Traffic management for construction and special events

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• What is a traffic management plan?

  A traffic management plan is the primary contractor’s project-specific plan that details the strategies used for protecting workers while safely and efficiently moving road users through or around the work zone.

  A traffic management plan includes up to four sub-plans: 

  • Traffic control plan
  • Incident management plan
  • Public information plan
  • Implementation plan

• What is a traffic control plan?

  A traffic control plan:

  • Outlines the temporary traffic control devices used to protect workers and move road users safely through the work zone
  • Details how and where the specific traffic control devices will be used and implemented and on what schedule
  • Should be approved by the primary contractor and, in most cases, submitted to us for our review and acceptance

  Alert icon For longer-term projects, or for projects with several phases, multiple traffic control plans may be required as the work progresses.

Steps to preparing a traffic control plan

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• Step 1: Determine if you need a traffic control plan and/or traffic management plan

  When you need a traffic control plan

  A traffic control plan is one of the four sub-plans in a traffic management plan. 

  For most work or activities, you will only need to submit a traffic control plan for review and acceptance if your work or activity impacts a:

  • Travel lane on an arterial or collector street (for example streets with painted lines)
  • Part time travel/parking lane
  • Bicycle facility (for example local street bikeway, bike lanes, shared travel lanes, etc.)
  • Pedestrian facility (for example sidewalk, crosswalk, pathway, or greenway)

  When you need a traffic management plan

  The BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure’s Traffic Management Manual for Work on Roadways External website, opens in new tab requires that the prime contractor must have a traffic management plan.

  You will need to submit a traffic management plan for review and acceptance with your traffic control plan if your work or activity has very significant traffic impacts and/or long durations. 

  Alert icon We will inform you if a traffic management plan is required, and if it needs to be sealed by a professional engineer.

  Unsure if you need a traffic control or traffic management plan? Please email [email protected]

• Step 2: Get your permit(s)

  A. Get your permit(s) and/or business licence

  You must have a valid business licence in Vancouver, and have a permit for your construction, film, or event project.

   If your project is a third-party utility construction/maintenance or test holes, you will need to submit a traffic control plan before applying for a utilities permit. Once you have an accepted traffic control plan and reserved work dates, you can then apply for your utilities permit by emailing [email protected].

  B. Get your street use permit

  Depending on your project, you will need to contact one of the following to get your street use permit.

  Type of project	How to get a street use permit
  Major commercial development construction and building maintenance	Email: streetusereview@ vancouver.ca
  Single-family home construction and renovations	Get your street use permit by applying for a temporary special zone permit.
  Film or special event	Get your street use permit with your film or special event permit.
  Third-party utility construction/maintenance or test holes	Get your street use permit when you submit your traffic control plan.

  Not sure if your project fits into one of the categories above? Email [email protected] to find out who you should contact.

• Step 3: Build your plan

  Alert icon ​ If you are a contractor and are responsible for submitting your traffic control plan, we strongly recommend that you speak with a traffic professional/consultant before you submit your plan.

  What should be included in your traffic control plan

  Your plan must:

  • Have street names labelled
  • Have a street layout that is clearly and accurately shown; including:
    • Lane lines
    • Bicycle and pedestrian facilities
    • Pavement markings
    • Driveways
    • Bus stops
    • Transit facilities, etc.
  • Be oriented as north up or north right; for example, in the downtown peninsula Burrard, Granville, etc. are considered north-south streets and Nelson, Georgia, etc. are considered east-west streets
  • Clearly indicate the hours of implementation 
  • Clearly indicate the date(s) of implementation
  • Indicate an on-site contact (name and phone number) for emergency services 
  • Have coordination with adjacent sites noted on the plan
  • Be scaled to approximately one block on a 11”x17” sheet of paper

  What you need to consider

  Pedestrians

  Specific care and attention is necessary for work on pedestrian facilities to ensure they are safely accommodated.

