Canada Line
Encyclopedia
Canada Line is a rapid transit
line in the Metro Vancouver region of British Columbia
, Canada
. Opened in August 2009, it is the third line in TransLink's SkyTrain
metro network, servicing Vancouver
, Richmond
, and the Vancouver International Airport
. It is coloured turquoise on route maps.
The Canada Line comprises 19.2 kilometres (11.8 mi) of track; the main line goes from Vancouver to Richmond, while a 4 km spur line from Bridgeport Station connects to the airport. Originally scheduled to open on November 30, 2009, it opened fifteen weeks ahead of the original schedule, well in advance of the 2010 Winter Olympics
in the following February.
The Canada Line was anticipated to see 100,000 boardings per day in 2013, and 142,000 boardings per day by 2021, but it has consistently exceeded early targets. Ridership has grown steadily since opening day, with average ridership of 83,000/day in September 2009; 105,000/day in March 2010, and 110,000/day in February 2011. During the 2010 Winter Olympics, the line's ridership increased a further 118 per cent to an average of 228,190 per day over the 17-day event.
Governance of the project was through Canada Line Rapid Transit Inc. (CLCO), formerly RAV Project Management Ltd. (RAVCO, a reflection of the original "Richmond-Airport-Vancouver" name). The line was built by SNC-Lavalin
, which will also operate it for 35 years. The Canada Line is operationally independent from SkyTrain's Expo and Millennium
lines, but is considered part of the SkyTrain network as it is also light metro rapid transit, using fully automated trains on grade-separated guideways.
. It quickly transitions into twin bored tunnels, heading southwest beneath Granville Street, then curving southeast to follow Davie Street through Yaletown
. The tunnels then dive deeper to pass below False Creek
before rising back up to Olympic Village Station
(2.7 km). There, the line transitions back to a cut-and-cover tunnel (which is noted by the tunnel going from being circular to square shaped) heading south under Cambie Street
, some portions of which have the two sets of tracks stacked vertically on separate levels. The line finally emerges from the ground just south of 64th Avenue, climbing to an elevated guideway.
The line continues elevated across the North Arm Bridge
over the North Arm of the Fraser River
, leaving Vancouver and entering Richmond. Just beyond Bridgeport Station (11.1 km), the line splits, with the Richmond branch heading south on elevated tracks along No. 3 Road and terminating at Richmond–Brighouse Station (14.5 km). The airport branch turns west and crosses the Middle Arm Bridge
over the Middle Arm of the Fraser River, connecting to stations on Sea Island and terminating at YVR–Airport Station (15.0 km). Portions of the airport branch are at-grade in order to accommodate a future elevated taxiway for aircraft over the line. Both branches narrow to a single track as they approach their respective terminus stations. Just before the Bridgeport Station is the OMC (Operations and Maintenance Centre) facility which houses the trains when not in use.
Each station along the Canada Line is slightly different in appearance, and designed to blend in with the surrounding neighbourhood. For example, Langara – 49th Avenue Station is designed to fit into the area's low density residential neighbourhood.
The five busiest stations have platforms 50 metres long, while the rest of the stations have 40 metre platforms that can be easily extended to 50 metres. The YVR terminus and the Richmond-Brighouse terminus are single-tracked, whereas Waterfront Station terminus is double-tracked. The double tracking is necessary to accommodate the 3 minute headways between trains on the Waterfront-Bridgeport portion of the line. King Edward Station is the only station with a stacked configuration and Broadway – City Hall Station is the only station with a double height ceiling over the platforms. Vancouver City Centre Station
is linked to Pacific Centre Mall
and Vancouver Centre Mall in addition to having street level access. All direct transfers to the Expo and Millennium Lines must be made at Waterfront Station; there is no direct connection from Vancouver City Centre Station to Granville Station. However, it is possible to transfer between those two stations via a short walk through Pacific Centre or Vancouver Centre Mall.
Stations were configured to allow for the future installation of fare gates, and will be receiving fare gates for 2013 as part of full implementation throughout all SkyTrain stations. Every station has an up-escalator and elevator, but only the three terminal stations have down-escalators.
to Vancouver International Airport
split from the main line after Bridgeport Station, stopping at:
A future station at Capstan Way (No. 3 Road and Capstan Way) in Richmond was originally planned, but was cancelled in March 2009. Pinnacle International and Concord Pacific, the developers of the Sun Tech City project couldn't fund the $15 million required to build the station. The developers could only offer $1 million up front, but this sum was deemed unacceptable by TransLink and the City of Richmond. Despite this, provisions for the station were engineered into the track and Richmond city council expects this station to be built at some point in the future. The Richmond Official Community Plan envisions an "Artists District" of medium density, mixed-use development surrounding the future station.
A large number of transit services connect with the Canada Line and form an important part of the service. With the opening of the line, most bus routes in Richmond, as well as connecting services from White Rock, Tsawwassen, and Ladner, are doubling their service frequency. Waterfront Station provides connections to the Expo and Millennium
Lines, West Coast Express
and SeaBus
. Broadway – City Hall provides a connection to 99 B-Line
service.
Except for night service, when trains are not running, there is no longer any TransLink bus service to the airport. The Airport Station
bus loop was closed on September 7, 2009, a few weeks after the opening of the line. Bus routes that used this loop were discontinued (as in the case of the 424 and the 98 B-Line
), short-turned (as in the case of the 100, renamed 100 Marpole Loop), or were being redirected to Bridgeport Station (as in the case of the 620, C90 and C92).
There are proposals to extend SkyTrain west along Broadway
from VCC-Clark Station towards UBC, allowing for a transfer to the Canada Line at Broadway–City Hall Station. As indicated in material presented by the City of Vancouver at public meetings in early 2006, this station was designed with such a future extension in mind. A "knock-out" panel was installed in the concourse that would allow them to easily build a connection between the station and a Broadway-corridor SkyTrain extension towards UBC.
The Canada Line uses the same fare system as the rest of the transit system managed by TransLink, with two exceptions. The YVR AddFare, started in January 2010, is an additional surcharge that applies for some passengers leaving the airport and travelling beyond Bridgeport Station. Passengers headed away from the airport who are using non-prepaid fares must pay a $5 AddFare on top of the regular fare. Travel between the Sea Island stations is free to everyone. There is no additional fare for anyone travelling towards the airport. Passengers using prepaid fare media (FareCards, FareSavers, or DayPasses) will not be required to pay any additional fare when travelling either toward or away from the airport. Prepaid transit passes can be purchased at the 7-Eleven and Pharmasave on the bottom level of the domestic terminal.
Until faregate installation is complete in 2013, Canada Line operates on a "Fare Paid Zone" system. This means passengers are required by law to have a valid fare when they enter the Fare Paid Zone. Fare Paid Zones are clearly marked and fares can be bought from Ticket Vending Machines prior to entering the Fare Paid Zone. Fare Inspections are mostly conducted by the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service. Passengers who fail to pay the fare or do not have a valid fare could be fined $173 and/or removed from the station/train.
Transit Security Officers occasionally inspect fares at Canada Line Stations as part of TransLink's Fare Audit. Transit Security Officers mostly focus their efforts on the bus system, bus loops, and Seabus.
Canada Line Attendants are the customer service staff for the Canada Line. They are easily identifiable by their green livery. Canada Line Attendants provide customer service, troubleshoot certain problems with the trains, observe and report safety issues, and check fares.
Canada Line uses a fleet of trains built by Rotem, a division of Hyundai
Motor Group. They are powered by conventional electric motors, rather than the linear induction motor
s used by the Expo and Millennium Line's Bombardier ART
trains. Canada Line trains are operated by the same SelTrac automated train control system also used in the rest of the SkyTrain network.
The selection of Rotem was largely a consequence of the Request for Proposals process for the Public-Private Partnership, whose terms did not allow Bombardier to consider efficiencies in combining operations or rolling-stock orders for the new line with those for the existing system. This placed all bidders on a level playing field, albeit at the cost of not necessarily picking the most efficient choice for long-term operation. The RFP also required that the system have an ultimate capacity of 15,000 passengers per hour per direction (leaving the choice of technology and platform length to the proponent) and required a maximum travel time between YVR and downtown Vancouver of 24 minutes.
