Bute Greenway

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
Bute Greenway - A shore-to-shore connection

Help us build a shore-to-shore connection

The City of Vancouver is exploring approaches to improve and prioritize Bute Street for walking, cycling, and rolling, with vibrant public spaces for people of all ages and abilities.

As part of this project we are building a permanent Bute-Robson Plaza and enhancing adjacent blocks on Robson Street. The improvements to Robson Street will involve joint efforts with the West End Commercial Streets project.

Thank you to everyone who shared feedback with us in Phase 1 and since the Bute-Robson Plaza was first installed in 2017. Review engagement highlights [PDF, 936KB] and the detailed engagement summary [PDF, 2MB] .

Thank you for your feedback

Your feedback will help shape next steps on the Bute Greenway. Please visit this page for future updates and engagement opportunities, or:

Next steps

Staff will review the feedback and share learnings from second phase of engagement with the community in the summer. In the next phase, based on community feedback staff, will refine and share designs for other selected segments.

The greenway will be implemented in phases, beginning with building a permanent Bute-Robson Plaza and enhancing adjacent blocks in 2024.

Help us build a shore-to-shore connection

The City of Vancouver is exploring approaches to improve and prioritize Bute Street for walking, cycling, and rolling, with vibrant public spaces for people of all ages and abilities.

As part of this project we are building a permanent Bute-Robson Plaza and enhancing adjacent blocks on Robson Street. The improvements to Robson Street will involve joint efforts with the West End Commercial Streets project.

Thank you to everyone who shared feedback with us in Phase 1 and since the Bute-Robson Plaza was first installed in 2017. Review engagement highlights [PDF, 936KB] and the detailed engagement summary [PDF, 2MB] .

Thank you for your feedback

Your feedback will help shape next steps on the Bute Greenway. Please visit this page for future updates and engagement opportunities, or:

Next steps

Staff will review the feedback and share learnings from second phase of engagement with the community in the summer. In the next phase, based on community feedback staff, will refine and share designs for other selected segments.

The greenway will be implemented in phases, beginning with building a permanent Bute-Robson Plaza and enhancing adjacent blocks in 2024.

  • Paper copies of Phase 2 survey

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    If you are unable to provide feedback on our online survey, please email us your feedback at butegreenway@vancouver.ca.

    How to submit the paper copy?

  • Policy Alignments

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    The Bute Greenway project complements new community facility and public realm projects and aligns with Parks Board initiatives such as Imagine West End Waterfront, all the while helping meet our Climate Emergency Action Plan targets.

    In addition, Bute Street has been identified as a key walking, rolling and cycling route with additional pedestrian priority measures and public realm improvements in the:

  • Phase 1 Engagement - What we Heard

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
    supporting image

    Since Phase 1 engagement concluded in December 2021, we have reviewed the survey responses and Big Ideas as well as feedback received via email.

    You can now view our detailed Phase 1 Engagement Summary (External Link) or look at our Engagement Highlights (External Link) for an overview of what we heard.

    In 2022, we have been using community feedback to create different design approaches for how a future greenway on Bute St might take shape, and hosting discussions with partners. We are also working on a potential design for a permanent Bute-Robson Plaza, and exploring options for public space improvements on the Bute Greenway at Robson St.

    We are aiming to launch a second phase of public engagement in late 2022. Phase 2 will:

    • Share refined project goals.
    • Review design options for delivering the greenway, showing how we can achieve these goals and the trade-offs associated with different approaches.
    • Present the Bute Greenway in different ‘segments’ from shore-to-shore.
    • Show a permanent Bute-Robson Plaza design, taking it from conceptual to proposed design.

    We expect updated information and an online survey to accompany our Phase 2 launch in late 2022.

    Phase 2 gives us a great opportunity to test different ideas and determine design priorities ahead of presenting a ‘preferred design option’ for a future greenway on Bute St in Phase 3. We look forward to hearing from you then.


  • Previous engagement on Bute-Robson Plaza and Bute Street

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    In summer 2017, the City of Vancouver implemented a trial pavement-to-plaza on Bute Street south of Robson Street, in partnership with the Robson Street Business Association by re-purposing road space. The addition of street furniture such as seating with umbrellas, a piano, playful elements and planters, invited people to stop and stay, which resulted in strong support for the plaza.

    In November 2017, with strong community support, Council voted unanimously to approve a permanent plaza and extend the current trial as an interim plaza until a final plaza is designed and constructed.

    Public engagements for trial and interim phases of Bute-Robson Plaza include:

    • Series of workshops with youth, seniors and key stakeholders to identify opportunities for public space and walking, cycling and rolling improvements along Bute Street.
    • Pop-up engagement through Places for People Downtown Strategy to learn what’s working what can be improved at Bute-Robson Plaza and big ideas for Bute Greenway.
    • Staff used this input to create draft project goals for Bute Greenway and develop a draft concept for a permanent design of Bute-Robson Plaza.

    Over the years, in partnership with the local Business Improvement Association, the City has tested different layouts, measured traffic impacts, observed behavior in the space, and asked for input from community members.

    In fall 2021, staff presented a concept design for a permanent Bute-Robson Plaza as part of phase one of Bute Greenway project along with other associated work on adjacent blocks of the plaza. Since then, staff have been refining the design with the Robson Street Business Association, adjacent businesses and residents.

    In spring 2023, as part of Bute Greenway phase 2, staff are sharing final designs for a permanent Bute-Robson Plaza and associated work which includes widening sidewalks on adjacent blocks of Robson Street and linking the plaza with the existing Bute-Haro mini-park towards the south.

    Construction on the permanent plaza is scheduled to begin in 2024 and will include widened sidewalks along Robson Street and a connection to the existing Bute-Haro mini park to the south.

    This project is supported by the Transportation 2040 Plan, West End Community Plan, 2019-2022 Capital Plan, and Places for People Downtown Strategy, all of which encourage the creation of public plazas and gathering spaces across Vancouver.

Page last updated: 12 May 2023, 09:04 AM