The City of Abbotsford has reluctantly slammed the brakes on two major infrastructure projects aimed at improving the local public transit system.

The city had planned to build a new transit hub this year in the Clearbrook area, to replace the aging Bourquin Transit Exchange beside the Sevenoaks Shopping Centre.

However, the city has now been asked by B.C. Transit to postpone the construction of the Clearbrook project, and also delay a similar transit base – to be built after Clearbrook – in downtown Abbotsford.

According to city staff, BC Transit asked that the city put the projects on hold while it “reassesses its priorities” and develops a new transit master plan. Having received that request, according to staff, the city “reluctantly agreed.”

BC Transit is joined by the City of Abbotsford, the District of Mission and the University of the Fraser Valley in funding ValleyMAX, the transit system serving Abbotsford and Mission.

Abbotsford Coun. Lynne Harris, the vice-chair of the Mission-Abbotsford Transit Committee, said BC Transit has given the city “no indication” as to when the transit exchanges may move forward.

“Of course we are very concerned that it [the BC Transit decision] has happened quickly,” she said.

“We pretty much have a fair understanding of what our needs are. All I can say is that we are working closely with them to meet the needs of our community.”

The city has received $1.276 million in senior government funding to help pay for the transit exchanges. It has already budgeted $4 million of its own money to pay for the remainder.

Because the grant money has to be spent before 2010, and can only fund transportation-related projects, it will be used to pay for bike lanes on Downes Road, Mount Lehman Road to Seldon Road, and Seldon Road/Clayburn Road to Old Clayburn Road.

Money originally set aside for the bike lanes in 2009 will now be held over into 2010, in the hope it can then be used to help pay for the transit exchanges.