VANCOUVER — A long-awaited rapid transit project in Metro Vancouver should be carrying its first passengers before Christmas.
The British Columbia government says in a news release that the $1.43-billion Evergreen Line through Burnaby, Port Moody and Coquitlam is more than 90 per cent complete.
An exact date for the opening has not been set, but it will be determined as finishing work concludes at the seven stations along the 11-kilometre transit line which branches from the Millennium Line at Lougheed Town Centre in Burnaby.
The province has also earmarked $5-million to build 150 new parking stalls at the Lafarge Lake-Douglas Station, the northeastern terminus of the project.
Construction began in February 2013 and officials had hoped to have it running by this summer but difficulties boring the tunnel for the underground sections of the line delayed the opening.
The province says 70,000 passengers will use the Evergreen Line daily by 2021.
