Engineering Department Overview
- Streets Design
- Water Design
- Sewer Design
- Greenways & Neighbourhood Transportation
- Strategic Transportation Planning
- Traffic Management
- Major Projects Branch
- Structures Branch
- Landfill & Transfer Operations
- Solid Waste Management
- Equipment Services
- Sustainability Group
Streets Design
Crown Street: Vancouver's first environmentally sustainable street
The Streets Design Branch is responsible for administering the maintenance and construction of the City's streets. Our team of surveyors, drafters, designers, and engineers work to make sure that the City's streets are safe and in good shape. Engineers, EITs, and Technologists provide project management for branches within the department by working closely with Street Operations and various private contractors on streets related construction. Also, EITs work on the long-term rehabilitation of street assets worth over 3.5 billion dollars and review development plans for possible impacts on the City’s infrastructure.
Water Design
Waterworks EIT
The Waterworks Design Branch along with Operations is responsible for the City's water utility, which is comprised of approximately 1500 km of piping network, 78 valve stations and a dedicated high pressure fire fighting system. In order to ensure the reliability of the system, the City continually replaces the waterworks infrastructure.
The engineers and EITs within the Branch design and project manage the construction of approximately 11 km of pipe every year, as well as review the performance of the water system in light of population and development changes. Engineers and EITs are also responsible for ensuring the safety and quality of the water in the City with projects to improve flow, materials, or water system security. The Branch actively tests new materials and new technologies to improve the performance and safety of the water system. The Branch, made up of engineers and technologists, works with the City's Waterworks Operations Branch to complete the work within the City and with Metro Vancouver and other municipalities on regional issues.
Sewer Design
Sewer main construction
The Sewers and Drainage Design Branch is responsible for the safe and efficient disposal of storm water and liquid residential and industrial wastes. This dynamic group prepares detailed designs for the capital construction program ($20M annually), creates cutting-edge rainwater management systems, and oversees the construction of major projects. An industry leader, the Sewers and Drainage Design Branch offers EITs a wealth of experience from design and construction, to contract management and performance monitoring. Sewer separation, integrated rainwater management, inter-agency liaison work and contract management are at the core of the EIT program in this branch. Learn by working alongside senior engineers and recently accredited engineers as well as field technicians and operations crews from across the City to effectively address sewer and drainage issues.
Greenways & Neighbourhood Transportation
Greenways and Neighbourhood Transportation EIT
The Greenways and Neighbourhood Transportation Branch is responsible for developing facilities for all transportation modes in Vancouver's local street network. Improving cycling conditions and expanding and integrating cycling facilities into our existing road network is one of the main focuses of this branch. Greenways are public corridors connecting parks, neighbourhoods, historic sites, cultural features and retail areas for pedestrians and cyclists. The branch also works to enhance the livability and safety of local streets by developing neighbourhood traffic calming plans and addressing school safety issues.
Engineers and EITs are responsible for the development, design, and construction phases of these projects including public consultation. Engineers are routinely integrating sustainability initiatives and are pushing the envelope with creative new projects such as pilot "BikeBox" cyclist priority measures, bike signals and crossings, facilities on the Burrard, Granville and Cambie Bridges and new bike routes along 29th Avenue, Valley Drive, Carrall Street, Homer Street, Robson Street and Richards Street.
Strategic Transportation Planning
The Strategic Transportation Planning Branch is responsible for planning and designing the City's transportation system. The branch works closely with the City's Planning Department, other transportation branches, the Streets Division, and outside agencies such as TransLink, ICBC, the provincial government and the federal government to improve the City's existing transportation network and to plan the future network. The branch is also responsible for the creation of new street geometric designs.
Engineers and EITs in the branch are working on a variety of projects, including: a redesign of the street network around the north end of the Granville Bridge; developing a new street network in Southeast False Creek and East Fraser Lands; working on studies related to new land use and the transportation plans; designing a new streetcar line; planning for expansion of the rapid transit system; developing plans for the Waterfront Transportation Hub; studies to evaluate a variety of transportation initiatives; modelling of the transportation system; and many other transportation projects.
Traffic Management
Traffic Management EIT
The Traffic Management Branch is responsible for the operation of Vancouver's network of arterial streets including: traffic signals; pedestrian safety measures; traffic control plans for construction; street regulations; truck routes & tour buses; transit infrastructure in partnership with TransLink; and pedestrian, bike and traffic data collection. This branch works to facilitate sustainable modes of transportation in accordance with the City of Vancouver's transportation priorities which focus on the pedestrian first, then bicycles, transit, movement of goods and vehicular traffic. The branch is responsible for the City's computerized traffic signal system which manages over 750 signalized intersections.
Engineers and EITs in the branch have the opportunity to work with other branches, the public, Translink, BC Trucking Association, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the Vancouver Police, ICBC, and VANOC. EITs in this dynamic branch can manage projects, represent the City at public events, supervise and train other staff, perform calculations and technical reviews, make presentations to Vancouver City Council, and much more!
