Wow, British Columbia follows Ontario’s footsteps and announced today a largely comprehensive plan for improved transit in the Greater Vancouver, Victoria, and communities in the Fraser Valley. Coincidentally, both Ontario and BC plans are expected to be complete in 2020.

According to the press release, the plan is a $14 billion package includes:

• $10.3 billion investment in four new rapid transit lines in Metro Vancouver—the Evergreen Line, the UBC Line, the upgraded Expo Line and the Canada Line


• $1.2 billion for a new, cutting edge energy efficient, high capacity RapidBus BC service along nine major routes in the high growth urban centres of Kelowna, Victoria and Metro Vancouver


• $1.6 billion investment in 1,500 new, clean energy buses and related maintenance infrastructure to provide communities around the province with improved bus service


• increased security measures to enhance transit safety and use

I am particularly the RapidBus BC service in areas in Kelowna and Victoria where no rapid transit services currently exist. The Vancouver projects aren’t particularly new, since plans have existed for the UBC Line for quite some time, and of course the Canada Line and the Evergreen Line have already been announced— in fact, the Canada Line is currently under construction.

Now I think it’s the race to the finish! Which province will accomplish their projects sooner, Ontario or British Columbia? Anyone confident enough to place some bets?

The Provincial Transit Plan - [th.gov.bc.ca]
B.C. unveils huge transit plan - [theglobeandmail.com]