Finally, an Evergreen Line station location that makes sense.
Tri-City shoppers and commuters who plan to rely on the Evergreen Line to get around will be happy to know they will soon be within a quick rapid transit ride of Coquitlam Centre. Thanks to federal contributions totalling $7 million, plus property contributed by mall owners Pension Fund Realty Ltd., and developer contributions, there will be a third station in Coquitlam Town Centre.
Lincoln Station makes sense because of its proximity to highrise developments and a regional shopping centre. It will be close to thousands of new Town Centre residents and makes more sense than some stations along the route from Burnaby to Coquitlam that have significantly less density (at least at the start).
The city of Coquitlam had to justify this station with the projection of bums in seats because there are two other stops within close proximity, and politicians and staff both deserve congrats for being dogged on this file.
But much work needs to be done to come up with the $20 million to $25 million to pay for this needed station. Stay tuned for even more density in the area.
While we're on the topic of station locations, it's a wonder the rapid transit planners couldn't redraw the route to take in Port Coquitlam, which is growing by leaps and bounds but will be a car-centric city unless residents get served by better transit.
Others, meanwhile, might quibble with a station location at the southwest corner of Town Centre Park to serve Douglas College students who, it could be argued, should have the stamina to walk to Lincoln from their classes, thereby saving the necessity of a sadly misnamed Douglas College station. That station, which is actually down the road at the Evergreen Cultural Centre, has the potential of being an ugly terminus sitting next to the lovely Lafarge Lake.
No doubt station designers, city planners and landscape architects have their work cut for them to make this final Tri-City stop a civic showpiece. But for now, we're just happy to see the rapid transit project has left the station and a major stop will be at the local mall.
