Vancouver votes to permanently close part of Robson Street to traffic

Vancouver city councillorshave voted to permanently close Robson Street between Howe and Hornbyto traffic, including buses,and turn it into a public plaza.

The 800-block of Robson in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery is closed to traffic during the summer months, with new installations put in each year that usually include seating and tables for people to linger.The block is also a popular spot for food trucks and carts.

City staff said construction would begin this winter, following a public consultation period, with the space ready for action next spring.

Prior to the vote at council on Wednesday, staff said the decision would allow them to make better long-term plans to design and animate the space andaccommodate the rerouting of buses and traffic.

"We're doing asub-optimaljob because it's temporary," said LonLaClaire, the city's transportationdirector.

"If this was a permanent plaza, we woulddesign the intersections to manage the traffic more optimally."

According to the city's manager of engineering, Jerry Dobrovolny, at peak timesthe narrow two-lane street accommodates400 vehicles, 2,800 pedestrians,400 buses and threebikes per hour.

Seniors concerned

ScottRicker, a member of theWest EndSeniors' Planning Table, voiced his concerns at the meetingabout rerouting the No. 5 busthe only one that services that section of the street.

"I don't want to be anti-development I really like the idea," he said. "But I think we're doing a disservice to our residents inthe West End if we don't do a better job of finding a way to accommodate their transportation needs."

Thestaff report released last weekincludes a proposed change that would reroute thatbusalong Pender Street starting at Burrard. But Ricker said the proposed route would make it difficult for seniors to get to key services like the library and shops along Granville Street.

Vision VancouverCoun. AndreaReimertold staff she hasreceivedseveral complaints from transit users who say the rerouting of the No. 5 busduring summer closuresadds20 to 25 minutes to their commute.

Staff said there would be further discussions with seniors and West End residentsleading up to the project's implementation.

As for businesses in the area, city staff said prior consultations had indicated merchants were in favour of the closure because it turned the street into a destination for tourists and residents.

The closure also has support from the Vancouver Art Gallery.

First closed in 2010

The street was firstclosed in 2010in order to create a gathering space for pedestrians during the Olympics. It was later closed in the summerand used forannual public art installations.

In 2012,councillors asked city staffto investigate closing the block permanently.

The staffreport notes turning the street into a public plaza is in keeping with architect Arthur Erickson's original design for the Robson Square complex.