The fleet consists of 20 fully automated 2-car articulated trains, for a total of 40 cars. The capacity of the trains is estimated at 334 people per car (comfortably), or 400 people at crush load. The trains have a top speed of 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph) in normal operation, or 90 km/h in catch-up mode. Each married pair of gangway-connected cars is 41 metres long and 3 metres wide, similar in dimensions to Ottawa
's O-Train
, and are longer and wider than the Bombardier ART fleet used on the Expo and Millennium lines. Each train has exterior LED electronic displays, on the exterior to indicate terminus station, and on the interior to display the next station and the terminus station; a useful feature, considering the line has two branches.
, continuing the practice by which the Expo and Millennium lines were named after significant events occurring at the time of construction. This name was subsequently adopted for the demonstrator modern-streetcar
service which operated along the Downtown Historic Railway
for a two-month period centred on the Olympics.
. Funding was provided by both government agencies and a private partner, the proponent. As of March 2009, the entire project was expected to cost $2.054 billion. The premier of BC has furthermore stated that the project is on budget and ahead of schedule. When approved in December 2004 the cost was given as $1.76 billion.
The public contributions to the budget comes from the following sources:
These sums are all in 2006 dollars, except for the Government of Canada's contribution which will be paid out when constructed, and is estimated to be equivalent of $419 million 2003 dollars.
The private partner was expected to contribute $200 million, as well as being responsible for any construction cost overruns. As of November 7, 2009, InTransitBC has invested $750 million. InTransitBC is a joint venture company owned by SNC-Lavalin, the Investment Management Corporation of BC (bcIMC) and the Caisse de Depot et Placements de Quebec.
The British Columbia government initially committed $370 million but when the bid came in over budget, they contributed an extra $65 million. TransLink also put in extra money by committing money from the sale of the Sexsmith Park and Ride in Richmond and from the introduction of a special fare in the Airport Zone.
In November 2004, bid costs were reduced by postponing the construction of a walkway between Waterfront Station and the Cruise Ship terminal, by removing Westminster Station and moving Richmond Center Station and the end of the line several hundred metres north. TransLink would further pay for the cost of reinstallation of the trolley wires along Cambie. As a way to further reduce the Best and Final Offer, RAVCO no longer required that the proponent provide for 59 ticket vending machines and 38 ticket validating machines, or for a police unit to operate on the RAV line. RAVCO also shifted responsibility for moving trolley wires from SNC-Lavalin to TransLink. Costs were also decreased due to decisions to single track sections on the Richmond and Airport Branches. The Richmond branch was single tracked from Ackroyd Road onwards in large part due to Richmond City Council pressuring for the visual profile of the overhead line to be reduced for aesthetic reasons.
On July 11, 2006, decision is made to relocate Broadway station half a block north at a cost of $3 million to allow for better integration of the station with Broadway and a new development in the area. The funding is provided as follows: one third from the city of Vancouver, one third from TransLink, and one third from surplus funding available to CLCO.
In February 2007 TransLink approved the addition of a pedestrian and bike path to the Canada Line Bridge and agreed not to postpone the construction of a station at 2nd Avenue (Olympic Village Station), but instead build it to be ready when the line opens. The $10 million cost of the bridge bike path is paid for by TransLink and is not considered part of the cost of the Canada Line. The Olympic Village Station will cost an additional $29 million.
RAVCO was set up by the agencies funding the transit line to oversee project design, procurement, construction and implementation. This TransLink subsidiary, later renamed Canada Line Rapid Transit Inc (CLCO), made distributions to the builder as work progressed.
The table below lists the year by year contributions (in million dollars) made by various partner governments on a year by year basis up to December 31, 2008: Contributions by TransLink are total disbursements minus contributions by the City of Vancouver, the government of British Columbia and the government of Canada. Calculations show that TransLink has contributed $271 million to date. It has committed an additional $52 million in its 2009 budget.
The private sector will operate the line for 35 years in return for a share in the operating revenue of the line.
Early 2006, TransLink decided not to install turnstiles at Canada Line stations, but stations would be designed to accommodate controlled access to allow TransLink to install them for less cost if it wished to do so in the future. On April 9, 2009, TransLink, the Provincial Government, and the Government of Canada announced joint funding of $100 million to introduce turnstiles at all 49 SkyTrain stations. While a large portion of this funding will be used on the Expo and Millennium Line, a portion will be used on the Canada Line stations. The federal government is contributing $30 million and the province is adding $40 million, which will go to what it calls faregates, or controlled access gate.
The line comprises the following construction elements:
In addition to the 18.4 kilometres of track above, there is about 500 metres of track in the OMC.
was not credible.
, Vancouver General Hospital
, Oakridge Centre, and Langara College
that are necessary to provide the ridership required for this project to be successful. Also the Arbutus corridor is longer than the Cambie corridor and would cause longer travel times. Cambie corridor further had greater potential for future ridership growth.
The Project Definition Report further specified that any service be able to travel from Waterfront station in Downtown Vancouver to the Airport in 25 minutes or less. At-grade transit, either along Cambie or the Arbutus corridor was ruled out as a result. The reason or origin for this exact requirement was not specified, although travel times were considered an important factor in attracting new riders and in retaining existing riders who were now required to make an extra transfer relative to the existing bus service.
All partner contributions were made upon the specifications set in the Project Definition Report. Any "significant change" would allow each partner to reconsider their respective contribution. As the Arbutus corridor proposal could not meet the specifications this could put participation of funding partners in jeopardy.
Residents along Cambie Boulevard created the Cambie Boulevard Heritage Society in 1994 which opposed any alteration to a wide green center median that is currently a grassy area with various species of trees including cherry trees donated by the city of Yokohama on occasion of the 1967 Canadian Centennial. The residents had already been mobilized in 1989 in response to the possibility of elevated rail along Cambie Boulevard. In effect the residents were opposed to surface, trench or elevated rail along much of Cambie Street. Even cut and cover raised concerns over construction impact and temporary traffic diversions. Cost and ridership risk were also concerns to property tax-paying residents. Ads asked residents to join "to prevent Vancouver's worst traffic nightmare and from burdening ourselves and our children with unnecessary tax risks for years to come". The society suggested that the line instead be constructed along Arbutus where its impact and cost would be minimal. Despite the concerns of the Society, one of the final two proposals for the Canada Line in 2004 involved a trench in the center of Cambie Street from 49th to 64th avenue.
On June 18, 2004, the TransLink Board voted 6–6 to oppose sending the project to the "Best and Final Offer" stage. Opponents to the project were favouring a proposal to build a line along the Cambie corridor involving a minimal amount of tunneling at a saving of about $300 million over the previously fully grade separated proposal. The province responded to the suggestion by withdrawing funding until after the 2010 Olympics; the Minister of Transport Kevin Falcon said that such a change of scope could no longer be accommodated in the time left before 2010. Mayors and councillors sitting on the TransLink Board, however, could not come to an agreement on this alternate plan of action. The impasse created a stir in the business community with business community joining together and calling for the province to take over control of the RAV project. "The Coalition FOR a Lower Mainland Rapid Transit Solution" in a newspaper ad called on the premier to "please rescue our rapid transit". The Vancouver Board of Trade and the Council of Tourism Associations, and Tourism Vancouver lead the call on the premier. While the board ultimately voted to proceed, the incident had lasting repercussions for the TransLink organization.
Objections to the elevated line included its visual impact, and the impact and cost of any extensions into Richmond. The line would have varied impact on businesses along No. 3 Road.
It was said that an at-grade option would cost an extra $90 million due to the need to purchase cars that could accommodate drivers. In order to meet travel-time criteria it was also argued that several intersections would need to be closed. It was also said that an at-grade-option would require a large wall to protect the track along No. 3 Road.
In November 2004, a survey of 11,750 people was conducted by RAVCO to determine if people in Richmond supported an elevated or at-grade service in Richmond. 58 percent of the respondents favoured an elevated option.
