Our ability to move around quickly, safely, affordably, and comfortably affects every aspect of our lives. The ability of goods and freight to move efficiently and the ability of workers and clients to access our local businesses all influence the economic vitality of our municipality.

The mode of transportation we use also has consequences for our environmental and personal health: walking to the bus stop or cycling to work, for example, can both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide good exercise.

The transportation needs and patterns of the community are changing, with most of our trips now being made for non-work purposes, outside of rush hour, and within the North Shore. The District’s objective is to respond to our changing needs and meet our social, economic and environmental goals by providing greater transportation choice.

2030 TRANSPORTATION TARGET: 35% of District resident trips by walking, cycling, or transit 

Transportation and the network of centres

A more nodal, concentrated development pattern promoted by this plan will facilitate a move away from the high reliance on the car that our existing dispersed land use pattern imposes.

Locating housing, jobs, shops and services in closer proximity makes walking and cycling more viable and transit more efficient. This plan provides land use directions for four centres: Lynn Valley, Lower Lynn, Lower Capilano - Marine, and Maplewood. 

Reaching our transportation network of centres objective

Our objective is to strategically integrate transportation and land use planning. 

We plan to achieve it by taking these actions:

1. Plan for an appropriate density and mix of uses to support the provision of frequent transit service
2. Provide appropriate transit infrastructure and facilities by working with the regional transportation authority
3. Encourage the integration of transit access in the design of new developments
4. Encourage and facilitate access for people of all abilities in the design of centres and transit corridors
5. Encourage new developments to provide high quality pedestrian facilities and improve the public realm
6. Support pedestrian connectivity within and to centres by providing a continuous pedestrian network
7. Provide a range of on-street and off-street cycling infrastructure within centres and routes into centres
8. Consider, where appropriate, reducing vehicle parking requirements for new developments in centres and corridors well served by transit to encourage alternate modes of transportation and increase housing affordability

The pedestrian network

Creating more walkable communities facilitates and promotes easy access to services and facilities, livability and community and environmental health.

Reaching our pedestrian network objectives

Our objective is to ensure safe and comfortable opportunities to walk are provided for pedestrians throughout the community for a variety of trip purposes. 

We plan to achieve this by taking these actions:

1. Assess the needs of pedestrians in all road improvement projects and design projects to address needs accordingly
2. Improve District-wide pedestrian connectivity through sidewalk network improvements
3. Improve pedestrian comfort and safety by employing traffic calming and crossing improvements where appropriate
4. Encourage pedestrian-friendly features, public realm improvements, and accessibility for people of all abilities in the design of major developments
5. Work with schools to provide safe walking and cycling routes to schools
6. Integrate the pedestrian network with the parks and urban trail system where feasible and appropriate
7. Improve pedestrian connections and accessibility to transit and enhance pedestrian comfort and safety where necessary

The bicycle network

Cycling is often the fastest mode of transportation for trips in urban areas and provides significant health and environmental benefits.

Many cyclists use our existing road network, but some routes pose challenges such as gaps, barriers, and a lack of signage.

<GRAPHIC: BICYCLE PLAN CONCEPT MAP>

Reaching our bicycle network objectives

Our objective is to provide a more complete cycling network that is safe and efficient for both recreational and commuter cyclists.

We plan to achieve it by taking these actions:

1. Assess the needs of cyclists in all road improvement projects and accommodate bicycles in new and existing roadways when opportunities exist
2. Improve District-wide cycling connectivity and prioritize network expansion to areas with high cycling potential through implementation of the Bicycle Plan conceptually shown on Map 4
3. Provide a range of on-street and off-street cycling infrastructure
4. Establish a cycling network on the North Shore that connects to the wider region by coordinating efforts with public, private, and non-governmental partners
5. Integrate the bicycle network with the parks and urban trail system where feasible and appropriate
6. Require adequate end-of-trip bicycle facilities, such as bicycle parking and change rooms, in major new commercial, multifamily and municipal developments
7. Improve cycling connections to transit and work with the regional transportation authority to make bicycle transit integration convenient and intuitive 

The transit network

Transit is the most environmentally-efficient method of moving large numbers of people and helps reduce congestion by keeping more cars off the road. Transit is also intended to be universally accessible to people of all ages, incomes and abilities.

Reaching our transit objective

Our objective is to support the delivery of an enhanced and more integrated transit system across the community.

We plan to achieve this by taking these actions: 

1. Assess transit needs in all road improvement projects and address design implications accordingly
2. Determine the frequent transit network and integrate the District’s network of centres concept into area transit planning and priorities working with the regional transportation authority
3. Designate Frequent Transit Development Areas at Lower Capilano-Marine Village Centre and Lower Lynn Town Centre and to provide supporting transit facilities and services, working iwht the regional transportation authority
4. Provide transit-supportive road treatments such as transit lanes, signal timing, bus bay bulges and queue jumpers in portions of transit corridors where appropriate
5. Facilitate convenient access to transit in the design of all development along the network of centres
6. Encourage a multi-modal network along transit routes through enhanced walking and cycling facilities
7. Identify opportunities for park and ride facilities near transit exchanges in consultation with the regional transportation authority
8. Work to provide universal access at all transit stops
9. Explore the potential for alternative transit models, routes or providers such as community shuttle services, taxis and water taxis
10. Explore opportunities to enhance bus service to schools where needed, working with the School District, the regional transportation authority, and other potential partners.
11. Advocate for the establishment of a third SeaBus

The road network and goods movement

The District’s road network is an important community asset used for different purposes by different users and modes.

<GRAPHIC: ROADS AND GOODS MOVEMENT CONCEPT MAP>

Our road network objective

Our objective is to manage road infrastructure in such a way that enables the efficient movement of goods and people, while improving road safety and minimizing impacts on local neighbourhoods.

We plan to achieve this by taking these actions:

1. Assess the needs of all road users and all modes of transportation in road improvement projects
2. Assess and identify portions of the road network within transit corridors for priority use by transit and/or high occupancy vehicles
3. Facilitate effective goods movement and work with government agencies and land owners to improve access to key port, industrial and commercial areas, while encouraging goods movement by rail or water
4. Facilitate emergency vehicle access across the road network
5. Provide for improved vehicle flow and mobility by designing and managing arterial roads
6. Reduce risk of crash and injury, and discourage cut-through traffic, by designing and managing streets serving primarily local traffic and residential access for slower speeds
7. Reduce trip length and ensure alternative access when a major route is blocked, by exploring possibilities for new strategic east-west linkages to the road network
8. Monitor the development of alternative energy and low emissions vehicles and devise supportive policies for establishing community charging stations and plug-in facilities as necessary
9. Improve road safety for all users and implement appropriate safety improvements
10.  Identify and advance opportunities to improve vehicle and transit access at the bridgeheads, by continuing to work with the Federal Government, Province, the regional transportation authority, other North Shore municipalities and First Nations governments