by John Streit
(click images to enlarge)

WEST END STREET CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS COMING THIS YEAR

by John Streit
(click images to enlarge)

When you ask West Enders about traffic and street safety concerns in our busy neighbourhood, you usually always get a quick response on some common themes:

“People driving too fast.”

“Not enough stop signs.”

“Too much traffic.”

One could easily add many more concerns to that list as the West End population exceeds 50,000. For example, the recent influx of gig economy rides shares and food delivery services (on bikes, scooters, and in vehicles), adding to the usual intermixing of cyclists, scooters, cars, and buses, could potentially lead to one hot transportation mess on just under two square kilometres of prime land.

Every year, The West End Journal reaches out to the City of Vancouver about some of these issues, and what’s being done to solve them. Here’s our most recent Q&A:

The West End Journal (TWEJ): What new street infrastructure improvements can West Enders see launching in 2025?

City of Vancouver (COV): Construction on the permanent Bute Robson Plaza is due to be completed by fall 2025. This project will deliver a permanent public plaza space between Robson Street and Rosemary Brown Lane, replacing the previous temporary plaza installed in 2017. People travelling on foot or by bicycle will be able to reach the plaza safely via a raised crosswalk at Rosemary Brown Lane and a raised, signalized crosswalk at Robson Street. Pedestrians shopping on Robson Street or at transit stops will have 165 meters of wider sidewalks around the intersection with Bute Street. A new flexible car-free space between Robson Street and Eihu Lane will be in place to support business or community events and gatherings.

**BUTE ROBSON PLAZA ARTIST RENDERING** (*IMAGE COURTESY CITY OF VANCOUVER)*

The City is also building wider sidewalks on Davie Street (between Jervis and Burrard streets), as part of our commitment to deliver the 2013 West End Community Plan (see “Related Links” below).

This project aims to create more space for people; more space to stroll and, at transit stops, support for businesses hosting outdoor patios or merchandise, new green rainwater infrastructure under sidewalks to support a healthier tree canopy, and more space for community gathering, cultural expression and celebration. The first phase (Jervis St to Thurlow St) of the Davie Village: Space for People project is due to start construction in fall 2025.

TWEJ: What current street infrastructure improvements are nearing completion?

COV: The permanent Bute Robson Plaza (see above).

**NEW SIDEWALK AND PAVEMENT FOR BUS ROUTE 23**

Bus Route 23 (along Beach and Pacific) is getting upgraded from a shuttle to a standard size bus this month. This will help reduce overcrowding and prevent passengers from being left behind, as shuttle buses can seat up to 24 passengers, while standard buses can carry over 50 passengers. The City is upgrading bus stops and pavement on Bidwell from Beach to Davie, and roadway operations on some sections of Pacific and Beach.

In coordination with these Route 23 upgrades, the City is introducing an interim eastbound protected bike lane on the south side of Pacific Street between Jervis and Thurlow. This bike lane will close this key gap in the City’s All Ages and Abilities bicycle network and help provide a more comfortable and direct route for cyclists travelling between the existing Beach Avenue bike lane and the Burrard Bridge .

TWEJ: Stretches of Nelson Street always rank as tops in terms of tricky places to cross, for both pedestrians and drivers. A resident so concerned about someone getting hit at Nicola Street recently created a red flag crossing (now gone). Any plans for additional zebra stripes/signage/traffic calming?

COV: In 2024 we introduced signage changes and new painted curb bulges at the intersection of Nelson and Jervis Streets to help improve driver yielding behaviour to pedestrians crossing at this intersection.

TWEJ: What other safety or infrastructure improvements are coming in the West End?

COV: Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) will be installed at three new intersections in 2026. These beacons increase driver awareness of pedestrians wishing to cross the street and increase the rate at which drivers yield to pedestrians.

**TWO EXAMPLES OF RECTANGULAR RAPID FLASHING BEACONS** (*IMAGE CREDIT CARMANAH)*

RRFBs will be installed along Alberni Street at the intersections with Broughton Street and Jervis Street to support pedestrians travelling to the new Coal Harbour Elementary School site.

Permanent curb bulges will also be built at both of these intersections to shorten the crossing distance for pedestrians.
An RRFB will also be installed at the intersection of Thurlow Street and Burnaby Street, at the request of local seniors.
An RRFB was also installed in 2024 at the intersection of Broughton Street and Beach Avenue, at the request of local residents.

**LEADING PEDESTRIAN INTERVAL EXAMPLE** (*IMAGE CREDIT NCDOT)*

Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs) are also coming to Hastings/Jervis and Cardero/Pender/Georgia.
Two new STOP AHEAD warning signs will be installed at either side of the intersection of Nicola Street and Comox Street this year. This will raise awareness among drivers moving north-south that they need to stop as they approach the Comox Street east-west bike lane.

**STOP AHEAD WARNING SIGNS COMING TO NICOLA AND COMOX**

In 2024, the City installed new LPI signals at the intersection of West Hastings Street with Jervis Street, and the intersection of Cardero Street with West Pender Street and West Georgia Street. LPI signals give pedestrians a green light to cross the street, before vehicles get a green light to move forward or turn. This means that pedestrians crossing the street are further out into the roadway and more visible to drivers, who can then see that a pedestrian is crossing and avoid turning through the crosswalk.

TWEJ: Any plans to expand or add bike lanes in the West End?

COV: Bute Street is an important 1.5 kilometre north-south route connecting the West End to Burrard Inlet and False Creek. Bute Street was identified as a key walking route and an important north-south cycling connection in the West End Community Plan. City of Vancouver projects such as Jim Deva Plaza and the Bute Robson Plaza both contribute to Community Plan goals to make Bute Street more pedestrian and bike friendly.

Communities were consulted about Bute Street in more detail in 2021 and 2023. This consultation helped clarify community priorities and identify sections of the street that can benefit from earlier delivery. Bute Street between Eihu Lane and West Pender Street has been prioritized for delivery in future capital plans.

Next month, the West End Journal will examine the latest ICBC crash stats to see which intersections rank as the most dangerous in our neighbourhood for drivers and pedestrians.

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below.