The $2BN Megaproject Under Vancouver

This Canadian city is digging up one of its busiest streets.
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[@TheB1M]

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[@Inlinetodie]

Hey!! Wtf!! This is my project!! I'm the NDT Inspector performing GPR on this project!! Where exactly to come up with 2 billion, on a 17 billion dollar project?! It was presented at 2 billion for bids, years ago, it's 2024, it's now at 17 billion, Trudeau was literally just here, discussing the expenditures!!

[@VictorHHH7]

@@Inlinetodieat least he used your local currency that doesn’t happen with the UK projects on this channel, the details are usually wrong I’ve noticed it many times

[@cmk353]

When are you going to do Boring Company in Las Vegas so much cheaper than these railway tunnels

[@Croz89]

​@@cmk353Boring Company tunnels are really small and lack safety features nessecary for a subway. Plus you have to remember the cost of stations, which is the really big expense.😊

[@FandersonUfo]

you guys should look at Eglinton Crosstown as how not to do a mega-project

[@jst4572]

Watching videos like these gives me inspiration for my own city in city skylines.

[@masoncarter6709]

😂😂 same. If CS2 doesn't keep breaking on me...

[@dabears87_76]

@@masoncarter6709 CS2s current state makes me sad

[@just_in_key]

@@masoncarter6709 reject modernity (cs2), embrace tradition (cs1) 😂

[@jst4572]

@@just_in_key Lmao it’s like I can’t leave CS1 yet. It’s too good. Now CS2 does have some welcome additions like connecting subway stations to others using pedestrian paths. Like in real life.

[@dgorospe]

Wow, never expected to see this project featured on the channel but in hindsight it's a perfect topic. The city and Metro Vancouver in general have done a good job growing our rail network in the last 20 years, and we'll definitely need it to help with the high cost of housing.

[@KWally]

Sounds like someone that lives in the city. The rest of the valley has been screaming at the province for rapid transit for decades while falling on deaf ears. TransLink is a complete mess.

[@srpacific]

They've done a terrible job. Rapid transit in Metro Vancouver is 20 years behind the need. Look at how much Surrey and Langley have grown - and they will continue to do so as development slows in Vancouver & Burnaby. We need twice as much investment as there is currently, and that would only serve current needs and not anywhere in to the future.

[@rattslayer]

had the same thought. i dont live in Vancouver, just nearby... but love this project. It is so badly needed! Just wish it had been extended to the university.

[@brucemacneil]

I cannot understand tunnelling when so many options are available that move similar quantities of people at dramatically less cost and construction time.

[@HowlingWolf518]

@@KWally The Fraser Valley doesn't pay into TransLink - it's got its own thing, BC Transit, and those guys seem content to give you the same Flying Spaghetti Monster bus network over and over again.

[@BunkerSquirrel]

I’ve seen dozens of videos on TBM, but the way these machines can pull in offsite molded concrete liners and make a cleanly finished tunnel in effectively one pass is one of the most ingenious and incredible things I’ve ever seen.

[@somethingsomething404]

Isn’t that standard?

[@envoy3]

Another thing worth mentioning about this project is that it's helping to alleviate congestion on the busiest bus route in north america. The 99b line has a daily ridership nearing 60,000! Thanks for covering this awesome project B1M, looking forward to being one of the first to ride this train 😊

[@SMorrisRose]

The 30,000 (sic) daily riders of the 99 aren't trying to get to Arbutus and W Broadway - almost nobody is trying to get there. Even the 99B didn't stop at Arbutus until a few years ago because there is effectively nothing there. Those riders are virtually all trying get to UBC. And this subway won't take them there, nor has an extension to do so been funded.

[@littleripper312]

I dont see traffic being improved much because with the massive increase of people to the area from condos and jobs.

[@howboutnow974]

And please don't forget that you can ride the 99b (and other express lines) for free by just walking on through one of the back doors. The more you know!

[@cactus3796]

R4 > 99 XD yeah buses here are busy ah but tbf Vancouvers public transport is pretty good !

[@sodapone]

@@SMorrisRose It's planned, and what this part of the extension does is take the VGH-bound riders off the 99 B-Line. The only people who will take the 99 B-Line after this extension is done are UBC students and West Point Grey residents, which will reduce the stress on the bus. Once the MST finalize their plans for the Jericho Lands, TransLink will extend the Millennium Line further to reach all the way to UBC and the 99 B-Line will be discontinued-current projections put that by 2030.

[@krysc2009]

To also note, the reason why the new high rises aren't going to be built until after the subway extension is opened, the provincial government made a ruling that superseded existing zoning within a certain distance of transit hubs and stations. So now what used to be limited to say a 6 storey building due to local zoning, now developers can build a 40 storey tower as it's within 300 meters of a station.

[@Yukimaru0]

They have also changed the building code for wood frames to allow for up to 12 floors, up from 6. However I only know of 4 such projects that have been officially approved, don't know if they have started construction yet.

[@HowlingWolf518]

Works out for the best - construction will block the roads and make it nearly impossible to drive or ride the bus, so better to have the subway finished when that happens.

[@Kisai_Yuki]

@@Yukimaru0 Wood buildings historically were limited to the tallest ladder firetruck available at the time. It wasn't until 2020 when the 12 story height became a building code thing. That said, a 12 story wood building would not survive BC's windy wet coastal climate, and you can only expect the worst quality housing (subsidized rentals) to be made of wood. We know this is true because of how many times Surrey gets spanked by wind storms every year. Even older buildings made of wood, suffer from mold and rot problems that impact the structural integrity when the slumlords decide not to do any maintenance.

[@themnuggets5264]

​@@Kisai_YukiThis is simply false. Brock Commons Tallwood house in UBC (18 stories) has no such problems that you are bringing up, and mass timber has huge potential. Maybe for timber framed buildings 20 years ago, but nowadays many engineered wood and hybrid buildings have worked out most of the issues that existed historically.

[@interspect_]

@@themnuggets5264 CLT buildings are stronger than steel.

