Case Study: Metrotown - Burnaby, BC Description: Metrotown is one of Burnaby’s four town centres. Located in the Greater Vancouver Regional District, Metrotown lies about 10 km from Vancouver, and it is connected to the downtown via Skytrain. Metrotown began as three separate shopping malls, an office tower and a library. Now the area boasts residential high-rise, hotel, and more office. The mixed land uses and high integration of transit services makes Metrotown an example of both TOD and mobility hub concepts. The Skytrain station is connected to a covered concourse which leads directly to the Station Square and Metropolis malls. Metrotown is also a major bus transfer point for connecting buses to Burnaby and Southern Vancouver. Passengers transfer vertically from the raised Skytrain system to the at-grade covered bus stop.
Estimated number of morning peak riders Implementation Agency
Bicycle 5,000 Metrolinx
Metrotown Built Transit Type Estimated number of daily riders Implementation Agency
1985-2005 Skytrain Bus Metrotown is Vancouver’s second busiest station City of Burnaby
Key facts for Metrotown
A major threat to the Metrotown station is the abundance free parking at the shopping malls. Also, the surrounding areas show minimal considerations for limiting automobile use, establishing maximum parking ratios or having managed parking. Lessons for the BSA: • Metrotown allowed passengers to integrate commuting with daily shopping needs. • Metrotown created a reverse flow of traffic by creating a destination and an origin of transit traffic. • The station was highly integrated with the malls and different modes of transit to serve the needs of transit passengers. For Further Reading: http://www.translink.ca/~/media/Documents/bpotp/10_year_ plan/Annual_Plans/media10yearplan/Backgrounder%20What%20 have%20we%20done%20for%20you%20lately.ashx
Metrotown Station in 1986. (Translink, http://buzzer.translink.ca/index. php/2010/01/skytrain-flashback-photos/)
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