Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is the Evergreen Line?
    • The Evergreen Line is a new rapid transit line that will connect Coquitlam to Vancouver via Port Moody and Burnaby.
    • The Evergreen Line will be a fast, frequent and convenient SkyTrain service, connecting Coquitlam City Centre through Port Moody to Lougheed Town Centre in approximately 15 minutes.
    • Construction will start in January 2012
    • The Evergreen Line will be in service in summer 2016
  2. What is the Evergreen Line route?
    • Lougheed/Burquitlam
      The Evergreen Line will run north from Lougheed Town Centre Station on an elevated guideway along the centre of North Road. Burquitlam Station will be on the east side of Clarke Road near Burquitlam Plaza. Leaving Burquitlam Station, the line will cross to the west side of Clarke Road, before entering a tunnel towards Port Moody.
    • Port Moody
      The Evergreen Line will emerge from the tunnel just east of Barnet Highway. It will travel at ground level along the south side of the Canadian Pacific Rail (CPR) tracks to Port Moody Station, located at the Port Moody transit exchange site. Continuing east, the line will cross the CPR tracks just before Ioco Station, located north of Barnet Highway.
    • Coquitlam
      The line will continue along the north side of the CPR tracks towards Coquitlam Central Station, located at the Coquitlam transit exchange site. Turning north, the line will run on an elevated guideway along the west side of Pinetree Way, and will cross to the east side near Northern Avenue, before ending at Douglas College Station, north of Guildford Way.
  3. Where will the stations be?

    There will be six stations when the system opens in the summer of 2016.

    • Lougheed Town Centre Station (Burnaby)
    • Burquitlam Station (Burquitlam)
    • Port Moody Station (Port Moody)
    • Ioco Station (Port Moody)
    • Coquitlam Central Station (Coquitlam)
    • Douglas College Station (Coquitlam)
  4. Will additional stations be built?
    • The Evergreen Line will be designed to allow for future potential stations.
  5. How can I find out more about the Evergreen Project?
    • Visit the Evergreen Line Project Office located at the corner of Barnet Highway and Mariner Way. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 – 4:30 pm.
    • You can contact the Community Relations Team at 604-927-4452. 452.

Evergreen Line Project Status and Cost

  1. How much will the Project cost? Is the funding in place?
    • Capital costs for the Evergreen Line are estimated at $1.4 billion.
    • The Province is contributing $583 million
    • The federal contribution is $417 million
    • TransLink is contributing $400 million
  2. Who will build the Evergreen Line?
    • The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has released the request for proposals (RFP) to design, build and finance the Evergreen Line Rapid Transit Project.
    • Seven teams responded to the request for qualifications (RFQ). After a thorough evaluation of the submissions, three teams were shortlisted:
      EL Partners, Kiewit/Flatiron Evergreen Line, SNC-Lavalin Inc
    • Separate tenders will be issued in the near future for advance works such as road widening, building removal, moving utilities such as electrical and natural gas lines and the relocation of CP Rail tracks. In preparation for construction, advance works are expected to start in early 2012.
  3. Does the Evergreen Line Project need to acquire any property?
    • Yes. Owners and occupants of properties required for the construction of the Evergreen Line have already been contacted. If you wish to speak to a representative about your property, please call the Evergreen Line Project Office at: 604-927-4452.

Evergreen Line Construction

  1. Will construction of the project impact businesses?
    • A key goal of the Evergreen Line Project is to minimize impacts during construction. The Evergreen Line Project is committed to open two-way communication with potentially impacted businesses in the commercial areas of Burnaby, Port Moody and Coquitlam. A Business Liaison Program has been established by the Evergreen Line Project Team to liaise with corridor businesses throughout the Project.
  2. How will you manage traffic during construction?
    • Ensuring effective traffic management during construction is a priority for the Evergreen Line Project.
    • A traffic management plan will be developed with input from stakeholders, and will outline construction hours of work and strategies to minimize disruption and maximize traffic flow predictability for travelers.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

  1. How is the Evergreen Line Project addressing environmental impacts?
    • The Evergreen Line Project underwent an Environmental Assessment Review under the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Act (BCEAA). The Environmental Assessment (EA) includes a full review of potential project-related impacts and proposed mitigation measures and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure must obtain an Environmental Assessment Certificate (EAC) before the Project can proceed.
    • The Environmental Assessment Application outlines the significant social, economic and environmental benefits of the Evergreen Line Project, as well as construction and operational impacts for certain residents and businesses.
    • The following timeline outlines the Environmental Assessment process:
    • February 2011 - Environmental Assessment Certificate issued.
    • Fall 2010 - Assessment Report released.
    • June 30 – August 29, 2010 - Public comment period on the Application for Environmental Assessment Certificate.
    • May 2010 - Evergreen Line Project submitted its Environmental Assessment Certificate Application and supporting studies to the EAO for internal review.
    • September – October 2009 - 30-day Public Comment Period on the Evergreen Line Draft Application Information Requirements, which specified the studies to be conducted.
    • May 2009 - Evergreen Line Project Description Report filed.

      For more information please see the Environmental Assessment Review section of the website.

Technology

  1. Why was the technology for the Evergreen Line changed from Light Rail Transit (LRT) to Advanced Light Rapid Transit (ALRT)?
    • The Business Case, released February 1, 2008, recommends Advanced Light Rapid Transit (ALRT) because it:
    • will carry two and a half times the ridership of LRT (based on 2021 ridership modelling), ensuring it will meet current and future demand and support The Provincial Transit Plan goal of doubling ridership by 2020;
    • will enable faster travel times and can operate with greater frequency; and
    • will seamlessly connect to the current SkyTrain Millennium Line, regional buses and West Coast Express network and move people almost twice as fast as LRT technology.
    • ALRT will have significantly lower operating costs as compared to LRT technology.
  2. What is the difference between Advanced Light Rapid Transit (ALRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT)?
    • ALRT (SkyTrain) is automated and driverless and runs primarily along an elevated guideway, thus avoiding the potential for conflict with vehicular traffic inherent with at-grade LRT operations particularly at intersections. ALRT has greater capacity than LRT and also provides the opportunity for full integration with the existing SkyTrain system which would eliminate the need for passengers to transfer at Lougheed Station.
    • LRT (Light Rail Transit) is a driver-operated system. Vehicles operate within a largely at-grade and segregated right-of-way with grade-level crossings at intersections requiring signal priority.

Consultation

  1. How have the communities along the Evergreen route been consulted?
    • All five rounds of consultation have been completed:
    • Route Selection Consultation: March-April, 2008
    • Environmental Assessment - Public comment period on the Draft Application Information Requirements: September 2009
    • Preliminary Design Consultation: October 5 – November 13, 2009
    • Environmental Assessment- Public comment period on the Application for Environmental Assessment Certificate: June 30-August 29, 2010
    • Station Area Design Consultation: October 4 - November 5, 2010
    • For more information, please see the Public Consultation section of the website