The Evergreen Line is already creating positive spin-off effects for Tri-Cities residents and businesses even though opening day is still three years away.
Port Moody will get enhanced power and fibre-based high-speed internet for new business ventures and developments as a result of infrastructure that's being installed to build and run the $1.4-billion Burnaby-to-Coquitlam rapid transit line.
Thanks to the installation of a 25 kV power line and ducting for services, the city's aging power infrastructure will be bolstered. As well, both the city and School District 43 will be able to connect to fibre optic for high-speed internet.
This means PoMo schools as well as the city's two fire halls, Kyle Centre and the emergency operations centre in the public safety building - as well as new businesses and developments - will all be able to get access to higher speed internet, says the city's mayor.
"We needed to have that infrastructure," Mike Clay said.
In the first phase of the fibre project, Port Moody has connected to Coquitlam's Qnet dark fibre network and will launch high-speed internet at city hall this weekend after a week of testing.
Clay said the the combination of enhanced power and high-speed internet will make the city more attractive to high tech businesses, and a new office tower in Suter Brook will have the opportunity connect to fibre, which runs under the parking lot.
"We now have the opportunity to say we have 48 strands of fibre, we are probably using two. If you want to locate in Moody Centre and you want to connect to our fibre, we can carry you off to the junction point," Clay said.
SD43 is also utilizing the opportunity to enhance internet access. Steve Whiffin, the district's manager of internet services, said through an agreement with the city of Port Moody and Shaw Communications, fibre cabling will be installed along the Evergreen corridor, connecting to Port Moody secondary.
Meanwhile, eight hub sites, including five Coquitlam secondary schools, will have fibre-based high-speed internet running in September as part of an earlier phase of SD43's private fibre project.
Discussions are also ongoing to connect Heritage Woods, Terry Fox and Riverside secondary schools to fibre, Whiffin added.
Meanwhile, QNet spokesperson Rick Adams said the fibre network is making the Tri-Cities more competitive for businesses requiring high-speed internet access and is a boon for the city of Coquitlam.
Coquitlam has already linked Maple Ridge to fibre through its network and is in talks with the city of New Westminster.
"Competition means a lot, it means they can upgrade their internet speed and save money," Adams said.
