The provincial government wants to build a rapid transit line to UBC by 2020, but Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan says he wants the project to begin after the 2010 Olympics.
"Personally I think it's a little late," Sullivan said of the 2020 deadline. "We know that UBC is the second largest destination in the province. Forty percent of the students are taking transit."
The majority of people surveyed about the project said they would use the rapid transit line, and most favour a tunnel system.
But Susan Heyes, owner of retail store Hazel and Co. on Cambie Street, says merchants should be prepared.
"Oh, they better brace themselves," she said. "It's going to be a rough ride. They've openly admitted what they've done here is a mistake and a disaster."
Heyes wants the government to compensate shopkeepers on Cambie Street before they begin any new projects.
"I am going to put everything that I can into ensuring that the impacts are absolutely minimized," said Sullivan.
City Councillor Suzanne Anton said the method of "cut and cover" is actually more effective for businesses because the road is kept open.
"When you tunnel, you actually have to close whole intersections for lengthy periods of time which we've seen downtown," she said. "When you cut and cover, you actually keep the road open the whole time. Cambie Street, with all its challenges has been open the 100 percent of the time."
Respondents to the transit survey also said they favour a more expensive route, if it means it is less disruptive.
Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon says with any major project there will be an impact.
But if the line is built down the Broadway corridor, the "cut and cover" option is pretty much impossible, he said.
The method and the location of the project is yet to be decided, and the soonest the project could be complete is six years from now.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's St.John Alexander
