Making Streets for People program

​​​​​​​

Starting in December 2020, we will begin work on new features along Beach Avenue to improve access for people walking, taking transit, and driving while maintaining the two-way protected bike path and increased walking space. 

The upgrades include:

• Improved pedestrian crossings at key locations, which may include:
  • Painting crosswalks to better prioritize pedestrians crossing the street
  • Adding median islands to shorten the crossing distance for people walking
  • Incorporating accessible design features like tactile walking surface indicators, level bus boarding islands, and modified traffic signals 
• Eastbound travel restored for vehicles and transit between Denman St and Jervis St. following completion of other project elements 
• Replacing traffic cones with sturdier and harder-to-move concrete barriers
• Working with the Park Board to provide accessible parking in the waterfront parking lot near Bute St. 
• Retention of the two-way protected bike path

These interim changes are based on public feedback from more than 2,500 residents gathered in a fall survey. Review survey results

View the notification letter PDF file (987 KB)

Staff will continue to monitor and adjust the interim design. Additional opportunities to share feedback about the longer-term vision for these spaces and whether to make these changes permanent will be available through the West End Waterfront Master Plan engagement and design process that will start in 2021. 

We’ve created short-term loading zones near businesses with high turnover to minimize physical contact.

If your business is interested in the Room to Load program, please email roomtoqueue@vancouver.ca.

In early July, we:

• Removed parking from the sidewalk between Drake St and Nelson St
• Worked with local businesses to expand patios
• Modified traffic operations by:
  • Lowering speed limit to 30km/hr
  • Changing the curb lane from a travel lane to a loading zone, with space for bus stops
  • Relocating the northbound vehicle restriction ( Do No Enter Except for Authorized Vehicles) from Smithe St to Nelson St
  • Restricting left turns for northbound vehicles at Davie St
• Improved transit reliability by testing Davie St as the first/last bus stops north of the bridge (This will suspend service to bus stops at Drake St.)

Information icon  We are monitoring this pilot initiative and you may see additional changes as conditions evolve.

For questions or concerns, email roomtomove@vancouver.ca

Changes we're making include:

• Expanding sidewalks in busy areas by:
  • Re-purposing road space beside the curb for walking or queuing
  • Extending parklets to provide additional space for walking and sitting
• Working with local businesses to support temporary patios
• Partnering with the Robson Street Business Association to activate the spaces with art
• Improving transit reliability by restricting some turning movements at Burrard St and Thurlow St

This pilot will widen sidewalks at bus stop locations to support queuing and provide additional space/seating for waiting. Buses will continue to stop along Robson St westbound at Burrard St and Bute St and eastbound at Bute St. Bus stops at Jervis St and Thurlow St will be temporarily suspended.

View notification letter PDF file (208 KB)​​​​​​​

Effective September 26:

• Causeway / Highway 99 is open
• Causeway entrance and exits to and from Stanley Park are open
• Stanley Park Drive from Park Lane to South Lagoon Drive remains closed to vehicles and open to cyclists only
• ​​​​​​​South Bound on Stanley Park Drive past North Lagoon Drive remains closed to vehicles with no West End access

Review a map of remaining closures

As part of mobility recovery planning, we are tracking how people’s transportation choices have changed as a result of COVID-19. This information helps us plan recovery efforts to both move people around safely and efficiently. 

Some of the mobility challenges we need to address:

• Transit capacity will be reduced for foreseeable future
• Private vehicle mode-share could surpass pre-pandemic levels
• An uneven distribution of sustainable mobility infrastructure means fewer mobility options in much of south and east Vancouver

Changes to mobility patterns within Vancouver

• As of late June, trips are still below pre-pandemic levels with the exception of cycling on recreational routes
• Transit ridership is not rebounding as quickly as other modes
• 19% of former transit commuters are now driving vehicles ¹ 
• 21% of former transit commuters are now using active modes of transportation ¹ 
• According to a recent survey from the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade,
  • 36% of residents plan to increase use of their car or car ownership because of COVID-19 ²
  • 43% of residents said they would like to use active modes of transportation more ²

Get more information on current mobility patterns: Community Impacts Metrics

^1. Source: Public Transit and COVID-19 Survey: Results from the City of Vancouver; University of Toronto: May 2020 

^2. Source: Greater Vancouver Board of Trade Transportation Survey; Mustel Group: May 2020

We are taking action to address our communities needs during COVID-19. Many of these actions are considered temporary; however, reallocation of road space aligns with our long-term goals and changes to limit global warming and support cleaner air, make our streets safer for walking, and increase social connection and healthier living. 

• Climate emergency has a target of shifting 2/3 of trips to active transportation and transit by 2030
• In May, Council directed staff to reallocate 11% of road space to people-focused public space throughout the city and consider changes that could become longer term or possibly permanent

We are monitoring and learning from these initiatives over the summer and will report to Council on recovery initiatives and longer-term road reallocation in fall 2020.