Capital Plan

What you need to know

The Capital Plan is a four-year financial plan for investments in our city's infrastructure and amenities.

A network of well-maintained infrastructure and amenities supports the delivery of our services and ensures Vancouver continues to be a vibrant place for those who live, work, and play here, now, and into the future.

2023-2026 Capital Plan
How capital projects and programs are funded
Council documents and previous plan

What infrastructure and amenities the Capital Plan supports

Infrastructure and amenities include:

Parks
Sidewalks
Sewer pipes
Community facilities such as recreation centres, and libraries, municipal facilities, affordable housing (in partnership with other levels of government), public safety facilities, and more

2023-2026 Capital Plan

On June 29, 2022, City Council approved the 2023-2026 Capital Plan (3 MB) ($3.5 billion).

The plan dedicates significant funding to maintain and renew aging amenities and infrastructure, and:

Includes investments in new/expanded amenities and infrastructure, to support our city’s population and employment growth
Supports advancing climate mitigation and adaptation work, and setting aside funding to leverage senior government partnerships

Service categories

The 2023-2026 Capital Plan proposes $3.5 billion of capital investments, over these service categories.

Existing assets

New assets

2019-2022 Capital Plan - Existing assets

How funding is distributed

The 2023-2026 Capital Plan has been organized into 13 program investment areas.

Housing ($617M)
Housing delivered by us and/or in partnership with senior levels of government.

What it includes
- Shelters
- Single room occupancy hotels (SROs)
- Supportive housing
- Non-market rental housing (social and supportive)
- Purpose-built market rental housing.
Highlights
- ~725 units of in-kind housing ($300 million)
- Land acquisition ($110 million)
- Grants to partners ($65 million)
- SRO programs ($26 million)
- Shelters ($12 million)
Childcare ($136M)
Childcare facilities and spaces for infants, toddlers, preschool and school age children.

Highlights
- ~275 new spaces – in-kind ($58M)
- ~325 new spaces – cash ($56M)
- ~160 new spaces – grants ($8M)
- ~100 spaces renewed ($8M)
Parks and public open spaces ($211M)
Public parks and open spaces.

What it includes
- Seawall
- Sports courts and fields
- Playgrounds
- Dog parks
- Golf courses
- Fieldhouses
- Park washrooms
Highlights
- Land acquisition: $22.5M cash + ~6 hectares in-kind
- New parks and park expansions ($57M)
- Park renewals ($20M)
- Track and field facility ($11M)
- Park buildings ($13M)
Arts, culture, and heritage ($151M)
Cultural centres, entertainment and exhibition facilities, theatres, performance spaces, and public art

Highlights
- PNE outdoor amphitheater ($59M)
- 3 new in-kind cultural facilities ($22M)
- Cultural grants ($6M)
- Fire Hall Arts Theatre design ($.7M)
- Public art programs ($17M)
- Heritage programs ($17M)
- Chinatown Memorial Square ($2.5M)
Community facilities ($391M)
Libraries and recreation and social facilities.

What it includes
- Community centres
- Recreation centres
- Pools
- Rinks
- Neighbourhood houses, and more
Highlights
- Vancouver Aquatic Centre ($140M)
- RayCam Community Centre ($49M)
- West End Community Centre, Ice Rink & Joe Fortes Library preliminary design ($7M)
- Northeast False Creek Centre & Ice Rink ($67M in-kind)
- East Fraser Lands Community Centre ($47M in-kind)
- 2 new social facilities in Cambie Corridor ($20M in-kind)
Public safety ($105M)
Buildings, vehicles, and equipment that support the delivery of fire and rescue, police, and animal shelter services.

Highlights
- Renew Fire Hall #8 in Downtown South ($36M)
- Renew animal shelter ($22M)
- Funding for planning permanent police headquarters ($1M)
- Vehicles and equipment ($35M)
Civic facilities and equipment ($57M)
Administrative facilities (for example City Hall) and service yards that support the delivery of public services.

Highlights
- Facility renovations and maintenance ($26M)
- Facility energy optimization program ($8M)
- Sunset Yard renewal phase 2 – detailed design ($2M)
- Fleet electrification (all service areas): from 8% to 20% of fleet ($14M)
Streets ($471M)
Infrastructure that supports transportation and movement around the city.

What it includes
- Roads
- Sidewalks
- Bikeways
- Street lights
- Parklets
Highlights
- Granville and Cambie Bridge rehabilitation and upgrades ($75M)
- Gastown/Water Street rehabilitation ($10M)
- Street paving ($53M)
- Street lighting ($56M)
- Traffic signals ($51M)
- Active transportation ($125M)
- West End transportation/public spaces ($10M)
- Public electrification programs ($8.5M)
- Public gathering spaces ($8M)
One Water: potable water, rainwater, and sanitary water ($874M)
Infrastructure that supports how we manage drinking water supply, wastewater, and rainwater.

