The extension to the Millennium SkyTrain Line is going to connect the Metro Vancouver region like never before.

That was my biggest takeaway from tagging along on a quick tour for elected officials of a couple of soon-to-be-opened new stations on the SkyTrain system yesterday morning.

Amidst construction crews still busily buildings the six new stations and (along with Lougheed Town Centre) that make up the Evergreen Extension of the M-Line, I was able to take the odd photo and ask those along for the ride what they thought of it all.

The stations have a similar feel to some of the SkyTrain stations that have either recently been renovated or are in the midst of a facelift like Main Street-Science World and Metrotown respectively. They’re open in terms of their layout, have a lot of glass and include some beautiful public art that gives each stop on the line its own feel.

The Millennium Line will have a lot more bends than it does today and the longest tunnel in our system when it opens before Christmas this year!

“We’ve been waiting a long time. This will change our community,” Richard Stewart, Mayor of the City of Coquitlam told me. What the extension will do to improve livability, not only for the Tri-Cities, but for the region itself, is what many of the officials told me.

What struck me the most about the extension is how much more of the region this extension will give riders access to. Having lived in Vancouver for a number of years, I’ve only had glimpses of Coquitlam and the surrounding areas as I’ve driven to specific locations. With this extension, I know I’ll be exploring all that this section of the region has to offer since it’s simply a SkyTrain trip away.

As the final touches are put on the extension and we gear up for the SkyTrain pattern change (happening Oct 22nd) in advance of the opening, you’ll want to get yourself acquainted with how you too may make the trip to the Coquitlam area and beyond. With this new addition to the SkyTrain line, it’s not so far away.

Burquitlam Station – inside

Burquitlam Station – inside

Lafarge Lake-Douglas Station

Lafarge Lake-Douglas Station

Public Art – outside Lafarge Lake-Douglas

Public Art – inside Lafarge Lake-Douglas

Kevin Desmond, TransLink CEO and Vivienne King, President of BCRTC

Ron McKinnon, Federal MP for Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam (left with red tie); Peter Fassbender, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and Minister Responsible for TransLink (middle wearing pins on lapels); and Linda Reimer, MLA for Port Moody-Coquitlam (Right, red coat).

Author: Robert Willis