Waterfront Transit Oriented Development

Bay Area Symposium on Waterfront Transit Oriented DevelopmentJune 23, 2006

Presentation Outline

Background on the GVTA and Greater Vancouver region

Existing GVTA marine services & waterfront oriented development

Future directions

GVTA Overview

Transit

Intelligent Transportation Systems

Vehicle Emissions Testing

Cycling

Transportation Demand Management

Roads &

Bridges

Regional Transportation Authority - unique to Canada Integrated approach to:

Established 1999

Funding primarily from transportation sources (transit fares, parking taxes, fuel and property taxes)

15 member Board appointed by the Regional District Board and Provincial Government

Legislated to support regional growth and air quality plans

GVTA Background

Regional Growth Management Objectives

Protect the Green Zone Build Complete Communities

Achieve a Compact Metropolitan Region

Increase Transportation Choice

Single Occupancy

Vehicle45%

Vehicle Driver / Passenger

29%

Transit 11%

Walk12%

Bicycle2%

Single Occupancy

Vehicle45%

Vehicle Driver / Passenger

29%

Transit 11%

Walk12%

Bicycle2%

Transportation Fast Facts

Approximately 6 million person trips/day• 11% by transit• 14% by walk and

bicycle• Balance by private

means Public transport use

up 24% since 2002

The Region & Its Waterways

BurrardInlet

BurrardInlet

HoweSoundHoweSound

False CreekFalse Creek

FraserRiver

FraserRiver

BoundaryBay

BoundaryBay

PittRiverPitt

River

Straightof GeorgiaStraightof Georgia

IndianArm

IndianArm

Ferry Services in Greater Vancouver Downtown-North Shore, 1909 – 1947 Albion Ferry (GVTA) SeaBus (GVTA) False Creek ferries (private) BC Ferries (inter-urban) New GVTA services under review

SeaBus Concept

Passenger only ferries

Minimize in-terminal time

Rapid boarding and alighting

Proof of payment

No vessel turning required

Level access - floating terminal

Part of rapid transit network

Fully integrated with buses, SkyTrain, commuter rail

SeaBus Concept

SeaBus Concept

Scheduled at 3 minutesDesigned at 90 seconds

SeaBus Concept

SeaBus Operations Every 15 minutes; 30

minutes evenings & Sundays

6:00am – 12:30am

16,000 daily rides

99%+ reliability since 1977

Full accessibility

Bikes permitted

2 vessels, 400 seats each

Double-ended aluminum catamarans

SeaBus Route

Lonsdale Quay(North Shore)

Waterfront Station(Downtown Vancouver)

Lonsdale Quay (North Shore)

1977 – catalyst for waterfront development

North Vancouver’s Lonsdale Quay and corridor

Offices, public market, high density residential

Lonsdale Quay Development

Public plaza next to market, bus exchange,

and SeaBus terminal

Lonsdale Quay Development

Bus to SeaBus

Bus to bus

Auto drop-off / pick-up

Taxi drop-off / pick-up

Office building above bus exchange

Waterfront Station (Downtown) Public Transit:

SeaBus, SkyTrain, bus, commuter rail

Private sector: heliport, float plane terminal, Vancouver Trade & Convention Centre

Future: Canada Line rapid transit, Convention Centre expansion

Waterfront Station (Downtown)

Waterfront Station: transportation hub

Current & future SkyTrain connection

Waterfront Station (Downtown)

SeaBus terminus and West Coast Express commuter rail station

Waterfront Station from the Air

2. Station Building

3. West Coast Express Commuter Rail

4. SeaBus walkway and terminal

1. Convention Centre

5. Coal Harbour high-density

residential

Downtown Vancouver:A High Density Success Story

Past 20 years Residential population has grown from 40,000+ to 85,000+

By 2021 Projected 120,000 living downtown (2 miles2)

Vehicle volumes down 5% (20,500)

Transit volumes up 40% (40,000)

Downtown: Corresponding Transportation Changes

1996 – 2004 Screenline Surveys:

Decreased traffic volumes in and out of downtown

Increased transit, walking & cycling volumes

“Transit Villages” TOD Initiative

Urban Transportation Showcase Program

Partnership of TransLink, Federal Government, and municipalities

Model partnership to improve all transit oriented development

A Transit Village combines vibrant streets and sidewalks, places to shop, work and live, with convenient access to transit. Transit Village plans and improvements will be implemented at four existing SkyTrain Stations.

Vancouver Harbour Passenger Marine Study (2003)

TransLink study of the feasibility for new passenger marine services in Vancouver Harbour

Examined: Market size Costs Service delivery models

Revenue potential Operating issues Vessels

Passenger Ferry Routes Consideredin the 2003 Study

Western RoutesSnug Cove (Bowen) – Ambleside – Waterfront StnLonsdale – Ambleside – W.End – Jericho/Kitsilano

Eastern RoutesDeep Cove – possibly Belcarra – WaterfrontFuture: Port Moody/Ioco – Maplewood – Lonsdale

Downtown

Support waterfront TOD development

Travel time/distance savings over land based travel

Reliability (avoids traffic congestion, road work…)

May attract customers who would not take a bus

Recreational/tourism

New partnerships (public & private sector)

Opportunities for Passenger Ferries

Challenges for Passenger Ferries

High capital costs

Needs critical mass of waterfront development

Ridership forecast difficult

Higher fuel use and emissions than same trip by land

Route directness and vessel capacity – must have advantage over same trip by land

History of region’s private commuter services reinforces challenges

Future Waterborne Transportation

New high-density, mixed use development continuing around Lonsdale SeaBus

The “Pier” - approx. 1.16 million ft2 of residential, commercial and institutional (proposed)

Waterfront walkways, public piers and a shipyard heritage character

3rd SeaBus in 2009 will support policy for 10 minute peak service to regional town centres

Source: www.pinnaclepride.com

SeaBus terminal

Bus exchange

New ‘Pier’ development

www.translink.bc.ca