Transportation showcase

Urban Transportation Showcase Program is a key component of the Government of Canada's Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change. The $40 million program supports community programs that demonstrate and evaluate ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation while addressing other urban challenges such as air quality, congestion, safety and rising operating costs.

Eight municipalities, including Vancouver, were selected to showcase their strategies for dealing with these urban challenges. Among the focuses for the City of Vancouver are Transit Villages, Main Street corridor improvements, the TravelSmart Program and better goods movements.

Transit villages

A Transit Village project, which seeks to improve safety, appearance and access at transit stations, can be found in Vancouver at the Commercial/Broadway Station. This station marks the intersection of two regional rapid transit lines and is the busiest in the system with about 25,000 boardings per day. Three of the busiest bus routes, the #9, #20 and #99 B-Line, also converge at this station.

Main Street corridor transit and pedestrian priority

The Main Street project, running from Cordova Street to Marine Drive, prioritizes sustainable modes of travel and aims to shift choices to transit, walking and cycling. You'll see improved transit facilities, signals that favour pedestrians and cyclists and a friendlier street design. Technological, service and information improvements to buses will improve transit services. Neighbourhood desires for a vital corridor are central to these improvements.

TravelSmart

TravelSmart is a residence-based travel marketing program targeting households willing to try alternative transportation modes. This program is running in six locations throughout the region, including Kitsilano in Vancouver. Transport Canada and TransLink will share the $900,000 program cost. The program began in the fall of 2005 and will be complete in the fall of 2006.

Goods movement

The goods movement aspect of the Urban Transportation Showcase Program will involve surveys and interviews with major goods movement stakeholders to:

• Improve and refine the regional EMME truck transport model developed through the 1999 Lower Mainland Truck Freight Study;
• Create an inventory of best practices;
• Develop alternative goods movement policy scenarios and test their effectiveness in improving goods movement efficiency and reducing greenhouse gases; and
• Develop a policy framework for a comprehensive goods movement strategy for Greater Vancouver.

[top]

---