Eby says re-elected NDP would extend SkyTrain to UBC as parties lay out transit plans before Oct. 24 vote

Premier David Eby says that if the BC NDP-led government is re-elected, it will push the Millennium Line beyond Arbutus Station and on to the University of British Columbia campus, Daily Hive Vancouver reported.

Eby was asked about the project on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at a press conference that was about something else. According to Daily Hive, he described the extension as a job the province would carry out together with several partners.

British Columbians vote in the provincial general election on Saturday, Oct. 24. Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters in each of the province's 93 ridings will choose their MLA.

How the parties compare

Daily Hive reported that UBC SkyTrain is not specifically named in the BC NDP's official platform materials, and it characterized Eby's remarks as an explicit commitment.

The BC Greens, led by Emily Lowan, include the UBC SkyTrain commitment in their full platform document, the outlet said.

The BC Conservatives, led by Lorne Doerkson, did not offer a specific commitment on the project when Daily Hive Urbanized asked. Their platform backs SkyTrain, bus rapid transit and RapidBus, and expanded bus and ferry service, in places where population and ridership justify it. The party also proposes a review of the provincial capital plan, with findings reported within six months.

Where the project stands

Construction is under way on the Broadway extension between VCC-Clark Station and a new Arbutus Station. The line is scheduled to open in late 2027, and the UBC segment would be built after it.

The province took over the lead on planning the UBC extension from TransLink in the fall of 2022. Eby pointed to provincial money for a business case effort, valued at roughly $40 million, that began in 2023. It includes geotechnical drilling intended to inform decisions about the route and stations.

The stations expected along the way are Jericho Lands, Macdonald Street and Alma Street, plus a terminus near the UBC trolley loop. Macdonald and Alma are both on West Broadway. The Jericho Lands stop would sit on the site itself and is linked to the redevelopment being pursued by the First Nations-owned MST Development Corporation.

Daily Hive said the Mayors' Council 10-year plan places UBC SkyTrain implementation in the first half of the 2030s.

Vancouver mayor-elect Pete Fry wants a binding timeline for bringing SkyTrain to UBC, according to the report.

Newton line also in the campaign

Transit south of the Fraser River has also come up. Daily Hive reported that the Conservatives and the BC NDP have each announced platform commitments to extend the Expo Line along King George Boulevard, from Surrey City Centre to Newton.

Surrey mayor-elect Doug McCallum told Daily Hive he favoured the Conservatives' Newton commitment. He said the NDP had only said it was willing to discuss the idea.

What to know

• Election day: Saturday, Oct. 24, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Next milestone: The Broadway extension to Arbutus Station is scheduled to open in late 2027.
• UBC timeline: Daily Hive says the Mayors' Council plan places UBC SkyTrain in the first half of the 2030s. Fry is seeking a binding timeline.
• Platform status: According to Daily Hive, the BC NDP's official platform materials do not specifically name UBC SkyTrain, while the BC Greens' full platform does.