[@carlfalt174]

Excellent coverage of the Broadway subway project. The other major transport project down at the coast right now is the Skytrain extension to Langley and that is really going to change that part of Surrey & Langley.

[@eugenetswong]

It's amazing to think that people will be able to take SkyTrain from Langley to the west side of Vancouver.

[@srpacific]

@@eugenetswong Yeah, Vancouver will finally be like hundreds of other cities in the world...20 years ago

[@Indian-Canadian]

The Patullo bridge is another project happening rn.

[@Yvaelle]

@@srpacific Sure it's behind compared to Europe or Asia, but it's sadly still like Top 3 for subway systems in North America, and when adjusting for population size, Vancouver is literally the best on the continent: a low bar, but still 1st place.

[@school1865]

@@srpacific well 20 years ago we didn’t have the size of Paris, Tokyo, Berlin… Oh and we still don’t. The provincial government is smart enough to understand that we aren’t as large as other cities that’s why they only create and expand the transit projects as we grow. That’s why we’re behind.

[@ACanuckr]

A complex project but you managed to hit the key aspects, well-done. I was on the Owner’s engineering team, as the lead engineer for relocation of existing utilities during the planning and business case development stage. Utilities varied from large diameter water transmission mains, water distribution mains, large diameter trunk drainage mains and combined sewer mains to electrical and telecommunication duct banks with more than a few ducts to fibre optic lines, to name but a few. It was extremely challenging to develop routes and options for relocating the utilities that would not interfere with the planned station structures and the structures planned for the support of the temporary roadways. Being involved with the project at the beginning stages was one of the many highlights in my engineering career.

[@DwightStJohn-w1l]

I did a few high-rise concrete buildings in Vancouver, but can't imagine this level of complexity. Makes my job second on site look like an on call labourer!!!

[@davedoesplumbing]

I had a peep down there from time to time, utilities rerouted left right and centre ! Hats off to you

[@Gluteus.Maximus]

Utilities as essential as they are, never get talked about. Kinda makes me wanna watch a whole video on the utilities of this project

[@depotwest]

That is so cool, thanks for sharing this!

[@SeaToSkyImages]

Didn't expect to see a feature on the Broadway extension here. Very cool. I rent right along the Broadway corridor, and I'm just waiting until the building I'm in gets knocked down, and replaced with something newer and taller. Unlike others, I'm not pissed off. This area should have been rezoned 30 years ago. It's about time we see a lot more homes added to the city core.

[@RosscoAW]

Pray to God we don't elect anymore dumbass conservatives anytime soon and we might not have to deal with a three decade lull in investment, capital expenditure, and good public policy planning again.

[@gurjeets87]

Fellow Vancouverite here (but I don't live on the corridor) but so glad to hear someone NOT complaining for once. This Subway is going to make our city so much better but the naysayers seem to never cease; so shortsighted. Yes the construction sucks and adds time to commutes NOW (and is def hurting some of the businesses along the route), but the long term gains are going to be huge and address so many issues that some of these same naysayers complain about, like lack of housing. Here's hoping the pricing isn't astronomical and that people like yourself do get a new home at the same and/or reasonable cost!

[@zandreblondin8880]

@@gurjeets87Vancouverites don’t know whats good for them! A few more years of complaining and then we can all be happier. Worth it

[@ganonk79]

Yes, it’ll be nice to relieve some of the congestion along Broadway. Before this, it was always so nerve wracking to drive along it with all the buses snaking in and out of the lanes. And the buses were always so slow because of how narrow the street is for the amount of traffic it handled.

[@iampetz]

100%. I lived in the area 10 years ago and it was barely affordable then. This project should've started decades ago, and it would've been better to extend to UBC but at least it's finally making some progress

[@ravenfeeder1892]

The temporary decks for the road is an interesting move to allow engineering along that path.

[@drakhlur123]

ive seen them in person and can say it looks wild. its crazy to see so many cars moving on top of a deck that doesnt look nearly thick enough just levitating above a massive drop lol

[@robertoehlmann4401]

The did the same for the construction of the Victoria Line in London in the 1960s: kzbin.info/www/bejne/on-TnptomdOsqMk

[@nickgoodall578]

When the built the Canada line they did a lot of it cut-and-cover. I think the hangover from that helped give social license to do this one mostly underground.

[@herpaderp1470]

Yeah, when I went there it’s alright, I just wanted to get to Jollibees 😂

[@nathanwhitehead2581]

Was just talking with friends about this broadway project over the weekend, and I thought “wow, it would be cool if B1M made a video about it” annnnd bam here it is! Thank you. Please do more videos on Canada 🇨🇦

[@NeilABliss]

Lived in Vancouver all my life (well the region) , very cool of you to talk about our transit project. We have a lot of nimbys in our city unfortunately.... this project was originally going to be nearly twice as long going all the way out to the University. But.... and hope that that doesn't rear it's head again. Personally, I want them to not stop make extensions to our transit system until we have truly affordable housing and a system with the convenience that rivals the BC electric system of years ago, prior to the advent of diesel buses.

[@Croz89]

I believe the plan is still eventually to extend it out to UBC, just they want to open this section first as it's the most overcrowded in terms of buses.

[@NeilABliss]

@@Croz89 hope so, I should talk to some friends and see if they got an inside on that. Nevertheless, not doing it correctly from the start seems like catering to nimbys. We need to get on with several extensions to the system. Langley is an imperative, as is finishing Arbutus...but instead of shutting down either, just keep going. Aldergrove , UBC But we need to consider extending from Coquitlam toward Maple Ridge and connecting North Van to the system. North Van seems imperative as those bridges are a nightmare if and when there's an accident ,and terrible on any day during the rush. I also think we need a west coast express type train running along south Vancouver, Burnaby and turning towards Surrey from New West. Extending the current west coast express into Abby should looked at too. That's a lot of build out and there's tons of negotiation needed but... We are expecting another million people in the region over the next 25 years... that's a lot of housing and a lot of potential cars just making things worse than it already is.

