BC Government Announces Delays in SkyTrain Expansion

(Image courtesy of CBC)

On Monday, the BC government gave an update about the SkyTrain Millennium Line extension, a project that is currently underway with six new underground stations being built in Vancouver. Originally scheduled to be completed in 2025, the government has now stated that the expected date of completion is 2027. The project has cost taxpayers a total of nearly three billion dollars.

The lagging progress also means that many commuters in the area have to rely on the 99 B-Line bus route to get to a SkyTrain station, seeing tens of thousands of commuters every day and making it one of the busiest bus routes in North America. Busier than some routes in more populated cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and even New York City. More buses also means more vehicles on the road, which results in longer traffic jams during rush hour.

UBC SkyTrain Station Not On the Horizon

One of the main attractions of the expansion was that it could be a precursor to a potential SkyTrain to the UBC campus. Many students commute by bus or car to the school, and the expansion of the SkyTrain could not only alleviate traffic congestion but also reduce pressure on the local housing market.

However, those plans are going to have to wait as BC Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth stated that a UBC station was a “future project” and that “[a]t this point right now, it (the extension) is to Arbutus.” Farnworth did not give a timetable for a UBC station. Current construction means that some areas have been faced with loud noises and traffic inconveniences for years now, with more to come. Some local businesses are even being forced to shut down due to reduced foot traffic, putting financial strain on their balance sheets.

Millennium Line Joins Long List of Lagging Projects

The Millennium Line extension joins many other infrastructure projects in the city that face harsh delays, such as the Highway 1 Corridor Improvement Program, the new development of the Massey Tunnel, and the SkyTrain extension of the Expo Line to Langley.

As Vancouver continues to grow, the city will need public infrastructure to support its people. Under the current construction schedules, it appears that infrastructure will come later rather than sooner.