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Canada Line celebrates first year of service

Aug. 17, 2010

VICTORIA – About 100,000 passengers in Metro Vancouver use the Canada Line every day, making it a huge success on its first year anniversary, said Shirley Bond, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, and Ian Jarvis, TransLink CEO.

“It’s no wonder more and more people are choosing to ride the Canada Line,” said Bond. “The line ensures passengers have a safe, convenient and comfortable journey. We are very proud of the Canada Line, and on this first anniversary it clearly demonstrates the need to be aggressive with our plan to build the Evergreen Line and other rapid transit options.”

“The Canada Line’s success has been based on the quick connections people can make along one of Metro Vancouver’s key corridors from downtown Vancouver to Richmond and the airport, the easy links to the rest of TransLink’s transit network and its great performance during the Olympics,” said Jarvis.

In one year Canada Line has recorded 36 million passenger boardings. On Aug. 6, 2010, TransLink released figures that show average daily ridership in July was almost 100,000. Original ridership projections forecast that the line would not reach 100,000 until 2013. Carrying this many passengers eliminates approximately 14,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

To accommodate passenger demand, next summer TransLink will add two more trains during the peak daytime period. Currently, 14 train sets are operating on an average weekday.

Earlier this summer an international publication featured the Canada Line as one of the most innovative infrastructure projects worldwide. In December 2009, the Canada Line received a Gold Award for Infrastructure from the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships.

“Canada Line opened ahead of schedule, on budget, and continues to receive the acclaim that it deserves,” said Bond. “Working with our transit partners made the Canada Line a reality. In the months ahead the Province will be moving forward with the Evergreen Line, another rapid transit project that will bring significant benefits to people and business in the region.”

Canada Line is one of the largest infrastructure undertakings ever completed in British Columbia. It transports passengers along a 19-kilometre route from downtown Vancouver’s Waterfront Station to Vancouver International Airport and Richmond Centre in 25 minutes.

The project was overseen by Canada Line Rapid Transit Inc. (CLCO), a subsidiary of TransLink.

The Government of Canada, Government of British Columbia, South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (TransLink), the Vancouver Airport Authority and InTransitBC funded the Canada Line, which is also supported by the cities of Vancouver and Richmond, at $2.1 billion.

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