Evergreen building now set for 2011
By Jennifer McFee, Coquitlam NOW May 26, 2010
Construction was supposed to begin in 2010. Now it's slated for spring 2011.
Despite the delays, Transportation Minister Shirley Bond says the Evergreen Line is continuing on course.
"I can understand how people have been waiting for a very long time -- in fact, decades -- for this project. We have made a commitment that they're not going to have to wait any longer. We are going to go to construction next spring," Bond told The NOW.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Gordon Campbell announced federal and provincial funding for the project last February. At that time, both levels of government jointly issued a press release stating that "construction is expected to start in 2010 and be completed by 2014."
But Bond said the important thing is that the preparatory work is underway. Design and environmental assessments have begun, and the procurement phase will start this summer.
"We've made it clear we're going to move forward with the Evergreen Line. We are going to construction next spring. In the meantime, we are continuing to have a discussion with the mayors' council about how we can work together to ensure that the adequate funding is in place," she said.
"We currently have over $800 million on the table from the province and the federal government, and there certainly is a gap in funding. We're having discussions as we speak with the mayors' council to work through how to close that gap."
In spite of funding uncertainties, Bond said the project is going forward. However, she said the mayors' council will need to bring its share to the table as well.
"They recognize -- I'm sure that everyone else does -- what a priority this is, not just for Coquitlam and that area but, in fact, for everyone who would benefit from the use of that line being connected to SkyTrain and ultimately Canada Line," she said.
"Bottom line, we understand how people can feel frustrated. We feel we share some of that frustration, and that's why we've said this is a priority ... We've had some very productive discussions with the mayors' council and we are going to move forward with this project one way or another."
The Evergreen Line remains top priority, Bond said, although planning has also begun for future lines.
"The first project we will be considering, we will be moving forward with, is the Evergreen Line. We are obviously now doing planning and thinking about the UBC and Surrey lines, but there's much work to be done as we prepare for those in the future," she said.
"But in the short term, the Evergreen Line is long past overdue ... we will move forward with this and that's our intent."
As vice-chair of the mayors' council on transportation, Port Moody Mayor Joe Trasolini recently met with Bond and discussed the long-awaited line.
"Sustainable funding and the Evergreen issue need to be resolved fairly quickly. Nobody has the answers yet, but at least we're talking," he said.
Trasolini said he believes the Evergreen Line will be built, adding that TransLink will need new funding options to be sustainable.
"The province is too entrenched in the promise," he said. "To me, it's not a question of happening or not happening. To me, it's a question of how it's going to be paid for. It comes down to the political will."
However, Tri-Cities residents are tired of waiting, Trasolini said.
"I think they're steamed. I think they're throwing their hands up in the air and they're tired of hearing the province say, 'We're committed, we'll build it.' Well when? What if the province gets into political hot water? Aren't they there now? What happens if there's a shift in the priorities?" he asked.
"I think it's too late for that. I think the project in essence is underway -- perhaps not physically, not visibly, but I think that for this or any other government, they would have a hard time mothballing this one now."
Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart is also confident the Evergreen Line is finally on its way.
"Every time I've spoken to the premier about it, he's been tenaciously adamant that it is being designed right now and it will be built on schedule," Stewart said.
But Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore is less optimistic.
"I'll be concerned until the day that the shovel's in the ground. We've got some major hurdles to overcome between now and then, one being financial. We need to be working together to figure out the financial aspects of the project and the ongoing operational costs of the project," Moore said.
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http://www.thenownews.com/news/Evergreen+building+2011/3072697/story.html
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Well when one is taking a bus between the two sectors of the Greater Vancouver region arguably worst serviced by transit, it is no surprise that the ridership is small.
Well said
They said at the very least the line will be built to accomodate a future station in that location (but obviously they would rather have it built for opening day).
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