Even after the survey, however, another option was brought forward. On November 22, 2004, Richmond council considered whether an elevated guideway along No. 3 Road in Richmond was appropriate. If an at-grade service was not feasible, council had instructed staff to look into the possibility of relocating the elevated guideway further west along Minoru Boulevard. In response, residents along Minoru Boulevard presented a petition containing 666 signatures opposing the Minoru alignment. In the petition they "indicated that if Translink and RAVCO were not prepared to construct an at-grade system on No. 3 Road, then the project should be abandoned in favour of bus service on No. 3 Road."
When further surveys and public consultation conducted by city staff in December indicated that residents did not support the realignment along Minoru Boulevard, council was left to either turn down the development or support the Best and Final Offer. They chose to go ahead with the project. As a final compromise, part of the elevated track in Richmond was single tracked to reduce visual impact.
For the entire consultation process it was assumed that any underground construction along the Cambie corridor would be by bored tunnel. It was only upon the publication of the winning bid that it became apparent that the portion of the line from 64th avenue to 2nd avenue would be constructed using cut and cover construction. This raised concern over the disruption of local business on Cambie Street
. Business in Yaletown
and No. 3 Road in Richmond would also be affected by the construction. Although construction in the Downtown was mostly by bored tunnel, businesses in Yaletown were caught off-guard when it turned out that Yaletown-Roundhouse Station would be north of Pacific Boulevard on Davie Street, rather than to the south of Pacific Boulevard. InTransitBC responded by launching an advertising campaign promoting local business on the line. Despite these efforts businesses on Cambie Street experienced significant loss of business. After numerous failed appeals to the provincial government for compensation, store operators unsuccessfully sued for compensation. However, since the completion of the Canada Line, it has been linked to rising property values along Cambie Street and in Richmond.
. In addition, the Evergreen Line rapid transit project was delayed (until 2016). As TransLink is solely responsible for funding bus operations, any shortage of funding may translate into cuts in bus service.
On November 13, 2007, the BC Human Rights Tribunal ruled that a group of Latin-American workers had been intimidated from being represented in a union by the Canada Line contractors. The tribunal found that the workers were forced to sign a petition in the fear of possibly losing future job prospects with their employer. The petition would have prevented them from being represented by a union before the tribunal, and it would also have created evidence that could have jeopardized the ongoing investigation by the tribunal over perceived inequalities between foreign and domestic workers.
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
line in the Metro Vancouver region of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Opened in August 2009, it is the third line in TransLink's SkyTrain
SkyTrain (Vancouver)
SkyTrain is a light rapid transit system in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. SkyTrain has of track and uses fully automated trains on grade-separated tracks, running mostly on elevated guideways, which helps SkyTrain to hold consistently high on-time reliability...
metro network, servicing Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Richmond
Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond is a coastal city, incorporated in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Part of Metro Vancouver, its neighbouring communities are Vancouver and Burnaby to the north, New Westminster to the east, and Delta to the south, while the Strait of Georgia forms its western border...
, and the Vancouver International Airport
Vancouver International Airport
Vancouver International Airport is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, about from Downtown Vancouver. In 2010 it was the second busiest airport in Canada by aircraft movements and passengers , behind Toronto Pearson International Airport, with non-stop flights daily to...
. It is coloured turquoise on route maps.
The Canada Line comprises 19.2 kilometres (11.8 mi) of track; the main line goes from Vancouver to Richmond, while a 4 km spur line from Bridgeport Station connects to the airport. Originally scheduled to open on November 30, 2009, it opened fifteen weeks ahead of the original schedule, well in advance of the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
in the following February.
The Canada Line was anticipated to see 100,000 boardings per day in 2013, and 142,000 boardings per day by 2021, but it has consistently exceeded early targets. Ridership has grown steadily since opening day, with average ridership of 83,000/day in September 2009; 105,000/day in March 2010, and 110,000/day in February 2011. During the 2010 Winter Olympics, the line's ridership increased a further 118 per cent to an average of 228,190 per day over the 17-day event.
Governance of the project was through Canada Line Rapid Transit Inc. (CLCO), formerly RAV Project Management Ltd. (RAVCO, a reflection of the original "Richmond-Airport-Vancouver" name). The line was built by SNC-Lavalin
SNC-Lavalin
SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. is a large Canadian engineering firm. It is one of the ten largest engineering firms in the world and is based in Montreal, Quebec. It formed in 1991 from the merger of SNC and the failing Lavalin, another Quebec based engineering firm....
, which will also operate it for 35 years. The Canada Line is operationally independent from SkyTrain's Expo and Millennium
Millennium Line
The Millennium Line is the second rapid transit line built in the SkyTrain light metro rapid transit system in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The line is owned and operated by TransLink. Millennium Line uses the colour yellow on route maps, wayfinding and station signage.-History:When...
lines, but is considered part of the SkyTrain network as it is also light metro rapid transit, using fully automated trains on grade-separated guideways.
Route
The Canada Line begins in Downtown Vancouver at Waterfront Station (0.0 km) in a cut-and-cover subway tunnel beneath Granville StreetGranville Street
Granville Street is a major street in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and part of Highway 99.-Location:Granville Street runs generally north-south through the centre of Vancouver, passing through several neighbourhoods and commercial areas, differing appreciably in their land value and the...
. It quickly transitions into twin bored tunnels, heading southwest beneath Granville Street, then curving southeast to follow Davie Street through Yaletown
Yaletown
Yaletown is an area of Downtown Vancouver approximately bordered by False Creek, Robson, and Homer Streets. Formerly a heavy industrial area dominated by warehouses and rail yards, since the Expo 86, it has been transformed into one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in the city...
. The tunnels then dive deeper to pass below False Creek
False Creek
False Creek is a short inlet in the heart of Vancouver. It separates downtown from the rest of the city. It was named by George Henry Richards during his Hydrographic survey of 1856-63. Science World is located at its eastern end and the Burrard Street Bridge crosses its western end. False Creek is...
before rising back up to Olympic Village Station
Olympic Village Station
Olympic Village Station is a SkyTrain station on the Canada Line in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The use of the term "Olympic" has been licensed for use by the International Olympic Committee.-Location:...
(2.7 km). There, the line transitions back to a cut-and-cover tunnel (which is noted by the tunnel going from being circular to square shaped) heading south under Cambie Street
Cambie Street
Cambie Street is a street in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is named for Henry John Cambie, chief surveyor of the Canadian Pacific Railway's western division ....
, some portions of which have the two sets of tracks stacked vertically on separate levels. The line finally emerges from the ground just south of 64th Avenue, climbing to an elevated guideway.
The line continues elevated across the North Arm Bridge
North Arm Bridge
The North Arm Bridge is an extradosed bridge in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It spans the north arm of the Fraser River, linking Vancouver to Richmond. It is used by trains on the Canada Line, which opened in August 2009...
over the North Arm of the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
, leaving Vancouver and entering Richmond. Just beyond Bridgeport Station (11.1 km), the line splits, with the Richmond branch heading south on elevated tracks along No. 3 Road and terminating at Richmond–Brighouse Station (14.5 km). The airport branch turns west and crosses the Middle Arm Bridge
Middle Arm Bridge
The Middle Arm Bridge is one of 3 transit-only bridges in Metro Vancouver. It spans the middle arm of the Fraser River, linking Lulu Island with the Vancouver International Airport on Sea Island...
over the Middle Arm of the Fraser River, connecting to stations on Sea Island and terminating at YVR–Airport Station (15.0 km). Portions of the airport branch are at-grade in order to accommodate a future elevated taxiway for aircraft over the line. Both branches narrow to a single track as they approach their respective terminus stations. Just before the Bridgeport Station is the OMC (Operations and Maintenance Centre) facility which houses the trains when not in use.
Stations
Station construction was designed as a two-stage process. Sixteen original stations opened at the same time as the line itself. Three additional stations are planned for, and may be built in the future. The stations are listed below.Each station along the Canada Line is slightly different in appearance, and designed to blend in with the surrounding neighbourhood. For example, Langara – 49th Avenue Station is designed to fit into the area's low density residential neighbourhood.
