Transit users concerned about proposal to remove buses from Granville Strip

The City of Vancouver is facing some backlash after releasing its proposal to help revitalize a bustling street in the city, and it could have an impact on bus service.

Since 2023, the city has been looking to increase density along a part of the Granville Street Strip in downtown Vancouver.

“The proposed directions aim to diversify daytime and nighttime activities, create a safer and more inclusive environment, unlock new economic opportunities, increase hotel supply, and foster a thriving arts and cultural scene,” the proposal stated online.

Denis Agar, executive director of Movement: Metro Vancouver Transit Rider, likes the idea of creating more public space but doesn’t like the fact it could eliminate cars and buses from one of the city’s busiest routes.

“And if it does, then there are lots of ways to design it so that bus riders can still get through there. There are streets in Zurich and Sydney where transit co-exists with a really nice public space,” Agar explained.

“You just make more room. You shift some of the street furniture over, you shift the roadway over and then all of a sudden, you get this big open space. The other thing you can do is close the side streets. Robson Square was created by closing Robson a few years ago, you can stretch that down and that has almost no impact on the bus network.”

The changes coming forward to city council include:

• Cultural investments to protect and support iconic venues like the Orpheum, Commodore Ballroom and the Vogue Theatre, while expanding cultural spaces through incentives.
• Improve safety and well-being through ongoing collaboration with community partner organizations and the Vancouver Police Department and implementing actions to enhance safety for everyone. This includes consideration for community-based street outreach teams focused on preventing and responding to gender-based violence.
• Land use and development in three sub-areas with increased height and density to encourage more mixed-used buildings with commercial, residential, hotel, and cultural space.
• City Centre at Granville and Robson Streets would have taller buildings, with new mixed-use residential, commercial, hotel, and cultural spaces, including a new central plaza for civic gatherings.
• Entertainment Core from Smithe to Davie Street would be a dedicated arts and nightlife hub, featuring expanded live music venues, outdoor performances, rooftop patios, and commercial buildings, including new hotels.
• Bridgehead south of Davie Street would be a mix of residential, commercial, and cultural spaces, connecting Granville Street to Yaletown and the areas around the Granville Bridge.
• Create a destination public pace and pedestrianization of downtown Granville Street through a phased approach, starting with seasonal closures and leading to a year-round pedestrian zone for gathering and celebration.
• Transit improvements to enable pedestrian zone(s) on Granville Street, with investments to support reliable bus service on Howe and Seymour and improve pedestrian connections to the SkyTrain stations.

Agar is concerned that despite the city’s ambitious plans, they may be missing a portion of the demographic that frequents the area. He estimates 80,000 daily bus trips would be impacted.

“I don’t know if they’ve exactly weighed the trade-offs correctly in terms of how it’s going to impact bus riders,” added Agar. “That would mean buses would have to divert off of Granville onto Howe and Seymour for the entire length of downtown, so from the bridge all the way up to Cordova, buses would have to be on the side street.”

Public consultation on this project is underway until Feb. 23. The city claims the feedback will help shape a final draft plan that will go to councillors in June.

With files from Angelyna Mintz.