Major Projects Branch
Projects' Soccer "Dream Team"
Vancouver is continuously undergoing a variety of major and minor new developments and urban renewal projects. The Projects Branch was established to create a permanent liaison between developers and the City. This liaison ensures that new developments include design principles that are consistent with the City’s long-range vision for transportation, site access, sewer, drainage, and water distribution systems as well as parklands and community planning.
Developments such as Coal Harbour, the Concert (Expo) Lands, Woodward's, East Fraserlands, and the complete re-development of south-east False Creek are just a few examples of the major projects being managed and coordinated through the Projects Branch. An EIT in the Projects Branch can be looked upon to guide their own projects, review design and public policy work, as well as liaison with developers, community groups, and Engineering Staff. Projects EITs provide engineering expertise and input during all phases of the major development process from policy creation to inspection of works for major projects throughout the city.
Structures
Structures EIT
The Structures Branch is a relatively small specialized Branch of Street Operations which administers the designs and directs the construction and maintenance of City structures on the City street right-of-way. The structures that the Branch is responsible for include the 34 bridges and overpasses within the City, retaining walls along the street property lines, areaways (which are cavities under the sidewalks in the downtown core), seawalls, tunnels, railway crossings, three City clocks and various public art on the street. The Branch is also responsible for the False Creek ferry docks and the Downtown Historic Railway.
The Branch provides technical assistance regarding City structures to City Operation Branches and outside agencies. The work involves managing projects for bridge reconstruction and other structural projects, cost estimating for budget purposes, acquiring Engineering Consultants for design of major projects, preparing and administrating construction contracts, and conducting field reviews as required.
Transfer & Landfill Operations
Landfill and Transfer Operations EIT
The Transfer and Landfill Operations Branch is responsible for the disposal of over 600,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste each year. The branch operates two facilities, the Vancouver South Transfer Station and the Vancouver Landfill.
Engineers and EITs are responsible for the day-to-day operations of both facilities, as well as design projects in areas such as environmental protection. One such project is the Landfill Gas Utilization Project, in which landfill gas is collected from decomposing waste and used to fuel engines for electricity generation. The residual heat from the combustion process is used at Village Farms Greenhouses, a tomato greenhouse adjacent to the Landfill. The project reduces greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those produced by approximately 60,000 automobiles per year and supplies energy to the BC Hydro power grid that can satisfy the electricity needs of approximately 6,000 homes.
Solid Waste Management
The Solid Waste Management Branch provides design and technical management services for garbage, recycling & yard trimmings collection programs and street cleaning programs in Vancouver.
Engineers and EITs are responsible for strategic planning, program design, and project and program management for: developing and managing waste reduction programs, working with the Sanitation Operations Branch to optimize systems and implement new programs for managing solid waste and maintaining cleanliness of the City’s streets, public education and communication, contracting services for recycling collection and processing & marketing of recyclable materials, regulation of commercial garbage containers, enforcement against illegal dumping and abandoned garbage and policy development and coordination with other City branches and external organizations. Implementation of waste reduction and recycling initiatives by the City are ongoing as part of the regional Solid Waste Management Plan developed by Metro Vancouver. The region has achieved a 50% reduction in waste compared to 1990 levels.
Equipment Services
Equipment Services Corn Roast
The Equipment Services Branch provides equipment and shop services to support all Departments in the City of Vancouver. The design and manufacturing of vehicles, equipment and products happen all under one roof which creates an interesting and high energy environment. The branch is responsible for the technical specification of vehicles and equipment, the design, manufacture and repair of truck bodies and life-cycle costing.
Ongoing projects include minimizing emissions, evaluating new technology such as electric, hybrid and fuel cell vehicles, and upgrading vehicles that will improve the performance of the fleet.
Sustainability Group
Central Library Square Green Roof
The Sustainability Group is a branch of the City of Vancouver dedicated to climate protection, green architecture, active transportation and development of sustainable systems. The Group also works with departments across the City to make all aspects of running and building the City more sustainable. The Group has a mandate to engage residents, businesses and visitors in making Vancouver the cleanest, greenest, and healthiest city in the world.
The branch is inter-disciplinary in nature but has a number of positions filled by engineers. Our engineers and EITs are involved in a range of projects from developing sustainable transportation strategies and programs, to exploring options, infrastructure and policy needs around electric mobility and low emission fuels, building energy retrofits and green building requirements. While many of our efforts target climate change mitigation, we are also expanding into climate change adaptation. Our engineering work is very focused on innovation, exploring, and piloting new technologies and strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts. The Sustainability Group staff work collaboratively with other branches throughout the organization, with other major agencies such as the Province, BC Hydro, Metro Vancouver and others within the community.