The five busiest stations have platforms 50 metres long, while the rest of the stations have 40 metre platforms that can be easily extended to 50 metres. The YVR terminus and the Richmond-Brighouse terminus are single-tracked, whereas Waterfront Station terminus is double-tracked. The double tracking is necessary to accommodate the 3 minute headways between trains on the Waterfront-Bridgeport portion of the line. King Edward Station is the only station with a stacked configuration and Broadway – City Hall Station is the only station with a double height ceiling over the platforms. Vancouver City Centre Station
Vancouver City Centre Station
Vancouver City Centre Station is a SkyTrain station on the Canada Line in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.-Location:Vancouver City Centre Station is located on Granville Street, between West Georgia Street and Robson Street in Downtown Vancouver...
is linked to Pacific Centre Mall
Pacific Centre
Pacific Centre is a shopping mall located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is operated by Cadillac Fairview Corporation. Based on the number of stores, many of which are underground, it is the largest mall in Downtown Vancouver with over 100 stores and services...
and Vancouver Centre Mall in addition to having street level access. All direct transfers to the Expo and Millennium Lines must be made at Waterfront Station; there is no direct connection from Vancouver City Centre Station to Granville Station. However, it is possible to transfer between those two stations via a short walk through Pacific Centre or Vancouver Centre Mall.
Stations were configured to allow for the future installation of fare gates, and will be receiving fare gates for 2013 as part of full implementation throughout all SkyTrain stations. Every station has an up-escalator and elevator, but only the three terminal stations have down-escalators.
Vancouver section
All Vancouver stations are underground except Marine Drive which is elevated.- WaterfrontWaterfront Station (Vancouver)Waterfront Station is a major intermodal public transportation facility and the main transit terminus in Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.-Location:...
(Granville Street between Pender and Hastings) - Vancouver City CentreVancouver City Centre StationVancouver City Centre Station is a SkyTrain station on the Canada Line in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.-Location:Vancouver City Centre Station is located on Granville Street, between West Georgia Street and Robson Street in Downtown Vancouver...
(Granville Street at Georgia Street) - Yaletown–Roundhouse (Davie Street near Mainland Street)
- Olympic VillageOlympic Village StationOlympic Village Station is a SkyTrain station on the Canada Line in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The use of the term "Olympic" has been licensed for use by the International Olympic Committee.-Location:...
(Cambie Street at West 2nd Avenue) - Broadway – City Hall (Cambie Street at West Broadway)
- King EdwardKing Edward StationKing Edward Station is a SkyTrain station on the Canada Line in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The station is designed to accommodate the future construction of a transit-connected development over the station entrance.-Location:...
(Cambie Street at King Edward Avenue) - Oakridge – 41st Avenue (Cambie Street at West 41st Avenue, next to Oakridge Centre)
- Langara – 49th Avenue (Cambie Street at West 49th Avenue, near Langara CollegeLangara CollegeLangara College is a public degree-granting college in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada which serves approximately 20,000 students annually through its university, career, and continuing studies programs...
) - Marine DriveMarine Drive StationMarine Drive Station is a SkyTrain station on the Canada Line in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.-Location:The station is located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Southwest Marine Drive and Cambie Street. It serves the residential areas of Marpole and the Vancouver South Slope...
(Cambie Street southside of Southwest Marine Drive)
Richmond section
Trains outbound to Richmond's commercial centre stop at:- Bridgeport (River Road at Great Canadian Way, adjacent to River Rock Casino ResortRiver Rock Casino ResortRiver Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, British Columbia is the largest casino in the province of British Columbia. The casino is owned by Great Canadian Gaming...
, major transit exchange for suburban buses, link to Airport branch) - Aberdeen (No. 3 Road at Cambie Road, adjacent to Aberdeen CentreAberdeen CentreAberdeen Centre is a shopping mall in Richmond, British Columbia. It is located in the Golden Village district on Hazelbridge Way, bordered by Cambie Road to the north. It primarily serves the Asian Canadian population in the Metro Vancouver area, but is striving towards an appeal to Western...
) - Lansdowne (No. 3 Road at Lansdowne Road, adjacent to Lansdowne Centre, 3-4 blocks away from the Richmond Olympic OvalRichmond Olympic OvalThe Richmond Olympic Oval , or the Richmond Oval is a facility in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. It was the venue of the speed skating events and the official Olympic anti-doping lab of the 2010 Winter Olympics...
speed skating venue) - Richmond–Brighouse (No. 3 Road at Saba Road, adjacent to Richmond CentreRichmond Centre (mall)Richmond Centre is a shopping mall in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. Officially, it is located on No. 3 Road but it stretches as far west as Minoru Boulevard, and as far north as Westminster Highway...
)
Airport section
Trains outbound from VancouverVancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
to Vancouver International Airport
Vancouver International Airport
Vancouver International Airport is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, about from Downtown Vancouver. In 2010 it was the second busiest airport in Canada by aircraft movements and passengers , behind Toronto Pearson International Airport, with non-stop flights daily to...
split from the main line after Bridgeport Station, stopping at:
- TempletonTempleton StationTempleton Station is a SkyTrain station on the Canada Line in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, south of Vancouver. The station is located on the Grauer Lands on eastern Sea Island, along the airport branch of the Canada Line...
(located north of Grant McConachie WayGrant McConachie WayGrant McConachie Way is a three-to-six lane expressway in Richmond and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Named for aviator Grant McConachie, it is the primary access road into Vancouver International Airport on Sea Island. It is also one of the three roads entering Vancouver from the south,...
and east Templeton Street) - Sea Island CentreSea Island Centre StationSea Island Centre Station is a SkyTrain station on the Canada Line in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, in the Metro Vancouver region.-Location:...
(near the Air CanadaAir CanadaAir Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
service centre) - YVR–Airport (adjacent to the International terminal of Vancouver International AirportVancouver International AirportVancouver International Airport is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, about from Downtown Vancouver. In 2010 it was the second busiest airport in Canada by aircraft movements and passengers , behind Toronto Pearson International Airport, with non-stop flights daily to...
)
Post 2010
Provisions have been made to allow for the addition of the following stations at some time in the future:- 33rd Avenue (Cambie Street at West 33rd Avenue, next to Queen Elizabeth Park)
- 57th Avenue (Cambie Street at West 57th Avenue)
- YVR 3 (Sea Island)
A future station at Capstan Way (No. 3 Road and Capstan Way) in Richmond was originally planned, but was cancelled in March 2009. Pinnacle International and Concord Pacific, the developers of the Sun Tech City project couldn't fund the $15 million required to build the station. The developers could only offer $1 million up front, but this sum was deemed unacceptable by TransLink and the City of Richmond. Despite this, provisions for the station were engineered into the track and Richmond city council expects this station to be built at some point in the future. The Richmond Official Community Plan envisions an "Artists District" of medium density, mixed-use development surrounding the future station.
Travel times between stations
The trip from Waterfront to either Richmond–Brighouse or YVR–Airport takes 25 minutes in either direction. During the day, trains run about every 7 minutes on both branches, interleaved to provide service every 3.5 minutes on the combined section between Waterfront and Bridgeport.| Waterfront | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver City Centre | 1 | |||||||||||
| Yaletown–Roundhouse | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||
| Olympic Village | 2 | 4 | 5 | |||||||||
| Broadway – City Hall | 1 | 3 | 5 | 6 | ||||||||
| King Edward | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | |||||||
| Oakridge – 41st Ave | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 11 | ||||||
| Langara – 49th Ave | 2 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 13 | |||||
| Marine Drive | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 16 | ||||
| Bridgeport | 2 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 18 | |||
| Aberdeen | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 21 | ||
| Lansdowne | 2 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 23 | |
| Richmond–Brighouse | 2 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 25 |
| Templeton | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 21 | ||
| Sea Island Centre | 1 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 22 | |
| YVR–Airport | 3 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 25 |
Transit connections
Millennium Line
The Millennium Line is the second rapid transit line built in the SkyTrain light metro rapid transit system in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The line is owned and operated by TransLink. Millennium Line uses the colour yellow on route maps, wayfinding and station signage.-History:When...
