The Arbutus Corridor: A Way Forward?
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When: Thursday, September 4
Time: 12:30-1:30 pm
Location: Room 1600 at SFU Harbour Centre
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You might think that there’s no solution to the conflict over the Arbutus rail corridor. Canadian Pacific Rail wants $100 million for its right-of-way. The City of Vancouver has offered $20 million.
But maybe there is a solution. Seven years ago, one of Vancouver’s most extensive and inclusive public consultation and design processes produced a report that recognized the railroad’s financial interest, the neighbourhoods’ recreational interests, the city’s transportation interests, and a potentially reasonable way to pay the costs without turning the Arbutus Lands into another downtown. That report has been forgotten by almost everyone. OnSeptember 4, City Conversations is bringing it back for public discussion.
To explain the plan, we’ll have Ken Cameron, a member of the distinguished Advisory Panel for the process and report, and Claudia Laroye, Executive Director, Marpole BIA. We’ve invited other representatives of neighbourhood groups, the City of Vancouver, and CP Rail.
Cost: Free
I forget the precise year (around 2003), but there’s also a SCARP MCP thesis on file by David King re a plan for the corridor. This was basically a streetcar transportation corridor plan that followed shortly after the adoption of Cambie Street as the preferred corridor for what’s now the Canada Line.