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Open House III: Findings/Recommendations
The 3rd Open House of the False Creek Pedestrian and Cyclist Crossings
Study was a joint meeting held on November 28th, 2001 with the Downtown
Transportation Planning Team. The purpose was to present the conceptual
development and evaluation of the Burrard and Granville bridge major crossing
improvement options and discuss the study findings and consultant team's
recommendations.
Option Development
Staff, in consultation with the consultant team, concluded that the following
5 major crossing options on the Burrard and Granville bridges be carried
forward as part of the current study:
- Burrard B1: Outward Sidewalk Extensions
- Burrard B2: Inward Sidewalk Widening (Reduce 1 vehicle lane)
- Burrard B3: Low Level Crossing Beneath Bridge
- Granville G1: Suspended Crossing Beneath Bridge
- Granville G6: Reduce Number of lanes to Provide Separate Bike Lanes
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Burrard Bridge
Option B1 - Outward Sidewalk Extensions
Description: Maintain the existing number of vehicular lanes (6) along
Burrard Bridge and extend the sidewalks on both sides outward to create
widened pedestrian/cyclist facilities.
 Option
B1: Plan View - South Side (B1-1a) - PDF,
724KB
Option
B1: Plan View - North Side (B1-1b) -PDF,
924KB
Option
B1: Cross Sections (B1-2) -PDF,
524KB
Option B2 - Inward Sidewalk Widening (Reduce 1
vehicle lane)
Description: Reduce one vehicular lane (likely northbound) along Burrard
Bridge and extend the sidewalks on both sides inward to create wider pedestrian/cyclist
facilities.
Option
B2: Plan View - South Side (B2-1a) -PDF,
873KB
Option
B2: Plan View - North Side (B2-1b) -PDF,
919KB
Option
B2: Cross Sections (B2-2) -PDF,
459KB
NOTE: In lieu of this inward sidewalk widening, the available road space
could also be used as marked bike lanes.
Option B3 - Low Level Crossing Beneath Bridge
Description: A separate low/medium level pedestrian/cyclist crossing beneath
the Burrard Bridge through the existing openings of the concrete piers.
This would be a “live” bridge that could be opened to allow
for the passage of marine vessels through the channel.
Option
B3: Plan View (B3-1) -PDF,
966KB
Option
B3: Cross Sections (B3-2) -PDF,
367KB
Option
B3: Profile (B3-3) -PDF,
508KB
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Granville Bridge
Option G1 - Suspended Crossing Beneath Bridge
Description: A medium/high level pedestrian/cyclist crossing suspended
beneath the Granville Bridge (likely along the west side) connecting the
seawall on the north end and Granville Island on the south end (near the
Arts Club Theatre or potentially further south).
Option
G1: Plan View - South Side (G1-1a) -PDF,
891KB
Option
G1: Plan View - North Side (G1-1b) -PDF,
906KB
Option
G1: Cross Sections (G1-2) -PDF,
558KB
Option
G1: Profile (G1-3) -PDF,
527KB
Option G6 - Reduce Number of lanes to Provide
Separate Bike Lanes
Description: Reduce one vehicular lane in each direction along Granville
Bridge by merging the Howe Street and Hemlock Street 2-lane on-ramps into
single lanes on the bridge. The additional road space would then be used
for separate marked bike lanes along the roadway or for wider sidewalks.
Option
G6: Plan View (G6-1) -PDF,
1.06MB
Option
G6: Cross Sections (G6-2) -PDF,
393KB
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Option Evaluation
A broad set of six screening criteria was considered in the evaluation
of the 5 major crossing options for the Burrard and Granville bridges.
The following tables provide a summary of the actual evaluation of the
options based on the criteria:
- Usage -PDF, 1.18MB (demand, trip purpose, demographics,
capacity, flexibility, connectivity)
- Quality of Trip -PDF, 996KB (travel time, efficiency,
access, user safety, user comfort)
- Cost/Construction -PDF, 977KB (capital, operating,
user, environmental impacts, disruption)
- Traffic Impacts -PDF, 656KB (private vehicles,
transit, marine, ferry operators)
- Neighbourhood Integration -PDF, 825KB (properties,
land use, environmental, views, shadowing)
- Urban Design/Appearance -PDF, 1.02MB (heritage,
aesthetics, COV image, public space)
Consultant Findings and Recommendations
Two key findings emerged from the review of the 5 major crossing options
that help give direction to the City of Vancouver in defining the further
steps to ultimately accommodate and encourage more walking/cycling across
False Creek. They are as follows:
- The Burrard Street Bridge Corridor should be given the highest priority
for any improvement, specifically at the bridge deck level either through
widening the sidewalks outside the existing railing (B1) or narrowing
the roadway by one lane (B2). This finding is based on the following
observations:
- Pedestrian and cycling demand along the Burrard Street Bridge
Corridor is and will continue to be the highest of the three bridge
crossing corridors.
- Safety issues persist on the bridge deck sidewalks that must be
addressed.
- Commuter pedestrian and cycling demand, which is overall higher
than recreational demand, is best served at the bridge deck level
rather than a low level option under the bridge (B3).
- There is merit to improving the pedestrian and cycling connections
across False Creek between the Burrard and Cambie bridges. A pedestrian/bicycle
facility suspended under the Granville Bridge (G1), rather than a new,
stand alone pedestrian/cyclist bridge is preferred for the following
reasons:
- Council policy is to not construct any new, stand-alone structures
across False Creek.
- A new crossing fills the void between the Cambie and Burrard Bridges,
especially with respect to recreational users.
- A new crossing in the Granville Bridge corridor enhances accessibility
between Granville Island and the downtown.
- A new crossing within the Granville Bridge corridor could improve
user comfort for those pedestrians and cyclists currently using
the deck level of Granville Bridge and which a lower level crossing
is an option.
The following display board presented at the 3rd Open House of the False
Creek Pedestrian and Cyclist Crossings Study summarizes both these study
findings and the consultant team's recommendations:
Next Steps
Staff expect to report to Council in March 2002 on the work of the consultant,
most particularly the findings and recommendations of the study, and provide
recommendations on further work to be done so that Council will have sufficient
information to make decisions on where and when pedestrian and cyclist
improvements across False Creek.
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