West Mall Redesign

The University of British Columbia (UBC) Campus and Community Planning (CCP) has identified the need to redesign West Mall. This corridor runs parallel to Lower Mall, Main Mall, and East Mall and serves as a key connection for students and operational personnel. The objective of the project is to redesign West Mall to encourage active transportation by prioritizing ease of use, comfort, and safety. The design must meet technical and non-technical constraints while responding to UBC’s growing student population and increasing community demand. Currently, the corridor consists of a two-way roadway with one lane for northbound traffic and one for southbound traffic. Although painted bike symbols are present, the separation between vehicle and cycling spaces is poorly defined, creating potential conflicts between drivers and cyclists. Multiple pedestrian crossings along the corridor also contribute to vehicle delays, particularly during peak class change periods. The final design features a one-way southbound vehicle lane and a protected bidirectional cycling facility on the west side of the corridor. It incorporates enhanced pedestrian zones (minimum 2 m clear width), a lined bioswale for stormwater management, and an integrated wayfinding installation supported by a footing design. To ensure design requirements were met, the team conducted site analysis, stakeholder engagement, data collection, and a weighted decision matrix. The design was validated through Synchro simulations to confirm operational performance. Construction is proposed to be carried out in phases to minimize disruption to campus operations while maintaining continuous access for pedestrians, cyclists, service vehicles, and emergency responders. The project is supported by a Class A cost estimate, a detailed construction schedule, and a lifecycle maintenance plan to ensure long-term corridor performance. Overall, the proposed redesign provides the UBC community with a safe, efficient, and sustainable transportation corridor that meets current and future needs. Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”