We're taking the first steps in a pilot project to address long-standing traffic safety concerns along Prior and Venables St.
The pilot is part of a Council direction and will:
Improve walkability
Reduce vehicle speeds
Carry out traffic calming
Increase street lighting levels
Improve transit stop amenities
The pilot is expected to be in place for approximately one year to capture the changes in travel patterns and seasonal differences.
We'll be monitoring:
The impacts of potential traffic short cutting on local streets in the Strathcona and City Gate communities
Vehicle speeds
Impacts to transit and emergency vehicles
Access to the industrial area and businesses
City staff are working closely with Translink and Vancouver Fire Rescue Services to monitor and maintain service reliability and emergency response times in the area.
What's happening
Prior St between Gore and Raymur avenues now have one travel-lane in each direction throughout the day including weekday mornings and afternoons. Previously, two travel lanes were available during peak times.
A reduction in speed to 30km/h has been implemented adjacent to Strathcona Park between Raymur and Hawks avenues.
Council's decision to implement pilot measures to improve walkability, reduce vehicle speeds, and carry out traffic calming follows more than five years of technical study and engagement with the community and stakeholders to identify and evaluate alternate arterial routes to replace Prior and Venables St.
The alternate routes were explored extensively during the False Creek Flats Area Planning process. Most recently, a 42-member Community Panel played an important role in assessing nine alternate route options and guiding City staff’s final evaluation leading up to Council’s decision.
Staff could not recommend the Community Panel’s preferred route option of the National-Charles overpass, which is estimated to cost over $400 million. An underpass on Prior/Venables would cost $125 million, and is supported by potential funding partners.