  Pedestrian guidelines:

  • A traffic control plan is required for any work that will impact a sidewalk, crosswalk, greenway, or multiuse pathway
  • Pedestrians should be safety accommodated through or around work zones and impacts to pedestrian facilities should be minimized
  • Temporary pedestrian facilities should be accessible to all users; this includes people using wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and strollers, and people with visual impairment
  • Efforts should be made to maintain pedestrian access to businesses and adjacent facilities
  • Without the use of temporary pedestrian provisions, only one sidewalk or crosswalk may be closed at a time; for example, the following closures are discouraged:
    • Closure of two sidewalks on both sides of a roadway at the same time
    • Closure of a sidewalk at the corner of an intersection, which closes two sidewalks and two crosswalks
  • Temporary midblock crosswalks are discouraged

  Review our guide to construction on pedestrian facilities PDF file (1.5 MB)

  Cycling, skateboarding, and rollerblading

  Cyclists, skateboarders, and rollerbladers on bicycle routes should be safely accommodated through or around work zones. 

  People using bicycle routes are vulnerable road users who have little protection from falls and collisions. Specific care and attention is necessary for construction on bicycle routes.

  Review our guide to construction on bicycle routes PDF file (3 MB)

  Transit

  Transit is an important component of the our transportation network, and creates unique challenges in the work zone. Bus routes must be retained, and consideration should be given to their wider width
  requirements.

  If you are closing a bus stop:

  • Coast Mountain Bus Company must be notified 48 hours prior minimum to ensure that appropriate signage, notification, and messaging to drivers can be accomplished
  • Contact the Coast Mountain Bus Company by email at [email protected] or phone at 778-593-5774

  If you are working on trolley routes, you may require pole pullers, temporary dieselization, de-energization of trolley wires, or temporary removal of wires. Contact Coast Mountain Bus Company on how to proceed.

• Step 4: Submit plan and review fees

  A. Review fees

  Depending on the type of permit you are applying for, there is a traffic plan review fee for some permits issued by the Utilities Management Branch and by Development and Major Projects Branch.   

  2025 fees

  • Less than one hour of staff time to review: $81.90
  • One to 15 hours of staff time to review: $819
  • Over 15 hours of staff time to review: $2,300

  Information icon Prices do not include taxes

  B. Submit plan

  Depending on your project, you will need to submit your plan to one of the following.

  Type of project	Who to submit your plan to
  Major commercial development construction and building maintenance	Email: streetusereview@ vancouver.ca
  Single-family home construction and renovations	Email:  engineering.clientservices@ vancouver.ca
  Film or special event	Submit your plan with your film or special event permit.
  Third-party utility construction/maintenance or test holes	Email traffic.planreview @vancouver.ca Alert icon You will need to submit your traffic control plan before you apply for your utilities permit.

  Not sure if your project fits into one of the categories above? Email [email protected] or [email protected] to find out who you should contact.

  Alert icon We will usually respond from our initial review of your submitted plan in five business days or less.

• Step 5: We review your application

  We will review:

  • The plan to ensure it:
    • Conforms with the BC Traffic Management Manual for Work on Roadways External website, opens in new tab
    • Conforms with the our Street and Traffic By-law PDF file (812 KB)
    • Complies with our traffic requirements
    • Complies with our site specific requirements
    • Minimizes impact to the public
  • Traffic volume data and site conditions to determine the:
    • Time restrictions for when your plan can be implemented
    • Conditions you must follow when implementing your plan

  Alert icon Traffic control plans with significant traffic impacts are often restricted to weekends only. Weekend work, night work, and work on statutory holidays must be scheduled with [email protected].

  Was your plan not accepted? We will send you an email stating what you must revise before you can resubmit your plan. 

• Step 6: Plan accepted and begin project

  Alert icon You will not be able to implement your accepted traffic control plan until your street use permit has been issued.

  When your plan has been accepted, you:

  • Will receive an email with an attachment of your traffic control plan with a City of Vancouver electronic stamp on it (Both the stamp and the email will state the time restrictions and conditions you must abide by when implementing your plan.)
  • Are required to store a hardcopy of the accepted/stamped plan on site at all times

  Alert icon All accepted plans may be used for up to six months from the date of acceptance and are saved for future reference.

  Implemented traffic control plans are reviewed for compliance throughout the city

  If your not complying by your approved plan, any of the following may occur, we may:

  • Provide general guidance on site to adjust the traffic control plan
  • Issue a warning 
  • Issue a lane use fee