Granville Mall (Vancouver)

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Not to be confused with Granville Island, a shopping district a few kilometres away.

Granville Mall

Granville Mall is a transit and pedestrian mall in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was designated in 1974, comprising the section of Granville Street between Hastings Street and Nelson Street. In 1988, the city re-opened one block between Nelson and Smithe Streets to general traffic, widening the section to 4 lanes. Granville Mall is serviced by the Granville Station SkyTrain subway, the busiest in the system.

Effective April 24, 2006, the mall between Robson Street and Hastings Street was closed to all traffic, including transit buses, to allow construction of the SkyTrain Canada Line subway and a new station. Buses have now been routed to Seymour Street (northbound) and Howe Street (southbound), each one block away. The closure will last at least 2 1/2 years. Also related to this construction, for the first time since 1974, the 800, 600, and 500 blocks of Granville (between Smithe and Robson, and then again between Georgia and Pender) are open to all traffic, northbound, including on-street metered parking.

Before its closure, on weekdays, the Granville Mall was used by over 1,900 buses (90% electric trolleybuses) and 47,500+ transit riders. In the spring of 2006, Vancouver City Council, after studies and consultations, decided on a redesign, to be constructed after the Canada Line subway is completed in the area.

[edit] Entertainment District

See also Granville Street.

In addition to transit, Granville Mall is also a popular entertainment and retail district. Scores of bars, dance clubs, restaurants, hotels, and shops with neon lights and urban gritty vibe are open until late into the night.