Lines, West Coast Express
West Coast Express
West Coast Express is the interregional commuter railway in British Columbia, Canada. Opened in 1995, it links Mission, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, and Port Moody with Waterfront Station in Downtown Vancouver, where it interchanges with SkyTrain rapid transit, SeaBus and...
and SeaBus
SeaBus
The SeaBus is a passenger-only ferry service in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It crosses Burrard Inlet to connect the cities of Vancouver and North Vancouver. The SeaBus is owned and operated by the Coast Mountain Bus Company and is an important part of TransLink's integrated public...
. Broadway – City Hall provides a connection to 99 B-Line
99 B-Line
The 99 B-Line is a bus rapid transit line in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It travels along Broadway, a major east-west thoroughfare, and connects the University of British Columbia to Commercial–Broadway Station on the SkyTrain system...
service.
Except for night service, when trains are not running, there is no longer any TransLink bus service to the airport. The Airport Station
Airport Station (TransLink)
Airport Station was a major public transit exchange point in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the TransLink system in Metro Vancouver. It was closed on September 7th, 2009, two and a half weeks after the opening of the Canada Line....
bus loop was closed on September 7, 2009, a few weeks after the opening of the line. Bus routes that used this loop were discontinued (as in the case of the 424 and the 98 B-Line
98 B-Line
The 98 B-Line was a bus rapid transit line in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It connected Richmond, British Columbia to Downtown Vancouver, with a connection to Vancouver International Airport. It travelled mainly along Granville Street in Vancouver and No. 3 Road in Richmond. It was...
), short-turned (as in the case of the 100, renamed 100 Marpole Loop), or were being redirected to Bridgeport Station (as in the case of the 620, C90 and C92).
There are proposals to extend SkyTrain west along Broadway
Broadway (Vancouver)
Broadway is a major east-west thoroughfare in the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In Vancouver's numbered avenue grid system, it runs in place of a 9th Avenue, between 8th and 10th. The street has four lanes for most of its course...
from VCC-Clark Station towards UBC, allowing for a transfer to the Canada Line at Broadway–City Hall Station. As indicated in material presented by the City of Vancouver at public meetings in early 2006, this station was designed with such a future extension in mind. A "knock-out" panel was installed in the concourse that would allow them to easily build a connection between the station and a Broadway-corridor SkyTrain extension towards UBC.
The Canada Line uses the same fare system as the rest of the transit system managed by TransLink, with two exceptions. The YVR AddFare, started in January 2010, is an additional surcharge that applies for some passengers leaving the airport and travelling beyond Bridgeport Station. Passengers headed away from the airport who are using non-prepaid fares must pay a $5 AddFare on top of the regular fare. Travel between the Sea Island stations is free to everyone. There is no additional fare for anyone travelling towards the airport. Passengers using prepaid fare media (FareCards, FareSavers, or DayPasses) will not be required to pay any additional fare when travelling either toward or away from the airport. Prepaid transit passes can be purchased at the 7-Eleven and Pharmasave on the bottom level of the domestic terminal.
Until faregate installation is complete in 2013, Canada Line operates on a "Fare Paid Zone" system. This means passengers are required by law to have a valid fare when they enter the Fare Paid Zone. Fare Paid Zones are clearly marked and fares can be bought from Ticket Vending Machines prior to entering the Fare Paid Zone. Fare Inspections are mostly conducted by the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service. Passengers who fail to pay the fare or do not have a valid fare could be fined $173 and/or removed from the station/train.
Transit Security Officers occasionally inspect fares at Canada Line Stations as part of TransLink's Fare Audit. Transit Security Officers mostly focus their efforts on the bus system, bus loops, and Seabus.
Canada Line Attendants are the customer service staff for the Canada Line. They are easily identifiable by their green livery. Canada Line Attendants provide customer service, troubleshoot certain problems with the trains, observe and report safety issues, and check fares.
Technology
Hyundai
Hyundai ) is a global conglomerate company, part of the Korean chaebol, that was founded in South Korea by one of the most famous businessmen in Korean history: Chung Ju-yung...
Motor Group. They are powered by conventional electric motors, rather than the linear induction motor
Linear motor
A linear motor is an electric motor that has had its stator and rotor "unrolled" so that instead of producing a torque it produces a linear force along its length...
s used by the Expo and Millennium Line's Bombardier ART
Bombardier Advanced Rapid Transit
Advanced Rapid Transit or ART is the current name given to a rapid transit system manufactured by Bombardier Transportation. The original versions look like small subway cars that typically run in two-, four- or six-car trains, but the latest versions are more streamlined two-car articulated...
trains. Canada Line trains are operated by the same SelTrac automated train control system also used in the rest of the SkyTrain network.
The selection of Rotem was largely a consequence of the Request for Proposals process for the Public-Private Partnership, whose terms did not allow Bombardier to consider efficiencies in combining operations or rolling-stock orders for the new line with those for the existing system. This placed all bidders on a level playing field, albeit at the cost of not necessarily picking the most efficient choice for long-term operation. The RFP also required that the system have an ultimate capacity of 15,000 passengers per hour per direction (leaving the choice of technology and platform length to the proponent) and required a maximum travel time between YVR and downtown Vancouver of 24 minutes.
The fleet consists of 20 fully automated 2-car articulated trains, for a total of 40 cars. The capacity of the trains is estimated at 334 people per car (comfortably), or 400 people at crush load. The trains have a top speed of 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph) in normal operation, or 90 km/h in catch-up mode. Each married pair of gangway-connected cars is 41 metres long and 3 metres wide, similar in dimensions to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
's O-Train
Ottawa O-Train
The O-Train is a light-rail transit service in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada operated by OC Transpo. The present line runs north-south on a railway line, from Bayview to Greenboro, a distance of approximately...
, and are longer and wider than the Bombardier ART fleet used on the Expo and Millennium lines. Each train has exterior LED electronic displays, on the exterior to indicate terminus station, and on the interior to display the next station and the terminus station; a useful feature, considering the line has two branches.
Canada Line Hyundai Rotem specifications
- Car Builder: Hyundai Rotem, South KoreaSouth KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
- Car Body: brushed stainless steel, with a vinyl wrap at the outer ends
- Unit Numbers: paired numbered 1xx and 2xx where xx increments from 1 to 20
- Fleet of: 20 (2 car train set)
- Train Length: 41 m
- Car Width: 3 m
- Car Height: 3.6 m
- Track Gauge: standard gaugeStandard gaugeThe standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
of 4'8.5"/1435 mm - Total Weight: 76 tonnes (empty)
- Propulsion System: Conventional AC traction motor
- Max. Speed: 80 km/h
- Power: 750vdc
- Braking System: Pneumatic Wheel Disc brake
- Total Seating: 334 (per 2-car train; seated and standees); 167 (per car; seated and standees)
- Capacity: 5,000 to 15,000 passengers per hour
- Coupling/Numbering Arrangement: All married pairs.
- Price per car
- Overall cost: 2 billion dollars
- Signalling System Moving Block controlled by Cable Loop, Thales Rail Signaling Solutions from Toronto, Canada
Name of the line
During the stages of planning and public consultation, the line was known as the "Richmond-Airport-Vancouver Line", or RAV for short. The name "Canada Line" was officially adopted in 2005 to coincide with the beginning of construction. Some early documents also refer to it as the "Olympic Line", in honour of the 2010 Winter Olympics2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
, continuing the practice by which the Expo and Millennium lines were named after significant events occurring at the time of construction. This name was subsequently adopted for the demonstrator modern-streetcar
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
service which operated along the Downtown Historic Railway
Vancouver Downtown Historic Railway
The Vancouver Downtown Historic Railway is a heritage streetcar line that operates between Granville Island and the Cambie Station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It operates only on weekends and holidays, usually from May to mid-October, and is aimed primarily at tourists...
for a two-month period centred on the Olympics.
Canada Line from conception to realization: timeline
- Between 1990 and 1992, BC Transit and N.D.Lea Consultants studied Intermediate Capacity Transit System options in the Vancouver-Richmond Corridor.
