{"id":1522,"date":"2010-10-21T20:24:41","date_gmt":"2010-10-22T03:24:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/?p=1522"},"modified":"2017-06-26T21:29:26","modified_gmt":"2017-06-27T04:29:26","slug":"translink-planning-departments-response-to-my-critiques-of-the-central-valley-greenway-cvg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/translink-planning-departments-response-to-my-critiques-of-the-central-valley-greenway-cvg\/","title":{"rendered":"Translink Planning Department\u2019s Response to my Critiques of the Central Valley Greenway (CVG)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Click here for an updated, complete guide to the Central Valley Greenway\u00a0\u2013 plus Video<\/a><\/strong>
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This response answers a lot of questions about the issues with the Central Valley Greenway (CVG), and also contains some exciting news about plans for the future!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“The CVG was part of Transport Canada\u2019s Urban Transportation Showcase Program, which wrapped up in March 2009 in accordance with the multi-agency funding agreement. There has been a fair bit of criticism on the Buzzer Blog<\/em> about launching the CVG prematurely, while some segments were incomplete or built to an interim standard.<\/span><\/p>\n

We were obliged to launch it as close as possible to the federal project deadline of March 31, 2009, after six years of planning and project delivery, and held our opening celebration in June to correspond with Bike Week and the completion of the Winston Bridge, which provided important connections. We acknowledge that some areas are constructed to a interim design standard, due to budget or other temporal challenges. The major achievement of the project was to deliver a functional CVG, and it has been a valuable facility for thousands of people since it was launched.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TransLink values feedback and will share it with our partners. At this point each municipal partner is responsible for improvements along the CVG that will achieve the ultimate design standard. Again, now that the cities fully own and manage their sections of the CVG, comments should be directed to them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blog Part I: Downtown New Westminster to Winston<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Signage.<\/strong> Compliments appreciated. We will aim for 100% consistency, and timely completion on the next facility. We will also recommend larger fonts for the yellow destination signs.
\nJurisdiction:<\/strong><\/span> Cities<\/span><\/p>\n

Columbia Street \u2013 downtown.<\/strong>
\nAverage Joe Suggestion 1: separated path<\/em><\/span>
\nIt is quite true, this is a high traffic street and may not comfortable for a good many riders, particularly new or young riders. Downtown New Westminster was considered a CVG destination, and an enhanced cycling facility objective was considered in the context of multiple City objectives: downtown revitalization, aesthetic improvements, enhanced pedestrian environment, and traffic calming. The compromise was to remove two lanes of traffic and to implement back in angle parking, an innovation in this region, which is safer for cyclists than parallel parking and opened up more road space for cyclists.<\/span><\/p>\n

The ultimate vision for New Westminster is a low level multi-use route running from Braid along the waterfront to the Quay which would provide a scenic, flat and comfortable separated route. It will take some years to acquire the necessary lands and resources to achieve the low level route, as most of it will be implemented as development occurs. This route is also identified in the Metro Vancouver Parks greenway network.
\nJurisdiction:<\/strong><\/span> City of New Westminster.<\/span><\/p>\n

Columbia Street \u2013 north east of Cumberland<\/strong>
\nAverage Joe Suggestion 1: separated path<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The original alignment for the CVG was routed along the Brunette River waterfront through the Sapperton industrial area. Because of serious budget deficiencies, technical challenges of crossing massive rail yard, and the need to meet the project completion deadline in 2009, the route between Hume Park and Cumberland was proposed by the City as an alternate which would provide a connection with the BC Parkway and the New West waterfront at the Quay. The choices were to work with Columbia Street, or stop the CVG at the Burnaby border. It is acknowledged that the on street portions of Columbia are busy and challenging to ride. Again, the low level route along the Brunette River in Sapperton, meeting up at Sapperton Landing (around Cumberland) is the optimal long term solution here.
\nJurisdiction:<\/strong><\/span> City of New Westminster<\/span><\/p>\n

North Road<\/strong>
\nAverage Joe Suggestion 2: a solution requested<\/em><\/span>
\nExiting Hume Park and entering Burnaby, Columbia Street is actually named North Road. The City of Burnaby has identified the scope required to make a separated multi-use path here which requires path widening and a new bridge across the Brunette River. The New Westminster portion would consist of a multi-use path to the south of the Brunette River.
\nJurisdiction:<\/strong><\/span> Cities of New Westminster and Burnaby<\/span><\/p>\n

