To answer the study question, an evaluation tool called "Multiple Account Evaluation" (MAE) will be used. Simply put, a MAE measures a series of costs and benefits, not all of which can be reduced to a dollar value, for a number of different scenarios. In this case, this study will compare the following:
  • rail rapid transit versus 'planned' transit and road improvements, such as the 98 B-Line (referred to as the "base case"), in the years 2010 and 2021.

The MAE will assess the following categories:

  • Environmental
  • Social
  • Financial
  • Transportation
  • Land Use
  • Economic

To calculate these costs and benefits, it is necessary to develop hypothetical route and train technology combinations as illustrations. For the purposes of this study, the scenarios include:

  • Downtown/Arbutus/No. 3 Road with street-level Light Rail Transit technology (in dedicated right-of-way);
  • Downtown/Cambie/No. 3 Road with street-level Light Rail Transit (in dedicated right-of-way);
  • Downtown/Arbutus/No. 3 Road with SkyTrain technology (generally in a tunnel or "trench", except where tunnelling is not possible); and
  • Downtown/Cambie/No. 3 Road with SkyTrain technology (generally in a tunnel or "trench", except where tunnelling is not possible).

These scenarios are solely intended to provide the necessary tools with which to develop a range of costs and benefits, and thus understand the range of possible impacts. They are not intended to represent all of the 'buildable' options, to develop a preference between them, nor to select a route or train technology.