Date: February 3-6, 2014

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia

Sponsor: ULI Foundation

Subject Area:  Transit-Oriented Development

Panel Chair: Richard Reynolds                                                             

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Background and Panel Assignment

The ULI panelists were asked to provide strategic advice about implementing transit enhancements along the Broadway Corridor – a key east-west 13km connector and business hub – and suggest best practices that TransLink, the regional transit authority and the City of Vancouver should consider as the planning initiative progresses.

Summary of Recommendations

The panel’s review of existing conditions and research underscored the known problem that improved transit options along the Broadway Corridor are necessary to not only improve management of existing demand but to prepare for the eventual increases of population and economic growth. The panel’s recommendations emphasized the need for organized, strategic consensus building – both within the city and the region – in order to select and prioritize infrastructure investment. Additionally, the panel outlined a framework of considerations public officials must incorporate in the publicly engaged decision-making process for new investment.

Topline Recommendations:

• Construction should be respectful of site-specific conditions and incorporate best-practices for reducing the environmental impact of the construction.
• Construction should be phased.
• Institutional entities within the corridor should be active participants in the planning of station locations, timing/phasing, and if at all possible, contribute to development costs.
• Zoning changes along the corridor should be based on the market conditions at the street level and disconnected from the modal choice.
• Process should be organized to educate, communicate, and market to all the stakeholders to the goals and objectives of the transit project.