Millennium Line - Evergreen Extension | Completed

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From the NOW:

Province stresses Evergreen progress, PoCo skeptical

Jennifer McFee
Coquitlam NOW


Wednesday, September 30, 2009


The Evergreen Line may seem stalled, but the province asserts the project will continue to move forward on track.

Construction is slated to begin in late 2010, creating about 8,000 new jobs during the four-year building period.

The provincial government has committed $410 million to build the 11-kilometre rapid transit line, while the federal government is contributing nearly $417 million. TransLink is supposed to contribute another $400 million, but spokesperson Ken Hardie recently said the regional body doesn't have its share of capital funds.

Despite TransLink's funding woes, Transportation Minister Shirley Bond said the province is fully committed to delivering the Evergreen Line.

"Project development is well underway including design, engineering and environmental studies, as well as public consultation," Bond told The NOW via e-mail.

"TransLink agreed to be a partner in the Evergreen Line project, and we are prepared to work with TransLink and the council of mayors to make this project a reality within the current economic climate."

But Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore said the Evergreen Line isn't included in funding options provided by TransLink's board for the mayors' council to vote on at the end of October.

"Evergreen Line is not part of our decision. It's very frustrating that we don't even have the ability to make that choice to approve the Evergreen Line, even though we have all of this capital money just sitting there," Moore said.

"The mayors' committee's only role is basically to approve a budget. We don't have any say into what's in the budget. We don't have any say into how the organization is operated or even how the money is spent at the end of the day."

Moore said TransLink's current governance model isn't working and should be revisited.

"There needs to be a review of the governance because here we are with a great opportunity. Everybody's at the table for the Evergreen Line, but we don't get to choose whether we have it or not," he said.

"Shirley Bond and the premier have said it's going to get built. Now we need to learn how it's going to get built and who's going to take it over because TransLink, as it sits right now, has not put it forward as an option in their 10-year plan.

"I think it's important that people know ... it's the TransLink board of directors that has decided not to include it as a funding option for us."

The public has several options to provide their input on project developments. Tri-Cities residents can provide their opinions until Oct. 16 on what information or studies should be included in the project's environmental assessment process. Comments can be sent by e-mail to [email protected], by fax to 250-356-6448 or by mail to the Environmental Assessment Office in Victoria. Information on the environmental assessment process is available at www.eao.gov.bc.ca.

Next month, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will seek public input on preliminary project designs. Between Oct. 17 and Nov. 7, seven open house events will take place across the Tri-Cities to gather feedback. Details are posted online at www.evergreenline.gov.bc.ca.

[email protected]

© Coquitlam Now 2009