[@Croz89]

@@NeilABliss I think it's reasonable to have this section open first, otherwise it would take longer to build. They might start on the extension to UBC soon after.

[@TriddyYT]

​@@Croz89My understanding is the plan is to finish this, then go full steam on the line out to Langley, then go back to extend this to UBC in a few years.

[@AmurTiger]

Also from the region, and yeah I think the UBC extension will happen but keeping a big transit project underway instead of waiting for funding something bigger is the right move here. Builds expertise in the organization and local industry instead of having long pauses between larger projects. I would caveat that in many respects what we have already rivals the old BC electric system. While the old system map is impressive it should be kept in mind that that wasn't grade seperated and operated a lot slower, sure you could in theory go a long way with it but the time taken meant you never would. The million dollar ( well, multi-billion really ) question will be when and how to deal with the north shore. Geography is not making it easy there but I can't imagine we want to keep kicking it down the road forever.

[@micah1392]

Great video! As a Torontonian, I'm proud to see such projects come to fruition in my country. B1M should make a video on all the rapid transit construction happening in Toronto! One entirely new high-capacity subway line, the Ontario line, two new LRT lines - Eglington and Finch West, and two extensions of pre-existing lines. Not to mention a massive overhaul of our regional rail network, GO Expansion. I'd love to see B1M discuss these projects!

[@K1ddkanuck]

Agreed! Although to be fair, that Eglinton line has been one hell of a headache. The Ontario line shutting down Queen St. has impacted me a lot considering I live and work downtown. That being said though, when everything is actually finished these projects will be game-changers. I just wish Metrolinx wasn't so badly mismanaged and beyond accountability.

[@SkyrimInMyPants]

Yes rail lines that have stations surrounded by parking lots. Hahahaha dummy.

[@Zraknul]

It's unfortunate we're ~30 years behind on launching several of these projects so we're having to try ram it all at once, but better late than never.

[@sahilp70248]

When I was still in school, I was able to tour the Great Northern Way Stn under construction. We were guided all the way down to the tunnel entrances seeing the soil travel along the conveyors off-site. It was a very intricate and complex construction site. I am very grateful for the experience, and thank you for covering the project on your channel!!

[@panner11]

Wow, didn't expect a video from the B1M covering my city! I thought the project might be too pedestrian for a worldwide channel like this, but really cool to see the details laid out in it's construction.

[@stevengalloway8052]

The amazing modern boring machines have forever changed how subways will be built. Astounding engineering... 👏😏

[@seph3rd375]

This is nice! Oh, the memories! I was in Vancouver in 1999. I'm sure it has changed a lot since I was last there. I attended university there and when I graduated with my Post-Bac Dip in communications and publishing, I returned to the United States in 2002. I attended SFU, a really nice school with cool people. I remember when I first arrived and stayed at an international dorm in the suburbs, most of the students were British and Europe. I met several from Australia too. I had never met a person from Singapore ever in my life until that moment as well. My experience was not without blimps but overall, I had a great time and the experience was life changing. Outside the perimeters of the university in the suburbs and its Harbour Centre location in downtown Vancouver, it could be a bit rough at times (like all major international cities around the world) but overall, it was and enriching experience that will stay with me for a lifetime.

[@eugenetswong]

Thanks for coming!

[@DwightStJohn-w1l]

I ran after work one of the small residence buildings just east of Harbour Centre: but in the 2,000's it was actually one of the safest, nicest people areas in the city. Like most cities, not any more. End of an era.

[@myguykaikai9215]

@@DwightStJohn-w1lI live and work only 5 blocks from Harbour Centre, and it’s not any less safe now than it was 10, 20, or 30 years ago. Too many people believing fake news.

[@Tylendal242]

SFU is gonna get a gondola from a nearby Skytrain Station. It's an idea that's been tossed about for a while, but they're actually seriously planning it now.

[@seph3rd375]

@@Tylendal242 That's great! In hindsight, my experience in living on Burnaby mountain while attending SFU was incredible. Met a lot of really nice graduate and undergraduate students from around the world up there and at Harbour Centre as well. Breathtaking views on Burnaby mountain, from what I recall, especially from the cafeteria window! I looked forward to breakfast daily. Good food too, not exactly southern but good. Low hanging clouds daily. Scotland Yard type fog, a kind of mystery book living up there, England-style. As thick as pea soup some days, as thin as a veil others. Snow. At times felt like mysterious scenes of a Stephen King or Agatha Christie novel! Cozy and comfortable. A once in a lifetime experience. If I had to do it all over again, I'd do it the same way, 'my way' - remembering Frank Sinatra in the last sentence!

[@imjody]

Ahh yes, I love when The B1M, who loves London very much so, does a video on something epic happening in Canada. 😊- Alberta, Canada

[@HaHaBIah]

The city of London, in Canada

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

​@@HaHaBIah Not The City in London then?

[@PaulRudd1941]

​@@HaHaBIah yuck! London Ontario 🤢

[@jonathanreams167]

do one on the dam / resevoir being built on the Bow river to prevent it flooding Calgary again! My daughter is coordinating the material hauls, about 3 million cubic meters each year.

[@chaydium2535]

I live in Vancouver, and this is the best breakdown of what's happening I've seen! Great work!

[@ovrovrovrovr]

I live in one of the buildings right by the excavation! It’s been crazy to see the progress on a daily basis, and just getting a sense of just how logistically complex it all is.

[@OLli3H4GgITt]

Currently doing a masters in geotechnical engineering and this channel gets me more and more interested in what I’m doing every time I watch

[@Indian-Canadian]

Great to see my city's project featured here! Near Oak and Broadway, you can see the TBMs in operation. There's a temporary pedestrian bridge over the excavated area from where you get to see the conveyor. A rare sight.

[@JasonLerado]

I’m super excited for all the future developments coming from Translink. The Broadway Subway project is already incredible, but they’re even working on extending the Expo line the other direction all the way to Langley. Crazy to think you’ll be able to take the SkyTrain all the way from Langley to Richmond in the future.

