Metrotown's new pedestrian scramble between mall and SkyTrain station now built | Daily Hive

Metrotown's new pedestrian scramble crossing between mall and SkyTrain station reaches completion

The new Central Boulevard pedestrian scramble to improve accessibility for SkyTrain's Metrotown Station, the bus exchange, and Metropolis at Metrotown mall, as seen on June 7, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)

Pedestrians travelling between SkyTrain’s Metrotown Station on the south side of Central Boulevard and the bus exchange and Metropolis at Metrotown mall on the north side can now cross one of Metro Vancouver’s busiest intersections for foot traffic in a completely new way.

The City of Burnaby has completed and opened its new five-way pedestrian scramble at the intersection of Central Boulevard and the shopping mall’s underground parkade entrance, introducing diagonal crossings and a dedicated all-pedestrian signal phase at a location used by thousands of people every day.

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Pedestrians can now move directly across the intersection in any direction, including diagonally from corner to corner, whenever the scramble signal is activated.

The intersection sits at a critical pinch point between one of SkyTrain’s busiest stations, one of the region’s busiest bus exchanges, and British Columbia’s largest shopping centre.

Every day, large crowds funnel through the crossing as public transit riders make connections, commuters head to work, and shoppers move between the station, bus exchange, and mall.

The newly completed configuration introduces two diagonal crosswalks through the middle of the intersection, bringing the total number of pedestrian crossing paths to five. During the scramble phase, all vehicle traffic is halted, allowing people to cross simultaneously in every direction before vehicles receive a green light. Such a configuration and signal pattern is intended to improve accessibility, capacity, and safety.

Time-lapse video of the new 5-way, all-walk signal at the new pedestrian scramble crossing on Central Boulevard, including diagonal movements.

Next to #SkyTrain's Metrotown station, the bus exchange, and Metropolis at Metrotown mall. #vanre #vanpoli 2/3https://t.co/AudMWvNFdk pic.twitter.com/ySGeqGDH2l

— Kenneth Chan (@iamkennethchan) June 9, 2026

Casually walking diagonally at Metrotown's new pedestrian scramble crossing on Central Boulevard.

A big upgrade for the busy crossing due to the pedestrian traffic generated by the #SkyTrain station, bus exchange, and mall. #vanre #vanpoli 3/3https://t.co/AudMWvNFdk pic.twitter.com/mjFwtI8KMM

— Kenneth Chan (@iamkennethchan) June 9, 2026

metrotown central boulevard pedestrian scramble june 8 2026

The new Central Boulevard pedestrian scramble to improve accessibility for SkyTrain’s Metrotown Station, the bus exchange, and Metropolis at Metrotown mall, as seen on June 7, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)

Additionally, the intersection’s northeast corner previously included a small triangular traffic island separating the mall’s parkade entrance from Central Boulevard, requiring many pedestrians to make a two-stage crossing. This island with an additional crossing has now been removed, and the sidewalk has been extended as another measure to greatly improve safety and accessibility.

For nearly a decade, pedestrian crossings in the area has been concentrated at street level following the disconnection of the old pedestrian overpass that once directly linked Metrotown Station with the mall. Prior to its disconnection in 2016 for the construction work to accommodate the significant renovation and expansion of the station, the elevated walkway carried the majority of foot traffic across Central Boulevard.

Since then, the significant public transit ridership and mall visitation volumes have steadily increased pressure on nearby intersections.

According to TransLink statistics, Metrotown Station recorded 8.51 million boardings in 2024, making it the second-busiest station on the SkyTrain network. Tens of thousands of additional daily passenger boardings occur at the adjacent bus exchange, creating some of the highest pedestrian volumes anywhere in Metro Vancouver.

Metrotown’s pedestrian scramble crossing joins a small number of pedestrian scrambles in Metro Vancouver, including those in Richmond’s Steveston Village and at the intersection of Granville and Robson streets in Downtown Vancouver.

metrotown central boulevard pedestrian scramble

Concept of the new Central Boulevard pedestrian scramble to improve accessibility for SkyTrain’s Metrotown Station, the bus exchange, and Metropolis at Metrotown mall. (City of Burnaby)

The new Central Boulevard pedestrian scramble to improve accessibility for SkyTrain’s Metrotown Station, the bus exchange, and Metropolis at Metrotown mall, as seen on June 7, 2026. (Kenneth Chan)

The scramble crossing arrives as Metrotown continues to experience rapid growth. Multiple residential towers have recently been completed nearby, while dozens more are planned or under construction across Burnaby’s downtown core.

Although the new crossing is expected to improve pedestrian flow and reduce conflicts between people and vehicles, it is not intended to replace longer-term discussions about rebuilding a direct station-to-mall pedestrian overpass.

City officials have previously indicated that future plans for a replacement overpass are closely linked to the eventual redevelopment of Metropolis at Metrotown. The mall owner, La Caisse (formerly known as Ivanhoe Cambridge), has been preparing a long-term master plan that could ultimately transform much of the property into a high-density mixed-use district featuring new residential, commercial, and public spaces.

But the first step toward achieving any new pedestrian overpass would be to demolish the disconnected old overpass. Last month, City staff noted that they are exploring demolition options.

While the old overpass reached the previous configuration and design of the station’s eastern entrance, the new overpass would directly connect with the mezzanine level of the 2018-built centre entrance.

TransLink is also planning potential major upgrades for Metrotown Station’s overall bus exchange, including changes to the BC Parkway area immediately to the south of the station. This would serve to increase the bus exchange’s capacity, possibly building on the 2018-completed station upgrades that first introduced on-street bus bays outside of the bus loop.

Disconnected old overpass of SkyTrain’s Metrotown Station. (Kenneth Chan)

Previous conceptual artistic rendering of the location of the new replacement pedestrian overpass for SkyTrain’s Metrotown Station. (TransLink)

Previous conceptual artistic rendering of the location of the new replacement pedestrian overpass for SkyTrain’s Metrotown Station. (TransLink)

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