Dozens of people gathered at the corner of No. 3 Rd. and Capstan Way in Richmond on Friday to celebrate the opening of the Canada Line's newest station.It marked the first addition to Greater Vancouver's rapid transit system since the Evergreen Line went into service nearly a decade ago..The atmosphere, like the trains, was electric, with transit-enthusiasts and media alike crowding the area in front of the door, hoping to be among the first to walk in..Before the official event kicked off at 11 a.m., attendees enjoyed refreshments, goodies, and entertainment, courtesy of a DJ who jumped from one playlist titled "Songs About Trains" to another titled "Vaguely Transit-Related Music."The ceremony kicked off with a land acknowledgment and a welcome from Musqueam Indian Band Chief Wayne Sparrow. He was then joined by Translink CEO Kevin Quinn and Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie, as well as a number of other local politicians and developers."Canada Line ridership grew by 20 per cent in 2023 compared to the previous year, and Capstan Station will help meet continued ridership demand in Richmond and beyond," Quinn said. "The transit-oriented neighbourhood we're in today is expected soon to be home to roughly 16,000 people, and this new station will ensure current and future residents of Capstan Village can make transit their number one transportation option and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions."Brodie echoed his sentiments, adding that, "Capstan Station is an example of how the City of Richmond, through an innovative first-of-its-kind-in-Canada funding collaboration with developers, can deliver much-needed community amenities without direct costs to local taxpayers."Construction began in 2021, with a budget of $52 million. Upon completion, two years behind schedule, it had risen to $62 million, largely due to unforeseen safety issues. Half of the money was put up by developers.
