Robson Square Renovations

[WarrenC12]

Robson isn't really the street you should be using to get places, it's only 2 lanes and very clogged there anyway. It was always designed to be pedestrian only.

[jollyburger]

The beauty will be seeing it closed down and empty in the winter.

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Robson isn't really the street you should be using to get places, it's only 2 lanes and very clogged there anyway. It was always designed to be pedestrian only.

No I disagree. If you want to travel east west through downtown it was great. Georgia has no left turns and the only other streets that goes all the way through is davie, and pacific

Oh god watch them remove the no left turn signs on Georgia like they did on south Granville.that would be horrible so they probably will do it lol

[EdinVan]

Originally Posted by mukmuk64

Great news. Vancouver has had a lack of good, central public gathering spaces so long.

Gather for what purpose? A couple or protests or rallies each year?

[connect2source]

As a Realtor who, unfortunately has to be in my car way too much, Robson is invaluable for east - west downtown travel, not to mention transit, deliveries and commerce.

It keeps local traffic off Georgia, allows for left turns, is very often not crowded, hence, local traffic and transit not competing for space with commuters. This closure will only further clog Georgia and Nelson. I know I'm sounding car-centric but we have so few east - west routes remaining.

I also feel the north plaza renovations will provide a much more open and cohesive plaza which will serve as an expansive and functional square making the Robson closure somewhat redundant.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

No I disagree. If you want to travel east west through downtown it was great. Georgia has no left turns and the only other streets that goes all the way through is davie, and pacific

Oh god watch them remove the no left turn signs on Georgia like they did on south Granville.that would be horrible so they probably will do it lol

You're right. It's going to make it into a frikking tied off, choked up mess, unless they install further East-West infrastructure, which, this being Vancouver, they won't do. (I wish we could get a team of Montreal traffic engineers out here for a couple of years)

[Vin]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

The beauty will be seeing it closed down and empty in the winter.

Originally Posted by EdinVan

Gather for what purpose? A couple or protests or rallies each year?

Originally Posted by connect2source

As a Realtor who, unfortunately has to be in my car way too much, Robson is invaluable for east - west downtown travel, not to mention transit, deliveries and commerce.

It keeps local traffic off Georgia, allows for left turns, is very often not crowded, hence, local traffic and transit not competing for space with commuters. This closure will only further clog Georgia and Nelson. I know I'm sounding car-centric but we have so few east - west routes remaining.

I also feel the north plaza renovations will provide a much more open and cohesive plaza which will serve as an expansive and functional square making the Robson closure somewhat redundant.

Originally Posted by trofirhen

I like the idea of a large contiguous city square, but the transit and traffic will be a total mess. There's already a tunnel under Howe Street, so they couldn't go under there.
And they wouldn't dip under the square, even if they wanted to. Too much $$$$$$, and not "perdy" enough for Robson St. City hall has some good ideas, but remains myopic.
On top of all that, it seems to want to make as much of the city into a "cutesie theme park" as it possibly can, without the accompanying, necessary, road / transit infastructure.

Totally agreed! That's my main gripe about it. And it's disturbing that City Council did not seek the opinions of West Enders as their transit route would be impacted. Most times of the year, no one even cares about the square, especially when the rain pours. Most people just walk through to get to interesting spots on either sides. The only people who loiter there are shady characters or bumps who sleep on the stairs at the Art Gallery. They will have a large square north side of the Art Gallery, so I think they should leave this area as-is.

[WarrenC12]

The hyperbole in these posts is amazing. Yes, this narrow strip will be the sole cause of traffic chaos downtown.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

The hyperbole in these posts is amazing. Yes, this narrow strip will be the sole cause of traffic chaos downtown.

Be careful what you pray for ... you might get it.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

The hyperbole in these posts is amazing. Yes, this narrow strip will be the sole cause of traffic chaos downtown.

It already is a chaos downtown, and it will only get worse with this City's "vision". Seems that all the little conveniences are removed in this town.

The only reason Vancouver doesn't need a highway going through the city is because we have always relied on the grid street system to disperse traffic. Seems that Vision is hell-bound to destroy this, and that's why we have the worst congestion delay in any North American city now.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by Vin

It already is a chaos downtown, and it will only get worse with this City's "vision". Seems that all the little conveniences are removed in this town.

