The Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts Study Community update - 2011 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts Study Community update - 2011 Geoff Meggs, Councillor 1 Wednesday, January 26, 2011 1

The 2010 Games The Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts were completely closed for two weeks for security reasons for the first time in their history The Games transportation plan achieved a 40 percent mode shift, keeping the city running at a record level of intensity without the Viaducts Traffic across the Viaducts has been declining for 15 years Wednesday, January 26, 2011 2

City council has commissioned a review of the future of the Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts City council has unanimously approved a two- phase review of the future of Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts Phase 1 is under way to review traffic issues and soils Phase 2 will consider the opportunities to link up our downtown communities: Strathcona, the DES, Chinatown, Citygate, International Village and Yaletown 3 Wednesday, January 26, 2011 3

Why now? It’s the last chance to link up Vancouver’s downtown neighbourhoods 7,200 new residents coming to Plaza of Nations, Concord lands, Rogers Arena: rezonings under way 5,000 new jobs, a casino? Last chance to open up new space for community use New opportunity to link Yaletown, Chinatown, Strathcona, City Gate Traffic declining to downtown What is Viaducts’ role for people, goods movement in a 21st century city? What is the best outcome for the city? For your community? Wednesday, January 26, 2011 4

The scope of the review Council’s unanimous decision Nov. 19, 2009 • Staff to report on a review of the impacts of removing or converting the Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts including: • Transportation impacts • Costs and impacts of contaminated soils • Financial impacts • Urban design considerations Wednesday, January 26, 2011 5

A two-phase study Council’s unanimous decision in June 2010 Phase 1 • Soils contamination assessment • High level structural evaluation • Transportation impacts Phase 2: • Urban design considerations • Land use review • More detailed structural feasibility • Consultation Wednesday, January 26, 2011 6

From green wetland in 1902, False Creek was quickly transformed by 1921 into an industrial wasteland, criss-crossed by railyards, and covered by a gas plant and warehouses. The original Georgia Viaduct was built to carry goods and people over this industrial zone to Chinatown and Strathcona. Why do we have the viaducts? False Creek: from wetland to industrial dumping ground to . . . ? Wednesday, January 26, 2011 7

THE FIRST 50 YEARS: 1917 TO 1971 Until the Second World War, False Creek flowed under the Viaduct to near Union St. By 1971, the Viaduct was falling apart. It had never carried a streetcar. Citizens voted to replace the Viaduct, not build a freeway, but they got both. The original viaduct: a link, not a barrier the first viaduct was intended to carry streetcars Wednesday, January 26, 2011 8

COMMUNITY OUTCRY STOPPED THE FREEWAYS . . . ONLY THE GEORGIA AND DUNSMUIR VIADUCTS WERE EVER BUILT Wednesday, January 26, 2011 9

BUT THE NEW VIADUCTS DOMINATED THE CITY . . . TRAFFIC IMPACTS TO THE EAST WERE IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT Wednesday, January 26, 2011 10

NORTH EAST FALSE CREEK 1986 - 2010 SINCE 1986, THE AREA HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED AGAIN Wednesday, January 26, 2011 11

NORTH EAST FALSE CREEK IS GROWING 7,000 new residents expected above previous forecasts Wednesday, January 26, 2011 12

Creekside Park Triggered by Concord development, preceded by toxic soil treatment Wednesday, January 26, 2011 13

Option 1: complete removal Opens up land between Expo and Pacific, two blocks on Main Street Wednesday, January 26, 2011 14

Option 2: merge with Pacific and Expo capacity is reduced 50%, traffic flows to Quebec and Terminal Wednesday, January 26, 2011 15

Option 3: keep a single viaduct reduces traffic impact, opens some space: 50% capacity reduction Wednesday, January 26, 2011 16

NEW INTERSECTION Option 4: bring viaducts down to Main minimum traffic impact, space opened up, suggests malkin connection Wednesday, January 26, 2011 17

Next steps • Technical review will be completed by late January • Staff will report results to council • Council must decide whether or not to fund Phase 2 • Phase 2 will deal with the benefits of change: urban design opportunities, etc. • What is your view? Should the review continue? 18 Wednesday, January 26, 2011 18

Stay in touch • Geoff Meggs • City Councillor • geoff.meggs@vancouver.ca • www.geoffmeggs.ca • 604-873-7249 Wednesday, January 26, 2011 19