A proposal to remove two viaducts in Vancouver, under study since 2011, might soon reach a final decision.
Writing for Vancity Buzz, Brent Toderian argues for the removal of the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts, "originally constructed in 1915 to bypass the tidal waters, rail lines and industrial lands below, and were rebuilt in the 1960s as the first piece of that anticipated freeway system that never came."
According to Toderian, "We have the opportunity to…repair the biggest scar in the city, fixing the mistake made before those freeways were rightly rejected. We can tear down those Viaducts and rebuild the city better."
Toderian notes that the Vancouver City Council already approved a process to study the removal of the viaducts, and updates the ongoing efforts since then to begin to reimagine the city without the viaducts. In addition to more, Toderian provides this update for the fate of the viaducts: "Word from City Hall is that decision may finally come from Council next month. A new staff report is likely imminent, following up on the excellent report that made the case for removal back in 2013."
FULL STORY: A viaduct-free future awaits Vancouver
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UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research