Options and ideas.

Traffic congestion on the North Shore is caused by multiple factors. As a result, a number of actions are needed to address this challenge. INSTPP recommends coordinated actions in five main areas:
  1. Reducing reliance on Highway 1 for local trips by creating more east-west travel options
  2. Improving transit service and infrastructure for transit, cycling, and walking to make them viable alternatives to driving in single-vehicle occupancy cars for more trips
  3. Addressing congestion at key pinch-points, particularly at North Shore bridge access points
  4. Placing a high priority on integrating land use and transportation, including focusing future development within town centres and along the Frequent Transit Network
  5. Implementing programs to encourage behavioural change that reduce reliance on cars.
Many options were evaluated to improve access and mobility on the North Shore. Analysis shows that ideas such as expanding bridge capacity on the Second Narrows and Lions Gate bridges are not possible due to structural limitations. Other ideas such as adapting the CN Rail Bridge to include alternative modes of transit, creating bus-only lanes on bridges and building gondolas between Phibbs Exchange and Capilano University may not be viable nor reduce travel times.

However, a number of options were found to improve travel times and reduce congestion. For example, INSTPP confirmed that there is good alignment between the North Shore municipalities’ land use plans and TransLink’s investment plans to focus both jobs and housing in designated places such as town centres and along designated Frequent Transit Network corridors. Current plans and projects are already underway to improve access and mobility on the North Shore, including the Lower Lynn improvements along Highway 1, TransLink’s launch of a new Marine-Main B-Line and increasing the frequency of SeaBus service in 2019.

INSTPP has enabled partners to agree on cross-jurisdictional priorities for near-term actions, and it has set the stage for considering longer-term options to improve access and mobility. Some of the key near-term actions are highlighted below, and more details are available in the full report.
Key Near-term Actions
  • Launch Marine-Main B-Line and advance future B-Line services
  • Evaluate conditions for rapid transit to connect Lonsdale City Centre to downtown Vancouver
  • Implement a new express bus service across the Second Narrows Bridge
  • Complete technical review to determine transit priority measures around bridge access points
  • Implement 10-minute frequency rush hour SeaBus service and other commitments in Mayors’ Council Ten-Year Vision
  • Continue coordinated, cross-jurisdictional land use and transportation planning
  • Complete and improve the pedestrian and cycling networks
  • Complete the Lower Level Road
  • Complete the Lower Lynn Improvement project
  • Investigate opportunities to increase safety and expedite incident clearing on North Shore bridges
  • Develop a proactive and coordinated demand management program to encourage sustainable travel behaviour and mode shift
  • Implement new inter-regional bus service between Squamish Lillooet Regional District and Metro Vancouver