Evergreen Line (Trans Link) - History

History

Originally, a rapid-transit line going into Coquitlam was intended to be part of the new Millennium Line that was completed in 2002. As the costs of the project rose, however, the plans to build the extension to the new line into Coquitlam were halted, though not before a third incomplete platform on the westbound side of the Lougheed Town Centre station was built, with a spur of tracks for the extension.

After completion of the Millennium Line, TransLink has undertaken several studies regarding the fate of the Coquitlam line, considering a variety of possible options including a diesel multiple unit-based railway, a tram line, a new SkyTrain line, and an express bus service. In September 2002, the 97 B-Line express bus service was implemented. Eventually, in 2004, it was decided that a tram line was the best option, as it would better blend in with the neighbourhood, cost less, better fit the ridership patterns and not compete with customers from the existing West Coast Express.

Detailed design began in October 2006, when the TransLink Board approved the Evergreen Light Rail Transit (LRT) project definition phase. Despite a series of public consultations held during this period, in a community update issued May 2007, TransLink summarized the state of the project as follows: “Work continues to resolve several outstanding issues before the project proceeds. Until there is project certainty, the planned consultation process in support of detailed design, the planned submission of the Application for an Environmental Assessment Certificate and the anticipated start date of the project construction are delayed.” This prompted local news agencies to interpret the statement as meaning TransLink had shelved the project. TransLink responded by issuing the following statement on July 19: "The Light Rail Transit system for the Northeast Sector is the number one rapid transit priority for TransLink,” TransLink Chair Malcolm Brodie said. “We have defined the project, and now we are waiting for funding to be confirmed from senior levels of government.

On February 1, 2008, the provincial government and TransLink unveiled a revised business case for the Evergreen Line, preferring the Advanced Light Rapid Transit (ALRT) currently used by SkyTrain over the previously accepted light-rail technology. However, the expected completion date has been pushed back from 2011 to 2014. On April 18, 2008, the Transport Ministry and TransLink announced that of the two routes proposed in the business case, the North West route was selected after consultation with the various municipalities. On August 5, 2008, The Province of British Columbia and TransLink agreed on Evergreen line delivery. On May 4, 2009, the Ministry of Transportation released a Project Description Report for the Evergreen Line. The report provided more information about the scope and characteristics of the proposed line, and detailed the project's environmental and socio-economic requirements.

On September 3, 2009, the release of the report on TransLink's 2010 10-year Plan by Martin Crilly, the Regional Transportation Commissioner appointed by the Province of BC, has indicated that rapid transit expansion, which includes the Evergreen Line, is highly unlikely without a predictable source of operational funding. Although he stopped short of offering his opinion on the project, he agreed nonetheless with TransLink that upgrades to the existing system should be placed before the construction of the Evergreen Line.

On September 11, 2009, the second project update was released by the Evergreen Line Project. The update stated that contractor selection will begin in early-to-mid 2010, environmental assessment to be completed in 2010, with construction to proceed in late 2010. The update also announced open houses for the environmental assessment process for September 2009 and open houses for preliminary design in October and November 2009. The project update did not make reference to the funding issues that remain unresolved.

On October 26, 2009, the TransLink Mayors' Council voted against the increasing funding necessary to pursue the Evergreen Line expansion, instead voting for keeping existing services as they are. However on October 28, 2009, Premier Gordon Campbell stated that the line will continue even though it had been voted down.

On October 7, 2011, the Mayor's Council approved the "Moving Forward" 2012 Supplemental Plan to fund various transportation projects in the Metro Vancouver region, including the Evergreen Line. Funding will be provided in part by a two-cents-per-litre increase in the Metro Vancouver fuel tax that was implemented in April 2012, with further funding from new sources that have yet to be determined. Of the projected $1.4 billion cost for the Evergreen Line, TransLink will provide $400 million, provincial government will contribute $583 million and the federal government will contribute $417 million. Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom announced construction is expected to begin in summer 2012, soon after a winning bid for construction is chosen from three shortlisted builders.

As of May 2012, preliminary construction is currently underway, including the removal of some buildings and the construction of underground utility tunnels in certain areas of Port Moody and Coquitlam. At the same time, the province also awarded contracts to widen sections of North Road that are to be affected by construction of the actual line in the middle of the year.

On July 19, 2012, the Canadian Federal Government, the City of Coquitlam, and Coquitlam Centre Mall reached an agreement to add Lincoln Station onto the Evergreen Line, with Ottawa contributing CAD$7 million to the public-private partnership initiative.

On October 4, 2012, SNC-Lavalin was chosen as the primary contractor to construct the Evergreen Line.