By Jeff Nagel - BC Local News Published: November 05, 2010 3:00 PM
Metro Vancouver directors are holding firm against calls to make a new rapid transit line to the University of B.C. an equal priority with rapid transit expansion South of the Fraser.
Metro's proposed regional growth strategy puts the Evergreen Line to Coquitlam first, while second priority would go to rapid transit expansion in Surrey and Langley and extension along Vancouver's Broadway corridor only as far as about Arbutus Street.
Running the Broadway line further west to UBC should only be considered later, the plan says, in a third set of priorities that include enhanced transit for many other areas of the region.
UBC student leaders told Metro's regional planning committee Friday students waiting along Broadway routinely watch up to three full buses pass them by without stopping.
"We've become victims of our own success," said Alma Mater Society president Bijan Ahmadian, who said the lower priority for the UBC line threatens to delay the project and unravel the high rate of transit use among UBC students.
"We have people all over the place being passed by buses," countered Pitt Meadows Mayor Don McLean.
He said UBC students who think a new $2-billion-plus line there will go in ahead of expansion in high-growth areas like Surrey "need a dose of reality" and may need to "suffer a little" while TransLink tackles needs in the appropriate sequence.
Other Metro directors, including Vancouver Coun. Andrea Reimer, questioned whether West Broadway and Point Grey residents would support a rapid transit line through their neighbourhood, and whether the transit-oriented development that would ensue is appropriate there.
A better tactic might be to increase affordable student housing on campus to reduce transit reliance, Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore said.
Others noted use of the line would be less west through Point Grey than through the busiest central Broadway area, which is being given higher priority.
Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan, who chairs the planning committee, said giving UBC equal weighting to South of Fraser would amount to failing to decide priority between the two and would make a promise to UBC students that's unlikely be kept.
"One thing you can take solace in is, historically, they've never listened to us," Corrigan told students, noting the NDP government in the 1990s built the Millennium Line ahead of the priority Evergreen Line and then the Liberals did the same with the Canada Line.
"Realistically, you'd probably be better talking to SNC-Lavalin and Bombardier about what the next choice will be than talking to us."
Regional mayors council chair Peter Fassbender urged students to lobby the province to find a solution to TransLink's need for long-term funding to aggressively expand transit.
The UBC line priority could still be an issue when the growth strategy goes to a vote later this month.
Reimer said she will pursue an amendment opening the door to earlier construction of a UBC line.
Metro Vancouver chief administrator Johnny Carline cautioned the board not to simply create a loophole in the transit priority schedule to pander to UBC line backers.
Money for transit is scarce, he said, and it's critical it go to shape growth South of the Fraser, which will otherwise end up car-dependent, harming the region's sustainability.
"That can't be compromised by serving the UBC student population," he said.
But Carline said it might be acceptable to adjust the plan's language to allow construction of a relatively cheap Bus Rapid Transit line to UBC, provided that spending doesn't undermine Surrey expansion.
The Surrey, Langley and Delta areas are forecast to grow by more than 500,000 residents and 250,000 jobs over the next three decades – a large part of the region's future growth.
Reimer said neighbouring cities forget that their residents actually make up half or more of the transit trips in Vancouver, so improvements there arguably help the entire region.
She said the same can't be said as easily for the reverse – upgrades in distant corners of the region.
Corrigan said the aim of improvements in underserved areas isn't merely to speed those residents to Vancouver, but to deliver a higher level of transit that enables them to also become complete communities.
Pace of UBC development queried
Metro officials have qualms about UBC's long-term plan to expand housing.
Chief administrator Johnny Carline said he's concerned proposed revisions to the university's land-use plan could allow much faster population growth around the campus.
The plan would allow up to 51,800 residents, including 25,000 to 35,000 non-students – much more than the previous UBC population target of 18,000 by 2021.
Carline said more affordable student housing would help reduce pressure on transit and transportation routes to UBC, but building too many market condos to sell to non-students could have the opposite effect.
He said it looks like UBC officials envision the Point Grey campus becoming not just a major university but a major regional centre unto itself – in conflict with regional goals.
Carline said UBC, at the end of the Burrard Peninsula with water on three sides, makes much less sense to become a major regional centre than north Surrey, which is centrally located with connections in all directions.
Metro wants more answers on how far UBC sees eventually taking development there, although the region has little control.
UBC has no elected civic government and development rules are now ultimately controlled by the provincial government.
"UBC operates more like a company town than a democracy," said Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan.