[@jonathankleinow2073]

My ex-wife and I honeymooned in Vancouver in the spring of 2005 and took public transit everywhere. I remember riding the 99 B-Line out to UBC to visit the botanical garden, and it was an incredibly busy line even then. It's a shame they aren't going to continue the subway out to UBC, especially since the TBMs are already in the ground.

[@kennykenevil57]

The plan to extend it to UBC is in the works, it's baffling to me that the funding hasn't been sorted yet. I'm hoping by the time they finish Arbutus station they just keep the TBM's going.

[@Leadvest]

A buddy of mine went to UBC for their engineering degree, a decade ago, and this conversation played out exactly the same back then. Except for the part with the tunnel boring machines.

[@HowlingWolf518]

There was a push to get the whole thing funded in 2014 via sales tax... but our premier had a grudge against Vancouver, so she put it to a referendum and ran a proxy campaign about "wasteful spending," the public voted "no," and the rest is history.

[@Jack-2day]

It will be an absolute quagmire if this line ends at Arbutus. I rented two blocks from here and they'll require a train load of b usses to transport the thousands of students to UBC. lol

[@j134679]

blame the point grey NIMBYs. Boycott the businesses along the corridor past Arbutus.

[@michaelmains6785]

Haha this is now the third project you've covered that I've worked on (along with grand paris and TELT)! Love it!

[@eugenetswong]

Thank you for your contribution!

[@arrjay2410]

There's a lot of similar issues with the Eglinton LRT in Toronto. A lot of low density suburban areas are being rebuilt into more dense Urban areas, like 'The Golden Mile'. Apartment buildings are being refurbished and new condos and rental units are being put up.

[@Jmp5nb]

Usual exceptional quality in explaining the engineering challenges, and the societal implications!

[@MassiveBuild]

This megaproject Under Vancouver looks like a real project. Good luck Vancouver

[@rickkearn7100]

This channel is a gem, truly. With its top-shelf content, quality, production and presentation, it really stands out to me. That said, why does Vancouver need to expand? What's the panic all about because there isn't enough supply to meet demand in the housing sector? It seems to me that the banks and real estate industry are the only entities that will benefit from expansion, whilst the quality of life of everyone who already lives there will be lessened, IMHO.

[@Obscurai]

Vancouver has a shortage of housing, as does all of Canada. According to the CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) Canada needs to build 3.5 million homes to achieve affordability, and 22 million homes by 2030 which is only 6 years away. Also Canada's population grew by 1 million people to 41 million in just 9 months (July 2023 - March 2024.) The expansion of housing is about increasing housing supply to meet demand and lower Vancouver's insane housing costs (3rd highest in the world). Without the expansion more and more people will be living on the streets.

[@dorkusmaximus3033]

Thanks!

[@RealisticMgmt]

Now they just need to extend the Skytrain all the way to UBC. That will be another major project worth covering on B1M.

[@rcprlx]

Especially rerouting the route a bit to have a stop at the new huge Jericho lands development.

[@disneykilledstarwars]

yeah the millionaire yuppies need rapid transit post haste

[@andrewweitzman4006]

I believe RM transit had a video on the project where the existing route is where the major congestion is on the existing bus route. After Arbutus, the passenger load drops.

[@mrx-vx4wr]

Apparently, they are studying the potential extension to UBC, but It's going to take maybe another 30 years before it is completed.

[@e-curb]

Unlikely. It will be empty for 4 months per year. There aren't enough people living out in UBC to justify it.

[@TomPVideo]

Fantastic video! I think the one thing you maybe undersold is just how busy the transit routes on Broadway are today and what that will mean for opening day. The 99 express bus runs every 2-3 minutes in rush hour and that's just 1 route on the corridor. It's also the spot with the most delays on the route because the area is almost part of downtown already. Opening day, estimates are for somewhere around 100,000 daily travellers, and that is before completion of Broadway Plan towers. And I may be one of them as micromobility + train will be equal to my current driving commute.

[@hnitsua]

The broadway subway Is on the millennium line. When the millennium line was built, people called it the train to nowhere, because this line runs thru mostly institutes and industrial land. We need to build higher density so that it becomes a train to somewhere. I watched the “about here” vid abt skytrain to ubc where only 30% of the riders actually go to ubc. But again, we should build transit first and then zone the surroundings so people get transit on day 1; a far sighted planning. With the extension not reaching ubc, it’ll force a transfer regardless

[@eugenetswong]

If we could build from scratch, then I would build rail freight infrastructure first, and then passenger rail, and then major transit routes, and then ammenities, and then housing. Streets/roads would be planned early on. My main point is that rail has to be designed early and it needs to account for fluctuations in demand.

[@420greatestqueen]

It definitely needs to go all the way to UBC

[@melissaharris3389]

​@@eugenetswongtry playing City Skylines!

[@eugenetswong]

@@melissaharris3389 Thanks for the advice. I'll probably get addicted to it.

[@JJJJ-vn1ix]

Christy Clark didn't want to fully fund transit. Translink had to compromise to get the Langley extension finished in one phase. Which in hindsight is the better call. UBC has different soil, loaned land, strong nimbys in dunbar and point grey, and the ridership is not going to substantially increase to UBC. There is always going to be a upper limit of students and faculty wanting transit to that area. Meanwhile surrey to langely is free real estate.

[@KurtQuad]

You have one hell of a channel - I can't get enough of your analysis of large construction projects. Keep up the excellent work! :)

[@AldoInemaMugisha-qp2ub]

Good as always keep it up b1m

[@randalthor741]

This project is going on right next door to me: I clicked on the video because I instantly recognized the building in the thumbnail. While this is going on, it's causing a bunch of disruption along a very busy street, but honestly not as much disruption as I had expected, and it's totally going to be worth it when it's done. The Broadway corridor is one of the busiest transit corridors in North America, so we really need this new line!

[@crimsontomato]

I dug 3 of the stations to prep for the TBM's! Was thrilled to be a part of it.

