This week, Gastown Residents Association (GRA) President Brian Davie, joined by several GRA members, met with senior transportation staff from the City of Vancouver to discuss transportation issues related to the “car-light” Water Street, and Cordova Street two-way traffic pilots, along with other changes affecting our neighbourhood.
Walking the Streets and Seeing the Issues
The meeting took the form of a GRA guided walkabout, joined by Christopher Darwent, Associate Director of Transportation Design, and Mona Dahir, Transportation Design Engineer. The group began near the old “W” sign, walked along West Cordova Street, down Abbott Street, West along Water Street, then circled back to complete the tour.
The purpose of the walk was simple: identify problem areas, explain how the changes are impacting residents, and discuss possible solutions. The City team took notes, asked questions, and suggested that a resident’s survey be conducted as part of the Gastown Summer Pilot to collect broader feedback.
Concerns From the Residents’ Side
Residents and the GRA raised several recurring issues:
- Traffic congestion caused by new traffic patterns and the removal of many turning options.
- Increased emissions and noise pollution from idling cars and tour buses, especially near residential blocks along Cordova Street.
- Loss of handicap parking and drop-off points during the 3:00–7:00 PM peak hours.
- Tour bus staging in the 100-block of West Cordova, which was relocated from Water Street but remains disruptive to residents.
- Emergency access concerns due to narrower sections of Water Street.
Why These Issues Matter
The GRA stressed that thousands of working taxpayers live along Cordova Street, with many more living along Alexander Street, Powell Street and Water Street, and those residents’ needs must always be considered alongside those of other groups.
If these changes, being tested during the best weather conditions, were to be made permanent, what would traffic congestion look like during cold and rainy conditions?
The GRA also feels their feedback from last year has not been fully incorporated into the current pilot’s design.
City’s Response and Commitments
During the walk, City staff acknowledged the concerns and agreed to take several steps:
- Review and improve lane signage for better clarity.
- Request increased parking enforcement in problem areas.
- Evaluate the current tour bus zone and consider alternative locations.
- Enforce time limits for tour bus parking.
- Continue collecting real-world traffic data and survey responses before deciding on any long-term changes.
Looking Ahead
The GRA will continue to advocate for transparent consultation, balanced traffic planning, and solutions that respect residents, businesses, and visitors alike. The group sees this meeting as an important first step but will be monitoring progress closely over the remainder of the pilot.
“Residents of Gastown deserve the same input into the future of our neighbourhood as would be given to residents of any other neighbourhood,” said Brian Davie, GRA President.
The upcoming public survey will give residents and businesses the opportunity to share their views directly with the City. While the survey does not include an option to identify yourself as a Gastown resident, please mention this clearly in your written response.
The GRA wants to stress the importance of participation. We are asking all GRA members to take this survey and make sure the residents’ perspective is strongly represented. Your feedback will help shape the City’s decisions on the future of Cordova Street and the Gastown Summer Pilot.
We are thankful to the City of Vancouver for taking the time to listen and have this conversation with our community. This dialogue is an important first step toward finding solutions that work for everyone in Gastown.