What it includes
- Water and sewer pipes
- Pump stations
- Catch basins
- Green rainwater infrastructure
Highlights
- Water and sewer main renewal ($329M)
- Water and sewer main new/upgrades ($142M)
- New water meters ($25M)
- Sewer pump stations ($31M)
- Green infrastructure ($41M)
- Asset management and planning ($64M)
Waste collection, diversion, and disposal ($141M)
Facilities, vehicles, and equipment that support how we manage garbage, organics, zero waste facilities, and landfill.

What it includes
- Residential waste collection trucks
- Recycling centres
- Transfer station
Highlights
- Landfill programs ($90M)
- Transfer station ($7M)
- Vehicles and equipment ($40M)
Renewable energy ($73M)
Infrastructure that supports the supply and use of renewable energy.

What it includes
- False Creek Neighbourhood Energy Utility, which uses waste thermal energy from sewage to provide space heating and hot water to buildings
Highlights
- Neighbourhood Energy Utility energy generation ($12M)
- NEU distribution network ($23M)
- Green buildings – energy retrofits for non-City buildings ($24M)
- Zero emissions vehicles – EV charging infrastructure for non-City buildings ($6M)
Technology ($110M)
Information technology assets that support the delivery of public services.

What it includes
- Computers
- Software applications
- Fibre-optic cable
Highlights
- Maintenance and upgrades of core technology ($80M), including data centres, cybersecurity infrastructure, laptops/desktops, and City applications
- Technology transformation ($30M), including SAP business initiatives, asset management, permits and licensing enhancements, data enablement, digital workplace, and collaboration
Emerging priorities, contingency and delivery ($155M)
Contingency fund that retains some financial capacity to address emerging priorities and cost escalations that may surface over the course of the four-year capital plan.

Highlights
- Senior government partnerships/other emerging priorities ($70M)
- Climate adaptation ($20M)
- Contingency ($25M)
- Delivery ($39M)

What we heard from the public about the plan
Every 4 years, we conduct public engagement on the capital plan to get input from residents and businesses on their priorities for capital investments.

In April 2022, we released the Draft 2023-2026 Capital Plan. Between April 28 and May 22, we received public input on priorities for spending and feedback on how we manage finances on the public’s behalf. During this period, we engaged with the public on the plan in many ways, including an:
- Online survey
- Online information sessions
- Community pop-up sessions
More than 80% of survey respondents pointed out the draft Capital Plan reflects what they see as priorities for investment.

Learn more about what we heard during this phase (7 MB)

Capital Plan borrowing questions

Capital plans match the term of Council, allowing for a vote on borrowing money at the same time as the Vancouver municipal election.

The 2023-2026 Capital Plan considers $3.5 billion of investment with $495 million (14%) for renewal projects, which is proposed to be financed through borrowing, requiring voter approval.

Review the Capital Plan borrowing questions

Public approves borrowing

At the municipal election on October 15, 2022, a majority of Vancouver voters approved borrowing ($495 million) to fund projects including:
- Rehabilitation:
  - Work on Granville and Cambie bridges
  - Of sidewalks and streets in Gastown
- Renewal of the:
  - Vancouver Aquatic Centre
  - RayCam Community Centre
  - Downtown South Fire Hall
  - Animal Shelter
Review the official election results (154 KB)

How capital projects and programs are funded

We use two views to help describe the way capital programs and projects are funded: the funding source and financing method.

Funding sources
There are three main types of funding sources.

City contributions
- Property tax
- User fees such as utility fees (water and sewer fees)
- Parking revenue
- Other operating revenue funds
The maintenance and renewal of existing infrastructure and amenities are funded primarily from City contributions.

Development contributions
- Development cost levies (DCLs)
- Community amenity contributions (CACs)
- Connection fees
- Other conditions of development
These can be cash or in-kind contributions to the City. The provision of new, expanded, or upgraded infrastructure and amenities is funded primarily from development contributions.

Partner contributions
- Cash contributions from other governments (federal, provincial, and regional)
- Non-profit agencies
- Foundations
- Philanthropists
Partner contributions can fund existing or new infrastructure and amenities.
Funding methods

Capital reserves

Capital reserves are like savings accounts used to accumulate funding in advance of a capital project.

Pay-as-you-go

Pay-as-you-go provides funds for capital projects using current revenue and/or fees or other sources. Pay-as-you-go includes in-kind contributions.

Debt

Debt provides funds for capital projects and uses future revenues (typically over a 10 year period) to pay back the borrowed amount.

Documents

Capital Plan

What you need to know

What infrastructure and amenities the Capital Plan supports

2023-2026 Capital Plan

Service categories

How funding is distributed

Housing ($617M)

Childcare ($136M)

Parks and public open spaces ($211M)

Arts, culture, and heritage ($151M)

Community facilities ($391M)

Public safety ($105M)

Civic facilities and equipment ($57M)

Streets ($471M)

One Water: potable water, rainwater, and sanitary water ($874M)

Waste collection, diversion, and disposal ($141M)

Renewable energy ($73M)

Technology ($110M)

Emerging priorities, contingency and delivery ($155M)

What we heard from the public about the plan

How capital projects and programs are funded

Funding sources

Funding methods

Documents

Contact information, partner agencies, and website policies