UBC, First Nations, City of Vancouver join forces to push for SkyTrain extension to university

The City of Vancouver, UBC and the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Development Corporation are joining forces to advocate for the completion of a SkyTrain line all the way to the university's Point Grey campus as soon as possible.

The three parties, including Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart and UBCpresident Santa Ono, say they intend to press all levels of government to fund the project.

"The way I look at it is, what is the best thing we can do for this region in terms of transportation? This is the project," said Stewart.

Last February, theMetro Vancouver Mayors' Council on Regional Transportationvoted in favour of extendingSkyTrainserviceto the Point Grey campus.

Tsleil-Waututh Chief Leah George-Wilson said the partnership is an important step in reconciliation.

"Relationship building is really important," saidGeorge-Wilson. "First Nations have always been willing to work with governments. We are here."

UBC is currently served by the 99 B-Line, which is the busiest bus route in Canada and the United States, according to a reportsubmitted to the Mayors' Council, moving 60,000 riders a day.

The report said SkyTrainis the only transportation option that can provide sufficient capacity to meet demand on the route beyond 2045.

A line to UBC would extend the planned Broadway Subway Line, which will connect VCC-Clarkstation to Arbutus Street and is expected to open in 2025.

The UBC extension comes with an estimated price tag of$3.8 billion in 2018 dollars, withcompletion expected by 2030.