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December 16, 2016 - Media Release

28 new SkyTrain cars ordered to improve transit in Metro Vancouver

NEW WESTMINSTER, BC – Today, the Member of Parliament for Vancouver Quadra, Joyce Murray, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; the Honourable Peter Fassbender, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and Minister Responsible for TransLink; Mayor Jonathan Coté, City of New Westminster, a member of the TransLink Mayors’ Council; and Kevin Desmond, CEO of TransLink, announced that 28 new Mark III SkyTrain cars have been ordered to improve rapid transit service in Metro Vancouver.

The purchase of the new SkyTrain cars is one of the first investments included in Phase One of the 10-Year Vision for Metro Vancouver Transit and Transportation to expand transit service and help reduce road congestion throughout the region. The $93 million order from Bombardier Transportation is funded 50 percent by the Government of Canada and 33 percent by the Government of B.C. It is part of the $2 billion Phase One Plan of the 10-Year Vision for better transit, roads, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure in Metro Vancouver, recently approved by the Mayors’ Council in partnership with federal and provincial governments.

Minister Peter Fassbender and Kevin Desmond officially signed the British Columbia-TransLink Public Transit Infrastructure Fund Contribution Agreement, which allows the transfer of federal and provincial funding to TransLink for Phase One transit improvements. This agreement now gives the region the ability to place the order for 28 new cars and move forward with other significant new transit investments throughout the region.

The new SkyTrain cars will provide additional service and capacity on the popular Expo and Millennium Lines, including the new Evergreen extension. Scheduled to start arriving in 2018 and entering into service by early 2019, the 28 new cars will increase TransLink’s SkyTrain and Canada Line fleet to 314 cars. With these new cars coming into service, more people will be able to rely on public transit, helping to reduce road congestion, greenhouse gases, and improve efficient movement of people and goods across the region.

Starting in January 2017, TransLink will begin initial service improvements using the existing fleet for the Expo, Millennium and Canada Lines and SeaBus, with additional bus and HandyDart service improvements beginning in April 2017.

Quotes

“The Government of Canada recognizes how important efficient transit infrastructure is to growing the middle class and getting Canadians to work and back home to their families at the end of the day. We are committed to supporting improvements to public transit systems, such as these new SkyTrain cars for Translink’s fleet, to help deliver modern and efficient public transit services to residents of Metro Vancouver.”

Joyce Murray
Member of Parliament for Vancouver Quadra,
On behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“The Government of British Columbia is pleased that the region has moved quickly to acquire an additional 28 new SkyTrain cars for Metro Vancouver’s transit network. This important Phase One purchase will help to meet growing ridership demand, including along the newly opened Evergreen extension. This investment supports our government’s continuing efforts to create liveable communities that are affordable, interconnected and sustainable.”

Peter Fassbender
Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and Minister Responsible for TransLink 

“Our region was the first jurisdiction in Canada to secure funding from the federal government’s Public Transit Infrastructure Fund, thanks, in large part, to a strong regional commitment to our 10-Year Vision on Transit and Transportation. This is an exciting start to the implementation of Phase One of that Vision. We now need to keep up the momentum and secure federal and provincial commitments for Phase Two in order to continue to close identified funding gaps, and better meet this region’s transit and transportation needs.”

Jonathan X. Coté
Mayor of New Westminster

“With the critical support of our federal, provincial and regional partnerships, TransLink is ready and eager to start implementing service and infrastructure improvements outlined in Phase One of the 10-Year Vision. Today’s announcement is just one in a series of steps we’re taking to expand service for our customers and reduce wait times and crowding.”

Kevin Desmond
CEO, TransLink  

Quick Facts

  • On November 23, 2016, the Mayors’ Council and TransLink Board of Directors approved a plan for $2 billion in transit and road improvements to be implemented as Phase One of the 10-Year Vision for Metro Vancouver Transit and Transportation, marking the beginning of a multi-year investment in transit and transportation across the region.
  • Phase One of the 10-Year Vision will be funded by:
    • $370 million contribution from the Government of Canada
    • $246 million from the Government of British Columbia
    • $1.3 billion of capital and operating costs from TransLink’s existing funding sources, cost savings and efficiencies, as well as new regional revenues including modest property tax and transit fare increases
  • Transit and transportation improvements to be delivered during Phase One will include:
    • 10% increase in bus service
    • 15% increase in HandyDART service
    • 20% increase in rail service following delivery of new rail cars (Expo Line, Millennium Line and Evergreen Extension, Canada Line, West Coast Express)
    • Pre-construction and consultation on Broadway subway and Surrey-Langley light rail
    • New funding for improvements to the Major Road Network
    • Expansion and improvements to cycling and pedestrian networks

Associated Links:

 

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Contacts

Brook Simpson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-219-0149
Brook.Simpson@Canada.ca

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and Ministry Responsible for TransLink
250-361-6839

TransLink Media Relations
(778) 375-7788
media@translink.ca

Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
infc.media-medias.infc@canada.ca 
Twitter: @INFC_eng
Web: Infrastructure Canada