Feb 26,2009 The Now News

Published: Thursday, February 26, 2009

It's official: The Evergreen Line through the Tri-Cities is on track to be completed by 2014, after an injection of federal funds today (Thursday).

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that $350 million from the Building Canada Fund would be dedicated to build the 11-kilometre line from Burnaby to Port Moody and Coquitlam.

The $1.4-billion construction project, which would create 8,000 direct and indirect jobs, is expected to begin in 2010.
 
The latest installment of federal funds, which are in addition to the $66.7 million announced in 2008, will "flow after final project details are defined by the province, a contribution agreement is executed, construction has begun and costs are incurred."

The $173 million remaining to be found, according to the government news release, would be funded by project partners - including a possible public-private partnership - and transit-oriented land development.

See Friday's paper for the full story.