The Evergreen Line is moving ahead, and Burnaby city staff were authorized by council at Monday night's meeting to negotiate an access memorandum with the province.
The city is expecting the province to ask for access to land along North Road, and the transfer of city land (coowned with Coquitlam) along North Road as well.
In exchange, the city plans to ask for a guideway design that would allow for a future Cameron station, improved landscaping along the line, more input on the design for the Lougheed Town Centre station, protection for future development and improved construction hours and noise levels.
The city also wants control of risk factors in the designing and building procurement process, protection from liability and compliance with the city regarding the road allowance, a better bus loop at Lougheed Town Centre station, separated sidewalks at certain locations, and funding for staff time spent on the project.
The city does not expect the province to change its position on using light rail technology instead of SkyTrain technology on the project, according to a report from the city's director of planning and building, Basil Luksun.
Council had previously voiced its preference for the more affordable light rail technology option.
Burnaby council will review the final memorandum to decide whether or not to endorse it, Luksun said in his report.
If there is no access memorandum, the province could proceed with the project under the community charter, he added.
Council was especially adamant that everything possible be done for a possible Cameron station.
"A guideway for a future station is absolutely imperative," Coun. Sav Dhaliwal said at Monday's council meeting, after council had acknowledged it was unlikely that the province would include the station in its current plan for the Evergreen Line.
The project includes fewer stations than originally proposed, and Burnaby council is pressing to have at least the guideway for a future Cameron station included as part of the project, since there are physical requirements that would make it impossible to add it to the system at a later stage.
The current listed stations are Lougheed Town Centre, Burquitlam, the Port Moody West Coast Express station, Ioco, the Coquitlam West Coast Express station and a station at Coquitlam City Hall, with access to Douglas College.
The Evergreen Line project is moving ahead after the Metro Vancouver mayors' council on regional transportation approved a supplemental funding plan for TransLink's expansion projects in October.
The formula for covering TransLink's funding shortfall for its expansion projects included a two cent gas tax increase, and a property tax increase in 2013, or another long-term revenue source, such as a regional carbon tax.
TransLink's plan was designed to cover the $400million budget shortfall for the Evergreen Line, as well as other TransLink projects.
The Evergreen Line project is expected to cost $1.4 billion, according to the provincial transportation ministry.
The federal government would contribute $417 million and the provincial government would contribute $410 million.
The provincial government has also agreed to cover an additional $173million. TransLink's portion is $400 million.
Advance work on the Evergreen Line is expected to begin in April 2012, according to Luksun's report, with a primary contract for the design, building and financing of the project expected by June 2012.
Three teams are responding to the project request for proposals - EL Partners, Kiewit/Flatiron Evergreen Line, and SNC-Lavalin Inc., Luksun's report stated.
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