The B.C. government is moving forward with the Broadway Subway in Vancouver. The $2.83 billion project will add 5.7 kilometres and six stations to the Millennium Line between VCC-Clark and Arbutus Street.
As part of the competitive procurement process, a request for qualifications (RFQ) has been released on BC Bid to identify a contractor to design, build and finance the Broadway Subway project.
The RFQ will close in April 2019. The ministry will then select up to three respondent teams to participate in the subsequent phase of the competitive selection process, which is the request for proposal stage.
Early work will soon get under way to prepare for subway construction starting in 2020. Current activities involve installing trolley wire poles and upgrading intersection signals and lampposts on routes adjacent to the corridor. This work will enable future trolley bus detours and keep people moving during construction of the Broadway Subway.
The project will be delivered under the Community Benefits Agreement announced by the provincial government last summer. The agreement generates benefits to the surrounding community by providing opportunities for local workers, Indigenous peoples, apprentices and other groups.
The Transportation Investment Corporation (TI Corp.) is delivering the project on behalf of the province. TI Corp. is a Crown corporation with the legislative authority to deliver major transportation projects, similar to its role on the Port Mann Bridge project. With tolls now removed on the Port Mann Bridge, TI Corp. will provide oversight and management of the delivery of other major projects throughout the province.
The Broadway Subway project is a key part of the rapid transit program in Metro Vancouver’s Mayors’ Council 10-Year Vision. The vision is funded by the governments of B.C. and Canada, TransLink and local municipalities. Subway construction is anticipated to complete in 2025.
“I’m excited that following years of planning, regional prioritizing and funding discussions, we have the green light to start construction on the Arbutus portion of the Broadway Subway. The Broadway Subway is not only Vancouver’s number one transportation priority but an infrastructure investment that helps improve the entire region’s transportation future,” said Kennedy Stewart, mayor, City of Vancouver.
