New Westminster Updates

[Lexus]

2023-12-25

Near Braid Station

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/100-...ew-westminster

Untitled by Lexus LX600, on Flickr

Untitled by Lexus LX600, on Flickr

[rickvug]

For those interested, today's city council has an workshop on the Lower 12th Street area. The city has now received two major rezoning proposals in the Lower 12th Street area, which does not currently have a community plan. There is a third major site assembled that is actively being marketed for sale (here's the listing). This is on top of the large Columbia Square proposal that is outside of the special study area but is certainly a major influence. This will be an area to watch. These sites are large compared to any other area in New West save for Sapperton Green.

[Xrayal]

Originally Posted by rickvug

major rezoning proposals in the Lower 12th Street area

With Capstan station as the example of what can be done/shouldn’t be done.
Is now the time to begin asking/examining this idea?

1. Is a station possible here in the future?
2. Figure out the cost and begin collecting from the nearby planned redevelopments.
3. Be real about the short and long term trade offs would be.
-short- early pm closures of the expo line in this segment with bus bridge.
-long- longer ride times for anyone passing this station by 2 mins.

Thoughts?

[rickvug]

Originally Posted by Xrayal

With Capstan station as the example of what can be done/shouldn’t be done.
Is now the time to begin asking/examining this idea?

1. Is a station possible here in the future?
2. Figure out the cost and begin collecting from the nearby planned redevelopments.
3. Be real about the short and long term trade offs would be.
-short- early pm closures of the expo line in this segment with bus bridge.
-long- longer ride times for anyone passing this station by 2 mins.

Thoughts?

Good question. There was an 2004 plan for the area that has since been rescinded. The plan spoke about a potential pedestrian overpass at Stewardson and Third Ave that might also connect to a future Skytrain station there. Here's a quote and an image:

"A potential pedestrian bridge connectors across Stewardson Way at Twelfth Street and Third Avenue could create safe, grade-separated connectors to New Westminster Quay and the waterfront. These elevated sky bridges also offer the possibility to act as connectors to a potential local SkyTrain Station in the long term."

While a potentially excellent idea I don't see this being realistic at all. There has been no planning or even political discussion about a station at 3rd Ave. I don't see the city pushing for it and the majority of this area is likely to densify before any additional amenity money can be collected. Maybe one day way down the line if the Kruger plant and train tracks ever go away there could be a possibility to support major redevelopment along the riverfront but that's far fetched.

Since I already have Imgur open here is a key screenshot from the workshop being held today:



- Yellow: New development proposal ("Catalyst A"). Rezoning and OCP amendment has been received, no concrete information published yet.
- Blue: Land currently for sale for redevelopment. See the Colliers listing.
- Pink: Rezoning in progress for 5 towers plus heritage retention of the Boiler industrial building and Terminal Pub ("Catalyst B").
- Not shown: The major Columbia Square development directly South. Directly north there are also a few wood-frame apartment applications that fall outside of the study area borders.

[madog222]

A station isn't possible there, the grade is too steep.

[rickvug]

Originally Posted by madog222

A station isn't possible there, the grade is too steep.

Third Ave at Stewardson itself is completely flat. There is a climb up to 22nd Street that starts soon after. What length of track is needed to allow for acceleration going uphill or for proper slowdown when going downhill?

[madog222]

Originally Posted by rickvug

Third Ave at Stewardson itself is completely flat. There is a climb up to 22nd Street that starts soon after. What length of track is needed to allow for acceleration going uphill or for proper slowdown when going downhill?

It's not completely flat, it's a 1.4% and greater grade while stations require 0.5% or less.

[rickvug]

Originally Posted by madog222

It's not completely flat, it's a 1.4% and greater grade while stations require 0.5% or less.

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I knew that stations needed to be flat but I didn't realize they had to be 0.5% flat! Not that this location has ever seriously been considered beyond some initial planner comments and mentions in "transit fantasy" threads.

