SkyTrain to UBC and Langley nonetheless not a accomplished deal even with Federal transit funding in place

Metro Vancouver is one cease nearer to SkyTrain arriving in Langley and to UBC however the trains aren’t but within the station.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced plans Wednesday to spend $14.9 billion over the subsequent eight years on public transportation initiatives throughout Canada. This contains $5.9 billion in short-term funding and the remaining goes in the direction of the creation of a everlasting $3 billion per yr transit fund beginning in 2026.

Mayors’ Council chair Jonathan Cote says the cash is way wanted and appreciated however it’s nonetheless unclear how will probably be allotted for main initiatives in Metro Vancouver.

The Mayors’ Council has been advocating for steady federal funding partially to assist the extension of in-progress initiatives together with the Broadway extension to UBC and the Surrey SkyTrain extension into Langley.

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“The satan goes to be in within the particulars, and we don’t have the total particulars of this program but,” Cote stated.

“It’s arduous to reply precisely what the influence will likely be however primarily based on the preliminary announcement, I might say it truly seems actually constructive to having the mayor’s 10-year plan again on observe. And massive initiatives like Sky Practice the Langley I believe may be one of many first large initiatives to probably be assisted by this new fund.”

The extension of the SkyTrain from Surrey into Langley is anticipated to value $3.1 billion. The BC NDP promised to fund the province’s share in the course of the election marketing campaign when Premier John Horgan was re-elected.

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Extending the Broadway SkyTrain from Arbutus all the way in which to UBC is at present projected to value between $3.3 billion to $3.8 billion.

Trudeau made the transit announcement forward of a gathering with the mayors of Canada’s largest cities. The funding just isn’t connected to any particular initiatives and the main points will nonetheless must be labored out between Ottawa and the provinces trying to develop transit.

“I believe the federal announcement right now is welcome information. The Mayor’s Council has been advocating for everlasting transit funds for a number of a number of years, and I believe what’s being offered is a framework to offer steady and predictable partnership with the federal authorities,” Cote stated.

“There nonetheless goes to must be a neighborhood contribution to investments in transportation however these can be the finer particulars that must be continued to be labored out.”

Native contributions have held up transit initiatives in Metro Vancouver earlier than. The Mayors’ Council’s authentic plan for extending the Broadway subway from Business and creating LRT in Surrey was delayed after a failed transit referendum. The province ultimately labored with the municipalities to safe the funding. The LRT line subsequent was became SkyTrain following the municipal elections in 2018.

The Mayors’ Council continues to be awaiting particulars on how funding will work earlier than the annual assist is put in place and the way communities will have the ability to entry the cash.

“I believe on first blush it is vitally encouraging information,” Cote stated.

“I believe you continue to have to be taught extra particulars about exactly when and the way the funding will come to put. But additionally what are a few of the strings connected to the funding.”