Commercial–Broadway Station

Commercial–Broadway Station (formerly Broadway Station and Commercial Drive Station, separately) is located on an elevated portion of the Expo Line and Millenium Line and an at-grade portion of the Millennium Line, a part of Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain rapid transit system. It is a major transit hub, with the highest amount of boardings of any SkyTrain station and is a terminus of Metro Vancouver's busiest bus route, the 99 B-Line.

Location

Commercial–Broadway Station is located just east of the intersection of Broadway and Commercial Drive in East Vancouver. Part of the station is elevated over East Broadway, while another part is located deep within the Grandview Cut south of Grandview Highway North. The two parts are connected via an elevator and skyway. It is on the outskirts of Vancouver's Little Italy district.

History

Commercial–Broadway Station is a merger of two existing stations: Broadway Station on the Expo Line and Commercial Drive Station of the Millennium Line.

Broadway Station was built in 1985 on part of the original Expo Line. It has been one of the system's busiest stations, and in 2002, became a transfer point to the Millennium Line via the connected Commercial Drive Station. In 2008, work began on renovating the station in which a new entrance was added on the south side of the station, the old elevator was replaced and relocated, and the traditional mesh paneling on the ground-level was refitted with glass. These upgrades were completed in 2009.

Commercial Drive Station was built in 2002 as the temporary terminus of the first segment of the Millennium Line, with connections to Broadway Station of the Expo Line. The Millennium Line has since been extended westbound by 3/4 kilometres, out of the Grandview Cut to VCC–Clark.

The two stations were formally renamed on September 7, 2009 due to concern over potential confusion with Broadway – City Hall Station of the newly opened Canada Line.^[2] Commercial Drive Station became platforms 1 and 2 of the new station, while Broadway Station became platforms 3 and 4.

Upgrades

As part of the Evergreen Line project which is due to begin construction near summer 2012^[3], Commercial-Broadway Station is to receive major upgrades to accommodate increased passenger volumes as well as enhance the passenger environment. Among the upgrades included^[4]:

• A new platform will be added on the east side of platforms 3 and 4, which will assist platform 3 by allowing extra platform capacity for Waterfront Station-bound Expo and Millenium Line trains. When completed, Waterfront-bound trains at this station will open its doors on one side of the train on arrival to let passengers exit on one platform, then after a short delay open the doors on the other side of the train to let passengers board from the other platform. Utilizing the Spanish solution, which is a first for Vancouver's SkyTrain system, will result in quicker and more efficient boarding and exiting at this busy transit hub
• Added weather protection and amenities for bus passenger waiting areas
• Access improvements within the station, including upgraded passageways and entrances
• A new pedestrian plaza for the portion of the station south of Broadway

Services

• Commercial–Broadway Station is a major connection point for TransLink bus routes that run along Broadway, including the #9 trolley bus and the #99 B-Line, a special bus with limited stops with direct access to the University of British Columbia.
• There is an A&W, a Shoppers Drug Mart, and a Blenz Coffee at ground level.
• Prior to upgrading of Broadway Station between 2008 and 2009, the station contained the "Broadway Smoke Shoppe", "The Exchange", and the "Vancouver Ticket Centre" -- three small convenience and retail outlets introduced as part of a retail programme established with the opening of SkyTrain in 1986.

Station information

Station layout

• When the Evergreen Line opens in 2016, station configuration will be as follows^[5]:

Entrances

• Commercial Drive and Broadway (north) Entrance is located at the northeast corner of Broadway and Commercial Drive intersection, opened in 2002 in conjunction with the opening of Millennium Line. Passenger can enter the station from both the westbound (north) side of Broadway and southbound side of Commercial Drive. This entrance provides both up/down escalators and elevators to all 4 platforms, although both escalators serving platform 1 and 2 may turn to the peak direction of travel during rush hours.

• Broadway (south) Entrance is the original entrance for the station, located at the southeast corner of the intersection, north end of platform 3 and 4. The entrance opens toward the eastbound (south) side of Broadway. Up/down esclator and elevators connects the street level with platform 3 and 4. To access platform 1 and 2, passenger must cross Broadway or use the overhead walkway to the Commercial Drive entrance.

• 10th Avenue Entrance is the newest entrance for the station, opened in 2009. The entrance is located at the south end of platform 3 and 4, sharing the station house with Broadway entrance.

Transit connections

• The following routes travel westbound on Broadway, with stop in front of the Broadway (north) entrance of the station:

9 UBC / Alma

99 B-Line UBC

N9 Downtown Night Bus

• Transit service travelling eastbound on Broadway is located near the Broadway (south) entrance:

9 Boundary

N9 Coquitlam Station Night Bus

• The following routes travel southbound on Commercial Drive, with stops on both north and south side of Broadway intersection:

20 Victoria

N20 Victoria Night Bus

• Northbound transit service on Commercial Drive stops north of the Broadway intersection only, near the Commercial Drive entrance:

20 Downtown

N20 Downtown Night Bus

Drop off for 9 and 99 Commercial Broadway Station

References