Feds open applications for new transit fund

Good morning, 

Nate here. It’s a weekend of marquee summer events on tap, with the Folk Fest and Celebration of Light fireworks competition lighting up Vancouver beaches over the next few days. 

These are events that typically draw huge crowds in Jericho, Kits, and the West End. If you plan to attend, consider taking a bike, walking, or carpooling. Transit (which is a theme today) is also an option but it’s unfortunately limited, particularly for getting into and around the West End. 

Fireworks are on Saturday while Folk Fest runs all week long — but we’ll have more on that in our loaded events section to get you prepped for your weekend. 

Let’s get to it!

— Nate Lewis, Vancity Lookout 

PS - If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign-up for free.

WEATHER

Friday: 26 🌡️ 16 | ☀️

Saturday: 29 🌡️ 17 | ☀️

Sunday: 27 🌡️ 16 | 🌤️

Monday: 23 🌡️ 14 | 🌤️

TRANSIT

Feds open applications for new transit fund

What happened: The federal government has opened applications for a new public transit fund that will pay out $30 billion to transit agencies over the next ten years. The government is hailing it as the largest public transit investment in Canadian history, which is intended to be permanent. 

• This was an election promise that the federal Liberal party made back in 2019, though the delay can be somewhat understood given a couple little events between then and now. 

The funding is separated into three streams, with funding for transit system investments in the country’s biggest urban areas — including Metro Vancouver — baseline funding for repairs and upgrades, and targeted funding for transit and active transportation in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. 

Carrots for housing: The feds are explicitly tying the reward of transit funding to municipalities’ willingness to change zoning bylaws to allow for more housing near transit. 

• Transit-oriented housing is something British Columbians have been hearing about ad nauseam in the past few months. That’s because the urban-planning-story-of-the-year thus far is the provincial government mandating that high-density housing should be allowed within a certain distance of transit stations. 

In many ways, B.C. and Vancouver are ahead of the curve on these federal sticks. The federal requirements include eliminating mandatory minimum parking requirements in certain areas (which Vancouver city council eliminated city-wide last month) and creating housing needs assessments for any community larger than 30,000 people (last year the province mandated municipalities complete these by 2025). 

• One measure, included in the announcement, but not yet taken up by the province, is requiring that high-density housing be allowed near post-secondary schools. Due to its unique municipal status, UBC is a current example of what other high-density campuses could look like in the future. 

Timeline: In March, TransLink, along with their counterparts in Toronto and Montreal, called for the funding timeline to be advanced to early 2024, according to Intelligent Transport. However, that didn’t happen. While applications are now currently open, the money won't get to the selected transit agencies until 2026. 

However: TransLink is also set to receive an additional $825 million from the federal government, however TransLink said that’s money that was already promised under a previous agreement, according to City News. 

• TransLink has been sounding the alarm about a “fiscal cliff” jeopardizing future transportation projects past 2025. 

Even when the new federal funding does come online in 2026, one local advocate doesn’t see it as the solution because the money isn’t geared toward operating costs. Last month, TransLink announced they’d have an average annual funding gap of $600 million beginning in 2026.

What it means: This certainly looks like the federal Liberals taking their cues from the BC NDP when it comes to transit-oriented housing policy. This federal plan has been a long time coming so it may be that the province just beat them to the punch, but the optics are that B.C. is ahead on this file. 

• It’s worth bearing in mind that both these governments are fighting for their political lives right now. Conservative parties are pushing or leading both current governments in the polls (always to be taken with at least one grain of salt) in the run-up to an election this fall in B.C., and a national election sometime in the next 16 months. 

However, I wouldn’t hold my breath that these latest funding announcements will be a silver bullet to rescue transit agencies from their funding issues, specifically when it comes to operating costs, since this is a systemic budget gap that can’t be papered over with sporadic funding.

VANCOUVER NUMBERS

☀️ 20: The number of days since we last had rain in Vancouver. It’s great for beach days, but not such good news for rising fire danger. [WeatherStats.ca]

🚑 25: The number of people who have died on B.C. roads in the past 10 days. Highway patrollers and the BC Coroners Service are warning drivers about the dangers of excessive speeding. [North Shore News] 

🔥 200: The number of fires currently burning in BC. Experts say the next 72 hours will be extremely challenging for regions dealing with the fires. [CBC]

PARKS

Stanley Park study a “bellwether” for Vancouver politics

A little known, but important, side effect of brouhaha around the removal of the temporary bike lane in Stanley Park was that it threw a wrench into the park board’s planning processes for the Stanley Park Mobility Study and report. 

