Vancouver extends car-free Granville Street through Labour Day at $4.75M cost
City council greenlighted a seven-week extension of the FIFA World Cup pedestrian zone. The Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association received $1.25 million for summer programming.
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Vancouver's car-free Granville Street pedestrian zone will remain open through Labour Day on Monday, September 7, city council decided this week, extending the FIFA World Cup pilot project for seven additional weeks beyond its original July 19 end date.
The estimated cost to extend the zone is $4.75 million. Weekly engineering costs, including enhanced sanitation, traffic management, washrooms, and other operations, are budgeted at $300,000. Weekly policing costs are $200,000. The city allocated a $1.25 million grant to the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (DVBIA) for activations and programming.
The City of Vancouver describes the pilot as an "overwhelming success," transforming Granville Street's entertainment hub into "one of Canada's busiest and most vibrant public spaces while supporting local businesses, restaurants, arts organizations and entertainment venues."
Mayor Kim Sim said the extension demonstrates what "is possible when we put people at the heart of our city." Councillors Pete Fry and Rebecca Bligh opposed the extension, according to a social media post from vote4abc.
The DVBIA is planning how to allocate its $1.25 million investment to build on the World Cup momentum and "continue transforming Granville Street into a vibrant summer destination," according to DVBIA president and CEO Jane Talbot. The city has supported the zone through re-routing transit, enhanced sanitation, permitting changes for expanded patios, and additional public safety resources.
