Central Valley Greenway

Central Valley Greenway Map

The Central Valley Greenway (CVG) is a 25 km regional greenway linking Vancouver, Burnaby, and New Westminster. It is a combination of off-road paths and on-street routes.

Where is the Central Valley Greenway

The Central Valley Greenway follows the Expo and Millennium SkyTrain lines, running from False Creek through Burnaby, and along a shallow valley south to the Fraser River in New Westminster.

Destinations

  • Burnaby Lake Regional Park
  • New Westminster Quay
  • Telus World of Science and the Seawall

There are also dozens of parks, community centres, swimming pools, and libraries along the route.

The Central Valley Greenway also links to the Millennium and Expo SkyTrain stations.

Currently, the Central Valley Greenway is in phase 3 of development.

Phase 3 involves the construction of the Comox-Helmcken Greenway - which will connect Stanley Park to False Creek (as an extension to the existing Central Valley Greenway).

It was expected that construction would start in fall 2012, but City staff are doing some further analysis to develop the Comox-Helmcken Greenway concept plan.

Instead, a second phase of public consultation is planned for late summer or early fall of 2012.

It is important that City staff take this time to ensure the design is consistent with:

  • The 2002 Downtown Transportation Plan
  • The Transportation 2040 Plan
  • The West End Community Plan (currently under development)
  • Input that we have heard from the public and stakeholders through the engagement process

Construction of the Central Valley Greenway took place over three phases.

Phase 3

Comox-Helmcken Greenway

The Comox-Helmcken Greenway is part of the City Greenway network, connecting Stanley Park to False Creek. Construction of the Comox-Helmcken is expected to begin in early 2013.

Phase 2

In 2009, the City of Vancouver and its neighbours in Burnaby and New Westminster completed construction of Phase 2 of the Central Valley Greenway which links the three municipalities across the Greater Vancouver Region.

It serves both regional travel and trips within neighbourhoods. Most parts of the route are separated from traffic and accessible, allowing people of all ages to walk, cycle and connect to transit along a scenic, direct and comfortable route.

The Greenway connects a number of neighbourhoods to major employment centres, including two Town Centres, and to regional transit services including 10 SkyTrain stations and 23 bus routes, as well as 16 bike routes, and 11 greenways across the region.

Phase 1

Phase 1 of construction started on Grandview Highway North on the north side of the Grandview Cut between Commercial Drive and Slocan Street. It was completed in 2002 and includes a series of bike streets closed to vehicle traffic.

This greenway is one of the 14 greenways identified in the 1995 Vancouver Greenways Plan, and is an integral part of the Greater Vancouver Regional Greenway Vision.

Phase 1 of the Greenway was developed and constructed in partnership with the Millennium SkyTrain line.

On 24 February 2004 City Council approved $4.63 million for the Federal Government’s Urban Transportation Showcase Program, which included the design and construction of the Central Valley Greenway.

On 15 December 2005 Council approved the detailed design of Section 1, and on 18 April 2006 Council approved the detailed design of Sections 2 and 3 of the Central Valley Greenway.