[@depotwest]

Again, love seeing people that participated in this chiming in, so great you were able to be a part of it!

[@jacktopolewski7519]

As Vancouver born and raised and living and working blocks away from cambie and broadway its so cool to see my neighbourhood featured on the channel and the way they approached the topics of livability and housing in the city. Has been a bit of a pain with all the construction but thinking back to when the Canadaline was being built and how beneficial it has become to the city I know this is going to pay off HUGE. So excited for it to be done.

[@justcallmeD90]

1- I love your channel I’m always looking for new videos on your channel 2- I love Vancouver I went back in 2019 and I had met a lot of people from Ontario (especially Toronto) They’re working on the Crosslinx here in Toronto and they’ve been working on it for over 10 years and they’re not quite done and it caused a lot of businesses to close.

[@evan9382]

awesome to hear this channel talking about a project in my hometown! the SFU gondola is pretty interesting too

[@kiyu_u6009]

3 hours away in Seattle and I'm always envious of Vancouver's public transit.

[@wadexyz]

I always assumed Seattle had a kick ass system, but that's based on absolutely nothing : )

[@KanyeTheGayFish69]

@@wadexyzthey have a decent light rail line. No different from Vancouver, but Seattle covers a much larger metro area than Vancouver so it’s not as well connected.

[@SMorrisRose]

@@wadexyz By North American standards, King County Metro and Sound Transit provide pretty good service. Farebox recovery is only about 20%, though.

[@drscopeify]

We already have in Seattle the transit tunnel that used to run buses and is now light rail. Similar idea.

[@smallstudiodesign]

@@drscopeifyyour bus /rail tunnel is no where near as long or complicated as this project - this tunnel is many times longer than your Alaska way tunnel.

[@mb4wong]

A quick point about the Broadway Plan, the land use plan supporting the Broadway Subway. That was already approved and is already in force in the area. The city has already received a significant amount of a rezoning and development applications for the Plan area.

[@penntano]

Great to see your quality production applied to a project that is local to me. Thank you!

[@DouglasJWalker]

This is the only channel where I am interested in the advertisers.

[@hans-rudi-der-letzte]

There is a very interesting and large-scale infrastructure project in Germany in planning. It's called "Stadt-Umland-Bahn" and it's a proposed extension of the Nuremberg tram network to Erlangen (where Siemens has one of its HQ's) and Herzogenaurach (HQ's of Adidas and Puma). But there is a referendum on the "StUB" in Erlangen this June that could still stop the whole project. Perhaps you could do a video about it. ❤

[@edyee1647]

Thank you for covering the Broadway Subway Fred! I live in Vancouver and I never expected a project in the city I live in to be covered on the channel, but this is exciting! I've heard of it on local news and I've seen most of it in-person. This is a important project for Vancouver as it will reduce congestion for buses on the surface. The Broadway Plan is also important because it will provide more homes plus a few more reasons (The reason I said that at the end of the sentence is becauseI don't want to include a lot of detail). I should also say that the Broadway Subway will replace part of the 99 B-Line which will be truncated so it will terminate at Arbutus Station until the Millennium Line is extended to UBC ( yes, some of us want it to happen sooner).

[@cyberpunk.386]

Greetings from Sydney, which has a similar housing problem to Vancouver. Vancouver, we understand you!

[@ChrisJohannsen]

At least wages are decent in Australia. I moved from Vancouver to Melbourne and am living like a king

[@thedownunderverse]

@@ChrisJohannsenReally? I live in Melbourne (born and bred) but spent a year in Vancouver in ‘05. I sometimes wonder if I made a bad decision not to stay there….

[@ChrisJohannsen]

@@thedownunderverse wages are 50% lower and housing is 50% more expensive. There are major drug and crime issues. And of course the weather is awful. You dodged a bullet.

[@thedownunderverse]

@@ChrisJohannsen I really appreciate the support dude, I think about it a lot actually. I miss the mountains and the waterways (and the bud!). Perhaps rose coloured glasses and youthful memories of a formative time in my life. I suppose it’s changed a lot since then. I lived on East 30th between Fraser and Main, rented a basement from a Punjabi family. The dad worked at BC hydro, mum unemployed, two kids and grandparents all dependent and at that time they were able to buy a beautiful 3 storey house with backyard!

[@ChrisJohannsen]

@@thedownunderverse that's one of the cheaper parts of Vancouver proper and you'd be hard pressed to find a house for under $3 million now, even the shitty small ones that are neglected. I lived on Main and 33rd when I first moved out, no way young people can afford that area now.

[@DavidS5118]

Glad you added commented on the additional infrastructure needed such as the housing and other services. Would like to see more about the other infrastructure in addition to the mega project itself.

[@TheLiamster]

This is an amazing project but I’d love to see the extension reach UBC one day

[@drewtorchia]

Great to see cities consider infrastructure and transport as core to a growth plan. Langford, BC has a lot to learn from this.

[@Gungus-v1g]

If Vancouver becomes somewhat affordable it is definitely going to be a city I would consider moving to.

[@uncouver]

Have massive development and expensive transit systems ever lead to more affordable housing in this city?

[@yayaya6799]

I think you missed the point. The city is unaffordable because people consider moving to it.

[@chammp777]

Sounds like it’s just attracting even more people here 😅

[@Gungus-v1g]

@@yayaya6799 Yeah well then build more highrises ontop of subways! The city will reach an equilibrium eventually... Theoretically...

[@j134679]

@@Gungus-v1g it'll keep growing & then slow down during market crashes/recessions & then continue growing again. The local government just needs to be wise to stay on top of the non-stop growth as Vancouver has very good natural parameters for livability compared to the rest of Canada. People only tolerate Toronto because it has more job opportunities.

[@passatboi]

This is the first time I've even heard of this and I'm originally from Canada! Great video.

[@stickynorth]

Even with its delays and faults the Skytrain is still the best way to get around Vancouver or any city for that matter. Automated metro systems are the future of transport. I just wish more cities agreed!