- From September 1991 through August 1993 the TRANSPORT 2021 Steering Committee carried out an extensive program of research and public consultation to create "A Long Range Transportation Plan for Greater Vancouver". Under Project Director M.L. (Martin Crilly) a comprehensive transportation investment and financing strategy was envisioned for the region. Until today all existing and proposed road and transit investments have been put forth in this plan. The plan calls for the provision of an Intermediate Capacity Transit System from Richmond to Vancouver Central Business District.
- In fall of 1994 N.D.Lea and Delcan Consultants carried out studies examining technologies, operating feasibility, ridership, capital and operating cost, traffic impacts and development potential in three corridors including the Richmond-Vancouver corridor. These studies were prepared as input into BC Transit's 10-Year Development Plan. These studies did not include a spur line to the Vancouver International Airport
- In 1995, BC Transit (a crown corporation responsible for public transit) expressed desire to create a special service of either Bus Rapid TransitBus rapid transitBus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
(BRT) or Automated Rapid Transit (ART) service connecting the cities of RichmondRichmond, British ColumbiaRichmond is a coastal city, incorporated in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Part of Metro Vancouver, its neighbouring communities are Vancouver and Burnaby to the north, New Westminster to the east, and Delta to the south, while the Strait of Georgia forms its western border...
, VancouverVancouverVancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, and the Vancouver International AirportVancouver International AirportVancouver International Airport is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, about from Downtown Vancouver. In 2010 it was the second busiest airport in Canada by aircraft movements and passengers , behind Toronto Pearson International Airport, with non-stop flights daily to...
in one of the transit improvement plans.- Underground rights-of-way were reserved at the Concord Pacific development close to the Cambie bridge.
- From mid-1997 to mid-1998 a number of different routes for Vancouver-Airport/Richmond were evaluated for BRT and the preferred route and station locations were selected.
- June 24, 1998, Minister in Charge of B.C.Transit, Joy McPhail announces plans to build Vancouver-Richmond ALRT. "The new line would link Richmond city centre, the airport and Downtown Vancouver—probably running north-south through Vancouver along the Cambie Street corridor." "MacPhail said the province wants to accelerate the construction of rapid transit to Richmond as part of a bid to bring the 2010 Winter Olympics to the Lower Mainland."
- In 1999 detailed design of the Vancouver-Airport/Richmond BRT was carried out.
- On April 1, 1999, The Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority, better known as TransLink is created under the direction of CEO Ken Dobell, previously City Manager for the City of Vancouver.
- In April 2000 TransLink adopts Strategic Transportation Plan 2000-2005. The plan notes that future transit lines have equal priority, and recommends the planning and design of a Richmond/Airport/Vancouver (RAV) rapid transit line.
- May 2000, Approval of RAV study, while construction had begun on the BRT Service between Richmond Center, Airport Station and Downtown Vancouver.
- Sometime in 2000, a Transport Canada report on rail access to the airport estimated it would cost $1.3 billion for SkyTrain expansion using the Cambie route and $738 million for a light rail system along Arbutus.
- In December 2000, TransLink received the report on public/Private partnerships for road and transportation Infrastructure, the model that would be used to finance, construct, and operate the new Canada Line.
- On April 1, 2001, bus operators and other CMBC employees go on strike delaying full implementation of Vancouver-Airport/Richmond BRT by four months.
- That same month, re-affirmation at TransLink of a Vancouver/Richmond line including a connection to the airport, and approval of recommendation of TransLink CEO that based on greater benefits from private sector perspective and community concerns, at-grade rail transit be excluded from further analysis and that analysis in Vancouver be restricted to underground options.
- On August 1, 2001, BRT service, known as the 98 B-Line, commences service in the corridor ultimately carrying over 20,000 passengers per day, while plans were already under way for an ART service to replace it. This proposed service was projected to carry over 100,000 passengers per day.
- On December 10, 2001, the Canadian government under Jean Chrétien announced over $2.0 billion dollars in funding for large infrastructure projects; the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund established by this budget would fund the Federal government contribution of the Canada Line. The government stipulated that the fund promote Private-Public Partnerships (P3) where appropriate.
- In April 2002 work was started on the third phase; the Project Definition phase. This ten month task consisted of a technical evaluation to determine if it was possible to build the line by 2010.
- In 2003, ten companies or consortia submitted 'Expressions of Interest' in this project.
- In December 2003, this was short listed down to three who were given a 'Request for Proposal'. These three consortia were:
- RAVLink Transportation, which included Fluor Canada, Siemens AGSiemens AGSiemens AG is a German multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Munich, Germany. It is the largest Europe-based electronics and electrical engineering company....
Canada, MTR CorporationMTR CorporationMTR Corporation Limited is a company listed on the Hong Kong Exchange and included in the Hang Seng Index. MTR owns and runs the Hong Kong MTR metro system, and is also a major property developer and landlord in Hong Kong...
, and Balfour BeattyBalfour BeattyBalfour Beatty plc is a British construction, engineering, military housing, rail and investment services company. It is one of the largest construction companies in the UK, and the 15th largest in the world...
Capital Projects, - RAVxpress, which included BombardierBombardier TransportationBombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
, AMECAMECAMEC plc is a global consultancy, engineering and project management company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is focused on the oil and gas, minerals and metals, renewable energy, environment and infrastructure sectors and has offices in 40 countries worldwide...
, BouyguesBouyguesBouygues S.A. is a French industrial group headquartered in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France. Bouygues is listed on Euronext Paris exchange and is a blue chip in the CAC 40 stock market index. The company was founded in 1952 by Francis Bouygues and since 1989 has been led by his son Martin...
Travaux Publics, and Bilfinger BergerBilfinger BergerBilfinger Berger is a large, internationally active construction and services company based in Mannheim, Germany.-History:Bilfinger Berger dates back to 1880 when August Bernatz founded an engineering business which became known, from 1886 as Bernatz & Grün and, from 1892, as Grün & Bilfinger.In...
, and - SNC-Lavalin/Serco, which included SNC-LavalinSNC-LavalinSNC-Lavalin Group Inc. is a large Canadian engineering firm. It is one of the ten largest engineering firms in the world and is based in Montreal, Quebec. It formed in 1991 from the merger of SNC and the failing Lavalin, another Quebec based engineering firm....
and Serco.
- RAVLink Transportation, which included Fluor Canada, Siemens AG
- On April 16, 2004, Federal government under PM Paul Martin increases funding promise from $300 million to $450 million.
- On June 10, 2004, the provincial government restates its commitment to the Canada line from $300 to $370 million and earmarks $170 million toward the Evergreen Line.
- On June 30, 2004, after twice voting to cancel the project, the TransLink Board approved the RAV line but maintained the right to cancel the project if none of the bids meet the approved budget of $1.35 billion.
- On November 19, 2004, RAVCO recommended that the SNC-LavalinSNC-LavalinSNC-Lavalin Group Inc. is a large Canadian engineering firm. It is one of the ten largest engineering firms in the world and is based in Montreal, Quebec. It formed in 1991 from the merger of SNC and the failing Lavalin, another Quebec based engineering firm....
/Serco (now known collectively as InTransitBC) proposal for a fully automated, grade-separated system be accepted. This 'Best and Final Offer' bid was $343 million over the approved budget. The project was, however, brought to within the funding allowance, through various cost trimming measures, including design changes, the contractor agreeing to lower their bid, and the province contributing another $65 million. - On December 1, 2004, the TransLink board gave final approval for the project.
- On July 29, 2005, the final contract to design, build and operate the RAV Line was signed between InTransitBC and TransLink. Serco is no longer a partner to InTransitBC and 2 pension funds have been brought into the partnership.
- In October 2005, the utilities relocation and roadwork was started.
- On November 25, 2005, the design of the new trains was unveiled and Hyundai Rotem was announced as the supplier of the trains. It was announced that the new line would be called the Canada Line as a funding condition from the Federal Government.
- The line opened at 1 pm local time on August 17, 2009, on budget and three and a half months ahead of schedule, and six months ahead of the 2010 Winter Olympics2010 Winter OlympicsThe 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
held in Vancouver. It began normal revenue service on the following day. - On September 30, 2009, it was announced that the Canada Line had seen an average of 82,500 passengers per day since opening, putting it well on track to reach its ridership target of 100,000 per day within two years.
