Project Profile: Millennium Line Broadway Extension (Broadway Subway)

The Millennium Line Broadway Extension is a 5.7 km rapid transit infrastructure project in Vancouver, Canada, designed to relieve severe capacity constraints along the Broadway Corridor. This extension of the automated SkyTrain system will provide a high-frequency, zero-emission transportation spine connecting key regional employment, healthcare, and academic centres. The project involves complex tunnelling and station construction to integrate seamlessly with Metro Vancouver’s existing rail network.

Technical Specifications

The project extends the Millennium Line west from VCC–Clark Station to a new terminus at Arbutus Street, establishing a critical east-west connection. The alignment includes a 700-metre elevated guideway that transitions into a 5-kilometre bored tunnel beneath Broadway. Tunnelling was executed using two custom-built Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), named “Elsie” and “Phyllis,” to excavate the twin tunnels. The infrastructure includes six new underground stations at Great Northern Way–Emily Carr, Mount Pleasant, Broadway–City Hall, Oak–VGH, South Granville, and Arbutus. The Broadway–City Hall station is a critical interchange, providing a direct connection to the existing Canada Line, which links downtown Vancouver with Richmond and Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The project leverages the existing SkyTrain communications-based train control (CBTC) system for fully automated, driverless operation, allowing for service frequencies as high as one train every three minutes during peak periods. All stations are designed to be fully accessible, incorporating features like elevators, escalators, and integrated connections for HandyDART, cycling, and pedestrian networks.

Key Takeaways

• Decongestion of a Critical Corridor: The extension directly addresses the extreme overcrowding on the 99 B-Line bus route, Canada’s busiest bus corridor, by replacing it with a high-capacity, high-reliability rapid transit system.
• Strategic Network Integration: By connecting to the Canada Line at Broadway–City Hall, the project creates a fully integrated rapid transit network, significantly reducing travel times between major regional destinations like UBC, Vancouver General Hospital, and central business districts.
• Economic and Sustainable Development Catalyst: The project connects major employment, healthcare, and innovation hubs, fostering economic growth along the corridor. Its reliance on electric SkyTrain technology supports regional goals for sustainable transportation and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When will the Broadway Subway open?

The Millennium Line Broadway Extension is projected to open to the public in early 2026. Once operational, it will significantly reduce travel times, with a trip from VCC–Clark Station to Arbutus Station taking approximately 11 minutes, saving commuters an average of 30 minutes per day.

Who is building the Broadway Subway?

The project is delivered by the Province of British Columbia, with funding from the provincial and federal governments, as well as the City of Vancouver. TransLink is the operator of the completed line. The design and construction are being carried out by the Broadway Subway Project Corporation, a joint venture formed by Acciona and Ghella.