[@SofaMuncher]

Oh man I love this channel and im Vancouver born and raised, dream come true!

[@gladethomas8158]

Glad you covered this story. Great video as per usual 👍🇨🇦

[@rmar127]

@TheB1M. Another fantastic video would love to see you revisit some older projects that you’ve covered in the past, that are now completed. Maybe looking into how they have changed the social landscape for better or worse.

[@briangarrow448]

Vancouver is one of my favorite large cities on the entire planet. I was fortunate enough to have a long relationship with a woman who had regular business trips to Vancouver and I was invited by her to wander the streets while she attended those interminable meetings that businesses love to do. We stayed in 5 star hotels and ate at some of the very best restaurants in the city. And while she was busy working, I explored the city and basically had mini vacations. There are definitely advantages to dating people who have business career paths. She worked in international trade so I was offered multiple opportunities for trips both here in the states as well as abroad. Not going to lie, these trips were a definite perk of being involved with her. Of course the downside was that when my schedule didn’t allow for travel, I would miss her as she was working in various countries around the Pacific Rim. I would absolutely recommend going to Vancouver if you have the opportunity. (And the money, it’s a very pricey place!)

[@drunkvegangal8089]

No doubt Vancouver is a playground for the rich, privileged and entitled, however, those people only make up a small percentage of those who live here. Food banks, apartments stuffed with dubious flatmates, scraping up your monthly rent and stealing food from grocery stores represent the 'pastimes' of many long term residents who live here. Family, business and employment ties prevent many from moving whilst day by day their meager funds are stripped from their pockets by entitled capitalists. Ever wonder how the restaurant workers, hotel employees, office workers and service industry folks (from bakeries to laundromats) manage to live in Vancouver? We don't live here like you did - the city is certainly a sparkling indulgence for the rich but it is a death grind of constant poverty and anxiety for the rest of us.

[@PraisedSkater91]

Love this! I'm currently working on the Broadway project... I'm one of the few workers who actually get to walk through the tunnels from station to station.. Shown at 7 seconds and 2.9 seconds. Tons of walking everyday lol

[@cobaltblue42]

Awesome seeing a PNW mass transit project being highlighted by the B1M!!! Hope you guys can take a trip south to Seattle, where Link light rail is going through its own massive expansions to the north, south and east of Seattle, 34 miles currently under construction, two branches of which are slated to open this year. The east link project in particular crosses the I-90 floating bridges on Lake Washington, making it the first and only floating light rail line in the world. Another 38 miles of light rail expansions are currently funded and are in the planning/design phases. Some pretty innovative stuff and a massive undertaking for Sound Transit (they have even more voter-approved expansions in the works into the 2040's but are working to address funding issues due to inflation). It would be awesome to see these projects being featured on B1M as they represent some of the largest and longest mass transit expansions in the United States.

[@DwightStJohn-w1l]

Skytrain Vancouver was "motivated" by it's Expo 86, 1986. I always wondered why Seattle, a city the same size, was so far behind. Congrats. on catching up, or at least starting to catch up. Now, get out of your cars!!

[@cobaltblue42]

@user-zf3xb3qx8w We only started really catching up in the 2000's when the original stretch of the Link began construction. It's been a fairly rapid pace of expansion ever since, with around 116 miles of additional LR planned or under construction right now. And Seattle has had many attempts at starting a true mass transit system, dating back to the 60's, 80's and 90's. After the 1962 Seattle World's Fair introduced the monorail, there was a push for a long time to expand that system. Voters even approved measures in the late 90's/early 2000's to do that, at the same time as Sound Transit was building Link. 5 lines were planned, but a lack of political will and poor funding choices ended up killing that project. There were also attempts in the 80's for building a true metro and light rail network but voters and politics consistently shot these measures down. It's honestly a miracle Sound Transit has been able to pass 3 total funding initiatives (ST1 to ST3) to get us to where we're currently at. Hopeful they continue to build on that funding success with a future 4th initiative ST4, but judging by how narrowly initiative ST3 passed, it will be a tough sell (you can only tax people so much before it becomes too much of a burden for those living in the large Sound Transit taxing district who will not see direct transit connections from these projects, the irony being the more you build out the system, the more people benefit despite the costs).

[@KanyeTheGayFish69]

@@DwightStJohn-w1lyou can still drive places.

[@DwightStJohn-w1l]

@@cobaltblue42 early Seattle was a gritty, oil and machinery town. I'd go to the swap meets in Vancouver and it was all plastic Chinese crap, (1980) and in Seattle it was tools, car parts, greasy work based stuff. Then Bill Gates mom got a gleam in her eye, and Paul Allen stayed as well. By now you'd THIMK the culture had changed!!!

[@notaspectator]

Not from Vancouver but hoping those living out there awesome access to subway and props to talented people working on this legacy project. Go Canada

[@awesomeman116a]

More Vancouver videos please!!

[@jmwilliams88]

5:54 Funny to think about the burrowers being disassembled and removed when there's still so much more work to be done on the next phase: Arbutus to University of BC!

[@bryan89wr]

I'm surprised as I never thought I'd see you bother to cover Vancouver.

[@smallstudiodesign]

I asked him to. Private message request

[@avidicus]

YAY! So excited to see this video about MY CITY! So surprised to see it and loved watching it. Never thought I'd hear Fred narrate a segment about Vancouver. LOVED IT! And also always love The B1M! ;-). Now come visit too Fred!

[@---l---]

The tenant protections, including the option to move back to the new buildings is a great idea.

[@shimavitz47]

1000% if every development project had protections like this, delays would be cut in half because people would have a stronger working consensus on the benefits that the transit + up zoning will have for everyone.

[@wc4109]

Great B1M showcasing Vancouver… Unfortunately home prices here today among highest… on Earth…

[@timr.2257]

Finally a video on Canada.

[@smallstudiodesign]

They’ve done other stuff in Canada - mainly Toronto.

[@williamdixon4936]

Thank you for covering urbanization projects. It's helpful to find out which cities are making themselves more livable.

