Trudeau's Liberals promise Broadway subway funding, quadruple national infrastructure

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau announced today they will fund $20 billion worth of public transit in Canada, including the much talked about Broadway Corridor subway in Vancouver and a $2 billion light rail project in Surrey.

He said they would also add more frequent Seabus service during peak hours.

The subway would be an extension of the Millennium Line from VCC-Clark to Arbutus and would include an express bus from Arbutus to UBC.

“Broadway is currently the busiest bus corridor in North America, so better transit service here means a better quality of life for everyone around,” Trudeau said at a press conference.

Mayor Gregor Robertson said if the Broadway subway comes to fruition, there will be 250,000 riders on the first day alone and it will reduce 50,000 cars from our roads. He estimates the total cost for the project will be around $2 billion. 

Canada would continue to have a deficit for at least the next four years in order to fund the project. Trudeau said the Liberal government would work to balance the budget by 2019.

He added that while they would provide the funding, it’s not up to the federal government to decide the appropriate kind of transportation that would be suitable for Vancouver – it’s up to the city to decide how they want the funds allocated.

“I trust Mayor Robertson, I trust the premier and her team to ensure that the decisions made around what Vancouver needs are the right ones for the future of this city and the region,” said Trudeau.

He added that the Liberal government would invest $60 billion worth of infrastructure into Canada’s economy over the next decade, which includes affordable housing.