Community Comments

Some of the submissions to the contest were in the form of written comments. Some were quite elaborate, others provided a concept in a few paragraphs and a few were only a sentence or two. The ideas ranged from 22 world-class, multi-national miniature gardens, to heritage street cars, to the admonition to "Put RAV there." We included them all in the exhibit but we captured the essence of longer submissions in a few sentences.

It would be a good idea to build a broad walk along the railway track for people to walk or roller-blade.
   - Anonymous

I would like to see an old fashioned tram go down - keep the rest the same.
    - R. Hohrn

I live next to the old rail line. It should be used for a commuter rail so that people living outside Vancouver can get to their jobs in Vancouver without spending two hours a day in traffic.
   - Cedric Hughes

I would like to see a heritage street car that's neighbourhood friendly and please keep the neighbourhood gardens. Also, bicyclists and pedestrian walkways.
   - Dawn Schmidt

Run trains on the corridor.
   - Alan Partridge

I think that it should have been a sky-train route and still should be, a second line (as well as Cambie). Since that is not going to happen though, perhaps a cable car type of thing or a bike route.
   - R.Bran

Put RAV line down there!
   - Anonymous

If Cambie becomes RAV line route, develop Arbutus Corridor as bike routes, parks etc. If there is not enough money for Cambie, use Arbutus for RAV.
   -Joyce Cowan

I live near Cambie and would hate to see the RAV line tear up the Cambie Heritage Boulevard. I'd rather it goes down Arbutus. But, if the line goes down Cambie as planned, then I'd like to see heritage street cars run down Arbutus. I also like the pedestrian and bike routes. I don't care about the gardens.
   -Marie Cheslevy

Develop it into pedestrian and bike corridor with a green (garden) divider between the two activities.
   - Janet Sawatsky

WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE OLD RAIL LINE USED FOR HERITAGE CARS THROUGH THE AREA.
   - EDA CHU

Light transit would be the best use and cheaper than other alternatives.
   - Frank Anderson

We would like to see the corridor stay as it is with the gardens, old rail tracks, etc. Some of the blackberry bushes could be trimmed back a little. Also, it would be a good idea to use one of the railings for a few train cars just for local transportation.
   - T & J Monro

Two ideas, first have a Heritage Streetcar. Second have condos along the line clustered together with portions of the line without condos. The condos allow for a train (light rail) to pass through the developments. Want some streets blocked off (11-13th) to not allow traffic congestion.
   - Norman Young

I'd like to see more gardens and less polluting transportation. More bicycles, more pedestrians, less motor vehicles. Ideally, the area should be preserved as a heritage walking/biking/gardening display corridor.
   - Daniela Ginta

The Arbutus Corridor should have a vintage tourist trolley with stops at Kerrisdale, Broadway, SPEC, 4th, Granville Island. The trolley should continue to the current Granville Island Trolley to Science World, through False Creek South. Beautiful garden paths and walk/bike trails should run throughout!
   - Anonymous

I like the idea of having the old heritage street cars running again. I remember the inter-urban system from when I was a kid. I'm also for having bikes and walkers if it can be safe.
   - Norman Watt

Heritage transport-streetcars and lots of plants. Garden programs.
   - Adeli Black (Age 9)

Great initiative to keep this unique pathway in the public eye and promote discussion about the range of uses possible. Keep it up.
   - Anonymous

The Arbutus Corridor should definitely include BETTER "alternative" transportation routes (e.g. bicycles, roller-blading and walking) with better (safe/easy) connections to existing bike paths. Community gardens (flowers, veggies, etc.) With thoughts to birds, see Songbird Project & Gardens of Babylon that encourages urban design to consider flight of songbirds and vegetation that provides better air quality. Community Art from local artists with concepts that promote art as participatory and reflective, which will involve people passing by. Balance the corridor for both transportation (efficiency) and community/culture/recreation. Not sure how this will work but "Lemonade" type stands for coffee, munchies, in key spots. Safety considerations for people (e.g. later at night. Perhaps web cam at strategic points that can also be used to monitor traffic or connect on line.
   - Sang Mah

WHAT ABOUT THE IDEA (THAT IS ALREADY 10 YEARS OLD) TO DEVELOP IT INTO A NEW PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TRAIN/E-BUS-LINE. SOMETHING NOT NOISY (ELECTRIC TRAIN OR BUS) SO IT WOULD NOT ANNOY THE PEOPLE LIVING ON ARBUTUS.
   - BURKHARD MADLER

Kerrisdale has a village atmosphere and I would very much like to see lots of green space still preserved for the enjoyment of the local residents, especially for those people who live in apartments and high rises. Garden plots to be leased out to people w ho are keen gardeners who can no longer afford the land prices in Kerrisdale would be wonderful. The best thing the city can do is to provide gardens without having to maintain them but looked after by the residents. Kerrisdale needs more gardens.
   - Catherine Foo

Would be good to have a "Galloping Goose" done here in Vancouver!!
   - Anne Thompson

Maintain some form of transit with bicycle/pedestrian paths along one side. Include a variety of residential/retail development separated by parkland.
   - Don Lawrence

Bike/walk route plus some provision for a streetcar on surface rail (not rapid) to get from A to B.
   - Eugene & Sharon Fenton

Multi-purpose - walking, biking, garden, and green space for relaxations purposes.
   - I. Wilson

Two ideas. First, remove rails and use as a bike trail, much like Kettle Valley Railway (gravel path). Two Pave it over and use as a skateboard/Rollerblade path.
   - Avita Rostein

Must be devoted to rail transit. Cambie is best alignment for RAV but Arbutus is suited for Neighbourhood Streetcar - comfortable and direct access to Granville Island, S. False Creek, etc Neighbourhood Streetcar mitigates concern for safety. Additional uses can easily include gardens cyclists and pedestrians. Also can have some housing and commercial space erected over the tracks. Connect with other streetcar routes. Importance of transit to air quality and climate change.
   - Paul Manning

Focus on Light Rail (2 pages)
   - Alec Caruth

Have Parks Board make it into nice bicycle/pedestrian path from Armories to Marpole. Save space for possible rail system that at moment is not needed.
   - Art Cowie

Put rail underground for safety. Multiple use above ground - including commercial housing and businesses.
   - Ralph McLean

Build Arbutus Corridor into a World-Class Multi-National Miniature Garden - 22 separate garden spaces. (2 pages)
   - Yaming Chen

Should be the site of RAV
   - Paul McCrea

No to houses. It's a transportation Corridor and should remain so. We need good Public transit and this corridor is natural. Great potential for bringing tourists to neighbourhoods along the corridor
   - Margaret Cameron

Agree with city's ODP for corridor. Transit as heritage streetcar - frequent stops. Also keep open to possibility that future commercial use of tracks for transporting goods as well as people due to increasing fuel prices.
   - Lissa Wolsak

Put RAV there
   - Don DeMill

Pedestrian/cyclist/wheelchair pathway with frequent easy access and pedestrian, etc controlled lights as major intersections. Encourage even more gardening.
   - Dallas Hinton

Select 25 Vancouver artists to create weather resistant, environmentally sustainable, creative pieces of artwork that corresponds with placement on historic rail line. (More details)
   - Matt Schmidt

ABC's of Arbutus Bicycle Corridor - pamphlet originally presented to Air Quality Conference 1989.
   - Isabel Mintz

Rail transit - compares materials for better environmental impacts and minimize noise levels.
   - Derek Copeland

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