The Central Valley Greenway (CVG) is a 24-kilometre pedestrian and cyclist route in
Metro Vancouver
The Metro Vancouver Regional District (MVRD), or simply Metro Vancouver, is a Canadian political subdivision and Corporation, corporate entity representing the metropolitan area of Greater Vancouver, designated by provincial legislation as o ...
, running from Science World in
Vancouver
Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...
to
New Westminster
New Westminster (colloquially known as New West) is a city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada, and a member municipality of the Metro Vancouver Regional District. It was founded by Major-General Richard Moody as the cap ...
, through
Burnaby
Burnaby is a city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada. Located in the centre of the Burrard Peninsula, it neighbours the City of Vancouver to the west, the District of North Vancouver across the confluence of the Burrard In ...
. The greenway officially opened on June 27, 2009, with opening celebrations, guided bike tours, and walking tours on sections of the route. Despite its official opening, some sections are complete on an interim basis and are anticipated to be upgraded in the future.
The total cost of the greenway was approximately $24 million. Funding was provided by the government of Canada, the province of
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...
,
TransLink, Metro Vancouver, and the cities of Vancouver, Burnaby, and New Westminster. The greenway was catalyzed by a grant given to
Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST) by
Vancity Credit Union, in recognition of its transportation advocacy efforts, such as advocating for the construction of the greenway.
Route
The greenway provides a safe corridor for commuters and a green route to local parks. In the Burnaby and New Westminster sections, the route runs near the
SkyTrain's
Millennium Line
The Millennium Line is the second line of the SkyTrain rapid transit system in the Metro Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada. The line is owned and operated by BC Rapid Transit Company, a subsidiary of TransLink, and links the cities ...
. The route follows the Central Valley, providing a remarkably flat route through a hilly region. Most sections of the trail, a combination of off-road paths and quality on-street routes, are suitable for many users (pedestrians, commuter and recreational cyclists, wheelchair users, in-line skaters, etc.). In Burnaby there are some gravel paths less suitable for in-line skating. Sections of the trail in Burnaby passing through Burnaby Lake Regional Park (pedestrian route) and along the
Brunette River are open during daylight hours only.
Along the way, the Central Valley Greenway connects major destinations, including
*the
False Creek
False Creek () is a short narrow inlet in the heart of Vancouver, separating the Downtown Vancouver, Downtown and West End, Vancouver, West End list of neighbourhoods in Vancouver, neighbourhoods from the rest of the city. It is one of the four ...
Seawall
*Great Northern Way Campus
*
Vancouver Community College
Vancouver Community College (VCC) is a public community college in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1965, it is the oldest community college in British Columbia. VCC offers 79 certificate programs, 24 diploma programs, 9 award o ...
(VCC)
*
Commercial Drive
*Burnaby Lake Sports Complex
*
Burnaby Lake Regional Park
*
Hume Park
*
Sapperton
*
Royal Columbian Hospital
*Downtown New Westminster
*13
SkyTrain stations
See also
Vancouver Greenway Network
External links
City of Vancouver – Central Valley GreenwayCity of Burnaby – Central Valley GreenwayTransLink - BC Parkway and Central Valley Greenway MapTransLink - A guide to a cycling adventure along the Central Valley Greenway
Bike paths in British Columbia
Transport in Greater Vancouver
Proposed transport infrastructure in Canada
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