VIA led this interdisciplinary study that investigated the potential to create a new urban streetcar line extending Vancouver's downtown and inner-city transportation ring. This study straddled development and transportation planning to serve commuters, recreation needs, and business planning to open up new opportunities for tourism.

The initial phases connect the tourist centers of Vancouver-Granville Island, Gastown, Chinatown, Canada Place and Stanley Park, as well as 30,000 new dwelling units that ring False Creek.

Adopted in principle by City Council in early 1999, the initial phase of implementation is a short run tourism service using heritage streetcars, while more detailed community and transportation planning is underway to supplement this with a modern transit system that is integrated with the regional network.

VIA Architecture is currently providing urban design and station design services for the preliminary engineering design phase of the Downtown Streetcar Project. Continuing the firm's involvement in the project since its visionary beginnings in 1998, this phase focuses on the elements of the public realm that will make this project a key component of Vancouver's 'green' infrastructure.