Waterfront Transit Oriented Development Bay Area Symposium on Waterfront Transit Oriented Development June 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

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 Burrard Inlet Burrard Inlet Howe Sound Howe Sound False Creek Fraser River Fraser River Boundary Bay Boundary Bay Pitt River Pitt River Straight of Georgia Straight of Georgia Indian Arm Indian Arm

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

Scheduled at 3 minutes Designed 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 Vancouvers 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 miles 2 )

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 Considered in the 2003 Study Western Routes Snug Cove (Bowen) – Ambleside – Waterfront Stn Lonsdale – Ambleside – W.End – Jericho/Kitsilano Eastern Routes Deep Cove – possibly Belcarra – Waterfront Future: 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 regions private commuter services reinforces challenges

Future Waterborne Transportation New high-density, mixed use development continuing around Lonsdale SeaBus The Pier - approx million ft 2 of residential, commercial and institutional (proposed) Waterfront walkways, public piers and a shipyard heritage character 3 rd SeaBus in 2009 will support policy for 10 minute peak service to regional town centres Source: SeaBus terminal Bus exchange New Pier development