Learn about the Stanley Park Shaft Sites

Engagement

• First Nations Engagement

  Metro Vancouver has been engaging with First Nations about this project since November 2016 and activities include:

  • 4 Meetings with the Musqueam Indian Band
  • 7 Meetings with the Squamish Nation
  • 4 Meetings with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation
  • 3 Meetings with the MST Common Table Working Group
• Community Engagement

  Between 2017 and 2021, Metro Vancouver conducted two phases of community engagement on the Stanley Park Water Supply Tunnel Project

  Phase 1

  The first phase of community engagement took place from September through November 2017. Activities during this period included:

  • 3 Stakeholder Meetings: 10 people attended
  • 1 Community Open House in the Park: invitations sent to 16,000 area households. 200 people attended; 43 feedback forms completed
  • 3 Pop-up Kiosks: 113 people attended

  Phase 1 supporting materials:

  • Public Comment Period Display Panels
  • Feedback Highlights

  Phase 2

  The second phase of community engagement took place from January through August 2021. Activities during this period included:

  • 4 Stakeholder Meetings: 15 people attended
  • 1 centre shaft site Noise Demonstration
  • 1 month-long Public Comment Period (online): 28 feedback forms submitted
  • 2 Virtual Community Open Houses: invitations sent to 11,700 area households. 35 people attended
  • 1 Chilco Street shaft site Virtual Community Meetings: 25 people attended

  Phase 2 supporting materials:

  • Public Comment Period Display Panels
  • Open House Presentation
  • Chilco Community Meeting Presentation
  • Feedback Highlights

What We Heard

Metro Vancouver recognizes the construction of this major drinking water infrastructure project may impact residents, businesses, and park users.

We are committed to working diligently throughout the project to mitigate disturbances and ensure our contractor actively reduces impacts. We will also continue to listen to and address your concerns and encourage people to contact the dedicated community liaison for this project with any questions or comments.

Concerns about Noise

• Noise at the Chilco Street shaft site

  We will develop and implement a Noise and Vibration Management Plan and take active measures to reduce noise impacts on our West End neighbours.

  The Chilco Street shaft site will not be used to excavate the tunnel, drastically reducing potential noise impacts for nearby residents.

  Metro Vancouver and its contractors will also adhere to the City of Vancouver’s noise bylaw requirements or approved variances to limit work in early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

  We will also temporarily open up the Chilco Street cul-de-sac so trucks can drive through the site and reduce the need for noisy back up alarms. We will also require the construction contractor to turn equipment off when it’s not in use and maintain equipment properly.

• Noise at the centre shaft site

  To address construction noise concerns at the centre shaft site, we will implement a Noise and Vibration Management Plan.

  We will construct a sound barrier at the centre shaft site to proactively reduce noise from the excavation process.

  We will ensure that sound levels adhere to the City of Vancouver’s noise bylaw requirements or approved variances to limit work in early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

  We will also require the construction contractor to turn equipment off when it’s not in use and maintain equipment properly.

Concerns about Wildlife and the Natural Environment

• Tree preservation

  Metro Vancouver is committed to protecting and preserving the natural environment and we are taking active steps to ensure that impacts on the park’s flora are minimized.

  We have conducted an arboricultural assessment and taken inventory of existing trees to ensure that trees, especially large and old coniferous trees situated in the area, are protected wherever possible. We will ensure an arborist is onsite to supervise any project work in or near tree protection zones.

  By constructing the centre shaft site and Burrard Inlet shaft site on top of previously disturbed areas of the park, we are able to minimize the number of tree removals.

  We will also implement an Invasive Species Management Plan to prevent the spread of these species.

• Protecting wildlife

  Stanley Park is a thriving natural wildlife habitat and we understand concerns about potential construction impacts on the park’s wildlife.

  We will develop and implement a Wildlife Management Plan and undertake a bioenvironmental impact assessment to ensure that wildlife in the area are protected.

  Our construction schedules will also take into consideration migratory patterns, roosting and breeding seasons, along with the movements and paths of animals that reside inside the park.

• Site restoration

  The Vancouver Park Board will initiate a restoration design for the construction sites in Stanley Park. All restoration planning and implementation will be governed by the Park Board’s commitment to reconciliation and decolonization, and in alignment with approved policies and strategies, including but not limited to, the Urban Forest Strategy, Biodiversity Strategy, and VanPlay, and will include public engagement throughout the process.

Concerns about Air Quality

• Air quality

  We understand that maintaining air quality is an important concern. We will develop and implement an Air Quality Management Plan that will comply with Metro Vancouver’s air quality management bylaws.

  We will also water and sweep the streets to help control dust and mitigate construction impacts.

Concerns about Truck Traffic

• Truck traffic at the Chilco Street shaft site

  An important focus of our Traffic Management Plan is to ensure that trucks access the area safely and that we proactively minimize truck traffic impacts near the Chilco Street shaft site.

  We will ensure that trucks enter the area via designated City of Vancouver trucking routes along West Georgia Street, Denman Street and Davie Street. Trucks will access the site from Alberni Street and exit along Robson Street.

  Trucks that travel along Chilco Street will do so within the construction area. It is expected that truck traffic in this area will decrease as construction progresses.

• Truck traffic at the centre shaft site

  We understand that potential truck traffic within Stanley Park is a concern. We will develop and implement a Traffic Management Plan that will ensure that trucks accessing the centre shaft will enter and exit the park safely.

  To minimize construction traffic impacts in the area, trucks will access the centre shaft site area via designated City of Vancouver trucking routes via West Georgia Street, using the roundabout to access Pipeline Road and the centre shaft site. Trucks will exit the park by travelling south down Pipeline Road, and access West Georgia Street via roundabout and North Lagoon Drive.

  Trucks will also turn around within the construction area, thereby maintaining the flow of traffic and ensuring emergency access along Pipeline Road is maintained.

• Truck traffic at the Burrard Inlet shaft site

  We understand that potential truck traffic within Stanley Park is a concern. We will develop and implement a Traffic Management Plan that will ensure that trucks accessing the Burrard Inlet shaft will enter and exit the area safely.

  To minimize construction traffic impacts in the area, trucks will access Stanley Park via the roundabout to travel to and from the site along Pipeline Road and Stanley Park Drive.

  Stanley Park Drive will also be reduced to one lane of traffic, during working hours, to allow construction trucks to access the site.

Concerns about Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety

• Keeping people moving safely around construction sites

  Safety is a top priority. We will implement a Traffic Management Plan to ensure that pedestrians, cyclists and traffic continue to move smoothly and safely through the area.

  We will relocate bike and pedestrian paths around construction sites to maintain safe and uninterrupted passage. We will also ensure that trucks will only access the area via designated routes and will provide traffic control signage to reduce congestion and confusion, as needed.