What happened: Staff finally opened the third stage of public input on the plan earlier this month. The survey is open until July 28, and a final report will be presented to park board commissioners this winter.

• Background: The study focuses on Stanley Park Drive, and attempts to create a long term vision for the use of road space in the park, which became a highly politicized issue and a major talking point following the 2022 municipal elections. 

Details: Currently, the study presents six options for the future configuration of Stanley Park Drive, some of which would limit vehicle congestion in the park through time-based restrictions or time slot bookings for car access. 

• Other options include using one lane for cycling, for public buses and shuttles, or one lane for each, in which case private vehicles would not be allowed on Park Drive.  All options include private vehicle access along Pipeline Road, and full access for emergency and operational vehicles. 

While the study takes a long-term outlook to road use in the park, the final report will propose interim measures that could be implemented quickly. 

• Vancouver’s Transportation 2040 plan is aiming to shift the public to two-thirds of trips to be made by foot, bike, or transit by 2030, which would require a move away from prioritizing personal motor vehicles.  

What we heard: Commissioner Bastyovanszky told Vancity Lookout there was “a lot of pressure applied to vote in alignment” with other ABC commissioners when they were deciding to remove the temporary bike lane early in their term. 

• After splitting from ABC and declaring herself an independent in December, Comm. Laura Christensen apologized for voting to remove the bike lane in its entirety, saying Mayor Ken Sim “personally promised” he would find funding for a new bike lane for summer 2024. 

Sim and the ABC majority on city council decided to break that promise and not fund a permanent new lane, according to Bastyovanszky, which ABC Councillor Peter Meizner said would be open by spring 2023. 

The current configuration of two vehicle lanes functionally only allows for the most confident cyclists to use the roadway, while most others are funneled onto a narrow and, at points hazardous or inaccessible, path along the Seawall.  

What it means: It’s likely the new park board majority — the three independents plus the Green Party’s Tom Digby — will vote in favour of at least some of the options presented in the final report (we don't know exactly what those will look like yet) but ultimately it will come down to city council’s appetite to fund those projects. 

• Funding for the bulk of potential changes from this study likely won’t be delivered until the next capital plan in 2026, which coincides with the next municipal election. 

Big picture: Active transport advocate Lucy Maloney sees the eventual report and park board decision on the Stanley Park report as a “key bellwether” for what Vancouverites can expect if the ABC party wins a majority next election and the park board’s mandate is absorbed by the city.  

• If commissioners do vote in favour, it will force current councillors to “put their cards on the table about whether they truly support environmental action, active transport access, and true accessibility, by finding the money for it,” Maloney told Vancity Lookout. 

This would allow “citizens of Vancouver [to] know what they're fighting for going into the next municipal election,” Maloney said, considering the “really positive statements” regarding active transportation, and specifically biking in Stanley Park, made by ABC candidates in the lead up to the 2022 election.

THE AGENDA

🏘️ Yesterday, the B.C. government launched a tool to help protect renters against “bad-faith” evictions. Landlords are now required to provide information to the province about who is moving into a home when evicting a tenant for personal occupancy or caretaker use. [City News]

🚌 In an effort to reduce bus congestion and wait times, OneCity Coun. Christine Boyle will introduce a motion next week at city council to create dedicated bus lanes in Vancouver. These would be installed along priority corridors — identified by TransLink — at a rate of at least two per year beginning in 2025. [COV, TransLink]

💵 While the province instituted new legislation in 2023 governing money service businesses like currency exchanges— which were found to pose a risk of money laundering by the Cullen Commission — the provincial government has been slow to roll out regulations to enforce the law. [Vancouver Sun] 

🧑‍🦽 The new bleacher staircase at Hastings Park is supposed to be an interactive art piece, but it’s not accessible for many people. “It’s an homage to archaic thinking,” one advocate said. [CBC]

🏞️ The federal government is providing $50 million for ongoing conservation projects in B.C. Most of that money has already been directed to the BC Parks Foundation, which funds projects like the large new park on forested land in West Vancouver. [Vancouver Sun]

FOOD

A perfect deli sandwich at Say Hey Cafe & Deli

Written by Geoff Sharpe, Vancity Lookout editor

When I lived in Chinatown, it was two years before I stumbled upon Say Hey Cafe & Deli at 156 E Pender St. I blame the pandemic and the general excellence of Chinatown’s food scene.