One small piece of space in all of downtown being closed to traffic to give Vancouver something other big cities have- a downtown public square, is now an indication that all little conveniences are being removed?

Yes indeed, the hyperbole is wild.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Robson isn't really the street you should be using to get places, it's only 2 lanes and very clogged there anyway. It was always designed to be pedestrian only.

Robson clogged? The hyperbole.....

[Vin]

Originally Posted by csbvan

One small piece of space in all of downtown being closed to traffic to give Vancouver something other big cities have- a downtown public square, is now an indication that all little conveniences are being removed?

Isnt't that the reason why they are renovating the north side of the Art Gallery, to create a huge public square?

Why have two side-by-side? The hyperbole, eh?

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Vin

Robson clogged? The hyperbole.....

Do you know what hyperbole means? Your posts indicate you don't.

It's clogged because it's already a choke point, and not enough space for people and a narrow roadway.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Do you know what hyperbole means? Your posts indicate you don't.

It's clogged because it's already a choke point, and not enough space for people and a narrow roadway.

Then what do you suggest we do at the "clogged" areas of Robson? Shut the entire street down and turn it into a pedestrian mall? What kind of alternatives should we provide for the transit users? Come up with a good solution and then we talk about the closure of Robson Square. Otherwise simply dismissing other people's postings as "hyperbolic" does not boost anything except your own ego.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Vin

Then what do you suggest we do at the "clogged" areas of Robson? Shut the entire street down and turn it into a pedestrian mall? What kind of alternatives should we provide for the transit users? Come up with a good solution and then we talk about the closure of Robson Square. Otherwise simply dismissing other people's postings as "hyperbolic" does not boost anything except your own ego.

I think the creation of this public square is amazing. We don't have many spaces like this in the city and I think we should look at creating more.

Also, you need to remember that this area was never intended to have vehicle traffic. It is only being restored to it's original purpose.

I'm not sure I agree with a completely pedestrian Robson St, but this area is a great start.

[Klazu]

One thing I think they have to implement, is start playing royalty-free classical music on the new square. I can see them already doing that at VAG's south entrance and it is sure to keep homeless people and pot smokers away.

They should do it also around the stairs, where currently people are sleeping every night and soliciting during the day. It's a disgrace sight and not very nice for tourists roaming in the area.

Another option is to use those mosquito sound devices that will make young people keep from gathering. However most of the homeless are older, so the music is a better option and it would also make VAG appear "more elite".

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Also, you need to remember that this area was never intended to have vehicle traffic. It is only being restored to it's original purpose.

I'm not sure I agree with a completely pedestrian Robson St, but this area is a great start.

The 'intended purpose' as Erickson saw it in the mid-1970's, has little relevance today.

The actual 'square' is somewhat dysfunctional as it's not contiguous, has two huge pits on either side where the access to the lower-level and skating rink are, the closing of the roadway adds very little actual 'public gathering space'. As, mentioned, the north-side is being made into what will be a far more useful square. This is a political move, pure and simple.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by connect2source

The 'intended purpose' as Erickson saw it in the mid-1970's, has little relevance today.

The actual 'square' is somewhat dysfunctional as it's not contiguous, has two huge pits on either side where the access to the lower-level and skating rink are, the closing of the roadway adds very little actual 'public gathering space'. As, mentioned, the north-side is being made into what will be a far more useful square. This is a political move, pure and simple.

Why isn't it relevant today? It's not as if the 70s was the horse and buggy era.

I have news for you: everything is politics.

[officedweller]

Ever since the old Connaught Bridge (which connected to Robson) was replaced by the current Cambie Bridge (connecting to Smithe and Nelson),
Robson has declined in status as a transportation corridor.
Its role as a shopping street has risen, while its role as a transportation corridor has waned.

If they opened up Haro to traffic - and removed this restriction (pic below), Smithe / Haro would connect into the West End.

Alternatively, Thurlow could be made 2-way north of Nelson (or for its entire length) to access other east-west streets.
With the changes at the north end of the Burrard Bridge, you probably don't want a massive flow down Thurlow to Burrard Bridge anymore,
since the right turn (eastbound Pacific to bridge) will be a traffic light controlled movement.


http://www.bing.com/mapspreview?q=robson+and+haro+vancouver&mkt=en&FORM=HDRSC4