Project Timeline

The outcomes of the Pre-Business Case study, which led to an initial concept for station locations (known as the Regional Base Scope), was presented and was endorsed by the Mayors’ Council and included the following:

• Stations at Macdonald, Alma, Jericho, and at the UBC Trolley Bus Loop (UBC 1a)
• Passive provision for possible extension and potential future infill station within design

named in the plan to advance as a priority project. Once this list of near-term priorities from Transport 2050 is finalized and approved, the next step would be to secure senior government and partner funding to advance the project to the full business case stage.

92% of the 15,500 Metro Vancouver residents who responded said they strongly or moderately support the project. Support from respondents living outside the City of Vancouver/UBC/UEL area was even higher with 93% indicating support for the extension.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, BC Premier John Horgan, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change announced funding commitments for transit infrastructure in Metro Vancouver. The focus of the announcement was funding for the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain project, but also included a commitment by the federal government to fund up to 40% of the cost of the Business Case for the UBC Extension. In response to follow-up questions from the media, the Premier committed to match the federal contribution for the Business Case.

TransLink led a period of public engagement seeking feedback on familiarity with planning for the project, values regarding the proposed project, criteria to assess potential route and station locations, and level of support for a potential SkyTrain extension to UBC.

UBC, the City of Vancouver and the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Development Corporation (MST-DC) sign a Memorandum of Understanding committing to work collaboratively toward the joint objective of securing federal, provincial and regional support and approvals to have SkyTrain from Arbutus to UBC completed as soon as reasonably possible.

Technical work led by TransLink with interagency participation including UBC, the City of Vancouver and representatives from Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. Scope of work includes exploring alignment and station location options and cost estimates.

A joint City of Vancouver – UBC study completed by KPMG explores the economic strengths and contributions of the Broadway-UBC Corridor and what’s required to unlock the full potential of the corridor.

Decision leads to release of finding for pre-business case work.

Vancouver City Council passes a motion endorsing TransLink’s recommendation for SkyTrain technology to UBC.

TransLink-led provided updated analysis of ridership, technology and costs, and concluded that SkyTrain was the only technology that would provide capacity to serve demand beyond 2045.

Includes funding for procurement of the Broadway Subway project and planning for rapid transit to UBC.

UBC’s Board of Governors endorses a strategy to accelerate completion of a rapid transit connection to the Vancouver campus including exploration of a financial contribution providing it does not affect the university’s academic mission.

Mayors’ Council and the Province reach an agreement on funding for TransLink’s next Investment Plan, including the extension of the Millennium Line – the Broadway Subway.

TransLink advances the business case and procurement readiness for the extension of the Millennium Line from Commercial to Arbutus Street – the first phase of a rapid transit connection to UBC.

Vision calls for rail-based rapid transit to UBC, with first phase to Arbutus in the first 10 years and to continue analysis for an extension to UBC.

TransLink-led study explored more than 200 technology and route alternatives to meet ridership demand along the Broadway-UBC corridor. Extension of the SkyTrain Millennium Line scored highest among all alternatives considered.