[@sng1867]

Subscriber from Vancouver here, represent!

[@TheB1M]

🇨🇦 🇨🇦 🇨🇦

[@imjody]

The price of housing here is absolutely ludicrous, thanks to idiot Justin Trudeau. Thank you for shining a light on the issue, Fred. ❤

[@Obscurai]

@@imjody So housing costs started rising in the 1990s after Expo 86. But sure blame Trudeau. The greatest rise was during Harper, so should we blame him instead?

[@MosthatedpersononYT-LGBTQ4EVER]

Obviously won't be completed for 2026. I would say 2028 since development here is so slow.

[@starboy32]

LOL i managed an apartment building right on that corridor (broadway and main to be exact) and it was a big part of why i moved away to a quieter city. craziness.

[@hollowmantra]

Great video. The only issue with this project is that it’s not nearly enough. Vancouver will easily need 5-10x the amount of subway to actually make any significant difference at all. At the rate of people moving here, this is simply just a bandaid solution to such a larger infrastructure problem overall.

[@lukehalmrast7366]

As a Vancouverite, this is my favourite video on this channel, I’m really looking forward to this extension opening, it would remove the not-so-convenient transfer from the millennium line to expo line at commercial broadway when heading downtown.

[@Obscurai]

Does this help getting out to UBC when starting from East Van?

[@lukehalmrast7366]

@@Obscurai the 99 will be shortened and only run between the future arbutus station and ubc, which cuts out the busiest parts of broadway

[@kalh4907]

Vancouverite 🇨🇦 here. Interesting albeit very brief touch of this much needed & anticipated project. The video has left out some important details. Firstly, this is the initial phase of the Broadway Subway Project with the option to build the Millennium Line Skytrain all the way to the University of British Columbia (UBC). Secondly, this first phase is also a step towards another mega project, an Indigenous owned 90 acre site: the Jericho Lands Project which will be developed into a new high-density, transit-oriented development with about 13,000+ homes. Thirdly, the short-term pushback understandably is from businesses along that corridor due to unavoidable construction disruption. Fourthly, perhaps a brief on reasons why Vancouver is the luxury city it is today: Expo 86 in Vancouver kick-started this along with the limited space in the lower mainland to build therefore build towers, the Feng shui aesthetics of the mountains, green land & the ocean; the allowance of foreign money flooding into Vancouver in the 90’s & 00’s exploding the construction & real estate boom and the mild weather (temperate oceanic climate) compared to the rest of Canada with lack of extremes.

[@Obscurai]

Yep, I blame too Expo 86 (and Jim Pattison). Well ok, it's not all the fault of Expo 86, the Olympics also helped. Not to mention all the TV shows and economic diversity of the region.

[@Kevbot6000]

I remember visiting Vancouver for a cruise and spent a day before and after the cruise exploring the city, I absolutely loved it. Unfortunate just how expensive it is though, if money wasn’t an issue I’d definitely move there.

[@alimanski7941]

I'm surprised the B1M hasn't yet covered the huge public transport project going on in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area for a few years now - about 250Km of completely new light rail + metro lines (150 of which are underground), across 14 cities with over 200 new stations, all that in a metro area that never had any light rail/metro.

[@drunkvegangal8089]

No doubt to be expanded into Gaza soon...

[@iamgotta]

Sounds like type of projects in Thailand as well (MRT Purple south extension line, MRT Orange west extension line)

[@abcdefghijk8223]

Remember, the vast majority (70+%) are for development in Vancouver. It's just a noisy minority against it.

[@SMorrisRose]

It will be hard to remember that since we have never heard it. You don't say where you did. What a strange poll that would ask whether development was wanted without specifying the details of that development.

[@drunkvegangal8089]

@@SMorrisRose As my favourite Prof used to say, "Cite your sources or shut your mouth", or, as I say, "Sources, please."

[@kasiphia]

For what types of development? Don't be a dumbass.

[@endlessendless2391]

Environmental concerns should be studied.

[@kyky366]

I've actually worked on this project, and everything stated in this video is so precise and accurate. Lot's have changed from those drone videos!

[@cascadia6260]

Vancouver yay!!

[@mdesandoli01]

I see the Phylis TBM has made it to its last stop at the Arbutus Station location on March 20. Elsie, the other TBM is due to complete in the next few days. Tunneling began in November 2022.

[@PNWDOM]

Seattleite who visits Vancouver often; BC is so far ahead of us with public transportation it's not even fair.

[@KanyeTheGayFish69]

Vancouver, not all of BC.

[@SMorrisRose]

Did you know that Kevin Desmond, who was the CEO of King County Metro (and Pierce Country Transit before that), became CEO of Translink when he left that job? He left Translink in 2021.

[@smallstudiodesign]

Because we held a World’s Fair in 1986 - so the government started building the first leg of Skytrain prior to that fair. Also the SeaBus (fast transit ferry across harbour) was put into service 1977. This sort of thing happened way back when land prices were much lower.

[@wk8219]

I fell in love with Vancouver during the worlds fair in 1986. Good old Expo '86. They have a great Metro, glad to hear it is getting even better.

[@joshklaver47]

As a Canadian, the immigration policies driving this are a travesty. Bringing in millions more people when there wasn't sufficient housing or infrastructure for the people already living in Canada is crazy. The current government is running the country into the ground at an alarming rate. It's an embarassment. The next election can't come soon enough.

[@Just_Rick_137]

Building more housing alone won't address the issue of foreign buyers using Canadian real estate for money laundering. If unchecked, they'll just acquire the new properties too. This is a typical Liberal approach that doesn't tackle the root cause. Look at how they've failed to address the addiction crisis in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. It seems like they're more focused on public perception than on making tough decisions. Immigration policies need better oversight, especially in areas like Richmond and Surrey, which have seen significant declines in safety and quality of life. Vancouver has one of the worst rates of addiction and homelessness in North America, and Surrey, B.C., has the highest murder rate in Canada. Simply building more houses or a subway isn't going to fix these systemic issues.

