Our Promise to You

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TEAM will work to reduce travel times for all modes of transportation while also prioritizing safety, reliability, and sustainability.

 

How We Will Get There

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TEAM believes that the accessible, comfortable, safe and efficient movement of all modes of transportation is a critical component of a livable city. A TEAM majority would oppose road pricing in Vancouver.

 

TEAM will address current transportation challenges by:

• Working with TransLink to deploy more environmentally sustainable electric (battery and trolley) buses, increasing frequency of service to meet demand, and expanding service to ensure all areas of the city have convenient pedestrian access to transit.

• Working with TransLink and local communities to build a more equitable transit network serving all city neighbourhoods with cost-effective appropriately scaled options.

• Making walking safer for pedestrians by repairing and widening sidewalks in all neighbourhoods.

• Improving traffic flow by synchronizing traffic lights, and designing roads for better traffic flow, including improved turn lanes, commercial loading areas, and signal prioritization for public transit.

• Supporting the transition to electric vehicles by making it easier to convert existing onsite parking for vehicle charging, requiring pre-wiring of newly-constructed parking stalls for electric charging, and providing options for on-street and public charging stations.

• Restoring minimum parking requirements for new construction to accommodate future parking requirements and onsite charging for electric vehicles.

 

The Issues

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​An efficient, sustainable, safe, affordable transportation system is an essential component of a livable city, linking home, work, education, entertainment, recreation, friends and family.  But Vancouver’s aging transportation infrastructure has not been maintained despite the increased densification of the city. As a result, Vancouver consistently ranks as one of the most congested cities in North America. Many municipal parties have taken the position of demonizing personal vehicles, while transit hasn’t been thoughtfully planned to provide a reasonable alternative and much of the city remains difficult to access via transit. 

 

​TEAM Perspective and Action Plan

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​TEAM supports improving public transit as well as in encouraging cycling, walking and rolling by making these options safer and more attractive. TEAM understands that while the propulsion of personal and commercial vehicles will evolve and is encouraged to do so, these vehicles are not going away.  It is critical to plan for the safe, efficient movement of vehicular traffic in order to prevent conflicts between different types of transportation. Transportation is a key pillar of the livable city principles of accessibility and sustainable mobility that is necessary for complete communities. 

 

 

Action Items:

 

Transit

1. Work with TransLink and local communities to develop more equitable, affordable, and appropriately-scaled transit options to serve all Vancouver neighbourhoods.

2. Work with TransLink to implement service improvement measures such as restoring and electrifying neighbourhood and express bus services to lines cut by TransLink over recent years and ensuring affordable fares;

3. Aim for a level of bus service that puts all residents within a 5-minute walk to a local transit stop;

4. Add small community bus routes to neglected portions of the city;

5. Work with TransLink to electrify the bus system, both trolleys and battery buses, to reduce noise, GHGs, particulates and diesel air pollution;

6. Focus on Neighbourhood-based planning for complete walkable communities within the local context, that are served by affordable to build electric transit throughout the arterial network rather than only a few expensive transit corridors;

7. Restore neighbourhood-friendly streetcars on a few selected arterial streets where ridership justifies it; (Review the 2019 City of Vancouver Streetcar Feasibility Study)

8. Cooperate with fast-growing neighbouring cities and TransLink to strengthen regional transit routes and reduce pressure on the existing road network; 

 

Cycling

1. Prioritize safe, low-traffic, cost-effective cross town and connected cycling routes with better signage, lighting, and pavement painting;

2. Promote cycling routes on City website;

3. Review contentious projects such as the Granville Bridge Connector, the Stanley Park and Beach Avenue bike lanes, traffic lane closures, etc., consulting with impacted neighbourhoods, businesses, and road users;

4. Review traffic lane closures, removal of street parking for under-used bike and scooter share depots, etc., consulting with local neighbourhoods and businesses;

5. Advocate for secure, sheltered bicycle storage at major transit stops, bus loops and schools;

6. Tackle the issue of pedestrian/bicycle conflicts on public sidewalks through education and enforcement; 

7. Work with the Park Board to ensure pavement markings regulating bicycles in parks are clearly visible and maintained;

8. Work with the School Board to ensure elementary students receive training on rules for cyclists under the Motor Vehicle Act;

 

Walking/Rolling

1. Focus on repairing broken or lifted sections of sidewalks that make travel treacherous for people using walkers or other mobility aids, adding sidewalks in underserved areas;  

2. Work with neighbourhood groups to encourage residents to keep the sidewalks in front of their homes clear of low branches and obtrusive bushes and hedges that prevent use of the entire width of the sidewalk;

3. Work with BIAs to ensure commercial sidewalks are unobstructed and cleared of leaves, snow and ice; 

4. Upgrade street and pedestrian lighting where needed;  

 

Personal & Commercial Vehicles

1. Improve traffic flow on major arteries to reduce shortcutting through residential neighbourhoods; prohibit non-vehicular traffic on major arteries and bus routes when there is a defined cycling / rolling route nearby; 

2. Consult with neighbourhoods on ways of making residential streets safer (speed limits, roundabouts)  and on strategies for better movement of commercial goods;

3. Ensure off-street parking is required in all new construction, with adequate provision for electric vehicle charging;

4. TEAM will not implement road pricing which unfairly impacts workers who must drive to the city, tracks individuals' movements against civil rights, and discourages access to local businesses in an affected area

5. TEAM will not adopt city-wide parking permits as previously proposed by Council

6. Review access, parking, and stopping areas for tour buses, taxis, and chartered services at popular locations, with input from tourism and hospitality sectors;

7. Ensure that there is adequate access to gas stations, as well as electric charging, since the majority of vehicles are either hybrid or gas powered, preferably with local Canadian gas.