- On December 28, 2009, it was revealed that the average daily ridership (including weekends) has grown to 93,000, and has occasionally exceeded 100,000, three years ahead of expectations.
- On February 5, 2010, ridership reached a (then) record of 135,000 during a campaign to encourage residents to use transit prior to the Olympics. Further single-day records included 157,000 on February 11, 2010, and 210,000 on February 15, 2010 with all 20 trains running.
- Overall, the 2010 Winter Olympics2010 Winter OlympicsThe 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
saw the Canada Line's ridership increase 118 per cent to an average of 228,190 per day for 17 days, with a single-day record of 287,400 on February 19, 2010. Its regular non-Olympic ridership was stated as being 104,674 per weekday. - In February 2011, Translink revealed that the average daily ridership of the Canada Line had grown to 110,000 per day.
Project funding
The Canada Line was built as a public-private partnershipPublic-private partnership
Public–private partnership describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies...
. Funding was provided by both government agencies and a private partner, the proponent. As of March 2009, the entire project was expected to cost $2.054 billion. The premier of BC has furthermore stated that the project is on budget and ahead of schedule. When approved in December 2004 the cost was given as $1.76 billion.
The public contributions to the budget comes from the following sources:
- Government of CanadaGovernment of CanadaThe Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
: $450 million - Government of British ColumbiaBritish ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
: $435 million - Vancouver AirportVancouver International AirportVancouver International Airport is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, about from Downtown Vancouver. In 2010 it was the second busiest airport in Canada by aircraft movements and passengers , behind Toronto Pearson International Airport, with non-stop flights daily to...
Authority: $300 million - TransLink: $334 million
- City of VancouverVancouverVancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
: $29 million
These sums are all in 2006 dollars, except for the Government of Canada's contribution which will be paid out when constructed, and is estimated to be equivalent of $419 million 2003 dollars.
The private partner was expected to contribute $200 million, as well as being responsible for any construction cost overruns. As of November 7, 2009, InTransitBC has invested $750 million. InTransitBC is a joint venture company owned by SNC-Lavalin, the Investment Management Corporation of BC (bcIMC) and the Caisse de Depot et Placements de Quebec.
The British Columbia government initially committed $370 million but when the bid came in over budget, they contributed an extra $65 million. TransLink also put in extra money by committing money from the sale of the Sexsmith Park and Ride in Richmond and from the introduction of a special fare in the Airport Zone.
In November 2004, bid costs were reduced by postponing the construction of a walkway between Waterfront Station and the Cruise Ship terminal, by removing Westminster Station and moving Richmond Center Station and the end of the line several hundred metres north. TransLink would further pay for the cost of reinstallation of the trolley wires along Cambie. As a way to further reduce the Best and Final Offer, RAVCO no longer required that the proponent provide for 59 ticket vending machines and 38 ticket validating machines, or for a police unit to operate on the RAV line. RAVCO also shifted responsibility for moving trolley wires from SNC-Lavalin to TransLink. Costs were also decreased due to decisions to single track sections on the Richmond and Airport Branches. The Richmond branch was single tracked from Ackroyd Road onwards in large part due to Richmond City Council pressuring for the visual profile of the overhead line to be reduced for aesthetic reasons.
On July 11, 2006, decision is made to relocate Broadway station half a block north at a cost of $3 million to allow for better integration of the station with Broadway and a new development in the area. The funding is provided as follows: one third from the city of Vancouver, one third from TransLink, and one third from surplus funding available to CLCO.
In February 2007 TransLink approved the addition of a pedestrian and bike path to the Canada Line Bridge and agreed not to postpone the construction of a station at 2nd Avenue (Olympic Village Station), but instead build it to be ready when the line opens. The $10 million cost of the bridge bike path is paid for by TransLink and is not considered part of the cost of the Canada Line. The Olympic Village Station will cost an additional $29 million.
RAVCO was set up by the agencies funding the transit line to oversee project design, procurement, construction and implementation. This TransLink subsidiary, later renamed Canada Line Rapid Transit Inc (CLCO), made distributions to the builder as work progressed.
The table below lists the year by year contributions (in million dollars) made by various partner governments on a year by year basis up to December 31, 2008: Contributions by TransLink are total disbursements minus contributions by the City of Vancouver, the government of British Columbia and the government of Canada. Calculations show that TransLink has contributed $271 million to date. It has committed an additional $52 million in its 2009 budget.
| Year | Vancouver | BC Gov. | Can. Gov. | Total Disbursements through TransLink | Airport Disbursements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $7.1 | $59.6 | $93.4 | $163.2 | $46.8 |
| 2007 | $14.9 | $58.4 | $167.4 | $336.7 | $94.6 |
| 2006 | $6.9 | $17.2 | $125.6 | $322.5 | $108.4 |
| 2005 | $1.1 | $117.1 | $108.9 | $209.4 | $15.7 |
The private sector will operate the line for 35 years in return for a share in the operating revenue of the line.
Early 2006, TransLink decided not to install turnstiles at Canada Line stations, but stations would be designed to accommodate controlled access to allow TransLink to install them for less cost if it wished to do so in the future. On April 9, 2009, TransLink, the Provincial Government, and the Government of Canada announced joint funding of $100 million to introduce turnstiles at all 49 SkyTrain stations. While a large portion of this funding will be used on the Expo and Millennium Line, a portion will be used on the Canada Line stations. The federal government is contributing $30 million and the province is adding $40 million, which will go to what it calls faregates, or controlled access gate.
Construction
Construction began in October 2005 and was completed in August 2009.The line comprises the following construction elements:
| Tunnel | 9080 m |
| Elevated | 7349 m |
| Bridge | 614 m |
| At-Grade | 1385 m |
In addition to the 18.4 kilometres of track above, there is about 500 metres of track in the OMC.
Controversies
Opponents have claimed that the approval process was undemocratic and dishonest. They say that the projected ridership figures were grossly inflated; if actual ridership levels are less than projection, taxpayers and transit passengers may have to cover the shortfall in revenue. Opponents also claim that the official claim the project had nothing to do with Vancouver's bid to host the 2010 Winter Olympics2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
was not credible.
Public-private partnerships
Opponents of the RAV line's public-private partnership (P3) believe it was politically motivated and that it will cost more money because of the private involvement. The private involvement has, however, allowed for the construction costs to be known and fixed up-front. After raising their contribution to $435 million the B.C. Minister of Transport and the Premier reaffirmed that this is the final contribution and that any cost overruns will be the responsibility of the proponent. Canadian Union of Public Employees opposed the use of P3 to design, build and operate the Canada Line. The P3 process did not allow precise plans to be developed with public consultation, but limited discussion to certain abstract parameters, while leaving the actual design details to the private partner.Ridership projections
Before the building of the line TransLink had projected that it would require a 100,000 passenger/day average to reach the "break even point". They also projected that it would take around 3 years before capacity would reach this point and that TransLink would be responsible for the loss. However, in late 2010 the Canada line reached its projected ridership goal 3 years early.Vancouver
Although the latest proposal for rapid transit did not include an option for rapid transit down the Arbutus corridor along the abandoned CPR right of way, Vancouver council reopened debate on this issue. Given that the rail right of way is currently zoned for transit use with space available for transit lines, running the line down the Arbutus corridor may have been more cost-effective than tunneling under Cambie. The planners and RAVCO, however, countered that the Arbutus corridor does not have the major concentration of transit destinations and origins that exist along the Cambie Street corridor, such as Vancouver City HallVancouver City Hall
Vancouver City Hall is home to Vancouver City Council in Vancouver, British Columbia. Located at 453 West 12th Avenue, the building was ordered by the Vancouver Civic Building Committee, designed by architect Fred Townley and Matheson, and built by Carter, Halls, Aldinger and Company...
, Vancouver General Hospital
Vancouver General Hospital
Vancouver General Hospital is a medical facility located in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is the largest facility in the Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre group of medical facilities...
