St. George Rainway

St George Rainway
St. George Rainway is a green rainwater infrastructure and sustainable transportation project that aims to re-imagine the street to support nature, mobility, community and learning.
What is happening?
The St. George Rainway was first envisioned by a group of community volunteers who wanted to add urban nature back into the streetscape while creating opportunities for artistic expression, education activities, and community gathering. In 2020, City of Vancouver began public consultation to make this project a reality. The Rainway will use green rainwater infrastructure to:
- Reduce street flooding
- Treat rainwater pollutants from roadways
- Reduce combined sewer overflows intoContinue reading
St George Rainway
St. George Rainway is a green rainwater infrastructure and sustainable transportation project that aims to re-imagine the street to support nature, mobility, community and learning.
What is happening?
The St. George Rainway was first envisioned by a group of community volunteers who wanted to add urban nature back into the streetscape while creating opportunities for artistic expression, education activities, and community gathering. In 2020, City of Vancouver began public consultation to make this project a reality. The Rainway will use green rainwater infrastructure to:
- Reduce street flooding
- Treat rainwater pollutants from roadways
- Reduce combined sewer overflows into local waterways
- Enhance climate resiliency
- Increase biodiversity
- Cool the neighbourhood during summer heat
The project will also provide safety and comfort improvements for those who walk, bike and roll down St. George Street.
We have just completed our final phase of engagment of the Rainway concept design. A summary of the survey results are available here. What we hear in this final phase of public engagement will help city staff to develop a detailed design and construction drawings for the Rainway. Construction is anticipated to begin in early 2023.
Stay involved
Throughout this year, we will be running a citizen science campaign using iNaturalist to measure biodiversity along the Rainway. Learn more by visiting our citizen science page. The Rainway will have other opportunities for involvement too as the project gets implemented. To stay up to date, please sign up for our mailing list on the top right side of this page.
-
CLOSED: This survey has concluded.
Introduction
The City of Vancouver has developed a final concept design for the Rainway along St. George St between Broadway and 5th Ave. Rainways are a multi-block area that use nature-based solutions to manage rainwater with great spaces for walking, rolling and cycling to support sustainable transportation.
Three previous rounds of engagement have helped to inform the final concept design, founded on the values of:
Nature
Community
Mobility
Learning
In the last round of engagement, we asked the community to rank their preferred street layout option and green rainwater infrastructure concept. The top ranked options have been refined into a final concept design. Review the Phase 3: St George Rainway Concept Designs - public engagement results.
About the survey
In this survey, we will be asking you to comment on the final Rainway concept design. Does the design fit the project values of nature, community, mobility and learning? Are there further refinements you would like to see to improve the function of this public space?
Before starting the survey, you are encouraged to review our engagement materials:
- Background - including project objectives, policy links, previous engagement summary, and descriptions of how rain gardens work
- Final Concept Design - Block by block breakdowns of the final concept design
- Design Details - Public art concepts, tree and planting strategies, vehicle access and parking
- Next Steps - Maintenance and stewardship opportunities, timelines, and future phases
The survey will be open from April 1 - April 30. Paper copies are available on request to be submitted by mail. If you would like a paper copy, please email is at raincity@vancouver.ca
How will my input be used?
The comments received during this final phase of engagement will be used by the City of Vancouver to make small changes to the final concept and work towards a detailed design for construction of the St. George Rainway.
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link -
CLOSED: This survey has concluded.
Walking with the Current: A sensorial walk along St George Street is a guide for exploring St George Street.
This self-guided walk was created by Holly Schmidt, the current Engineering Artist-in-Residence at the City of Vancouver, as a way for people to engage with this familiar street in new ways.
We would love to see what you discovered on your walk! After you've completed the walk, use this feature to submit your sketches and reflections. You don't need to answer each question, just what you are comfortable sharing.
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
What is Green Infrastructure?
-
Click here to play video Green infrastructure overview Green rainwater infrastructure (GRI) is an approach to rainwater management that uses a combination of engineered and nature-based solutions to protect, restore, and mimic the natural water cycle. Rainwater running off of hard, impermeable surfaces such as roads, sidewalks, and rooftops is captured, stored, and filtered. The water then rejoins the water cycled by absorbing into the ground, returning to waterways and/or the surrounding atmosphere. GRI is both a drainage infrastructure tool as well as a method to manage and enhance urban water and natural systems. When integrated with grey infrastructure (traditional sewage and pipe systems), GRI can provide environmental, social, and economic benefits.
Project timeline
-
Public engagement 1: values and vision
St. George Rainway has finished this stageFall 2020
Community shared their values as well as opportunities and concerns about the project.
-
Public advisory committee establishment
St. George Rainway has finished this stageMarch 2021
Establish an 8-10 member committee to advise on project development and engagement
-
Public engagement 2: co-design for co-benefits
St. George Rainway has finished this stageMay-July 2021
Community shared design ideas for the Rainway
-
Public engagement 3: initial concept design
St. George Rainway has finished this stageFall 2021
Community gave feedback on initial concept designs.
-
Public engagement 4: preferred concept design
St. George Rainway has finished this stageSpring 2022
Community reviews and gives feedback on the preferred concept design.
Summary of public engagement 4 Summary of public engagement 4
-
City staff develop detailed design
St. George Rainway is currently at this stageThe City completes a detailed design of the St. George Rainway.
-
Ready for Construction
this is an upcoming stage for St. George Rainway2023
The St. George Rainway is ready for the construction phase.
Sign-up
St. George Rainway mail list sign up
Frequently asked questions
Important links
Contact us
-
Email raincity@vancouver.ca