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Planning for Transit in the World‟s Most Livable City:

What Portland and the Rest of North America Can Learn

From Vancouver

Alan Jones – Director

Steer Davies Gleave

Suite 970, 355 Burrard Street

Vancouver, BC V6C 2G8

Canada

October 2010

www.steerdaviesgleave.com

Our Rail~Volution Session

Ι Transportation and Land Use in the 21st Century and Beyond

Ι What will our cities and regions look like 20 years from now?

Ι Fifty years from now?

Ι The decisions we make today about shaping our communities toward

more walkable, sustainable, economically viable design will be

important in the future.

Ι This overview session focuses on new projects, modes and ways of

thinking for dealing with urban realities and challenges around the

world.

Ι Take a close look at the innovative planning efforts being undertaken

in three progressive areas and see how those efforts can be translated

to your region.

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An Urban World

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http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/IndividualItemPages/ComingEconomicCollapse.html

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Sustainable Land Use ?

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A Future for Suburbia ?

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“Ladies and

gentlemen, the

situation is not

good…

The world’s

climates are

changing, the

mammals are taking

over, and we all

have a

brain about the

size of a golf ball”

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A Warm Globe Future ?

Livability and a Healthy Lifestyle

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Vancouver, the Worlds Most Livable City

The Economist - 2010

Ι Economist scoring of 98 out of

100 potential points

Ι Ranked highly for:

■ Quality of life

■ Economic stability

■ Quality health care

■ Strong education system

■ Livable communities

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Vancouver, British Columbia –

The World‟s Most Livable City

Ι City includes 1/3 of the region‟s

total employment

Ι Primary growth in commute

choices has been by transit,

biking, or walking

Ι Local, regional, & national focus

on:

■ Creating convenient transportation options

■ Greater use of transit

■ Transit-friendly land use

■ Reducing reliance on the car

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Vancouver in Context

Vancouver in Context

Ι Significant urban centre for Western Canada

Ι Consistent population growth currently at approximately 600,000

(within city limits) & 1.5 million in the metro area

Ι Population is projected to increase by 137,000 (23%) within the City

and by 54% to 3.39 million within the region (2041)

Ι Existing transit network of bus, SkyTrain, Canada Line, seabus, etc.

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Metro Vancouver Population and Employment Projections 2040

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Vancouver and Greater Vancouver –Long Term Targets

Ι TransLink‟s Transport 2040- Long term Plan

Ι Targets: 50% sustainable modes share (walk, bike, transit)

Ι Currently 30%, fourfold increase with growing population

Ι BC Provincial Transit Plan

Ι 22% Transit Mode Share by 2020

Ι GHG reduction target: 33% by 2020, 80% by 2040

Ι City of Vancouver

Ι 28% Transit Mode Share by 2020

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Extensive Trolleybus and bus network

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SkyTrain System

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Canada Line- opened 2009

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Canada Line- underground in Downtown

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University of British Columbia (UBC) Corridor

Ι Significant transit corridor crossing the Canada Line and SkyTrain

Ι Major activity centres at City Hall, health care facilities, & UBC

Ι Mix of commercial & residential densities

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UBC

Downtown

Broadway

Skytrain

Canada

Line

N

Commercial/Broadway

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Derrick Ulian photo

Miranda Nelson photo

B Line at Commercial/Broadway

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VCC Clark SkyTrain Station- Millennium Line

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Broadway Corridor- East Vancouver

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Broadway and Main Street- “Uptown Vancouver”

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Broadway and Trafalgar (east of Arbutus)

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Kitsilano- Residential Neighbourhood

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Broadway and Mac Donald -Kitsilano

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Kitsilano- local neighbourhood

Point Grey

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University Boulevard (University Endowment Lands)

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University of British Columbia- Campus Site

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University of British Columbia Campus

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Ι Lead: TransLink, BC Province

Ι Partners:

■ City of Vancouver

■ Metro Vancouver

■ University of British Columbia

■ University Endowment Lands

Ι Problem/Vision/Objectives

Ι MAE assessment

Ι Alignment Designs

Ι Technology Review

Ι BRT, LRT & Rail Rapid Transit

Ι Ridership & traffic modelling

Ι Stakeholder inputs

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UBC Rapid Transit Project

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UBC Line Rapid Transit Project – Problem Statements

Ι The problem statement defines the „purpose and need‟ for the study

Ι Agreed UBC Line Rapid Transit Project problem statements developed:

■ Existing transit services do not provide sufficient capacity or reliable enough service to the major regional destinations and economic hubs

within the Broadway Corridor

■ Transit trips and mode share need to increase to reduce vehicle kilometres traveled (VKT) and GHG emissions, both directly

and by supporting the Regional Growth Strategy and other

regional objectives

■ Regional funding for transit is limited and needs to balance a range of rapid transit investment priorities

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UBC Line Rapid Transit Project – Vision and Mission

Ι The Vision explains the overall aim or purpose of the UBC Line

Rapid Transit Project

■ A rapid transit service that serves and shapes a great region and communities and strengthens its livability and sustainability by

providing a viable alternative to the private car

Ι The Mission defines how the planning will be done and what

outcomes the UBC Line should achieve/deliver

■ To plan a rapid transit service that is accessible, convenient, safe, reliable and environmentally and financially sustainable that

integrates with the regional transportation system and contributes

to the achievement of transportation, environmental and land use

objectives and targets

Vancouver Embraces a New Approach for the UBC Corridor

MAE

Deliverability

Economic Development

Environment

Financial Social

Community

Transportation

Urban Development

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Ι Multiple account evaluation (MAE)

Ι MAE analysis & prioritization process successfully used throughout the

UK & continental Europe

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UBC Line Rapid Transit project:

Design Work Books- 1:1,000 Drawings and Design Stage 1 (DF1)

Ι Early start on 1:1000 plans – surface and grade-separated

Ι Maximising segregated operation and junction priority

Ι Identifying key issues

■ Station and stop locations

■ Pedestrian and bike amenities

■ Land-use, property impacts and development opportunities

■ On-street parking, servicing and deliveries

■ Area-wide traffic and bus circulation issues- “Complete Communities”

Ι Subsequent Design Stages will

develop the design(s) and

address the issues/opportunities

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The “Complete Community” Approach

Ι Vancouver- Street Hierarchy

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University

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Commercial

Stakeholder Engagement & Workshops

Ι Design charrettes (decision accelerator)

Ι Designing complete streets (design a cross section)

Ι 100 participants

Ι A “game changer”

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“Best Bus” Option

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Transit Integration & Complete Streets- BRT Option

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UBC Simulation UBC Simulation

Transit Integration & Complete Streets- LRT Option

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UBC Simulation UBC Simulation

Rail Rapid Transit- Underground Station Entrance Granville/City

Centre

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Rail Rapid Transit- Canada Line Broadway/City Hall Station

Entrance

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Rail Rapid Transit