Unlock Gridlock
Giving us the freedom to move.
This is the "Dr. Transit" plan.
Good transportation planning looks at both sides of the equation — how many trips we're generating, and whether people have a real alternative to sitting in a car. The North Shore has both a demand problem and a supply problem: growing traffic, and no rail alternative for the trips that matter most.
The five projects below aren't a wish list — they're one integrated package, hinging on a single decision: a new multi-modal bridge alongside the existing Ironworkers' Bridge. That bridge reinforces Phibbs Exchange as a major transit hub for the North Shore, supporting our town centre at Lynn Creek.
Priority Transport Projects
Five projects, one integrated plan, all hinging on the new bridge.
New Second Narrows Bridge
A two-stage plan: first, a new structure alongside the existing bridge (which has decades of life left), adding 2 new HOV lanes, 2 rail transit tracks, and expanded pedestrian and cycling facilities — a real upgrade from today's narrow shared sidewalk. There may be room for expanded freight rail capacity underneath, which could bring new funding partners forward. When the existing bridge eventually reaches end of life, it gets replaced to modern standards — but the new capacity, and a real rail alternative at speeds competitive with driving, arrive now.
Rail Transit — Ambleside to Metrotown
An all-bus solution won't solve this: the new R2 bus already takes over an hour to cover the 21km from Park Royal to Metrotown — not fast enough to shift trips out of cars. I've mapped a realistic corridor mixing at-grade sections with elevated, SkyTrain-style guideway where needed — built for speeds that compete with driving, with a future extension to downtown Vancouver along Hastings. This line will connect to 2 SkyTrain lines, commuter rail, BCIT and the R5 SFU bus.
Highway 1 HOV Lanes
Extend the new bridge's HOV lanes along Highway 1 to the Taylor Way interchange in West Vancouver. Widening to 6 lanes is technically feasible and already reviewed by the province. HOV lanes move far more people per lane, helping our families get to where they need to go— and make a reliable cross-North Shore express bus possible for the first time.
Highway 1 Express Bus — Horseshoe Bay to Phibbs Exchange
A new express bus complementing the existing 257, connecting the ferry terminal to stops across the North Shore — potentially Cypress Village (for ski resort), Capilano, Lonsdale, and Lynn Valley Rd — ending at Phibbs Exchange. Fills the east-west gap for anyone living near or above the highway.
Park & Ride at Key Rail Stations
Multi-storey park-and-ride facilities near the future Phibbs, PNE, and Park Royal rail stations give more people a real reason to switch to transit for cross-Inlet trips — and eases parking pressure in Deep Cove, at Cap U, at the Capilano & Lynn suspension bridges, at Grouse Mountain, and the provincial parks/ski resorts (Cypress & Seymour), in conjunction with upgraded bus services.
Additional Initiatives
Smaller-scale, still worth doing — some outside DNV's own jurisdiction, but with real impact on North Shore traffic.
Upgraded Bus Routes to High-Demand Areas
Seven-day service increases from Phibbs Exchange to Deep Cove and along Capilano Road, given year-round tourist volumes to Mount Seymour, the Capilano Suspension Bridge, and Grouse Mountain — plus better service from downtown Vancouver to Lonsdale and Lynn Valley Town Centre - and serving Lynn Canyon Park
Mountain Highway Upgrade
Work with Council on staff-recommended fixes for the Mountain Highway/Highway 1/Keith Road pinch point, plus better active-mode routes through the area — a targeted fix, not a substitute for the priority projects above.
Lions Gate Bridge — Long-Term Planning
Commence an alternative-crossing study that would address the 2001 agreement to eventually remove bridge traffic from Stanley Park — and coordinate it with the new Second Narrows bridge and future rail transit. A minimum four-lane replacement would allow the existing Lions Gate to convert to lower impact active mode and transit uses only.
West 1st Street Extension to Park Royal
Grows in importance as an alternative to Marine Drive alongside a possible eastern Lions Gate replacement and major redevelopment planned near Park Royal by West Vancouver and the Squamish Nation.
Sea-to-Sky Passenger Rail
Support passenger rail to Squamish and Whistler, integrated with the SeaBus and North Shore rail transit, cutting car volumes on the Upper Levels Highway.
Passenger Ferries on Burrard Inlet
Re-examine new routes — potential stops at Deep Cove, Cates Park, Harbourside, and Seaspan — alongside continued support for existing Nanaimo, Gibsons, and Bowen Island ferry service.
Mount Seymour Gondola
Following Grouse Mountain's example, a gondola well-connected to rail transit at Phibbs Exchange could meaningfully cut car traffic to the park.
Cypress Mountain Gondola
A gondola link from a Highway 1 express bus stop at Cypress Village could displace car trips and ease demand on the Upper Levels Highway.