Image from City of Vancouver

Cyclists, pedestrians and outdoor lovers of all stripes suddenly have a lot to be excited about in Vancouver.

After years of dispute, the city of Vancouver has finally reached an agreement to buy the Arbutus Corridor rail route from Canadian Pacific Railway. The nine-kilometre-long stretch of track – which hasn’t been used in 15 years – extends all the from False Creek in downtown Vancouver to near the Fraser River on the city’s south side.

With the $55-million acquisition, the city plans to transform the corridor into one giant greenway. Designed for use by cyclists and pedestrians, the new pathway will connect neighbourhoods stretching all the way from False Creek to Marpole, slicing across some of the prettiest (and priciest) parts of the West Side en route.  The city is also considering using a portion of the corridor for public transit, either in the form of a streetcar or light rail.  Continue reading:
New Citywide Greenway is Coming: Vancouver buys Arbutus Corridor for $55 million