With all the criticism, speculation and anticipation that has followed since its inception almost eight years ago, it's hard to believe the Canada Line is finally opening today, and what's more, on budget and ahead of schedule. Originally scheduled for November, the Canada Line is officially beginning three months early – Monday, August 17 to be exact – and with a healthy dose of self-congratulation. The $2 billion project has endured its share of controversy, but its successful completion does a lot to placate the doubters.

Following a morning-long opening ceremony, the Canada Line, which runs 19 kilometres between downtown Vancouver and Richmond, will debut with full service from 1:00pm to 9:00pm, and will be running fare free. Vancouverites have been inundated with hype for the project for years now, and TransLink is expecting a large crowd upwards of 50,000 people. If you're not a fan of large crowds or lines, perhaps its best to stay away, but it'll be an inevitable preview of the crowds expected at the 2010 Olympic Games.

The Canada Line is more notable than many urban public transit systems because it's one of the few in the world to actually connect its city's downtown to its airport. The 16 stations will be much more accessible and far reaching than the existing bus routes, which themselves will be realigned to integrate the Canada line on September 7. Each station will be rolling out individual festivities for opening day, while many businesses in each station's area will be offering discounts and other perks.

But while everyone is ready to jump on the Canada Line bandwagon, it isn't all grins from Vancouver businesses. Many store and restaurant owners have seen their business decimated along with grueling, unsightly construction. While the Canada Line is officially open, there is still much street work to be done – paving roads, replacing sidewalks, and restoring traffic. There have been many promises of a revitalized Cambie Street village, but that has yet to be realized, and we're hoping it'll happen before the 2010 Olympics.

It'll take until 2010 to measure the impact of the new Canada Line transport system, but now that it's open, the debate can officially begin. Starting… now.