Downtown Streetcar Vision and Proposal
The Downtown Streetcar will feature a modern version of electric streetcars, a unique mode of transit that has been successfully established in other cities such as Portland, Oregon, Nottingham, UK, and Melbourne, Australia. Modern streetcars provide a quiet, safe, and comfortable mode of transit with more interior space and larger open windows than buses. As visibly fixed infrastructure they also act as a catalyst for further neighbourhood development and investment. The Downtown Streetcar will also be accessible by wheelchair and bike.
In 1995, a right-of-way along the south shore of False Creek from Granville Island to Main Street was purchased by the City from the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). The City has since developed this right-of-way into a historic streetcar line. Operating since 1998, the Downtown Historic Railway has enjoyed strong support from the public and numerous stakeholders.
As the city’s downtown core develops to the edges of False Creek and Burrard Inlet, the resulting high-density areas need transit service. In 1999, Council approved a concept plan for a Downtown Streetcar system following a consultant study and an extensive public consultation process. The primary purpose of the Downtown Streetcar is to link a number of downtown activity centres that are beyond comfortable walking distance for many. The system is intended as an expansion of the existing line in False Creek South, using the latest technology of modern low-floor electric streetcars.
Since 1999, the City has been preserving corridors to facilitate the implementation of the Downtown Streetcar. Wherever possible, a separate right-of-way should be used to give priority to the streetcar as a transit system. This would significantly enhance the efficiency and attractiveness of the service. Corridors have been reserved through Southeast False Creek and the Concord Pacific, Coal Harbour and Bayshore developments.
Connecting the regional transit network
The Downtown Streetcar would provide a direct connection to two regional rapid transit lines – the Canada Line and Expo Line – and would extend the regional transit network to connect major destinations in the metropolitan core, including Granville Island, Chinatown, and Gastown. The line would also link to surrounding municipalities via the SeaBus, West Coast Express and regional bus system. It could ultimately be expanded to connect with the planned extension of the Millennium Line and to destinations such as Stanley Park, Vanier Park and along the Arbutus corridor.
Sustainable transportation option
The Downtown Streetcar will be an important element of a sustainable transportation system that will support Vancouver’s upcoming Southeast False Creek sustainable neighbourhood, future home for up to 16,000 residents. For Southeast False Creek, the Downtown Streetcar would reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle kilometers driven by 25 to 50 per cent, and will be located in a dedicated green median which will incorporate innovative stormwater features, including infiltration galleries.
Due to forecasted high ridership of the Downtown Streetcar, preliminary financial analysis suggests a better than break-even operation scenario – a significant finding for a new transit system. The project will, however, need contributions from many funding partners yet to be realized.
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