Randeep Sarai, member of parliament for Surrey Centre, the Honourable Peter Fassbender, minister of community, sport and cultural development and minister responsible for TransLink, Mayor Jonathan X. Coté, city of New Westminster, and Kevin Desmond, CEO of TransLink, celebrated the recent completion of the upgrades to New Westminster SkyTrain Station.
The Station upgrades, which improve capacity, safety and accessibility, include a new elevator, new escalators and stairs, newly installed glass panels as well as improved lighting and better integration with the surrounding community to improve station visibility from street level. Construction began in spring 2015 and was completed earlier this fall.
The upgrades to New Westminster Station cost approximately $12 million. The Government of Canada provided $2.1 million through the Building Canada Fund. The Government of British Columbia contributed $4.2 million and the remainder was provided by TransLink.
New Westminster Station is the third of seven stations on the Expo Line to be upgraded by TransLink with funding from the federal and provincial governments. Construction is currently underway at Commercial-Broadway Station, Metrotown Station, and Joyce-Collingwood Station – some of the busiest stations in the system – to ensure that rapid transit meets the transportation needs of passengers in the region for years to come.
Peter Fassbender, minister of community, sport and cultural development and minister responsible for TransLink said, “The Government of British Columbia is pleased to celebrate the completion of upgrades to the New Westminster SkyTrain Station, which improves integration into the neighbourhood, and enhances accessibility, safety and capacity – all essential features of a modern and efficient public transit system. With these upgrades, our government can continue to create liveable communities that are serviced by an effective and integrated transit network that meets the needs of the travelling public, reduces congestion, and meets our climate action goals.”
Kevin Desmond, CEO, TransLink said, “we are happy to celebrate the completion of these important accessibility and safety upgrades which will enhance the rapid transit experience for nearly 1,600 passengers who travel through the station each hour. New Westminster station is one of seven on the Expo Line being upgraded with funding from federal and provincial partners as part of TransLink’s continuing efforts to deliver transportation excellence.”