The place has an understated style, with simple pictures on the wall, and an elongated walk to the ordering counter. Pictures of bikes and skateboards, a massive close-up picture of a gigantic zoomed-in hoagie, and 90s rap pumping through the speakers, it’s going for a certain vibe. I dig it. 

Read the review

WEEKEND EVENT GUIDE

Vancouver Folk Fest | July 19-21, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. | Jericho Beach Park | Starting this afternoon! Grab your family and friends and head to Jericho, where you can camp out on the field or grab a free spot on the beach nearby | Ticket prices vary ($75-$230 for adults) 

Vancouver’s Places That Matter | July 19, 6:30 p.m. | Heritage Hall (Main Street) Join the Vancouver Heritage Foundation for their summer storytelling series about a relocated school house | Tickets by donation 

Port Moody Rib Fest | July 19-21, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. | Rocky Point Park (PoMo) | Features a park-wide beer garden, live music, and (most importantly) seven BBQ-rib-slinging vendors | Entry by donation

Celebration of Light | July 20 | English Bay harbour, 9 p.m. | The annual fireworks bonanza kicks off this Saturday with a display from Portugal | Free

Burnaby Pride Festival | July 20, 1 p.m. | 6550 Bonsor Ave. | This collaborative community group will be hosting its seventh Pride Festival event on Saturday | Free

Celebrate Mt. Pleasant Park | July 20, 6 p.m. | Mt. Pleasant Park | Expect a festival atmosphere with activities and a movie screening at dusk | Free

Skull Skates Yard Sale | July 20, 10 a.m. | 3734 West 10th Ave. | Back by popular demand, skaters are going to want to roll over to the west side for this one. Buyers and sellers welcome | Free entry

Bebop Ink’s Summer Flash Day | July 20, noon | 3283 Main St. | Get flash tattoos from a range of acclaimed artists at this first-come first-serve event | Prices vary

Forest Harmonies | July 20, 6:30 p.m. | Park Centre at 16th Avenue | Stroll, listen, and explore at this relaxing event in the forest | Free

Public Disco | July 20, 3 p.m | City Centre Artist Lodge | Dance the day away and check out local vendors and artisans at this groovy Bass Coast follow-up | Tickets $52

All Over The Map | July 21, 1 p.m. | Granville Island (Picnic Pavilion) | Catch a variety of musical and dance performances at this outdoor event | Free

CREATE! Eastside Arts Festival | July 22-28, various times and locations | Featuring artist workshops, activations, music performances, and more around East Van | Tickets $40

Vancouver’s Awesome Alleys Engagement Event | The alley between Dunsmuir & Pender | July 24, 4 PM - 6 PM | Help us transform Vancouver’s alleys into awesome places for people! | Learn more [Sponsored]

Posh Ball |July 27, 5 p.m. | Sheraton Wall Centre | Van Vogue Jam is serving a major ballroom event next weekend with special performances and big prizes for contestants | Tickets $38 + more info

PHOTO OF THE DAY

This replica railcar out front of Kingsgate Mall is being removed by the city. It will be replaced by new bench seating and improved lighting, according to a sign on-site.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Move over Playland, what might be your new favourite ‘coaster is opening in the mountains next spring [City News]

• If you’re tired of just eating French baked goods, then this Persian bakery may be just what you’re looking for. [Vancity Lookout]

• 🌍 Geopolitics in <5 minutes? Get International Intrigue, the free global briefing crafted by former diplomats. Sign up for free. [Sponsored]

• A beloved neighbour cat in Mount Pleasant’s Brewery Creek neighbourhood has reportedly died 😪 [Twitter] 

• Though it may have looked like it, there wasn’t actually a major fire at the VPL downtown [VIA]

• The folks behind Keefer Bar are opening a new bar at a frequently-shifting storefront in Cambie Village [Georgia Straight] 

Want to have your announcement featured? Learn how here.

GAME TIME

Today’s Wordle is a big theme in today’s newsletter. Can you guess what it is?