Missed opportunities for traffic improvements in the District of North Vancouver
Mountain Highway repaving this summer, in Lynn Valley. Photo: Duncan Wilcock
I’ve noticed a lot of street-paving projects around the District of North Vancouver this summer. On the surface, it’s good to see investment in our community. After all, government is simply us. Our representatives spend our money for the good of today and tomorrow.
That’s all government really is:
It’s us—you and me.
But paving without progress is a wasted opportunity.
Wasting our time, money, and opportunities
What I find very disappointing, in the midst of a traffic crisis that is costing us all time, money, and opportunities daily, that there is nothing new about the re-paving. There’s no attempt to make changes that can help get the North Shore moving. We are not even trying - even while we spend millions of our dollars to grind up and resurface streets.
This isn’t the fault of the DNV staff. They know what to do to use our street space better, to get our city moving. This is the fault of Council. Council does not support streets that allow more people to move and has actively rejected staff proposals, such as the one for Mid-Mountain Highway in November 2024. Council’s ‘performance of compassion’ for drivers rings hollow when they consistently reject real solutions that would actually improve traffic.
What really works to improve traffic?
We know how to improve our traffic problems. It’s not rocket science. We know it doesn’t work to ‘build more car lanes.’ It is a more complex problem than many people grasp at first.
We need:
1. Viable alternatives to driving, especially for us local residents. This means:
Dedicated bus lanes - so buses aren’t stuck waiting behind all the car traffic
Bike routes and improved places for people to walk - more people moving, even when car and truck traffic isn’t.
Even if you can’t use either, those who can become one-less-car in front of you in traffic. A surprising fact is that cities that are best for for bikes and buses are better for drivers too. Don’t believe me? Try this video out:
2. Road de-congestion pricing
We’ve seen it work wonders in New York this past year, in Singapore, and before that in London for over two decades.
In our case, the simplest approach is likely to charge at the choke points—our two bridges. We’re all already paying with our time. Setting a price is a proven way to allocate a scarce resource. This is just basic economics.
3. Highway-based regional transit - connecting Squamish & Whistler
Bus lanes can move 10,000 people per hour, instead of the 1,500 people per hour that car lanes move. We need bus lanes on Highway 1 and 99. Those on Highway 1 are already planned. Let’s get them done!
Yes, I’d love a train, and let’s get started on that. In the meantime, frequent bus service in dedicated lanes will get people moving - now.
Around town - if it can work for you, even for some trips - choose to opt out of traffic by going by ebike. It’s fun, healthy, cheap, and just might change your life.
We know how, let’s get it done
We’ve had an ‘Official Community Plan’ for 15 years with dozens of ‘to-do’ items. Where is our current council on the ‘to-do’ list we created 15 years ago to be completed in 20 years? Maybe they’ve accomplished a third of them?
I focus on bus lanes, bike lanes, and safer streets for people on foot, because they are what our municipal governments can control. Improved bus and transit options are under Tranlink’s jurisdiction, and tolls on our bridges are provincial government jurisdiction.
Our Municipal government can show we will make room for transit and that we actually want more. I don’t accept ‘blame the provincial government’ as an excuse for not doing the things we can do.
I am directing this screed at council, because ultimately they make the decisions. The fault is not with staff, and not with ‘complex problems we don’t know how to fix.’ We can make improvements tomorrow. Bus lanes could literally be painted overnight.
These are choices of political will. And who is responsible for political will?
US. You and Me
We voted for this council in 2022—at least the 23% of us who voted did
Let’s make sure we vote for a better council in Oct 2026.
Until then, sign up for our newsletter to stay informed and for help with voting for leaders who will actually tackle land use and transportation challenges, and be ready to make tough choices to get us moving.
What missed opportunities have you noticed?
In my neighbourhood this past year, her are three in Lynn Valley I’ve noticed:
1. Lynn Valley Road between Mollie Nye and Fromme - linking the bike lane in an area where many people live and want to move.
Lynn Valley Road between Mollie Nye and Fromme. Photo: Duncan Wilcock
2. Mountain Highway between Lynn Valley Road and 27th - linking the bike lane in an area where many people live and want to move. See the image at the top of the article.
3. Mountain Highway between Kirkstone and Arborlynn bus lane - a bus lane downhill would have enabled 7x as many people per hour to get through the daily car and truck back-ups here.
Mountain Highway at Arborlynn, looking North. Photo: Duncan Wilcock
This road would move more people if there were a downhill bus-lane, in addition to the downhill car lane. The downhill lane is always what gets blocked up. The two uphill lanes are never blocked - meaning that the uphill lane is an extra, under-used lane.
The uphill lane mattered in the 1950s when cars and trucks had less hill climbing power. In the 21st century, we can use the space better.
Missed Opportunity: Council refuses bus lane
In November 2024, the current District of North Vancouver council deep-sixed five years of staff work and community consultation to create a modernized street that would be safer for the many people who live on Emery Court. The proposal could have resulted in a bus-lane southbound down Mountain Highway, so that people could get through when vehicles are backed up all the way to Kirkstone.
What a colossal waste of our money and our time in consultations - to have done so and not have the political courage to make tough choices in the face of misguided fears and a ‘petition’ likely riddled with people from outside BC. A disgraceful waste of time, money, and opportunity.
Tell us in the comments on Facebook, Reddit, and wherever you found this article what missed opportunities you’ve noticed this year.
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