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Central Valley Greenway

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Location

Vancouver, Burnaby
New Westminster, BC
Canada

Content Type
  • Infrastructure
Approximate cost
$17,000,000
Project size
25 km
Completion date
2009
Certifications & Awards
project team
  • Responsible Parties: Translink; Transport Canada; Greater Vancouver Regional District; City of Vancouver; City of Burnaby; City of New Westminster; Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST); Vancity
  • Consultants: Binnie & Associates Ltd.; CitiWest Consulting Ltd.; CitySpaces Consulting Ltd.
  • Consultants: Delcan Corporation; Dillon Consulting Ltd.; DMD & Associates Ltd.
  • Consultants: Earth Tech; Gallop/Varley; Golder Associates Ltd.; id a Public Art Consulting; IRC Integrated Resource; Consultants Inc.; LCP Signal Management Inc.; Levelton Consultants Ltd.; Metro Testing Ltd.; Patkau Architects
  • Consultants: Perry + Associates; PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc.; Sharp & Diamond Landscape Architecture; space2place design inc.
  • Consultants: Terra Pacific Land Surveying Ltd.; Thurber Engineering Ltd.; Trow Associates Inc.; UMA Engineering Ltd.; Urban Systems; Watanabe Engineering Ltd.; Web Engineering Ltd.

Summary

Key Sustainability Features:

  • More than 23% of the population of the GVRD lives or works within 1.5 km of the greenway
  • The greenway links 4 regional town centres: New Westminster, Lougheed, Brentwood and downtown Vancouver
  • The greenway connects: 11 SkyTrain stations, more than 23 bus routes, more than 16 bikeways, 11 urban trails and 4 major parks

The Central Valley Greenway (CVG), is an extensive, multi-stage transportation and recreation project connecting the cities of Vancouver, Burnaby, and New Westminster with a regional network of bikeways, trails, and green spaces. When complete, the 25 kilometre greenway will connect 11 skytrain stations, 23 bus routes, 16 existing bike routes, and 11 greenways. The greenway route runs from False Creek in Vancouver through Burnaby to the Fraser River in New Westminster. The goal of the project is to increase walking and cycling, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve transit connections, community amenities and other sustainable transportation options (City of Vancouver, 2010).

The idea for the CVG emerged during the 1980s, when the Greater Vancouver Regional District (now Metro Vancouver) was exploring the concept of a regional greenway network. Over the following decade, the Central Valley was identified as a key route within local greenway and bikeway network plans. The first section of the greenway along Grandview Highway North between Commercial Drive and Slocan Street opened in 2002 and includes amenities such as bike routes; improved lighting; habitat restoration; drinking fountains; a butterfly garden; seating areas, and public art. Completion of the last stage of the comprehensive project was scheduled for spring 2009, involving the City of Vancouver, TransLink and Transport Canada.

Universities, community groups, arts associations, and local businesses were all encouraged to participate in the collaborative creation of the greenway. Programs such as 'Sponsor the Trail' engage local volunteers in stewardship programs. The anticipated positive effects of the CVG include reduced traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions, improved awareness of non-motorized transportation alternatives, increased plant and wildlife habitat, and the promotion of physical activity.

The CVG is one of the six innovative sustainable transportation projects under the Urban Transportation Showcase Program by Transport Canada, accounting for over $15 million of the total $35 million budget.

Tours: Open to the public

Sources

This post was imported from the 'Greater Vancouver Green Guide', it's part of the 'Green Guide Portal' to the Green Building Brain.