A people-first street redesign delivers active transportation, community amenities, and a bold step toward a more sustainable city core.
The City of New Westminster has officially completed the Agnes Greenway, a transformative 1.2-kilometre corridor designed to prioritize walking, cycling, and rolling along Agnes Street. Years in the making and shaped by extensive public input, the new greenway reflects the city’s commitment to sustainability, safety, and inclusive public space.
With new landscaping, protected bike lanes, traffic calming measures, and community amenities now in place, the Agnes Greenway is a vibrant example of how infrastructure can foster healthier, more connected urban life.
From Concept to Construction: A Decade in the Making
First imagined a decade ago in the Downtown Community Plan, the Agnes Greenway was identified as a key priority in New Westminster’s 2019–2022 Strategic Plan and Downtown Transportation Plan. By reimagining a key east-west corridor, the City aims to reduce car dependency while responding to its climate emergency declaration.
The project spans from Dufferin Street to Seventh Street, with future plans to extend the greenway east to the New Westminster SkyTrain Station and Waterfront Esplanade, creating a continuous link between Victoria Hill, the Pattullo Bridge replacement, and Surrey.
*Photo by City of New Westminster
A Street Reimagined: Design Features and Community Benefits
The newly completed greenway introduces a two-way protected cycling and rolling path, upgraded sidewalks, landscaped curb extensions, and rainwater infrastructure including a stormwater tree trench and rain garden. Notably, Blackwood Street has been permanently closed at Agnes to make way for a new dog parklet, public seating, and a water fountain.
Other community-focused features include:
Floating bus stop between Elliot and First Street for safer transit access
Speed humps along Cunningham and Dickenson for traffic calming
Raised intersections near École Qayqayt Elementary to slow vehicle speeds
Wayfinding signage, benches, and pedestrian-scale lighting
Importantly, the final configuration preserves current traffic flow while replacing temporary greenway elements—like flexible delineators—with permanent medians and curbs.
Shaped by the Community: Deep Public Engagement
The greenway’s design was guided by two robust rounds of public engagement between 2020 and 2021. The process included surveys, virtual workshops, in-person events, and interactive tools, drawing hundreds of responses from residents, property owners, students, and commuters.
Public feedback led to key refinements:
Enhanced accessibility for mobility devices and strollers
Retention of some parking and loading zones where feasible
Improved intersection safety and lighting
Increased greenery and seating areas
Overall, 57% of survey respondents supported the final vision, praising the emphasis on safety, greenery, and active transportation. Some residents raised concerns about traffic disruption, parking loss, and transit rerouting, but the city worked to address many of these in the final design.
Building for the Future: Construction and Funding
Construction began in mid-2022, led by Jack Cewe Construction Ltd, and was completed over a 24-week period. While road closures and detours were necessary, access to local homes and businesses was maintained throughout.
The project was funded with support from TransLink and the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, through a B.C. Active Transportation Infrastructure Grant.
More Than a Bike Lane: A New Vision for Agnes Street
At its heart, the Agnes Greenway is more than a transportation corridor—it’s a community space that supports health, heritage, ecology, and play. From interpretive signage to intergenerational amenities, the greenway reflects a holistic approach to placemaking.
Its seven guiding themes—Health, Heritage, Ecology, Learning, Play, Inviting, and Safe—emerged directly from community voices. The result is a dynamic, multi-use street that supports not just movement, but memory, identity, and belonging.
Curious how this new greenway might reshape Downtown New Westminster’s future? Projects like this are part of a bigger vision to create healthier, more connected communities. Want to stay in the loop on local transformations like this? We’re here to help you stay informed.