Upgrades are in the works for New Westminster SkyTrain station, and residents are invited to an open house to see what TransLink has planned for the nearly 30-year-old stop.

Since it opened in December 1985, the New Westminster SkyTrain station has undergone minimal upgrades and renovations, most recently during the construction of the Plaza 88 towers, which included the Shops at New West development.

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“There were some changes that we were able to have the developer construct to improve the station access, and this is sort of a second round of upgrades that are really about keeping the station in a state of good repair and also better integrating the station with the development,” Jeff Busby, senior manager for project development with TransLink, told the Record.

The project, which is at the tendering stage right now, will include replacing the mesh screen on the platform level with glass for improved visibility, upgrading the lighting on the platform, and installing a better audio system, Busby said.

TransLink will also be replacing both escalators as well as the south elevator, which were all originally installed in 1985.

“We need to replace them and that’ll help prevent some of the breakdowns that take them out of service from time to time,” Busby said.

The project is not expected to affect service to and from the station, but transit users can expect some minor changes to how they access the platform. Information on those changes will be made available when the project begins, likely later this year depending on when the chosen contractor completes the required work plan. The upgrades are expected to be complete by summer 2016, Busby said.

“We’re going to be working on different areas of the station at different times, so people can expect the construction activity to sort of move around during that period,” he added.

TransLink staff will be on hand Wednesday, Jan. 28 from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. at New Westminster SkyTrain station near the ticket machines between Tim Hortons and CIBC to answer questions. There will also be detailed posters on display and information available during that time.

For those who can’t attend the open house, TransLink will be posting the information online at www.translink.ca/en/Plans-and-Projects/Station-and-Exchange-Improvements/Expo-Line-Upgrades/New-Westminster-Station-Upgrades.aspx.

People are also asked to complete an online survey, available at the same address above, before Feb. 11.