The Environmental Assessment office Cleared the RAV line's proposal for a cut and cover tunnel down Cambie.

This was of course no surprise. It is pretty clear that the issue only went back to the Assessment office to prevent it from becoming and election issue during the Provincial election.

I really think that RAV should offer some sort of compensation for some of the businesses in the area. Or at least offer some services to help those businesses out.

While I think it is true that for many of the businesses the increased access that the RAV line will provide will increase their business in the long term, some businesses wont be able to survive the reduction in traffic that the construction will surely cause.

So design for the RAV line has got to be kicking into high gear. However, there still hasn't been any public information (that I can find) about what technology they are going to be using.

Most people seem to believe that they are going to be using the Bombardier's linear induction motor technology that was used on Skytrain. However, the reports submitted to the Environmental Assessment Office indicates that the line will not be connected to the existing line. Also they are building a new works and maintenance yard in Richmond. If they were using Skytrain technology they probably would not have built a whole new yard, but would have just expanded the existing one in Burnaby.