Prior Street pilot

How this project may affect you

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  Traffic

  We expect some traffic:

  • May shift to other modes, such as the Expo SkyTrain and buses along Hasting St, or cycling on the Adanac Bikeway
  • May shift to other times of the day to avoid the peak hours when it is most congested
  • May shift to other streets, such as Hastings, Terminal and E 1st Ave as the adjacent parallel routes
  • Originating from farther away, may shift onto other streets further upstream
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  Parking

  Rush hour restrictions will no longer apply to parking along Prior St between Gore and Raymur avenues.

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  Past updates and documents

  2020 and 2021 Prior Street pilot project

  • Prior Street, between Gore Avenue and Raymur Avenue, was reduced to one travel-lane in each direction throughout the day including weekday mornings and afternoons. Previously, two travel lanes were available during peak times.
  • Street lights were upgraded to LEDs to improve safety and visibility.
  • A reduction in speed to 30km/h was implemented adjacent to Strathcona Park between Raymur Avenue and Hawks Avenue.
  • Bus shelters were upgraded to improve bus stop waiting conditions.
  • Art sculptures, curb bulges, and barriers were placed on Prior Street to encourage use of parking lane.
  • Road resurfacing and updated road paint, including custom coloured crosswalks, were completed in 2021. 
  • Signal upgrades were completed to prioritize pedestrian crossing time. 

  In November and December 2021, we observed:

  • Reduction in traffic volumes along Prior Street compared to 2019 and 2020
  • 59% and 87% of vehicles along 800 Block Prior Street were travelling at under 40 km/hr in the AM and PM peak hours, which is an improvement from 29% and 49% in 2020, respectively
  • Volumes turning from Prior Street onto adjacent residential streets decreased and continued to be under 50 vehicle/hr (less than one vehicle per min)

  2019

  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 streets. 

  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.

  Read the Council report PDF file (22 MB)

  Read the Council presentation PDF file (13 MB)

  Learn more about the False Creek Flats Area Planning