Evergreen Line to open in December

British Columbia Ministry of Transport

British Columbia's CA$1.43-billion (US$1.06 billion) Evergreen Line rapid transit extension is set to begin service in less than a month.  

Service along the 6.83-mile Evergreen extension to the existing SkyTrain system in Vancouver, B.C., is scheduled to begin Dec. 2, 2016. Representatives say further details on the exact time the stations will open to customers will be available soon.

The government of Canada, the government of British Columbia and TransLink funded the Evergreen Line Project, which has carried a total cost of CA$1.43 billion. The government of Canada provided CA$424 million—CA$350 million from the Building Canada Fund; CA$67 million from the Public Transit Capital Trust Fund; and CA$7 million from the P3 Canada Fund; the government of B.C. contributed CA$586 million, with other partners reportedly contributing CA$21 million. Officials say TransLink is committing the remaining CA$400 million and will manage the system following its Dec. 2 opening.

“The government of Canada recognizes that we need a solid partnership with all orders of government to support infrastructure projects that help the middle class grow and prosper now and into the future,” said Ron McKinnon, member of Parliament for Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam. “The Evergreen extension will help get people where they need to go safely, efficiently and comfortably and I am very pleased that it will be in service in the coming weeks.”

The extension is expected to transport 70,000 riders daily by 2021, representatives say, noting the extension as an efficient link between the Tri-Cities communities and downtown Vancouver.

“Today marks an exciting milestone in the Evergreen Line Project. Now that construction is complete, we are handing the reins over to TransLink to do their final preparation and staff training in anticipation of opening day,” said Todd Stone, British Columbia Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “We are in the home stretch to putting this line into operation, and we’re looking forward to the opening of this critical addition to the region’s transportation network.”

With construction completed on the Evergreen extension, TransLink launched its public campaign Nov. 7 to raise awareness of opening day activities and timing for the introduction of new and modified services.

The extension will directly connect to the existing Millennium Line in Burnaby and the regional transit network.

“We are thrilled that our customers and neighbors across the Tri-Cities will soon have more transit choices to seamlessly connect to the Metro Vancouver transit network,” said Kevin Desmond, CEO of TransLink. “We are focused on ensuring a smooth transition for customers and continue to get ready behind the scenes; testing the extension, planning the Community Celebration and preparing for bus integration after Evergreen opens.”