Brunette River Natural Area<\/strong>
\nSuggestion 3: lights<\/em><\/span>
\nThis corridor is owned by Metro Vancouver and managed by its Parks department. Metro Vancouver Parks has a policy of no lights in this area, for reasons of environmental sensitivity and because lights might create a false sense of security in this forested area which has limited visibility and surveillance at night.
\nJurisdiction:<\/strong><\/span> Metro Vancouver Parks<\/span><\/p>\n

Cariboo Road<\/strong>
\nThe unfinished intersection at Government was problematic for over a year and a source of frustration to all. The City was waiting for the railroad to install panels to permit a level crossing of the tracks, which only they can do. This work was completed in September 2010.
\nJurisdiction:<\/strong><\/span> City of Burnaby<\/span><\/p>\n

Winston bicycle Lanes<\/strong>
\nAverage Joe Suggestion 4 \u2013 separated path<\/em><\/span>
\nThe City of Burnaby\u2019s long term plan is to replace the existing bicycle lanes on Winston with a separated multi-use trail (aka \u201cUrban Trail\u201d in Burnaby), exactly as per your Suggestion 4. This would make a huge difference to the quality of experience on the CVG east of Sperling for both cyclists and pedestrians. At present, there is no sidewalk on Winston and so the CVG pedestrian traffic is routed through Metro Vancouver\u2019s Burnaby Lake Regional Park, which for the same reasons as the Brunette River Natural Area, has no lighting and is only open during daylight hours.
\nJurisdiction:<\/strong><\/span> City of Burnaby and Metro Vancouver<\/span><\/p>\n

The map \u2013 and suitability ratings.<\/strong>
\nTransLink notes the excerpted quote from the CVG Route Map: \u201cMost sections are suitable for all kinds of walking and wheeling etc\u201d. This is a really helpful comment on an oversight, and we will be making a note in the next map issue about the high traffic streets, noting they may be less comfortable for some riders. For the same reason, we distinguished between types of routes on the map.
\nJurisdiction:<\/strong><\/span> TransLink<\/span><\/p>\n

Blog Part 2: Winston overpass to Vancouver.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Douglas Road and Still Creek Drive to Gilmore<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The City of Burnaby will be rebuilding Douglas Road, and Still Creek Drive all the way through to Costco in 2011\/2012. It is acknowledged that the current interim route is unpleasant, and fortunately there is a quality solution in the near future for this section which will be a fully separated, multi-use path on the north side of Still Creek Drive and east side of Douglas Road. We are please to pass on the compliments on the rest area just close to the intersection of Still Creek Drive and Gilmore. The credit goes to the City of Burnaby.
\nAgency responsible:<\/strong><\/span> City of Burnaby<\/span><\/p>\n

Great Northern Way<\/strong>
\nAs you noted, the slope connecting Clark Drive with the False Creek Flats is steep and a challenge for cyclists. One reason for providing a path on both sides of Great Northern Way between Clark and Glen Drives is to give cyclists more space and choice. The original vision for the CVG was to provide a bridge connection for non-motorized users between the False Creek Flats and Clark Drive at the top of the escarpment. Unfortunately the bridge was unable to proceed as part of the project because of cost and time constraints. As for the driveways, it would be worth letting the City know of your concern and experiences there.
\nAgency responsible:<\/strong><\/span> City of Vancouver<\/span><\/p>\n

Safe cycling for everyone?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Your observation that the point of view of seniors and\/or kids is key in assessing bike routes is very valid. It echoes the philosophy of Gil Penalosa of Bogot\u00e1, Columbia, who heads an organization called 8 to 80 Cities which urges leaders to … <\/span><\/p>\n

“make decisions about our built environment based on what would be good for an 8 year old and an 80 year old which would result in great cities for all\u201d.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Through TransLink\u2019s Bicycle Working Group, a forum involving representatives from the municipalities in the region, there are active discussions and plans to advance standards for cycling facilities which suit a large segment of our population which is interested in cycling, but concerned.<\/span><\/p>\n

We appreciate the time you have spent in creating this commentary and hope that understanding some of the context and forthcoming developments is helpful. It is important for the walking and cycling communities to focus their advocacy on projects which are important to them, and advance the realization of those projects realized. It took years of dreaming and planning to get the CVG to the present point. We consider it a work in progress.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks for this, Translink! Also, my thanks to Jhenifer at Translink’s Buzzer Blog<\/em><\/a> for passing on the links to my posts to Translink Planning Department, and for bringing back this response.<\/p>\n

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