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Transportation

Access
Prior to the Ocean's Gateway plan, access to the Peninsula was via Loggers Lane and Cleveland Avenue. There has been a long-standing question of how access should be provided to ensure safe, efficient access for several thousand new residents as well as visitors and people working in the area once the peninsula is redeveloped.

A traffic study was conducted in 1998 for different land use possibilities at the time.  With new development possibilities happening, a new study is being done to create a plan that keeps the flow downtown and makes sense from an engineering aspect, but will still incorporate an urban element.

A key goal of this plan is to ensure that pedestrians find it comfortable and convenient to walk around.  Part of this will be achieved by locating a number of daily uses within an easy 5-7 minute walking distance (400-600m) of where people live.

In addition, the urban environment (buildings, trails, landscaping) should be interesting and safe for pedestrians. Protection from the weather also encourages pedestrian use and can take the form of shelters, awnings, street trees etc.

The pedestrian network consists of several elements:

Public Walkway
A continuous public walkway around the perimeter of the Peninsula is a key public goal. The walkway should provide consistent access and a variety of experiences and viewpoints so that the walk is interesting and different for each stretch.  The walkway will be variously located on a boardwalk on top of pilings allowing it to sit over the water’s edge on top of the required earth dyke in low lying areas, an informal pathway set back from a stabilized water’s edge and hard surface (brick or pavers) through harder urban landscapes. This variety of treatments will enhance the visual interest and pleasure of pedestrians.

Sidewalks
Sidewalks shall be provided on both sides of busy streets. Where traffic is moving at higher speeds, it is desirable that the sidewalk be separated form the travel lanes by trees and a landscaped boulevard.

On local streets it is intended that rights-of-way be designed for very slow moving traffic so that pedestrians and traffic can intermingle. This woonerf approach slows some local streets to be used as play spaces and breaks down the traditional separation of streets and sidewalks.

Bicycle Network The flat topography and mild climate of this area means that cycling is a realistic transportation choice for many people. Cycling is a healthy, environmentally friendly transportation option for short and medium length trips. Some people will commute several miles per day on a bike.  There is also a large recreational cycling community in Squamish. Cyclists are encouraged to travel both on the street as well as on dedicated or multi-use trails within the community. Cycling trails within the Project will connect with the existing and future surrounding trail network and provide clear way-finding.

 

Public Transit The most important contribution to a successful transit system is made by an extensive, interconnected and clear network of pedestrian routes leading from population centres to transit stops. Sidewalks along streets, lanes, pathways and alleys all provide the accessibility needed to encourage use of a public transit system. The pedestrian routes throughout Ocean's Gateway have been designed to provide site–wide convenient circulation. It is hoped that this approach will encourage people to walk from any point within the site to future transit stops along Galbraith Ave. or Water Road.  In the future, water buses and water taxis may become a significant part of a city–wide public transit system.

This area has a history of shipping and recreational boating use. It is intended that marine uses continue and expand along the entire Ocean's Gateway project site. The provision of a marina, float plane terminal and docks and a possible passenger ferry terminal will contribute to continuing and enhancing the marine use and character of the area.
 
Public and private marina infrastructure development will be a key element in the redevelopment of the upland property at Ocean's Gateway.

From a yacht club to public moorage to float-homes to private berthing assigned to individual housing units, this master-planned community will be an integrated waterfront district that will increasingly be associated with waterfront functions and activity.