Metrotown is an elevated SkyTrain station on the Expo Line in the Metrotown area of Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. It is the second-busiest station in the SkyTrain system. The station is located between Central Boulevard and Beresford Street, east of Willingdon Avenue.
History
Metrotown station was built and opened in December 1985 as part of the original Expo Line of SkyTrain. The overhead walkway leading to Metropolis at Metrotown was added to the station in 1989 with the opening of the shopping centres. Originally, the bus loop was open-air and connected to the station via an at-grade street crossing.[2]
The station was originally designed as a suburban station serving residential neighbourhoods and local transit connections. It experienced a major traffic increase since the opening of nearby shopping centres, and the current passenger load and circulation already surpassed the design capacity of the station. TransLink has established formal plans to retrofit and redesign the station to improve passenger flow and increase station capacity. Construction started in May 2015.[3] On November 15, 2016, TransLink closed the pedestrian overpass that connected the station with the Metropolis shopping mall as renovations to the station progressed, with no timeline provided for the opening of a replacement overpass. The closure has led to criticism and extra travel time for many passengers.[4][5][6] The new central stationhouse was opened to the public on March 24, 2017, and features new stairs and elevators.[7] On July 24, 2017, the west stationhouse that was opened featuring 4 new escalators as part of the completion of phase 2.[8]
Services
Metrotown is a major connection point for the TransLink bus routes in southern Vancouver and Burnaby.
The station is right across Central Boulevard from a bus loop and Metropolis at Metrotown[9] and Station Square malls.
The Crystal Mall and many other retail developments are nearby on Kingsway, one block north of the station.
The Burnaby Public Library Bob Pritte Metrotown Branch is also two blocks away from the station in Burnaby Civic Square.
Burnaby Civic Square, Kinnee, Maywood Park & Bonsor Park are located two blocks away from the station.
Bonsor Recreation Complex is a community centre located in Bonsor Park.
An ATM is available on the concourse level of the station.
The three Metrotowers office buildings are often accessed through the station
East entrance: This entrance is located on the BC Parkway, north of Beresford Street and south of Central Boulevard. It can be found at the far east end of the platform. There is no elevator for this entrance, and no escalator is available between street and concourse level. The entrance is in close proximity to Bay 9 of the Metrotown transit exchange for connections to south Burnaby community shuttle services.
West entrance: This entrance is located on the west side of the station. It has 4 escalators which opened on July 24, 2017, to replace an elevator-only entrance.
Centre entrance: Construction on this entrance, which includes access to the station via stairs and 3 elevators, began in May 2015.[3] It was opened, with two of its three elevators in service, on March 24, 2017.[7]
Metrotown provides a partial off-street transit exchange on Beresford Street, and in front of the ground-level entrance to Metropolis shopping centre. Bus bay assignments are as follows:[10]
