REGIONAL GREENWAYS – VISION TO REALITYDeveloping the Central Valley Greenway

Douglas Scott - BCLA, CSLAGreenways and Neighbourhood Transportation

CENTRAL VALLEY GREENWAY

BurnabyVancouver

New Westminster

English Bay

Fraser River

CENTRAL VALLEY GREENWAY

• 25 km route connecting Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster

• 7.5 km in Vancouver• Virtually flat and primarily traffic separated• Links downtown Vancouver to transit hubs,

residential and employment areas, schools, shopping and parks

• Intersects 11 SkyTrain stations, 23 bus routes and 27 cycling facilities across the region

• Developed in partnership with TransLink, Metro Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster and Vancouver

VANCOUVER GREENWAYS VISION: 1992

• 180 public workshops developed map overlays of preferred greenways

VANCOUVER GREENWAYS PLAN: 1995

• Approved by Vancouver City Council in 1995

• 14 routes including the Central Valley Greenway

CENTRAL VALLEY GREENWAY: 1998-2002

• Approved Greenway Plan provided foundation to explore funding opportunities

• Phase One developed in partnership with the Province’s Millennium SkyTrain Line

• 1.7 km Phase One completed in 2002 between Commercial Drive and Slocan Street parallel to the SkyTrain and the Grandview Cut

CENTRAL VALLEY GREENWAY

CENTRAL VALLEY GREENWAY 2002-2009

• 2002 discussions begin between regional and municipal governments to complete the CVG in Vancouver and extend the greenway to New Westminster

• 2003 Greater Vancouver Region applies for cost sharing through the Federal Governments’ Urban Transportation Showcase Program

CENTRAL VALLEY GREENWAY

URBAN TRANSPORTATION SHOWCASE

• 2003 Federal Government announces $8.8 million contribution to Greater Vancouver Region under the Urban Transportation Showcase Program

• Program showcases innovative and replicable approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions

• The Central Valley Greenway is one of 6 Showcase projects

URBAN TRANSPORTATION SHOWCASE

1. Hybrid Bus Demonstrationtesting low emission, low noise diesel electric buses

2. Transit VillagesSkyTrain Station area improvements for foot, bike and bus access

3. Goods Movement Studyimproving efficiencies while reducing greenhouse gases

4. Main Street Transit and Pedestrian Prioritytransit priority measures and passenger amenity improvements

5. Travel Smartmarketing program for households interested in alternate modes

6. Central Valley Greenway

FINANCING SHOWCASE

• Packaging 6 diverse projects strengthened success of the proposal by providing a range of initiatives to support the Federal Government’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions

• $8.8 million provided by the Federal Government for the six Showcase projects

FINANCING THE CVG

• $9 million for design and construction in Vancouver• Cost shared by the Federal Government, the

Provincial Government, TransLink, the Insurance Corporation of BC and the City of Vancouver

DEVELOPING THE CVG: 2004-2009

• Typical City model for design and construction is in-house

• New City model uses consultants and contractors• Multi-disciplinary team of consultants and staff led

by a City project manager• Consultant team led by landscape architects with

planners, and civil, structural, electrical and transportation engineers

• Designed in 3 sections for neighbourhoodconsultation and built as 2 contracts for efficiencies

PUBLIC CONSULTATION: Tools

• E-mail• Posters• Internet• Print ads• List servers• Open houses • Stakeholder meetings• Committees• Newsletters

PUBLIC CONSULTATION: Newsletter

PUBLIC CONSULTATION: Newsletter

Bike Streets• separated bike paths that look and feel like a street

Cross-Bikes• Integrated pedestrian and cyclist street crossings

TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS

BIKE STREET: Garden Drive

• New road, bike street and neighbourhood amenity area on reclaimed site

BIKE STREET: Garden Drive

BIKE STREET: 11th Avenue

• Re-use of existing north curb and gutter• Neighbourhood amenity area

BIKE STREET: 11th Avenue

BIKE STREET: Victoria and Broadway

•Separated sidewalk, pedestrian path and un-curbed bike street

BIKE STREET: Victoria and Broadway

CROSS-BIKE: Victoria and Broadway

• Separated cross-walk and cross-bike• Use when separated bike street and pedestrian paths

merge at the intersection• Integrated with Bike Box

CROSS-BIKE: Clark Drive and 6th Avenue

• Integrated cross-walk and cross-bike• Use when a shared cyclist and pedestrian off-street

path crosses the intersection

CROSS-BIKE: Sign and Paint

• Elephants feet – 300mm solid white squares• Bike and pedestrian stencils to highlight crossing• Sign modeled on rail crossing

CONCLUSION

• Have a plan• Utilize creative financing• Work as a team• Be innovative

REGIONAL GREENWAYS – VISION TO REALITYDeveloping the Central Valley Greenway