Transportation and Transit
The $7-million project to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians travelling along the Stanley Park Causeway is now complete.
“More than 2,200 cyclists and about 200 pedestrians travel along the Stanley Park Causeway each day during the busy summer months, and this widening and safety upgrade will greatly improve safety for them, as well as encourage people to walk or cycle instead of driving,” said Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone. “The Stanely Park Causeway Improvement Project was a component of B.C. on the Move, and we are happy to be upgrading safety and efficiency for cycling enthusiasts and pedestrians along this key corridor connecting Vancouver and the North Shore.”
The project included widening the east sidewalk to 3.6 metres to accommodate both cyclists and pedestrians, with a separated cycling lane and a walking lane. The west sidewalk has been widened to ensure added safety for southbound cyclists that includes two cycling passing lanes to accommodate different cycling speeds.
(flickr.com) A new safety fence has been installed separating cyclists and pedestrians from vehicle traffic on both sides of the Stanley Park Causeway, a 2.2-kilometre segment of Highway 99 that provides direct access to Stanley Park and Vancouver's downtown core.
“The causeway is a key route connecting Vancouver to the North Shore communities and bicycle and pedestrian traffic continues to increase in popularity,” said North Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA Naomi Yamamoto. “This project aims to improve the safety for all who travel along the Stanley Park Causeway, while maintaining the natural beauty of Stanley Park and the surrounding area.”
The ministry worked in close collaboration with the Vancouver Park Board, the City of Vancouver, the Stanley Park Ecological Society, HUB Cycling and local First Nations on this important safety improvement project. New signs clearly show where cyclists and pedestrians should be on the pathway. Etiquette signs have also been installed, asking cyclists to signal before passing.
“At the Vancouver Park Board, our mission is to advocate for and preserve parks and recreation services to benefit all people, communities, and the environment. The preservation of Stanley Park was critical to us during this project,” said Vancouver Park Board chair Sarah Kirby-Yung. “We are pleased the impact to the environmental footprint was very minimal here as the ministry worked with our team to deliver a safer and more efficient roadway for cyclists and pedestrians, while preserving the ecology and natural beauty of our park.”
(flickr.com) Construction on the project began on Sept. 13, 2015. The east sidewalk work was completed in December 2015, and work on the west sidewalk has recently wrapped up. The work schedule was extended due to inclement weather and additional mitigation measures that were undertaken in collaboration with the Vancouver Park Board to protect the health of trees along the corridor.
“The completion of this project is good news for people who cycle and those who want to start cycling more, because the safety fence and the designated cycling spaces make it safer and easier to navigate this route,” said HUB Cycling executive director Erin O’Melinn. “The provincial government included HUB Cycling in the coordination and collaboration on this project, and although there remain a few spots we still have highlighted for further safety considerations, most of our input was valued on the concept and design of these necessary safety improvements to the Stanley Park Causeway.”
B.C. on the Move is government’s new 10-year plan for the improvement of the province’s transportation network. Over the next three years, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will invest up to $2.7 billion to improve British Columbia’s transportation network.
As part of this plan, the B.C. government will increase the cost-shared funding available to communities to improve local cycling infrastructure. The government is committing $18 million over the next three years to this program - a 50% increase over previous years. This will help fund municipal and regional projects such as multi-use paths, bike lanes, overpasses and shoulder bikeways.
Learn More:
www.gov.bc.ca/StanleyParkCauseway
https://engage.gov.bc.ca/transportationplan/
