Vancouver’s Commercial Drive to get pedestrian-friendly makeover

Commercial Drive in Vancouver will be getting a makeover to become more pedestrian-friendly with slower traffic, and wider sidewalks. Miranda Fatur has more on the approved motion.

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Commercial Drive in Vancouver is on its way to becoming a more pedestrian-friendly street with slower traffic, wider sidewalks, piazzas, and parklets.

A motion pushing for the street to be transformed was brought by councillors Pete Fry and Melissa DeGenova, and approved by council Thursday.

Fry explains it is meant to turn the Drive into a destination rather than a thoroughfare, and the speed limit will be reduced to 30 km/h.

“Seeing how — through COVID-19 — street use, pedestrian experience, the addition of patios and parklets and that kind of thing have really become sort of a new approach to how we interact on our high streets,” he explains.

“We’re seeing the opportunity here presented before us to come up with something that has a little bit more of a European feeling. Slower cars, slower pace altogether, a more generous pedestrian experience.”

The idea is to limit traffic between Broadway and Veneblas Street, and to divert car and commuter traffic onto another North-South route like Nanaimo Street or Clark Drive. Fry says the Drive doesn’t work particularly well as an arterial, so the intent is to make it a place that people travel to instead of through. The addition of street furniture, public art, and ways for people to “stop and shop” such as bike racks are all part of the ultimate plan.

Council heard from more than two dozen speakers on the motion, and Fry says the feedback was mostly positive. One point of contention was the addition of a separated bike lane. Two attempts to amend the motion — brought by Coun. Christine Boyle — were defeated.

Fry says businesses did not want to see more parking eliminated, and residents were not generally supportive of the idea.

“I think people kind of recognized that we really just can’t have it all on Commercial Drive. So, we want to have buses, cars parking spaces with parklets and patios and all those kind of pieces, and to widen sidewalks and enhance the pedestrian experience — it really can’t support it all.”

Mario Miceli, director of the Italian Cultural Centre, spoke in support of the motion.

“It’s our objective to promote and share Italian values, heritage and culture,” he says.

“This change to the street will simply encourage more of a ‘corso’ style of street that’ll encourage people walking and enjoying the offerings on Commercial Drive, much like he wanted in a European setting. It’s something that is appealing to the community — both ours and to the broader community — experiencing a little bit of Europe here.”

Neither a timeline nor a budget has been set.

Commercial Drive pedestrian friendly proposal

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