The Evergreen Line Project is near completion, and the construction of station plazas will officially begin this spring.
A Coquitlam-based contractor has just received $2.1 million to immediately begin constructing the Burquitlam Station plaza and have it complete by this summer. A second contract will be awarded to different companies for the construction of the Inlet Centre Station and Moody Centre Station plazas.
A third contract will be issued to build the plazas for Coquitlam Central Station, Lincoln Station and Lafarge Lake – Douglas Station, with ground-breaking expected in May.
“We’re proud to invest in infrastructure projects like the Evergreen Line that offer public transit options for families, enhance communities and benefit the local economy. It’s important these new public spaces are designed to be welcoming, accessible and reflective of the communities in which they’re built.” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone in a press statement.
Plazas will include pedestrian walkways, passenger pick-up and drop off spaces, transit connections, bike racks, landscaping, public seating, public art and, at some stations, bus loops and Park and Ride facilities.
“People who commute from the Tri-Cities region are very much looking forward to all the advantages that the Evergreen Line will offer,” said Port Moody-Coquitlam MLA Linda Reimer. “It’s exciting to watch the trains being tested and the final stages of completion being put into place.”
One of the physical differences that will set the Evergreen Line Stations apart from others is their architectural design to blend into their respective surrounding neighborhoods.
Construction of station plazas is expected to continue into fall 2016. The Evergreen Line is expected to be in service in early 2017.
Image via Jeffrey Ngai / 604 Now Flickr Pool
