City council prioritizes greenway for Vancouver's northeast

Vancouver councillors have voted to make a pedestrian and cycling greenway a priority for the city's northeastern corner.

The motion, put forward by Vision Vancouver Coun. Andrea Reimer, was approved at a meeting Wednesday night.

"Vancouver is aiming to be the greenest city in the world and a big part of that is making sure all residents have access to quality green spaces," Mayor Gregor Robertson said in a news release.

"A new East Van Greenway would be a big boost to the existing network and help to connect the many diverse communities in the northeast chunk of our city."

Council has asked city staff to report back on the potential options for a new greenway in time for the route to be included in Vancouver's capital plan for 2019-2022.

Right now, there is no greenway in the northeast quadrant, defined as the area north of Grandview Highway, between Main Street and Boundary Road.

The area has the least tree canopy cover, the lowest green space per capita and some of the lowest per capita incomes in the city.

Vancouver's greenway plan includes three possible routes in the northeast.

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