The new Evergreen Line will be built on the Northwest route linking Burnaby and Coquitlam, officials said on Friday, in an announcement that came as little surprise to most.
Municipal councils in Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, Burnaby, New Westminster and Belcarra had all expressed a preference for the Northwest route, along with widespread support from the public.
The chosen route has technological advantages, officials said, and it was the logical choice based on the fast-growing population of the Tri-Cities.
The estimated $1.4 billion project will run between Lougheed Town Centre and Coquitlam Town Centre through Port Moody and be slated for completion by 2014.
The TransLink board approved project in October 2004, and then announced it planned to use advanced light rapid transit technology, similar to the SkyTrain rail system already in use, in February.
There were concerns the construction of the Evergreen Line would be postponed in order to extend the Millenium Line.
Sheri Wiens, a spokesperson for Get Moving BC, was relieved the Evergreen Line finally got the go-ahead.
"The Evergreen Line was on hold for way too long now," she said in a statement. "I'm glad it's finally becoming a reality -- it really can't wait any longer."
The provincial government is putting $410 million toward the project, while TransLink has committed $400 million and the federal government is contributing $67 million.
In January, the province announced an overall $14 billion plan for transit developments in the next 12 years, including the Evergreen Line, extensions of the SkyTrain to UBC and the Expo Line to Surrey, as well as more funding for the Canada Line on the Cambie Street Corridor.
