracks (see the photo above for the map). After VCC-Clark, there will be above ground tracks to a new station at the False Creek Flats next to the new Emily Carr University of Art and Design. From there, the Skytrain will head below ground to a new station at Main and Kingsway, then onto new stations at Cambie St, Oak St, Granville St and finally Arbutus St. The plan is to have the subway eventually extend out to UBC.
There is a building currently being built at Oak and Broadway that had the requirement (as per the City development approval) to have a space set aside underground for the new station, so the City has been considering this plan for years, despite the fact that the previous Transit Vote was voted No by City residents a few years ago (unfortunately, as this project could have been underway sooner!).
Though living through construction for a few years along the line will be horrible, I’m thrilled this project is finally underway as it will connect Vancouver’s Eastside and Westside a little more, opening up more Transit options and bringing neighbourhoods closer together.
