North Burnaby Traffic Calming Study
About this project
The North Burnaby Traffic Calming Study was initiated to improve travel safety for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers in the Burnaby Heights / Capitol Hill neighbourhoods.
Traffic calming updates in the study area enhance accessibility and foster healthier and more sustainable modes of transportation, such as walking, rolling and cycling to align with the Connecting Burnaby, Burnaby Transportation Plan, and the City's Climate Action Framework.
Read the summary of staff’s recommendations below, organized into long-term and short-term recommendations.
What is happening now?
After a comprehensive study and 2 phases of public engagement, we presented our findings and staff’s recommendations to City Council on August 28, 2023. At this meeting, Council decided to permanently close Gamma Avenue, Beta Avenue and the laneway south of Penzance Drive based on public feedback.
View the map of Penzance Drive's permanent closures.
Public engagement
We recognize the importance of genuine and meaningful public engagement. We reviewed feedback gathered through public engagement alongside the results of technical analyses. The project team used this data to develop long- and short-term recommendations to improve safety for all road users.
Thank you to all who participated in Phase 1 and Phase 2 public engagement in 2022/23. Read more about the public engagement for this project.
Recommendations
Long-term recommendations address pedestrian connectivity while reinforcing short-term traffic calming mitigation measures. Short-term recommendations address immediate safety and traffic operations concerns along critical corridors and intersections.
Long-term recommendations
Penzance Drive
Following the August 28 Council meeting, the City will change the temporary closures to permanent closures for Gamma Avenue, Beta Avenue and the laneway south of Penzance Drive.
Dundas Street, Cambridge Street, Pandora Street and Gamma Avenue improvements include roadway upgrades along the corridor and critical intersections. The improvements include:
- local and collector road design standards upgrade
- redesigned intersection at Pandora Street, Holdom Street, and Capitol Drive
Fell Avenue improvements include:
- complete roadway upgrade to local roadway design standards
Willingdon Avenue improvements, as part of the Confederation Park Community Centre project, include:
- curb extensions with formalized curbside parking
- extension of the multi-use pathway on the east side
- complete signal upgrade at the intersection of Willingdon Avenue and Albert Street
Albert Street improvements, as part of the Confederation Park Community Centre project, include:
- upgraded intersection and curb extensions at Albert Street and Alpha Avenue
Beta Avenue improvements, as part of the Confederation Park Community Centre project, include:
- new sidewalks
- upgraded local road design standards
Short-term recommendations
Empire Drive will require a detailed design review to confirm the feasibility and potential impact of the proposed recommendations. The improvements include:
- potential new sidewalks on the north side with curb and gutter; existing curbside parking will be maintained
- curb extensions at key intersections
- redesigned intersection at Hythe Avenue and Pandora Street
Fell Avenue improvements include:
- speed humps
Next steps
The remaining recommendations will be reported to the Transportation Committee, an advisory committee to Council. We will conduct additional detailed reviews to assess the feasibility of the proposed recommendations and confirm the potential impacts and cost implications for future construction.