Burquitlam, Lougheed and City Centre: Coquitlam's SkyTrain Neighbourhoods

Since the Evergreen Extension opened in 2016, the Millennium Line has reshaped Coquitlam, and the areas around its stations are where many of the city's new condos and townhouses are going up. Here is a guide to Burquitlam, Lougheed and City Centre for buyers who want to live near SkyTrain.

The short version

Getting around

• SkyTrain. The 11 km Evergreen Extension opened on December 2, 2016. Today the Millennium Line runs from Lafarge Lake-Douglas through Port Moody and Burnaby to VCC-Clark in Vancouver, and the Broadway Subway, which extends it to Arbutus Street, is scheduled to open in fall 2027.
• West Coast Express. On weekdays, trains leave Coquitlam Central for Waterfront Station in the morning and come back in the afternoon and evening. The trip takes about 30 minutes.
• Buses. From Coquitlam Central, the R3 RapidBus runs along the Lougheed Highway to Haney Place in Maple Ridge, route 188 goes to Port Coquitlam Station, route 183 to Moody Centre, and route 191 up to Burke Mountain. The N9 NightBus runs downtown overnight.

Burquitlam and Lougheed

The Burquitlam-Lougheed Neighbourhood Plan, first adopted in 2017, covers about 560 hectares along North Road and Clarke Road, between Burnaby, Port Moody, Highway 1 and the Austin Heights and Maillardville neighbourhoods. The plan centres high-rise buildings around the SkyTrain stations and along North Road, then steps down to townhouses, rowhouses and fourplexes, with detached homes farther out. It has two neighbourhood centres:

• Burquitlam, focused on Clarke Road around Burquitlam Station.
• Lougheed, a commercial corridor along North Road, facing Lougheed Town Centre across the border in Burnaby. On the Burnaby side, the mall site has a long-term master plan for a high-rise neighbourhood built in phases.

Community amenities are growing with it. The Coquitlam Bettie Allard YMCA on Emerson Street opened in January 2023, with pools, a gym and fitness studios. Burquitlam Park is being redesigned as an urban gathering place, while the focus on sports and active recreation shifts to an expanded Cottonwood Park nearby. In May 2026, Council also approved plans for townhouses, medium-density housing, local shops and parks around the edges of the two station areas and along Austin Avenue, which the City expects to add about 2,300 homes.

City Centre

City Centre is the area between David Avenue, the Coquitlam River, the rail line and the Port Moody border, served by Coquitlam Central, Lincoln and Lafarge Lake-Douglas stations. The City's plan describes it as Coquitlam's downtown and its economic, civic and cultural hub, and its 2020 plan expected the population to grow from about 31,000 to about 55,000 over 25 years.

• Town Centre Park. Lafarge Lake, with a 1.2 km loop and a fishing pier, plus Percy Perry Stadium, a spray park, a playground, sports fields and tennis courts.
• Arts and culture. Evergreen Arts, formerly the Evergreen Cultural Centre, has a 257-seat theatre and a gallery beside the lake.
• Civic and community. City Hall, the City Centre branch of the Coquitlam Public Library, the City Centre Aquatic Complex and Pinetree Community Centre are all on or near Pinetree Way.
• Shopping and learning. Coquitlam Centre has more than 200 stores, and Douglas College's Coquitlam Campus is on Pinetree Way.

The plan makes the area around Lincoln Station a focal point for offices, shops, entertainment and homes, with office districts around Lincoln and Coquitlam Central.

Transit-oriented areas

Under BC's transit-oriented area rules, land within 800 m of a SkyTrain station, or 400 m of a bus exchange or West Coast Express station, has provincial minimums for the height and density the City must allow, and the City can't require residential parking. Near a SkyTrain station, those levels are 20 storeys within 200 m, 12 storeys from 200 to 400 m and 8 storeys from 400 to 800 m. Land isn't rezoned automatically, but the City can't turn down a rezoning on height or density alone if it is within those levels.

Coquitlam's interim community plan updated land uses to meet those minimums around Burquitlam and Lougheed Town Centre stations. Around the other stations, including those in City Centre, land that needs more neighbourhood planning has been placed in a reserve for later planning. A designation doesn't change your zoning automatically or require anyone to sell, and the City suggests checking any claims about future land use with the City directly. I cover the rules in More Homes per Lot.

Buying near a station

• Parking. New buildings near stations don't have to include residential parking, so confirm whether a stall comes with the unit and whether it is on title or assigned.
• Construction. Station areas will be busy for years. Ask what is planned next door, and search the address on the City's map of current development applications.
• Presales. Much of the new supply is sold before it is built. I explain deposits and your right to cancel in Buying a Presale Condo in BC.
• Strata paperwork. In a resale building, read the minutes, the depreciation report and the Form B. See The Strata Documents to Read First.

Questions buyers often ask me

Which SkyTrain stations are in Coquitlam?

Burquitlam, Coquitlam Central, Lincoln and Lafarge Lake-Douglas, all on the Millennium Line. Lougheed Town Centre is just across the border in Burnaby.

How long does it take to get downtown from Coquitlam?

The West Coast Express takes about 30 minutes from Coquitlam Central to Waterfront on weekdays. By SkyTrain, plan for about 45 minutes from Lafarge Lake-Douglas, with a transfer.

When does the Broadway Subway open?

The Province expects to open it in fall 2027. It extends the Millennium Line from VCC-Clark to Arbutus Street in Vancouver.

What is planned for Burquitlam?

Higher-density buildings near the station and along North Road and Clarke Road, with townhouses and other ground-oriented homes beyond, plus new and upgraded parks.

Do new condos near SkyTrain come with parking?

Not always. The City can't require residential parking near stations, so check whether a stall is included before you buy.

Browse homes for sale in Coquitlam, compare Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody, or read about the north side of the city in Burke Mountain vs Westwood Plateau.

Details are from the City of Coquitlam, the City of Burnaby, TransLink, the Province and the organizations mentioned, at the time of writing. For the City's plans, see transit-oriented areas.