Possible Burrard Inlet rapid-transit crossings identified in next phase of study
Credit to Author: Stephanie Ip| Date: Mon, 02 Mar 2020 22:01:10 +0000
The possibilities aren’t endless but there’s at least six options for where a rapid-transit crossing could connect the North Shore to Vancouver.
The province is continuing the second phase of its technical feasibility study looking at where a high-capacity transit crossing, such as for SkyTrain, could be built between Vancouver and the North Shore.
In Phase 2, officials will explore the technical details around each of the six options for crossing points, which were identified in Phase 1. Three of those would see a tunnel crossing constructed, while two would be new bridge crossings and the final option would use an existing bridge crossing.
Those crossings points are:
• Downtown Vancouver to Lonsdale via First Narrows (tunnel crossing).
• Downtown Vancouver to Lonsdale via Brockton Point (tunnel crossing).
• Downtown Vancouver to West Vancouver via Lonsdale (tunnel crossing).
• Downtown Vancouver to Lonsdale via Second Narrows (new-bridge crossing).
• Burnaby to Lonsdale via Second Narrows (new-bridge crossing).
• Burnaby to Lonsdale via Second Narrows (existing bridge crossing).
(Scroll to the bottom of our story and tell us which option you prefer.)
“We know that people living and working on the North Shore are frustrated with traffic congestion that has been increasing for years,” said Transportation Minister Claire Trevena in a statement announcing the study’s second phase. “By investing in this study, our government is helping to take a serious look at solutions that expand our public transportation network to better connect communities and to help people move around freely. The results from this study will support the North Shore and surrounding communities with their long-term transportation planning.”
The possibility of rapid transit from Vancouver to the North Shore was among the recommendations in a 2018 planning project led by Bowinn Ma, MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale. It recommended study of a 3.2-kilometre Lonsdale Quay-Waterfront Station tunnel, even though that is the deepest and widest part of Burrard Inlet.
“I hear from community members every day about how transportation challenges on the North Shore impact their lives,” said Ma. “In addition to seeking convenient ways to get around, people are eager to embrace more socially, environmentally responsible modes of transportation. This technical feasibility study to find a rapid-transit solution across the Burrard Inlet is an important step toward a third fixed-link crossing to the North Shore.”
The study would also consider how a rapid-transit system could open up land for affordable housing development. Options for expanding the Burrard Inlet’s ferry network beyond the current SeaBus would also be examined.
The study is being conducted and funded by provincial government, along with funding from the districts of North and West Vancouver, as well as the cities of Vancouver and North Van. Results of the study will be used in developing TransLink’s Transport 2050 regional plan.