Skytrain aside, something needs to be done about the intersection at Third Ave and Stewardson. It is incredibly dangerous for pedestrians and will only get busier. I doubt that a pedestrian overpass is feasible given the position of the Skytrain track. I regularly see vehicles, including semi trucks, blowing through these lights at 80km+. Something needs to be done to slow down Stewardson down towards 50km at this stretch as it becomes part of a more urban environment. The changes to Marine Drive by River District stick out as a potential model to follow with narrow lanes, closely spaced lights, and plenty of trees in the medians to signal that it is a shared space rather than a freeway.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by rickvug

Skytrain aside, something needs to be done about the intersection at Third Ave and Stewardson. It is incredibly dangerous for pedestrians and will only get busier. I doubt that a pedestrian overpass is feasible given the position of the Skytrain track. I regularly see vehicles, including semi trucks, blowing through these lights at 80km+. Something needs to be done to slow down Stewardson down towards 50km at this stretch as it becomes part of a more urban environment. The changes to Marine Drive by River District stick out as a potential model to follow with narrow lanes, closely spaced lights, and plenty of trees in the medians to signal that it is a shared space rather than a freeway.

Looking at the area but why is that area going to get busier? And all the intersections are blocked off to prevent people shortcutting so not sure they're going to dump money into ghost traffic lights.

[rickvug]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Looking at the area but why is that area going to get busier? And all the intersections are blocked off to prevent people shortcutting so not sure they're going to dump money into ghost traffic lights.

There are a number of reasons why there will be more pedestrian crossings at Third Ave and Stewardson in the future:

1. Columbia Square and Lower 12th Street will bring a massive population increase into the direct vicinity. Could be 10k-15k+ more depending on the plans.
2. New developments will have a retail component that will draw in population from the Quayside area.
3. The large empty riverfront area at the end of 3rd Ave is set to become a park, which will be a significant draw.
4. 3rd Ave is designated as a key pedestrian and cyclist greenway connection. Not sure what enhancements might occur or how well this will work in practice.

[mcj]

3rd avenue is also designated as the corridor for a underground bypass to connect the 91 and the TCH in the very long term future. I'd love to see that idea advanced since that would mean removing plenty of through traffic and semitrucks from downtown New West.

[SpongeG]

is there still a plan to densify around 22nd street station?

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

is there still a plan to densify around 22nd street station?

Besides any existing plans, New West is required to implement a Bill 47 TOD zone around 22nd Street Station by June.

[SpongeG]

ah ok.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

ah ok.

Here's what the mayor of New West himself has to say about it.

[madog222]

Regardless if it was possible or not I don't really see a need for a Stewardson Skytrain station. The far end of the lower 12th planning area is still a 20min walk to New Westminster Station, that's the same as the eastern end of Southgate City to Edmonds for example.

Originally Posted by SpongeG

is there still a plan to densify around 22nd street station?

They finally started working on a master plan / vision for the area last year after years on the back burner. We should see actual information later this year.

https://www.beheardnewwest.ca/22ndst

[officedweller]

100 Braid

Rental building by Wesgroup near Braid Station.
Fron Wesgroup twitter Jan 30th:


We're excited to see the construction progress at 100 Braid, our purpose-built rental building in New Westminster with concrete now poured to Level 15,
townhomes and the rooftop amenity space. Interior framing and finishings are also well underway.
https://twitter.com/wesgroup

[SpongeG]

the taller one near the hospital has a lighting strip running up the side, it's kinda odd looking as you drive west on Highway 1 from the Port Mann since its the only light in the building and the building disappears.

[madog222]

Excavation has started at the Douglas College expansion and student housing site. They’re a year behind their original schedule and it’s now due to be ready for fall 2027.

[vanman]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

the taller one near the hospital has a lighting strip running up the side, it's kinda odd looking as you drive west on Highway 1 from the Port Mann since its the only light in the building and the building disappears.

I saw this for the first time from Highway 17 recently and it is pretty odd looking.