New poll confirms broad regional support for bringing SkyTrain to UBC

For years, students, faculty and staff have longed for a SkyTrain connection to the university to ease their daunting commutes and alleviate the overcrowded bus routes they rely on.With the top four busiest bus routes in Metro Vancouver serving UBC, it is not surprising that commuters to and from campus are looking for a solution.

Now, new public opinion research commissioned by UBC shows strong support for the proposed seven-kilometre extension of the Millennium Line goes well beyond UBC commuters, with more than three-quarters (76 per cent) of respondents from across the region saying they support the project.

The online poll of 1,931 adult residents from across Metro Vancouver was conducted in March/April 2025 by Research Co. Half of the respondents (55 per cent) said they never or almost never visit the campus, and 42 per cent said they have no relationship to UBC whatsoever.

The poll is considered accurate to within +/- 2.3 per cent 19 times out of 20.

Benefits beyond the commute

Among respondents who said they have no relationship to UBC, nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) strongly or somewhat support extending the SkyTrain to the Vancouver campus.

The research reveals that the public recognizes the extension as critical transportation infrastructure and as an opportunity to generate new housing and economic opportunities for the region.

When asked about the potential benefits of extending the SkyTrain to UBC, at least four-in-five respondents say the following benefits are important to them:

reducing road congestion in Metro Vancouver (84 per cent)
creating thousands of high-paying, family supporting jobs for British Columbians on a major, long-term construction project (84 per cent)
increasing the availability of affordable housing in Metro Vancouver through transit-oriented development (81 per cent)
saving commuting time from across the region for UBC’s 60,000 students, 15,000 employees and others who work on and visit campus (81 per cent)

Almost three-in-four respondents (74 per cent) said investing in Canadian public infrastructure projects is a good way to grow the Metro Vancouver economy and make it more resilient, and more than three-quarters (78 per cent) said despite challenging economic circumstances and competing demands for limited provincial funding, the BC government should continue investing in major transit infrastructure projects in Metro Vancouver.

The extension of the SkyTrain to UBC is expected to enable the development of significant new and diverse housing options, including affordable housing, along the route in the City of Vancouver, at the Jericho Lands, through the University Endowment Lands and on the UBC campus, integrated with the region’s rapid transit system. UBC alone plans to double its campus residential population to over 53,000 neighbourhood and student residents by 2050.

The new rapid transit line will also fully connect Metro Vancouver’s economic, education, employment, research, innovation and health centres, helping boost the regional economy and expand the reach of UBC’s research and innovation impact, particularly in life sciences and bio-innovation.

“People across Metro Vancouver recognize that the SkyTrain extension will generate good, high-paying jobs, boost the regional economy and make it more resilient, and create opportunities to deliver much-needed housing, including affordable housing.”
Michael White, Associate Vice-President of Campus and Community Planning at UBC

Strong support across Metro Vancouver

Although most of the proposed route lies within Vancouver, support for the extension spans municipalities beyond the city limits:

Burnaby/Richmond/New Westminster – 80 per cent strongly or somewhat support
North Shore – 74 per cent strongly or somewhat support
Surrey – 69 per cent strongly or somewhat support

The vision for a more connected UBC

UBC is actively advocating for the SkyTrain extension with all levels of government and working with the province and other partners, including the City of Vancouver and local First Nations, on the business case and technical aspects of the project.

Previous work, as well as ongoing system modelling by TransLink, demonstrates the high demand for transit service to UBC via the Broadway Corridor today and well into the future. UBC is confident that current business case and technical work will confirm that the extension of the SkyTrain is a critical and viable public infrastructure project.

"UBC is a major employer, and a leading teaching, research and innovation hub with community connections that extend far beyond the Point Grey peninsula and the City of Vancouver. It’s not surprising to see this type of support across the region.”
UBC President and Vice-Chancellor, Benoit-Antoine Bacon

Once complete, the central UBC SkyTrain station is projected to be busier than any current SkyTrain station is today, with an estimated 10,000 people an hour arriving during the morning rush by 2045. This is more than double today’s peak-hour arrivals at the network’s busiest stations.

“The extension of SkyTrain to UBC will be transformational for the university and the region,” said President Bacon. “It will improve access to education, jobs and affordable housing, making it desirable and easier for talented graduates and UBC spin off companies to stay here. It will amplify the impact of UBC and our community, strengthening the regional and provincial economy. Every opportunity I have, I talk about the importance of extending the SkyTrain to UBC, because I know it will strengthen the future of our region.”

While UBC-bound commuters will face challenges in the near-term and the path forward for the extension of SkyTrain to campus continues to unfold, the new polling data is encouraging. The widespread support shows people from across Metro Vancouver recognize the benefits of investing in the rapid transit network to better connect the region and keep people moving, including shorter commutes for UBC students, faculty, staff, and visitors to the campus.

You can view additional poll details here.