, Oakridge Centre, and Langara College
Langara College
Langara College is a public degree-granting college in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada which serves approximately 20,000 students annually through its university, career, and continuing studies programs...
that are necessary to provide the ridership required for this project to be successful. Also the Arbutus corridor is longer than the Cambie corridor and would cause longer travel times. Cambie corridor further had greater potential for future ridership growth.
The Project Definition Report further specified that any service be able to travel from Waterfront station in Downtown Vancouver to the Airport in 25 minutes or less. At-grade transit, either along Cambie or the Arbutus corridor was ruled out as a result. The reason or origin for this exact requirement was not specified, although travel times were considered an important factor in attracting new riders and in retaining existing riders who were now required to make an extra transfer relative to the existing bus service.
All partner contributions were made upon the specifications set in the Project Definition Report. Any "significant change" would allow each partner to reconsider their respective contribution. As the Arbutus corridor proposal could not meet the specifications this could put participation of funding partners in jeopardy.
Residents along Cambie Boulevard created the Cambie Boulevard Heritage Society in 1994 which opposed any alteration to a wide green center median that is currently a grassy area with various species of trees including cherry trees donated by the city of Yokohama on occasion of the 1967 Canadian Centennial. The residents had already been mobilized in 1989 in response to the possibility of elevated rail along Cambie Boulevard. In effect the residents were opposed to surface, trench or elevated rail along much of Cambie Street. Even cut and cover raised concerns over construction impact and temporary traffic diversions. Cost and ridership risk were also concerns to property tax-paying residents. Ads asked residents to join "to prevent Vancouver's worst traffic nightmare and from burdening ourselves and our children with unnecessary tax risks for years to come". The society suggested that the line instead be constructed along Arbutus where its impact and cost would be minimal. Despite the concerns of the Society, one of the final two proposals for the Canada Line in 2004 involved a trench in the center of Cambie Street from 49th to 64th avenue.
On June 18, 2004, the TransLink Board voted 6–6 to oppose sending the project to the "Best and Final Offer" stage. Opponents to the project were favouring a proposal to build a line along the Cambie corridor involving a minimal amount of tunneling at a saving of about $300 million over the previously fully grade separated proposal. The province responded to the suggestion by withdrawing funding until after the 2010 Olympics; the Minister of Transport Kevin Falcon said that such a change of scope could no longer be accommodated in the time left before 2010. Mayors and councillors sitting on the TransLink Board, however, could not come to an agreement on this alternate plan of action. The impasse created a stir in the business community with business community joining together and calling for the province to take over control of the RAV project. "The Coalition FOR a Lower Mainland Rapid Transit Solution" in a newspaper ad called on the premier to "please rescue our rapid transit". The Vancouver Board of Trade and the Council of Tourism Associations, and Tourism Vancouver lead the call on the premier. While the board ultimately voted to proceed, the incident had lasting repercussions for the TransLink organization.
Richmond
When the results of the bidding process indicated that an elevated option in Richmond was the winning bid, Richmond council engaged in some last-minute opposition to the RAV line and refused to give RAVCO the green light.Objections to the elevated line included its visual impact, and the impact and cost of any extensions into Richmond. The line would have varied impact on businesses along No. 3 Road.
It was said that an at-grade option would cost an extra $90 million due to the need to purchase cars that could accommodate drivers. In order to meet travel-time criteria it was also argued that several intersections would need to be closed. It was also said that an at-grade-option would require a large wall to protect the track along No. 3 Road.
In November 2004, a survey of 11,750 people was conducted by RAVCO to determine if people in Richmond supported an elevated or at-grade service in Richmond. 58 percent of the respondents favoured an elevated option.
When further surveys and public consultation conducted by city staff in December indicated that residents did not support the realignment along Minoru Boulevard, council was left to either turn down the development or support the Best and Final Offer. They chose to go ahead with the project. As a final compromise, part of the elevated track in Richmond was single tracked to reduce visual impact.
Impact on local businesses
Cambie Street
Cambie Street is a street in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is named for Henry John Cambie, chief surveyor of the Canadian Pacific Railway's western division ....
. Business in Yaletown
Yaletown
Yaletown is an area of Downtown Vancouver approximately bordered by False Creek, Robson, and Homer Streets. Formerly a heavy industrial area dominated by warehouses and rail yards, since the Expo 86, it has been transformed into one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in the city...
and No. 3 Road in Richmond would also be affected by the construction. Although construction in the Downtown was mostly by bored tunnel, businesses in Yaletown were caught off-guard when it turned out that Yaletown-Roundhouse Station would be north of Pacific Boulevard on Davie Street, rather than to the south of Pacific Boulevard. InTransitBC responded by launching an advertising campaign promoting local business on the line. Despite these efforts businesses on Cambie Street experienced significant loss of business. After numerous failed appeals to the provincial government for compensation, store operators unsuccessfully sued for compensation. However, since the completion of the Canada Line, it has been linked to rising property values along Cambie Street and in Richmond.
Impact on expansion of other transit options
It had been pointed out that construction of the Canada Line would do little to improve transit or alleviate congestion on the Broadway corridor to UBC, which serves more than 100,000 weekday trips on bus services, with many trips continuing to University of British ColumbiaUniversity of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
. In addition, the Evergreen Line rapid transit project was delayed (until 2016). As TransLink is solely responsible for funding bus operations, any shortage of funding may translate into cuts in bus service.
Regional Growth Strategy
The Canada Line is expected to spur housing development in Richmond. Lansdowne Mall in Richmond, for example, is designed to develop into a new high rise community. This growth is contrary to the Regional Growth Strategy agreed upon by the GVRD, an organization of regional municipalities. Growth was meant to be concentrated in Surrey, Coquitlam, and the Burrard peninsula. Richmond was excluded from this area due to its existence on the flood plain, as well as to reduce pressure on development of its agricultural land. This deviation from the Regional Growth Strategy was an important reason for opposition to the Canada Line by municipal representatives on the TransLink Board. The act defining the TransLink organization states as its purpose that it support the Regional Growth Strategy.Hiring practices
There have been several labour disputes related to wages and unionization between employees and contractors working on the construction of the Canada Line. On September 21, 2006, Canada Line construction workers planned a strike over racial issues, claiming that foreign workers were being hired at a fraction of the pay of Canadians working on the line. The BC Labour Relations Board, however, has ruled otherwise, taking into consideration the fact that the workers were being paid for their stay in Vancouver while doing tunneling work. The BC Human Rights Tribunal has not ruled on the complaint as of this writing.On November 13, 2007, the BC Human Rights Tribunal ruled that a group of Latin-American workers had been intimidated from being represented in a union by the Canada Line contractors. The tribunal found that the workers were forced to sign a petition in the fear of possibly losing future job prospects with their employer. The petition would have prevented them from being represented by a union before the tribunal, and it would also have created evidence that could have jeopardized the ongoing investigation by the tribunal over perceived inequalities between foreign and domestic workers.
See also
- List of rapid transit systems
- 98 B-Line98 B-LineThe 98 B-Line was a bus rapid transit line in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It connected Richmond, British Columbia to Downtown Vancouver, with a connection to Vancouver International Airport. It travelled mainly along Granville Street in Vancouver and No. 3 Road in Richmond. It was...
- SkyTrainSkyTrain (Vancouver)SkyTrain is a light rapid transit system in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. SkyTrain has of track and uses fully automated trains on grade-separated tracks, running mostly on elevated guideways, which helps SkyTrain to hold consistently high on-time reliability...
External links
- Canada Line - TransLink's page for the line
- High Risk - An Analysis of the Proposed Public-Private Partnership for the Richmond/Airport/Vancouver Rapid Transit Project, May 2003, by Blair Redlin, Report by the Canadian Centre for Policy AlternativesCanadian Centre for Policy AlternativesThe Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is an independent, non-partisan, policy research institute in Canada that leans to the political left. It concentrates on economic policy, international trade, environmental justice and social policy. It is especially known for publishing an alternative...
- TransLink - regional transportation authority of Metro Vancouver
- The Richmond-Airport-Vancouver Rapid Link Project, The RAVP / The Olympic Line, January 2003 study, By Viven Chiu and Patrick Rault Marigni at Marigni.com