Vancouver businesses demand meeting with province over Main Street subway construction closure
Posted January 12, 2026 9:22 am.
Last Updated January 13, 2026 6:08 am.
Ahead of a planned, four-month closure of Main Street and Broadway in Vancouver later this month, the Mount Pleasant BIA wants a direct conversation with Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth.
The group is pushing for mitigation plans as businesses struggle to turn a profit and, in many cases, keep their doors open while construction continues on the Broadway Subway line.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!Neil Wyles, executive director of the Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Association (MPBIA), tells 1130 NewsRadio he doesn’t want an apology or admission of fault for how the province has handled the disruptions. He wants money.
“This is a seven-year project, and they’re hiding behind the policy of ‘no compensation for short-term business interruption,'” said Wyles.
“They’re using this policy as a shield to avoid any discussion. You come along and wash the windows from the construction dust for these businesses once a month — these businesses are experiencing millions of dollars in revenue losses. That’s just not enough.”
“I don’t know what else to do. I’m at my wits’ end.”
He says the province often touts that small businesses are the backbone of B.C., but so many have had to shutter their doors due to the construction and lack of financial help.
Wyles believes the gravity of the situation may be lost on a politician who spends most of their time working out of Victoria.
“I challenge you to come and talk to them and meet them face-to-face.”
He says he has heard from the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs and MLA for Vancouver-Little Mountain.
“I was out with Christine Boyle… but as we were walking around, she said, ‘I haven’t driven on Broadway in five years.’ And it was really that moment, I was like, ‘That’s exactly it.’ People have been avoiding Broadway for that long. Our numbers show it’s about 4,000 people, during a rush hour, that use Broadway. And those might be commuters, but a lot of them are customers, and you are severely limiting these businesses’ ability to get their customers to their front door.”
Wyles, who says he feels ignored by the provincial government, admits the only thing he’s worried about is helping his members.
“The Mount Pleasant BIA has been giving out grants to these businesses all along the way, but we just don’t have the budget to save them if they’re facing closure. I need some help to keep these businesses afloat.”
In December, residents and Mount Pleasant businesses held a town hall meeting. Officials from the province were invited, but Wyles says none showed up.
He’s hoping for a response to the BIA’s request.
“I’m hoping the pressure finally breaks the dam here and Mike [Farnworth] picks up the phone and says, ‘OK, how can we help?’ I don’t know what else to do. I’m at my wits’ end. I am frustrated.”
Wyles would like to see grants or interest-free loans as “bridge financing” to help businesses survive the closure.
“How many times do we have to go through this? We went through this with the Canada Line, and they had to fight all the way to the Supreme Court. Throw me a bone, man.”
In a written statement to 1130 NewsRadio, the Ministry of Transportation and Transit says it acknowledges the challenging situation.
“Efforts are focused on minimizing impacts and completing the project as efficiently as possible,” the ministry said.
“Pedestrian access will be maintained on this block of Broadway between Main and Quebec streets, ensuring access to all businesses, services and residences.”
The ministry refused to meet with the Mount Pleasant BIA, saying it has been in regular contact with the business community throughout the project.
“The Broadway Subway Project team will continue to meet one-on-one with businesses in the Station area to discuss concerns and ensure individual feedback is considered.”
The Broadway Subway project has been delayed multiple times and has blown through its budget by at least $127 million. The subway is expected to open sometime in 2027. Upon completion, the 5.7-kilometre extension of the Millennium Line, from VCC-Clark Station to Arbutus, is also expected to alleviate traffic on the road and get people out to UBC even faster.
The province says 700 metres will be elevated and five kilometres will be tunnelled below ground. The line will include six underground stations.
According to the ministry, the subway will save the average Broadway transit commuter up to 30 minutes a day.
