Millennium Line
| Company type | Rapid transit line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Headquarters | Metro Vancouver , Canada |
Area served | Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Moody |
| Products | Rapid transit service |
| Owner | BC Rapid Transit Company (a branch of TransLink) |
The Millennium Line represents the second rapid transit route within the SkyTrain network serving Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Managed and owned by BC Rapid Transit Company, a branch of TransLink, this line links the municipalities of Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, and Port Moody. Launched in 2002, its name commemorates the turn of the millennium.
Route
Stretching from VCC–Clark station in Vancouver to Lafarge Lake–Douglas station in Coquitlam, the Millennium Line features an elevated track up to Burquitlam station, followed by a bored tunnel segment leading into Port Moody. Within Port Moody, the route runs at ground level, crossing over railway lines before ascending again from Coquitlam Central station to its final stop at Lafarge Lake–Douglas.
Following the 2016 inauguration of the Evergreen Extension, eastbound trains accessed Lougheed Town Centre station’s newly established northernmost platform (Platform 3) by crossing over from westbound tracks, operating on the left track until reaching a crossover prior to Burquitlam Station where they resumed right-track running. Westbound trains switched to left-hand running south of Burquitlam to reach Lougheed Town Centre's westbound Platform 2. This configuration allowed passengers transferring from the Expo Line to continue westward on the Millennium Line without changing platforms.
On June 25, 2018, TransLink adjusted service patterns to eliminate all left-track running. Westbound Expo Line passengers arriving at Lougheed now either change platforms or stay aboard until Production Way–University station for a same-platform transfer onto the Millennium Line. Eastbound transfers at Lougheed remain on the same platform. This operational change was introduced to enhance service reliability and minimize delays caused by previously complex track crossovers.
Initial plans
At the time of the Expo Line’s debut in 1985, proposals existed for an extension reaching Lougheed Mall in eastern Burnaby. The most probable branch point was from Royal Oak station, following Edmonds Street to Lougheed Mall; however, some early SkyTrain maps also indicated a potential northeast extension from New Westminster. Neither of these routes came to fruition, but subsequent developments—such as extending the Expo Line to Columbia Station in 1989 and completing the SkyBridge to Surrey in 1990—resulted in a short spur east of Columbia station that was later integrated into the Millennium Line.
Phase I: Columbia to Commercial Drive (2002)
In 1995, British Columbia’s government announced plans for a new street-level light rail line running along Broadway and Lougheed Highway toward Lougheed Mall as phase one of the "T"-Line project, part of Metro Vancouver’s Livable Region Strategic Plan extending into Coquitlam. Although an 18-month rapid transit review commenced in 1998, it was curtailed when the government decided in June 1998 to adopt Bombardier technology. This decision necessitated linking the new line with the existing Expo Line for maintenance purposes. Since connecting at Broadway station was not feasible, switches were installed east of Columbia station in New Westminster. During this installation period, Expo Line service over the SkyBridge was limited to a single track. The primary contractor responsible for construction was SAR Transit, a consortium comprising SC Infrastructure, Agra Monenco, and Rizzani de Eccher Inc.
The Millennium Line officially began passenger operations on January 7, 2002, initially running between Waterfront station on the Expo Line and Braid station located in eastern New Westminster. Service was extended to Commercial Drive station (now merged with Broadway as Commercial–Broadway) on August 31, 2002, with comprehensive bus network integration completed by September 3, 2002.
Lake City Way and extension to VCC–Clark (2003–2006)
Lake City Way station, situated between Sperling–Burnaby Lake and Production Way–University stations, commenced operations on November 21, 2003. The line was further extended three years later, reaching its present terminus at VCC–Clark station on January 6, 2006. The entire Millennium Line project was finalized with a budget of $1.2 billion, coming in $40 million below the initial estimate.
By 2007, the Millennium Line, operating independently from other lines, accommodated an average daily ridership of 70,000 passengers. This included approximately 14,000 riders originating from Expo Line stations west of Columbia and an additional 7,000 transferring from the Surrey segment of the Expo Line. By 2009, daily usage had increased to a minimum of 80,000 passengers.
At its inception, the Millennium Line ran from Waterfront to Columbia stations along the Expo Line before looping through Vancouver and terminating at VCC–Clark. On October 22, 2016, just before the launch of the Evergreen Extension, the route was restructured to operate between VCC–Clark in the west and Lougheed Town Centre in the east. Passengers could transfer to the Expo Line at Production Way–University station and Lougheed Town Centre station. Meanwhile, Braid station and Sapperton station were reassigned under Expo Line service.
Phase II: Evergreen Extension (2016)
The second phase of the Millennium Line extended service from Lougheed Mall to Coquitlam and was initially referred to as the Port Moody–Coquitlam (PMC) Line. This extension provided a direct "one-seat ride" connection to VCC–Clark station. Preparations for this phase included a short spur and track switches east of Lougheed Town Centre station, as well as a partially constructed third platform. However, implementation was postponed due to a change in provincial government.
Though originally designed as a SkyTrain extension with junction tracks incorporated during Lougheed Town Centre's construction, plans briefly shifted toward light rail transit before reverting back to SkyTrain in 2008. This reversal aimed to accommodate higher passenger volumes, enable faster travel speeds, and ensure seamless integration within the existing network by utilizing the pre-built junction tracks and third platform.
Construction commenced in 2013 and concluded by late 2016. The Evergreen Extension officially began revenue service on December 2, 2016.
Broadway extension
On March 16, 2018, approval was granted by the provincial government for the $2.83 billion Broadway Subway Project, which intends to extend the Millennium Line westward to Arbutus Street with six additional stations. Spanning approximately 5.7 km, this mostly underground expansion includes only about 700 meters above ground level. Initially scheduled for completion in 2025, progress was delayed due to a labour dispute involving concrete workers starting in June 2022, pushing the anticipated opening into early 2026. Further setbacks announced in May 2024 have postponed completion until late 2027.
