UBC willing to partly fund Millennium Line extension to campus

The University of B.C. is willing to pay part of the costs of extending of the TransLink Millennium Line from Arbutus to the Point Grey campus so long as it doesn’t cut into the school’s academic funding.

The proposal was accepted by the university’s board of governors Thursday morning, and would see the university explore ways to cover the costs of the extension.

Some of those include a cash injection directly from the university, a donation of land, partnering with developers to collect funding, or charging an add-fare similar the YVR-Canada Line extension.

“Extending rail rapid transit to UBC is a key component of a regional approach to transit improvement, and directly supports UBC’s strategic plan,” university president Santa Ono said in a statement.

“Enhanced transit connectivity between UBC and the rest of the region will benefit individuals, businesses and organizations across Metro Vancouver.

“Today’s board approval of the advocacy strategy enables UBC to advance conversations with senior levels of government, regional partners, and with the UBC community about expediting the project.”

According to the report submitted to the board, the next 12 to 18 months represent a “narrow window of opportunity” during which the university could piggyback on the recent commitment shown by regional, provincial and federal levels of government to extending the Broadway SkyTrain west to Arbutus Street. “And in spring 2018, TransLink will consider its next regional transportation strategy,” the report reads. “The risk of not securing a commitment to extend to UBC within this window is likely waiting decades to complete the line.”

The university will, alongside stakeholders, continue to study the technical needs for a SkyTrain extension including where the line would go, where stations could be located, projected ridership and cost estimates before determining how much funding the school might contribute and what shape that might take.

The discussions about what UBC’s contribution would look like are expected to continue into 2019, with reports as necessary.

If extended to UBC, the Millennium Line would extend 43 kilometres from the campus to Coquitlam. Travel times to the Point Grey campus could shorten by 20 to 25 minutes each way and open up housing options for UBC students.