Richmond Council Seeks Feasibility of Minoru for RAV
23 November 2004
Richmond City Council has requested RAVCO and TransLink to determine the feasibility of the Richmond-Airport-Vancouver (RAV) line being constructed along the Minoru Boulevard in Richmond.
RAVCO, the subsidiary of TransLink overseeing the RAV project, made a recommendation to the RAV Funding Agencies that a fully automated rapid transit technology be considered along the east side of No. 3 Road for the Richmond segment. Strongly opposed to an elevated rapid transit system on No. 3 Road in Richmond, Council made a recommendation to RAVCO and TransLink that Minoru Boulevard be evaluated as a rapid transit corridor prior to a decision by the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority on December 1, 2004. In addition, Council requested City staff to examine the RAV line from the Vancouver International Airport to downtown Vancouver, with a separate Bombardier-type ground-level system travelling north-south along No. 3 Road.
“Council finds it difficult to understand why an at-grade system won’t work along the centre of No. 3 Road,” says Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “In accordance with our Official Community Plan, Council’s preference has always been for an at-grade rapid transit system for Richmond. Under the circumstances, we are asking that RAVCO and TransLink consider Minoru for part of the route alignment. This option may also help to close the funding gap so the project can proceed.”
The Minoru alignment would deviate from the reference alignment on No. 3 Road near the Cambie Road intersection and transition to the lane right-of-way along the east side of the CPR right-of-way to the centre of Minoru Boulevard south to its terminus near Richmond Centre Mall.
RAVCO and TransLink will meet with Council prior to December 1 to discuss the feasibility of shifting the partial alignment onto Minoru south of Cambie Road, as well as a separate at-grade system along No. 3 Road.
- More information on the RAV project in Richmond
- For more information on the entire RAV line, including the YVR and Vancouver segments, visit RAVCO's website.
