Park Board approves road map for future of transportation in Stanley Park

At last night’s Board meeting, Park Board commissioners approved the ‘Stanley Park Mobility Study’, which provides a foundation for transportation planning in Vancouver’s largest urban park over the coming decades.

Stanley Park and its road network are seeing ever-increasing numbers of visitors with upwards of 18 million people entering the park each year. The recommendations in the mobility study include both short- and long-term measures designed to address the growing pressure on the park’s road network, while preserving access for all and retaining the qualities that make the park so well-loved.

A preliminary measure approved by Commissioners directs staff to work with TransLink and the City of Vancouver’s Engineering department to plan and implement a new bus route around the park using Park Drive. During engagement, the public and interest holders expressed the need for an accessible and efficient transit service, and public transit was included in each of the potential mobility options presented to the public last summer.

“As Vancouver’s population grows, and the number of visitors to Stanley Park increases, it’s vital that we recognize the challenges and opportunities of managing movement to and through the area,” says Park Board Chair Laura Christensen. “This study provides a thoughtful and necessary road map to guide future planning decisions and balance the transport needs of all visitors.”

Planning for the future transport needs of park visitors

Stanley Park’s transportation system was first developed in the late 19th century with Park Drive originally built to allow for horse and carriage ‘pleasure drives’ around the park. At the time, the population of Metro Vancouver was 26,000.

Today, the population is close to 3 million and the park’s transportation infrastructure has remained largely untouched. With demand for tourism within the region increasing, and Vancouver’s population densifying and growing, the Stanley Park Mobility Study will be the guiding policy for any future decisions around transportation changes.

The study is shaped by five phases of community engagement, including 12,000 survey responses, park intercept polls and consultation with 150 local organizations and businesses. It captures feedback from thousands of members of the public and interest holders on how they access the park and how their experience could be improved, while ultimately reducing dependency on private vehicle travel.

Stage one implementation, which includes initiating planning work on the proposed bus service route, also features further potential pilot projects such as “car free” days and studies on the feasibility of implementing options within the park. This work will shape the direction of any longer-term changes within the park.

Next steps

Following last night’s decision, staff will begin work with TransLink to advance plans for a potential bus transit service on Stanley Park Drive. Further implementation of stage one will advance when the Board prioritizes funding and staff resourcing in capital and operating budgets and as an annual Service Plan priority.

Commissioners also approved an amended recommendation directing staff to report back on the design and cost of a permanent separated bike lane on Stanley Park Drive. Staff were directed to report back on the projected costs in the next Capital Plan (2027-30).

Learn more about the Stanley Park Mobility Study: https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/stanley-park-mobility-study

Learn more about the proposed mobility options presented in round 3 of engagement:https://youtu.be/zcrpY1jZECs