Supporters of the SkyTrain extension to UBC better not get their hopes up. Expansion of the Millennium Line to UBC is not happening in the near future, but TransLink and UBC are exploring other possible options.

TransLink has put the UBC Line on the backburner for now, since issues such as Olympic transit have been absorbing most of the attention.

“We are certainly not in the position to expand anything,” said Ken Hardie, media relations for TransLink, when asked about the potential for a UBC Line.

Hardie explained that there is an assumption that expanding transit to UBC would come in the form of extending the Millennium Line to campus. He said that there has been no decision on the technology or the specific parts of the city that would be improved.

“It could be anything,” said Hardie, suggesting that money could be spent more wisely on other projects.

UBC Campus and Community Planning Director Joe Stott said that TransLink is studying a number of extensions to the rapid transit system and have hired a consultant. However, Stott said that various options are being considered besides a direct UBC Line, such as street car rail transit. There will be a consultation exercise in November to discuss options.

Stott outlined the connection between the potential expansion and the university.

“Work is proceeding with UBC and the City of Vancouver. All the options to date include the rapid transit system along University Boulevard,” he said. “We see that as our transit hub.”

“We’ve consistently made the position that we’re interested in the project to the extent that it enhances the transit experience of  students, faculty and staff who commute to and from UBC,” he added.

AMS VP External Tim Chu spends over two hours and 40 minutes every day commuting to UBC. Despite his own transit experience, Chu explained that the AMS has had little to no discussion with TransLink about the SkyTrain.

“We currently actually don’t have a position on the UBC Line. We don’t have any formal policy saying that we support any system or technology over another. We do believe that we need more transit out to UBC,” he said.

Chu explained that the AMS considers long commutes more of a housing issue, and he believes that it is unrealistic for people living in the suburbs to expect 15-minute trips to campus. That said, the AMS does recognize a need for improved transit to UBC, but it has yet to decide which type of transit would be appropriate.

“We definitely encourage students to take public transit. That’s why we have the U-Pass program to begin with,” said Chu, “and we’re trying to get students out of their cars and into transit, and obviously the current system is over capacity.”

Student Lucy Lu drives to UBC four days a week from Burnaby. For her, the high cost of parking and gasoline is worth the time she saves getting to campus in her car.

When asked if she would use the SkyTrain if it were available, Lu said that she would “definitely use it,” but doesn’t expect it to be built.

“It’s just for the benefit of students, and I don’t think the government would spend the money. The people around here wouldn’t use the SkyTrain,” Lu said, referring to the residents in the surrounding area.