The District of North Vancouver is going ahead with improvements to East 29th Street between Lonsdale and Lynn Valley Road. As well as making the road safer and quicker for automobile drivers, including improvements to pedestrian infrastructure, the plan will eliminate almost all automobile parking below Tempe Crescent in favour of new continuous bike lanes.
During its May 27th meeting, the council approved an additional $972,000 for a total budget of $1.45 million. The city will contribute approximately $330,000 to paving costs. Phase 1 work will happen this summer to coincide with repaving between Lonsdale and William Avenue.
East 29th is shared by the city and district, and is one of only two east-west arterial routes above the highway. As well as being a transit corridor, it is often used by commuters to avoid traffic tie-ups on the Upper Levels highway. The two municipalities worked together on a technical review and collected public input during 2017 and 2018 prior to developing the plan.
Drivers will enjoy new left-turn lanes at six intersections, and a new traffic signal at William St. Traffic at the current four-way stop often backs up the hill towards Lonsdale, and the signal will be timed to move traffic through the intersection more efficiently, and to make crossing the street safer for pedestrians and school-children.
Pedestrians on the district side of East 29th will finally enjoy an uninterrupted sidewalk from Lonsdale to Lynn Valley, with the District filling in gaps in the existing sidewalks. Walkers will also see new crosswalks added at Royal, Tempe Crescent, Regent, St. Andrew, and St. Georges, with pedestrian-operated strobe lights at three intersections.
This plan was first presented at the May 6th council meeting. At that time, bike riders on council were concerned that the project offered few improvements for cyclists. Less than three weeks later, the staff returned with a revised plan that includes the district’s first uninterrupted, green-painted bike route.
The top part of the designated bike route will run from Lonsdale along East 27th and around Tempe Crescent. From Tempe to Lynn Valley the route will remove all parking and add designated bike lanes, as well as “bike boxes” at William and Lynn Valley Road.
Right turns on red will be prohibited at the William and E 29th intersection. Westbound cyclists will now cross 29th at the new crosswalk at Royal, and continue up to Tempe Crescent in a new two-way, separated bike route.
The changes will make E. 29th a safe and efficient route for “all corridor users”, accommodate a possible new B-Line bus route, and integrate well with the planned “High Street” that will be a part of the Lynn Valley Town Centre. The district will also add underground conduit at Fromme and E. 29th for a new set of traffic signals expected within the next five years.
Gavin Bamber says
East 29th Street: My letter to everyone and to District council:
The District is forcing the permanent removal of all street parking along East 29th Street from Lynn Valley Road and up past Tempe. Supposedly this is to accommodate the placement of bike lanes. This is despite the paucity of year-round bicycle users due to the steep slope (which is too much even at Fromme Road except for the most fit athletes) and the almost year-round inclement weather.
This street is very heavily used for parking by the residents, visitors, businesses and others. For example, especially in the 1100 block, there are a number of people who receive daily home support from Vancouver Coastal Health. They need to park for their 15+ minutes visits. How on earth are we to get our necessary care when the carers can’t park nearby?
The District is similarly leaving all of the 29th Street residents in dire straits… all for non-existing bike traffic. The District minions’ argument is that when the bike lanes are built, bikers will come. That is nonsense speculation. This road is too steep for most bikers who would rather use the flat grade of Lynn Valley Road. Unlike the imaginary bicycles, many cars and other vehicles are parked on a continuing basis year-round because people need the parking availability.
Over the last few years, the District has consulted the residents along East 29th Street concerning making roadway improvements. Yet not once was there any talk about the removal of all street parking. Not one of the scenarios that we voted on in their survey was a no-=parking option… obviously because the District knows bloody well that this is a crazy and offensive plan opposed by practically everyone.
Please stop this madness.
Brenda Irving says
Barry Reuger,
Your article omits on-street parking needs for residents and home based businesses along 29th Street East. It also omits that my neighbourhood is a residential neighbourhood. Families, multi-generational living arrangements, tenants, daily deliveries, HandyDART, Daycares that utilize on-street drop off and pick up, work vehicles, taxi’s, extended family and friends visiting all utilize on-street parking.
Perhaps you have information regarding solutions for 29th Street East residents that utilize on-street parking daily and over night? District and City Council have not provided any options or solutions to the residents.
They also didn’t inform us that on May 6, 2019 and May 27, 2019 this project was being presented to Council and being voted on. In the 2018 survey that many of us took part in, complete removal of street parking, specifically between Fromme Rd and St. Mary’s Avenue was not an option. It was also not discussed at the Boundary Elementary School meeting in 2018. You can go to https://www.dnv.org/property-development/east-29th-street-safety-improvements and see that one side of on-street parking still existed from Fromme Rd to Tempe Glen Dr.
Residents were not consulted or considered in the complete removal of on-street parking.
We have written letters/emails, made phone calls, turned in petitions, reached out to the NS News with letters and a photo of residents rallying together to keep their on-street parking but heard nothing, a few of us spoke at the June 2019 Council meeting and many of us will be attending and signing up to speak at July 8, 2019 District Council meeting.
Councillor Muri has been responsive but has not been able to get her fellow Councillors, Mayor or those working on the project to even consider discussing a compromise. Bike lanes on one side, on-street parking on the other or shared road.
Front driveway and back lane access varies greatly along 29th Street East. Not all residents have both and most that have either, can fit 2 vehicles at most but have to then do the park on the street so the other vehicle can get out and then go back onto the property. Back lanes are generally one way in/out and narrow and are not consistent along either North or South sides of 29th Street East.
Neither District or City is supportive of improving back lane access or rezoning properties to permit residents to increase their on-property parking options.
Not only were we not aware this was happening until a brief letter arrived in our mailboxes less than two weeks before the project was set to start, our letters/emails haven’t been responded to, our phone calls have not been returned, our requests to have some kind of conversation regarding this have been completely declined.
Those bike riders on council that you speak of in paragraph seven, made a choice without proper and thorough consultation with those who utilize on-street parking daily along 29th Street East.
Council members did not identify where further input was needed on May 6 or May 27, 2019.
Residents need support from their community. Side streets are soon to be clogged with on-street parking, people from other areas will have nowhere to park for Lynn Valley Days, Waldorf School’s Winter Celebration, delivery services will lose business, unnecessary stress will be imposed on those with mobility challenges, home based business will lose clients and all the ire that the weather will bring.
Heather McIntosh says
Give us a back lane for parking. Why would consideration be given to random cyclists over residents?? Will they pay taxes towards these lanes? This is ridiculous!
Debbie says
To District staff and Council
Removal of the street parking on E 29th and putting in bike lanes will increase the traffic as shown in other cities. I have paid taxes on E29th since 1985 and am devastated at the hardship this will impose on our family. As for contact as to removal of street parking, we did not learn of it until June 13th that construction begins June 24th. With no street parking on 29th, all the surrounding blocks will be affected as people try to find parking. This
is not a solution. I request that you reverse any decisions or implementation of removing street parking on E 29th street.
The problems it will cause all the residents on or surrounding E29th are numerous, and dangerous to all.
I have read on Facebook pages, listened to neighbours and see no advantage to the residents other than hardship.
Reconsider this decision at your council meeting Monday. Don’t disregard the residents this will cause the most hardship to.
Sent from my iPhone
Yogendra patel says
This is so very true no consultation and considerations is given to the property tax payer and instead a lone biker is given all the consideration for his benefit who does not even probably pay tax
This is utterly nonsense from the district