INDUSTRY NEWS: Merchants Sue Canada Line Over Construction

Dozens of Vancouver merchants have filed a lawsuit against Canada Line Rapid Transit, the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority and Intransit BC. The businesses say that the delays in construction of a public transit line are impairing the public's ability to access their stores; further, they are also claiming that the "cut and cover" construction method is needlessly disruptive.
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MERCHANTS SUE CANADA LINE OVER CONSTRUCTION

VANCOUVER – Dozens of businesses in the City of Vancouver have filed a lawsuit against Canada Line Rapid Transit, the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority and Intransit BC over delays in construction over a public transit line. The businesses say the "cut and cover" construction method used to build part of the line was needlessly disruptive, and that a "bored tunnel" would have "involved no disturbance to the surface of the Canada Line route between stations." The street closures "significantly impaired the ability of the public to conveniently access the plaintiffs' premises," according to the complaint. The businesses claim the were either driven out of business or forced to move and, suffered lost revenue and profits while incurring increased costs to cope with the nuisance created by the line's construction. "It was very depressing for a busy store where people are coming in and out all the time to where almost nobody was walking in the store at all," said pharmacist Marvin Nider, one of the plaintiffs. The lawsuit is in addition to another class action lawsuit that has already been filed, involving 250 businesses in Vancouver’s Cambie Village alone. In both lawsuits the plaintiffs claim they were devastated by the cut and cover construction method.

Source: Lawday