After weeks, B.C. Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth has finally agreed to face some of the many Vancouver businesses struggling to keep their doors open amid ongoing, disruptive Broadway Subway construction.
1130 NewsRadio has learned that a meeting will take place on Jan. 27 between Farnworth and some business owners in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood. It’s a closed-door meeting, meaning no members of the public or media won’t be allowed in.
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Business representatives have said they will discuss money as they push for funding to help stay operating. Some have floated the idea that the provincial government offer an interest-free loan.
However, citing provincial policy, the ministry says it doesn’t dole out money for these kinds of projects.
“Consistent with all ministry projects that improve British Columbia’s transportation infrastructure, the province does not provide compensation for disruptions arising from construction,” said an email to 1130 NewsRadio near the beginning of the month.
Neil Wyles is the executive director of the Mount Pleasant BIA (MPBIA). Earlier this month, he told 1130 NewsRadio that retailers and restaurants in the area are frustrated ahead of a four-month closure of Main Street and Broadway which begins on Jan. 26 at 7 a.m.
“There is some tension. These businesses have experienced some severe disruptions for the last five years. We do want to remind people this closure isn’t just a short-term thing. This is, as far as we’re concerned, an unplanned closure, slapped together, and it’s causing a lot of anxiety with my members. They don’t know any more than we do. They can see some lines painted on the road, but details have been a little light. I would say they’re building the plane as they’re flying it. It’s causing a lot of stress.”
He admitted some businesses may not be able to stay open once the four months are up.
“They say four months but… I’m taking that with a grain of salt. This four-month closure will be followed by another four-month closure at the Cambie [Street] side of it. It is a rolling closure. It will close for four months at Cambie, then it will close for four months at Granville [Street]. So, these businesses are going to see pretty much a disruption to the traffic flow along Broadway for the best part of a year.”
In early December, community officials held a town hall meeting to discuss the closure and other issues. Wyles says Farnworth never showed up.
“Nobody from the province, nobody from the jobs and transportation ministries bothered to attend. That would have been a good opportunity for them to come and meet these folks and feel this anxiety. I would challenge [Farnworth] that washing our windows once a month of construction dust does not balance out for Fable Diner the half-a-million dollars in losses that business has experienced. The minister [of transportation] in particular, has not been responsive to anything.”
The project has been delayed multiple times and has blown through its budget by at least $127 million. The subway is expected to open sometime in 2027.
Upon completion, the 5.7-kilometre extension of the Millennium Line, from VCC-Clark Station to Arbutus, is also expected to alleviate traffic on the road and get people out to UBC even faster.
The province says 700 metres will be elevated and five kilometres will be tunnelled below ground. The line will include six underground stations.
According to the ministry, the subway will save the average Broadway transit commuter up to 30 minutes a day.
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