Vancouver’s Broadway Traffic Shift Sparks Concerns Over Delays

Vancouver is set to reroute one of its busiest bus corridors onto a much narrower street, raising alarms among transit advocates. Starting on January 26, 2024, East Broadway between Main and Quebec streets will close to all vehicle traffic as construction progresses on the Broadway Subway Project. This change is expected to significantly impact the daily commute for approximately 46,000 riders who rely on the 9 and 99 B-Line buses.

The rerouting will divert buses and local traffic to East 8th Avenue, which is considerably narrower and may struggle to accommodate the additional volume. Dennis Agar, executive director of the transit advocacy organization Movement – Metro Vancouver Transit Riders, expressed concerns about the potential for increased congestion. “Hundreds of buses a day are going to have to do this, and I’m pretty worried about how it’s going to impact bus speed and reliability,” Agar stated.

Many commuters might seek alternatives, such as the SkyTrain, but Agar noted that not everyone has that option. “There are a lot of people who still have to take the 9 and the 99 based on where they live,” he added. Agar urged city and provincial leaders to prioritize bus traffic during the closure by restricting East 8th Avenue to buses and local vehicles only.

Government Response to Traffic Challenges

The B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Transit has indicated that the four-month closure is essential for rebuilding the roadway above the future Mount Pleasant Station. The ministry claims that closing this block will expedite construction efforts. Following the initial closure, traffic will return to East Broadway, but only one lane will be open in each direction for an additional four months.

TransLink is working closely with the City of Vancouver and the Broadway Subway Project team to mitigate delays. The transit authority anticipates only minor disruptions and has implemented measures such as bus queue jump lanes and signal priority for buses. They also plan to temporarily relocate some bus stops to enhance traffic flow.

Transit users are advised to plan ahead and allow extra travel time during the detour period.

Local Business Concerns

The detour has also sparked anxiety among businesses along East 8th Avenue due to the anticipated increase in traffic. Dougie Stewart, owner of the Colourstrings Conservatory of Music, highlighted the difficulties parents face when bringing children for lessons. “Parking spots are really tight here as it is, so that’s going to impact how people interact in the neighbourhood,” he said. Stewart lamented that businesses were not given the opportunity to voice their concerns regarding the road closure or detour.

“We’re a small independent family-run school. And we’re concerned because if we don’t have people who come along, these businesses are all going to close,” he added. Since construction began in late 2020 to extend the Millennium Line through the central Broadway area, many local businesses have reported declining sales and ongoing frustrations.

The $2.83 billion project, which aims to extend the Millennium SkyTrain line by 5.7 kilometres with six new underground stations, has faced significant delays. Originally scheduled for completion last year, the project is now expected to finish by fall 2027.

Neil Wyles, with the Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Association, remarked, “For the best part of a year, these businesses are going to be highly inaccessible to their customer base. Yet the province is not doing anything to help, not offering any sort of relief.”

The province has stated that the project team is engaging with businesses individually to address their concerns and implement additional mitigation measures. As construction continues, the balance between necessary infrastructure development and community needs remains a pressing challenge in Vancouver.