Construction set to begin soon to upgrade SeaBus terminal at Waterfront Station

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – If you take the SeaBus, expect to see a lot of construction during your commute.

Starting next month, TransLink is upgrading Waterfront Station with a brand new entrance, escalators, staircases and seismic upgrades.

TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond says he realizes this may be inconvenient for people trying to get to the side of the water, but adds the work is necessary to improve service over the long-run.

“We want to thank our customers and neighbours of our system and infrastructure for their patience during this work. For example, this work will take about 15 months to complete.”

The SeaBus terminal was built in 1976.

TransLink says in 2017 alone, 5.84 million passengers passed through between Downtown Vancouver and the North Shore, which the transit authority claims, was an increase of 7.3 per cent over the previous year.

Improvements for the Waterfront Terminal

Four replacement escalators, one replacement elevator and a new elevator

A new staircase to make it easier to transfer to SkyTrain at Waterfront Station and improve passenger flow during peak times

An extension with a new entrance and Compass Vending Machine for customers accessing SeaBus from HeliJet or Waterfront Road

“As Metro Vancouver continues to grow, so must its transit services, which is why our government remains committed to funding 40 per cent of the capital costs of the Mayors’ 10-Year Vision,” says Parliamentary Secretary for TransLink Bowinn Ma.

The upgrades are estimated to cost about $17 million.