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The Government of Canada recently announced plans to commit up to $350 million for the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority's (TransLink) Evergreen Transit Line under the Building Canada Fund, which aims to create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

The 6.8-mile line would run from Lougheed Town Centre in Burnaby to Coquitlam Town Centre via Port Moody. The system will feature the same automated technology as TransLink's existing SkyTrain. The new line also will be fully integrated with TransLink's existing systems, providing a direct link to the Millennium Line, with connections to the Expo and Canada lines, West Coast Express and regional bus systems. The $1.4 billion project is expected to create more than 8,000 jobs during construction and improve the area's economy, according to the Canadian government.

The federal funding is contingent on final project detail approval by the province of British Columbia, Treasury Board approval and the signing of a contribution agreement.

The federal government already has provided $66.7 million for the Evergreen Line under the Public Transit Capital Trust in the 2008 budget. British Columbia has committed $410 million for the project and TransLink, $400 million. The remaining $173 million will be funded by project partners, including a possible public-private partnership.

Construction is expected to begin in 2010 and be complete in 2014.