Vancouver's plan to calm Prior Street begins Monday with lane, speed reductions
Credit to Author: Harrison Mooney| Date: Sat, 25 Jan 2020 03:20:37 +0000
The City of Vancouver’s plan to calm traffic and increase safety along a busy Strathcona street gets underway Monday.
The Prior Street pilot project, which begins Jan. 27, will reduce the busy, two-lane arterial route from East Vancouver into downtown to just one lane of traffic in each direction between Gore and Raymur avenues.
That includes during peak travel times and ends the practice of opening Prior Street to four lanes during high-volume periods. Starting Monday, the pilot project will allow street parking 24 hours a day.
In addition, speed will be reduced to 30 km/h between Raymur and Hawks Avenues, the stretch of road adjacent to Strathcona Park.
The city will also be adding temporary curb bulges, street lighting upgrades, and pavement markings, with plans to upgrade bus shelters, benches, and litter containers in the spring.
The pilot will be in place for approximately one year as the city monitors the impact this will have on east-west traffic, especially as Prior Street is set to become the primary connector between East Van and the downtown core after the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts are demolished.
The changes result from an October 2019 council vote to turn the thoroughfare into a two-lane collector street, which followed years of campaigning from Strathcona residents.
Green Coun. Pete Fry said he had been campaigning for the past decade to have Prior Street calmed after his friend was killed on the street while cycling.
“I look forward to seeing Prior Street calmed, it’s something that residents have been fighting for for so long,” he said.
The city also warned about possible delays along the route as the project gets underway. Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead.
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