Downtown Streetcar phasing and alignment

Initial alignment and phasing of the Downtown Streetcar as well as the Stanley Park and Pacific Boulevard extensions were approved by Council with the intent to link major residential developments, significant employment centres, and major tourist destinations on the periphery of the downtown and south shore of False Creek.

The Phase 1 Downtown Streetcar system is intended to connect Granville Island to Waterfront Station, running approximately 5 kilometres through Southeast False Creek, Chinatown and Gastown. However, the project update findings in 2006 identified a strategic opportunity to stage the implementation of the Downtown Streetcar in more manageable components, beginning with a demonstration project and moving to a possible extension (Phase 0) running for 3 kilometres between Granville Island and Science World.

Granville Island to Science World (phase 0)

Phase 0 extension of the Downtown Streetcar includes the section from Granville Island to Science World, approximately 3 kilometres. Stations would connect Granville Island to the Canada Line, Southeast False Creek and the Main Street-Science World SkyTrain line. A single track from Science World to the maintenance facility underneath the viaducts would also be included, but the size of maintenance facility could be smaller in scale for a Phase 0 operation, as there would be fewer vehicles required.

Preliminary design and engineering for Phase 0 has been completed. The City is now seeking opportunities to replace the single section of track from Granville Island to the future Olympic Village Canada Line station. Efforts have also been made to safeguard alignment for the streetcar through South East False Creek from the future Olympic Canada Line station to Science World.

Waterfront extension (phase 1)

Phase 1 of the Downtown Streetcar will extend the line from Science World through to the Waterfront SkyTrain Station, serving major downtown destinations: Canada Place, Waterfront Station, Gastown, Chinatown - and connecting the neighbourhoods of the Downtown Eastside, Strathcona, Mount Pleasant, Fairview, Southeast False Creek and False Creek South. As with the 2010 Demonstration Project, plans are to run modern vehicles and to integrate the system into the regional transportation network.

Future extensions

The Stanley Park extension, a western extension of Phase 1 from Waterfront Station to Stanley Park, would also serve the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre, Stanley Park and the Coal Harbour and West End communities.

The Pacific Boulevard extension would extend west from Science World along Pacific Boulevard connecting BC Place, GM Place, Plaza of Nations and Yaletown, to Granville Street via Drake Street.

Possible extensions into the False Creek Flats have been anticipated and rights-of-way may be reserved. Extending the line into False Creek Flats would access the planned high-tech employment/educational area, supply a potential connection to the Millennium SkyTrain line extension, and provide a good location for a larger future maintenance facility. Future phases of the Downtown Streetcar could extend into Vanier Park and potentially south along the Arbutus rail corridor linking Broadway, Kerrisdale and Marpole.

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