The six new stations feature one major upgrade at Broadway–City Hall Canada Line station, which is being expanded with an extra entrance funded through nearby development agreements to accommodate future Millennium Line integration. The new stations are:
- Great Northern Way–Emily Carr, located near Emily Carr University of Art and Design
- Mount Pleasant, positioned at Main Street and East Broadway
- Broadway–City Hall, situated at Cambie Street and West Broadway (an enhanced Canada Line station)
- Oak–VGH, close to Vancouver General Hospital at Laurel Street and West Broadway
- South Granville, found at Granville Street and West Broadway
- Arbutus, located at Arbutus Street and West Broadway; this will serve as the new terminus for the existing 99 B-Line bus route
This extension aims to bolster transit capacity along a vital corridor supporting Vancouver’s urban development while alleviating dependence on bus services along Broadway.
Construction
Initial preparations for the extension commenced on February 19, 2019, with the setup of trolley poles and overhead wires along 12th Avenue between Arbutus and Granville Streets. This was done to divert trolley buses away from Broadway during the subway’s construction phase. By June 22, 2020, trolleybus service on Broadway had been discontinued. The provincial government targeted contractor selection by April 2020, aiming to begin construction later that year. On July 17, 2020, it was announced by the Ministry of Transportation that a joint venture between Spanish firm Acciona and Italian company Ghella would oversee the construction work. Demolition activities for station entrances and staging zones started in February 2021.
The primary construction phase launched on May 13, 2021. To maintain traffic flow during station construction, "traffic decks" were installed over Mount Pleasant, Broadway–City Hall, Oak–VGH, South Granville, and Arbutus stations. Work on the elevated guideway at the eastern terminus began on December 13, 2021; this segment is the sole above-ground portion, connecting VCC–Clark station to a tunnel portal near Emily Carr University of Art and Design.
Tunnel boring machines (TBMs) were delivered between April and June of 2022. Two identical TBMs, each measuring in diameter and in length, excavate approximately daily at depths reaching below ground level. Named Elsie and Phyllis to honor notable Vancouver figures Elsie MacGill and Phyllis Munday, Elsie initiated eastbound tunneling from Great Northern Way–Emily Carr station in October 2022; Phyllis began westbound tunneling in late November. Both machines arrived at Broadway–City Hall station by May 26, 2023, then proceeded to South Granville station, reaching it by February 8, 2024. Phyllis completed its bore at Arbutus station on March 20, 2024; Elsie concluded tunnel boring upon reaching Arbutus on April 26, 2024.
University of British Columbia extension
On January 14, 2008, the British Columbia Government pledged to extend the Millennium Line to the University of British Columbia (UBC) by 2020 as part of a $14-billion transit initiative aimed at combating global warming. Although the exact alignment was not finalized, plans sought to limit cut-and-cover tunneling techniques to reduce business disruptions along Broadway—a challenge experienced during Canada Line construction. However, this expansion did not come to fruition.
On February 15, 2019, the TransLink Mayors' Council approved plans to extend the line to UBC; nevertheless, funding beyond Arbutus Street had yet to be secured. In 2022, TransLink proposed a route continuing west beneath Broadway with stations at Macdonald and Alma Streets before veering slightly north to serve redevelopment areas at the Jericho Lands. Within the University Endowment Lands, the alignment would either follow an elevated corridor along University Boulevard or tunnel beneath the University Golf Club, terminating at a station located under the University Boulevard bus loop. In March 2022, Vancouver City Council endorsed station sites at Macdonald Street, Alma Street, and Jericho Lands.
Port Coquitlam Extension
As part of the Evergreen Extension project, preliminary trackwork and a switch were set up at Coquitlam Central station to facilitate a potential future expansion eastward toward Port Coquitlam. This would result in two diverging branches alternating service between Lafarge Lake–Douglas and Port Coquitlam. A feasibility assessment was initiated in early 2020 and spanned approximately six months. The proposal received backing from Port Coquitlam's mayor, Brad West, along with the city councils of both Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam. Nonetheless, to date, no official funding or detailed plan has been secured.
Stations
| Station | City | Connections | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| VCC–Clark | Vancouver | East 6th Avenue at Clark Drive | |
| Commercial–Broadway | Template:Rint Template:Rint | Commercial Drive at Broadway | |
| Renfrew | Grandview Highway at Renfrew Street | ||
| Rupert | Broadway at Rupert Street | ||
| Gilmore | Burnaby | Lougheed Highway at Gilmore Avenue | |
| Brentwood Town Centre | Lougheed Highway at Willingdon Avenue | ||
| Holdom | Lougheed Highway at Holdom Avenue | ||
| Sperling–Burnaby Lake | Lougheed Highway at Sperling Avenue; adjacent to Burnaby Lake | ||
| Lake City Way | Lougheed Highway at Lake City Way | ||
| Production Way–University | Template:Rint SFU | Lougheed Highway at Production Way | |
| Lougheed Town Centre | Template:Rint | Lougheed Highway at Austin; next to the City of Lougheed shopping centre | |
| Burquitlam | Coquitlam | Clarke Road at Smith Avenue | |
| Moody Centre | Port Moody | Template:Rint | Barnet Highway at Williams Street |
| Inlet Centre | Barnet Highway at Ioco Road | ||
| Coquitlam Central | Coquitlam | Template:Rint Template:Rint | Barnet Highway at Pinetree Way |
| Lincoln | Pinetree Way at Lincoln Avenue | ||
| Lafarge Lake–Douglas | Pinetree Way at Guilford Way; near Lafarge Lake |