[@Sean-w6l]

This new line not going all the way to UBC seems to be such a massive mistake, never half ass something!

[@ON-YT]

skytrain light rail? SKYTRAIN IS LIGHT RAIL? THAT IS WHAT YOU CALL LIGHT RAIL?! LOL

[@rktayco]

Absolutely mesmerizing! I’m blown away by the incredible projects featured on The B1M. I’d love to see a spotlight on the construction of Terminal 5 at Changi International Airport in Singapore. Any plans to showcase this remarkable endeavor?

[@DawgFL]

Rated one of the most livable cities in the world? By who? LOL. There are 1000s of cities in Europe alone with more affordable housing, waaay better walkability, way better transportation, way less homeless, way less cars, way closer amenities, cheaper groceries, more safety, etc.

[@ghettobirdish]

Go move there then! No one is holding you hostage in Canada and we could do without people who talk down upon our beautiful country and province

[@Mary6661]

He's not lying. Trudeau destroyer Canada

[@DawgFL]

@@ghettobirdish i ltierally am in the process

[@pickford7812]

​@ghettobirdish your attitude is what perpetuates our problems

[@Mary6661]

It won't even let me say kanada current pm deztroyyd da kuntry

[@polo443]

I live really close to this project's site and it's truly impressive to witness such major engineering happening right in front of me, and the footage chosen for this video is just delightfuly on point! We definitely need more housing and I am glad projects addressing that are coming, so as long as the historical buildings that give charm and character to the area are respected. PD: no more luxury condos, pls!

[@2lipToo]

Most livable city...hahaha...hardly anyone can afford to live here. It's obscene!

[@smallstudiodesign]

About 66% of us (the majority) are property owners & we’re doing quite well thank you. 😊

[@mariokarter]

Wow, amazing to see Vancouver on the BM1. I would also love to see a video on the SFU gondola to please. One question about the Broadway subway, why are they removing the TBMs when the project completes, will they be reused elsewhere? Did they consider leaving them in the ground until funding is secured to extend the subway to UBC?

[@MikeSmith-pz2is]

I use to watch lots of these video, but they are all starting to blend together now. I'm pretty sure I could write the script for his next video, let me try: ----- (Insert city name) has a problem. Its transport is shit because there are too many people. So they are building a tunnel. But there is catch, the city is right next to (insert unique geological feature) so they are using a TBM. (insert generic both sides of the coin statement) typically something like: "Some people say its not worth it and the money should be spent elsewhere, but the government thinks otherwise, so the project is going ahead anyways" Once completed it should help to ease congestion and transform (insert city name here). ------ I just feels like there is nothing truly unique about any of these projects or videos, I had some mild interest when he did a video about the city I live in, but even then, I felt like if you have watched one of his videos, you have sort of watched them all. TBMs and coffer dams are nothing new, they have been around for a while now. Some TBMs have some new tech, earth pressure balance etc..... but its just all the same, I will give it a few more vids and then un sub I think.

[@Michael500ca]

There are many large projects happening in the Vancouver area right now. There is this project, the Broadway Subway Project, there is the Pattullo Bridge Replacement under construction (just after the Port Mann Bridge Replacement completed last decade), the SkyTrain Surrey City Centre extension to Langley City Centre project has started (where I used to live hence my interest). There is to be a LNG expansion somewhere in the area as well. More topics to cover for sure.

[@oleunis7921]

Hi B1M, can you please not call the skytrain "light rail." It's an elevated metro, light rail could mean many things and I believe it's better to call the skytrain by a more precise definition.

[@jefflangille2882]

The skytrain is light rail. It meets the exact definition of LRT

[@admiralprestoncole]

​@@jefflangille2882light rail is ground level trams. Skytrain is in between light rail and heavy rail. The precise definition is: medium capacity rapid transit.

[@jefflangille2882]

@admiralprestoncole the size of the cars are the exact same. Whether it's ground level or elevated is irrelevant

[@JimMacintosh]

The Canada Line is a joke and is closer to a toy train than light trail

[@jefflangille2882]

@@JimMacintosh it's the same size as all the other lines in vancouver

[@zjsz4954]

Damn I might have to go for a drive down broadway to check out this decking

[@mrkaatz2625]

Let’s be very clear here. There’s no shortage of housing. There is 1.3 million empty houses. This is caused by super rich who don’t care about anybody else but themselves.

[@deeshmond]

Yep. It’s insane. My wife and I have excellent jobs, and anywhere else in canada (aside from maybe Toronto) we’d be able to buy a beautiful huge house. In Vancouver we can’t even buy a decent two bedroom two bath apartment unless we want an hour commute each way. Just insane

[@robbarber7253]

You're putting the cart before the horse. They park money here because the Vancouver real estate market is a landlocked asset bubble fueled by decades of artificially low interest rates, combine that with our open border immigration policy and our free handouts social programs anyone with cash to spare comes here to dump it.

[@Brassy49er]

Yep. Lots of housing just unaffordable for most. I don’t understand who is buying all these million dollar new high rise apartments,

[@kootenayjoel]

Might want to look at the statistics. In 2022 there were 23,000 empty homes in the City of Vancouver, not 1.3 million. In 2024 there are even fewer. Even if every one of those empty homes were filled there would still be a ginormous housing shortage.

[@cosmocalisse]

If you believe people are letting empty homes sit there, then you don't understand investing.

[@MsLisaLisa89]

I love TBM projects. They're so fascinating.

[@BigRedBuffalo]

Too little too late, unfortunately. Vancouver is always playing catch-up with mass transit, and probably always will.

[@simpleforex1299]

But at least something is happening though

[@gjschreiber83]

That's pretty much a Canada-wide problem

[@BigRedBuffalo]

@@simpleforex1299 Of course

[@Obscurai]

No politician would spend money for things when there is no demand for it. Spending on infrastructure in the hopes of spurring demand is political suicide. Would you vote for someone that wants to spend tax payer money where there is no current need?

[@elai3147]

live near broadway and ontario st, really impressed with how little inconvenience the construction has caused