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Our Vision: Vancouver’s transportation system connects people to jobs and daily needs in an equitable way, prioritizing low-cost, healthy ways of getting around, while supporting the economy.
Transportation plays a vital role in supporting a thriving city and region, connecting us to people and places, influencing our quality of life, the environment and the economy. However, many people continue to face travel barriers. More neighbourhoods need shops and services closer to home, with safe and comfortable streets and greenways, and better access to frequent transit. We also need to better serve diverse community needs and address inequities in service provision, safety, universal accessibility, greenery and dignified travel.
Directions and Policies
Direction 5.1: Land Use and Urban Design
Enable safe and comfortable walking, biking and transit through land use and urban design.
Locating people closer to their destinations and designing buildings oriented towards sustainable travel, makes walking and rolling the easiest and most convenient option for most trips. Allowing a greater mix of uses, including jobs and housing, close to transit increases access to the city, region and beyond. With new growth, we need to carefully manage private vehicles to reduce impacts on streets and neighbourhoods.
Policies
5.1.1
Reduce the need to drive and decrease carbon emissions by locating shops, services, businesses and diverse housing types in areas that can be well-served by walking, rolling, biking and transit.
5.1.2
Design transit station areas as neighbourhood hubs that support seamless travel to and from the station with local amenities for shopping and stopping (such as grocery stores, services and public spaces).
5.1.3
Explore locating shops, services, businesses and a range of housing types along greenways, while considering vehicle access needs (off of car-free greenways).
5.1.4
Enhance connectivity through new development to provide a fine-grained walking, rolling, and biking network (e.g., considering new routes and connections through large sites).
5.1.5
Implement policies that disincentivize driving, while planning for those who rely on vehicles to get around (e.g., shared district parking, eliminate minimum parking requirements, limiting parking supply).
Direction 5.2: People-First Streets
Create people first streets by transforming road space to support population growth and the changing needs of residents and businesses.
Over 80% of Vancouver’s street space is dedicated to vehicles. As the city grows, we can transform this valuable public asset to make space for people to gather, walk and bike, and for reliable transit, water management and habitat corridors. This will require a flexible and adaptable approach, balancing core needs of the street and supporting those that need to travel by car.
Policies
5.2.1
Support safety and comfort for walking, rolling and biking on local streets to provide great connections to and through neighbourhoods. Include measures to ensure lower motor vehicle volumes and speeds.
5.2.2
Support safe and comfortable walking, rolling, biking and transit access to destinations on retail streets. Support public life and the local economy, planning for deliveries and micro-mobility devices.
5.2.3
Reimagine arterials to be safe and livable while efficiently moving people and goods. Reduce the impacts of polluting vehicles, and optimize goods movement.
5.2.4
Amplify and intensify the greenways network as car-light to car-free corridors for active transportation and recreation, providing a high quality continuous experience with public spaces, ecological and green infrastructure functions.
5.2.5
Provide a network of car-free retail streets in the city centre, supporting public life and the local economy, while considering required services, deliveries, and general vehicle access.
5.2.6
Leverage street improvement projects to deliver co-benefits for transportation, public space, water and natural systems.
5.2.7
Develop strategies that prioritize walking, biking, transit and public space on streets over parking, while considering persons with disabilities and others with essential parking needs.
Direction 5.3: Future Planning
Accelerate planning for an equitable and sustainable transportation future for people and goods.
Building on current plans, the City will work with the community, the Nations and regional partners to respond to urgent challenges (such as climate change, growing inequities) and new opportunities (such as emerging technologies, expanding transit network and efficient goods movement).
Policies
5.3.1
Collaborate with the Nations to improve transportation options, including better active travel and transit connections to Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh developments and First Nations Reserve Lands.
5.3.2
Identify and address the needs of equity denied groups in transportation planning, design and operations, improving access to destinations and opportunities.
5.3.3
Support rapid transit expansion approved through the Regional Transportation Strategy, Transport 2050, including Broadway SkyTrain to UBC and identifying relief measures for Expo Line and Canada Line, as they reach capacity.
5.3.4
Ensure that the efficient and sustainable movement of goods is considered as part of all future planning to strengthen the City’s role as a port city and premier Asia-Pacific gateway.
5.3.5
Plan for emerging mobility-related technologies, such as shared mobility, micro-mobility and self-driving vehicles.
5.3.6
Update the City’s transportation plan and develop a comprehensive Greenways Refresh Plan to advance the directions of Vancouver Plan, building on the Transportation 2040 Plan, the Climate Emergency Action Plan and aligning with regional priorities.
