Active Transportation Network Plan: Fourth, Merivale, and Elliot Streets
Project update, February 19, 2025:
The What We Heard Report for Fourth, Merivale, and Elliot Streets is now available.
The Fourth, Merivale, and Elliot Streets Route will provide a direct north-south connection through the Glenbrooke North, Queen’s Park, and Downtown neighbourhoods. This 2.5km route will run from the City of Burnaby boundary at Tenth Avenue in the north to Columbia Street in downtown New Westminster in the south, using a combination of Fourth Street, Merivale Street, and Elliot Street.
This route is currently not an existing bikeway. This new local street bikeway will provide a direct connection to BC Parkway at Columbia Street and the Agnes Greenway, as well as connections to the City of Burnaby, Tipperary Park, École Qayqayt Elementary, and Albert Crescent Park. The City received funding from TransLink for this project.
Map: the Fourth, Merivale, and Elliot Streets Route highlighted on the Active Transportation Network Plan Year 2 Routes map.
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The Active Transportation Network Plan and the network of routes identified in the plan were approved by Council in 2022, with construction for all routes to be completed by 2030. The plan and its routes, including the Fourth, Merivale, and Elliot Streets route, support Council’s Strategic Priorities of a people-centred economy and the safe movement of people.
Active transportation changes along each route include planned safety improvements (informed by technical information), and other proposed improvements with several feasible options. At this stage, we are asking for your feedback on the proposed improvements along this route, to help finalize the detailed designs.
We want to hear from you to understand how well the proposed improvements will contribute to a more comfortable, walkable, bike-friendly New Westminster. The City is also engaging directly with interest groups along the route to hear their perspectives on the proposed improvements.
Active Transportation Changes
Improvements along this route aim to create a safe, comfortable local street bikeway with multi-use pathway connections, lower vehicle speeds, and safer crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Widening the sidewalk on Merivale Street, between Royal Avenue and Agnes Street. The existing parking lane would be moved over, away from the curb (not removed) to narrow the road. Narrowing the road would slow down vehicle traffic, limiting the vehicle speed at 30km/h, and create more space for the wider sidewalk.
Proposed sidewalk widening on Merivale Street.
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- A temporary connection to the existing pedestrian signal at Second Street, via Blackman Street, created through new pavement markings. No parking would need to be removed to make this connection. This connection would direct pedestrians to a safe place to cross and would only be in place until future crossing improvements are implemented at the intersection of Fourth Street and Tenth Avenue. This temporary connection is open for influence.
- New rectangular rapid flashing beacons (pedestrian and cyclist-controlled crossing lights) at Sixth Avenue.
Example of a rectangular rapid flashing beacon in the City of New Westminster
- A raised intersection at Queens Avenue near Tipperary Park. The raised intersection will help slow vehicle traffic travelling through the intersection, making it safer for pedestrians and cyclists to cross.
Example of a raised intersection at Tenth Street and Seventh Avenue.
- Lighting improvements along the pathway through Tipperary Park.
- Intersection improvements at Third Street and Royal Avenue, including a diagonal crossing for cyclists and pedestrians. This crossing will connect to an upgraded protected bike lane on the south side of Royal Avenue, connecting Third Street to Merivale Street.
Planned intersection improvements at Third Street and Royal Avenue.
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- Removing the right-turn exit lane off Royal Avenue onto Merivale Street and creating a normal intersection for right turns. This will improve visibility and safety for all road users at the intersections of Royal Avenue and Third Street, and Royal Avenue and Merivale Street.
- East-west stops signs and parking restrictions at Clarkson Street and Elliot Street, to calm traffic and improve sightlines through this intersection. Parking restrictions would remove 7 spots along Clarkson Street at Elliot Street.
Planned traffic calming and sightline improvements at Clarkson Street and Elliot Street.
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- Traffic calming curbs at Clarkson Street and Elliot Street, to narrow the intersection and encourage drivers to slow down, particularly when making turns at the intersection.
Other active transportation improvements along this route are also being explored in collaboration with the City of Burnaby:
- A future pedestrian signal to be explored at the intersection of Tenth Avenue and Fourth Street.
These improvements will be longer term, with the exact timeline to be determined. All decisions need to be made in coordination with the City of Burnaby. Future progress updates on the connection to Burnaby via Fourth Street and Tenth Avenue will be made separately from updates to this Active Transportation Network Plan: Year 2 Route.
These proposed improvements are shown on the graphic below.
Map: Proposed active transportation improvements along the Fourth, Merivale, and Elliot Streets Route
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💬Pop-ups
Share your thoughts with the project team in-person at one of our pop-ups.
- Tuesday, November 25, from 3:00 – 5:00 pm at Irving House, 302 Royal Avenue
- Wednesday, November 26, from 3:00 – 7:00 pm at the Queensborough Community Centre, 920 Ewen Avenue
- Saturday, November 29, from 12:00 – 2:00 pm at the Queen's Park Arena, 51 Third Avenue
📝Online survey
Share your thoughts on these proposed improvements by taking the Fourth, Merivale, and Elliot Streets Route survey on Be Heard New West.
The survey is open until December 10, 2025.
Your input will be reviewed following the community engagement and will be used to adjust and refine the proposed improvements along the Fourth, Merivale, and Elliot Streets Route. Updates to the design based on the feedback received will be shared on this project page. Final designs are expected to be completed in the winter 2025-2026, and construction of the new active transportation route is expected to begin in spring 2026.
Check back here for updates as work progresses!
Phases
Draft designs developed for Part 2 Routes
Draft designs developed for Part 2 Routes (Fourth, Merivale and Elliot streets, Wood Street, Third Avenue)