REPORT TO COUNCIL

BUS IMPACT TASK FORCE

June 21, 2000

CC File: 3150
RTS: 1606
Council: July 11, 2000

RECOMMENDATION

1. Bus Impact Task Force Findings/Recommendations

Vancouver City Council, at its meeting on January 12, 1999, approved the creation of a Bus Impact Task Force, with three primary purposes:

… Act as a channel of communication among a broad base of stakeholder and industry groups
… Advise Council from time to time on busing issues
… Provide a mechanism for interested public or organizations to present issues of concern with respect to impacts of buses

These Task Force objectives were formalized in the following adopted statement:

The Bus Impact Task Force will provide to City Council advice and recommendations, both general and specific, with regard to various aspects related to bus usage within the City of Vancouver. These aspects will include, but are not limited to, such areas as noise and air pollution, congestion and routing, public awareness, benefits of mass transportation, and economic value of having a recognized professional industry in the city. The Task Force will explore methods to manage growth of bus traffic and improve the ability of the city residents and the bus and motor coach industry to co-exist with one another.

The attached report outlines the main findings of the Bus Impact Task Force. It is divided into three main sections. The first section deals with the role of the Task Force and provides background information on busing in Vancouver. This is followed by Task Force findings on key issues of bus impacts in our city, and recommendations. Also included in the Report are Appendix A: Copy of PowerPoint Presentation to Council, Appendix B: April 15, 2000 Public Forum Minutes, and Appendix C: Task Force Survey.

The recommendations of the Task Force address:

… Noise & Emissions
… Bus Congestion
… Parks Recommendations

Therefore, the Bus Impact Task Force,

RECOMMENDS

Enforcement Program Recommendations

A. THAT Council direct Parking Enforcement staff to examine their hours of operation to ensure they can adequately cover enforcement of existing commercial coach by-laws with respect to idling buses, and policing of loading and unloading zones for non-designated vehicles.

B. THAT Council request the Vancouver Richmond Health Board to examine the Noise By-law to more specifically address the issues of idling buses in the early morning hours.

C. THAT Council request the Vancouver Richmond Health Board, together with appropriate City staff, to meet with the Downtown Vancouver Hotel Association to discuss the issue of idling buses and back up beepers to determine if procedures can be changed regarding these issues.

D. THAT Council direct staff to examine progressive intervention for continued by-law non-compliance for private operators.

Communication with Convention Facilities & Downtown Hotel Associations Recommendations

E. THAT Council request the Hotel Association to encourage hotels with greater than 200 rooms to have a bus management plan and staff on duty to assist in managing busing activities (6:00-22:00 hrs).

F. THAT Council request the Hotel Association work with City staff to undertake to educate bell and security hotel staff on the tour bus operator guidelines and the impacts commercial motor coaches have on surrounding residential areas.

Encouraging Improved Technology Recommendations

G. THAT Council request both TransLink and motorcoach carriers work with suppliers to provide significantly quieter and lower emission buses.

H. THAT Council request the BC Trucking Association to encourage industry partners to consider alternative-fuel vehicles where they might be economically feasible.

I. THAT Council recognize TransLink's proposed replacement of the existing aging trolley fleet, and recommend expanded trolley services where feasible.

Route Network Recommendations

J. THAT Council request greater communication between the Motor Carrier Commission and municipalities on motor coach routes within the GVRD.

K. THAT Council request Downtown Transportation Plan staff to create a motor coach network in the Downtown that would include truck routes and major arterials as outlined in the City of Vancouver's Transportation Plan, in consultation with the motor carrier industry, residents, downtown hotels, and the Hotel Association;

FURTHER THAT City staff examine options for bus staging areas for large regional attractions in Downtown Vancouver.

L. THAT Council request street construction crews and the City's Film and Special Events staff notify tour and motor coach companies in advance if there are disruptions on motor coach routes.

Urban Design Recommendations

M. THAT Council request staff to report back on existing standards for mitigation of street noise and what improvements can be done in the permit approval process to develop standards for mitigation of street noise when approving buildings next to bus and motor coach routes.

N. THAT Council direct staff, when considering zoning or rezoning applications and/or building permit approvals, to consider the character of the area and the extent to which new development will attract commercial vehicles;

FURTHER THAT staff develop and enforce a development criteria to ensure that hotels or hotels undergoing renovations have adequate parking, stopping,loading and unloading provisions for buses.

Parks Recommendations

O. THAT Council encourage the Park Board and Corporate Services Staff to develop environmentally friendly bus parking plans for parks (especially Queen Elizabeth, Vanier and Stanley Park), to allow for:
… Ease of operation for bus movement
… Safe unloading of passengers
… Reduced conflict with other forms of traffic
… Facility size and turning radii;

FURTHER THAT the Park Board and Police be requested to enforce a three minute idling by-law for motor coaches;

AND FURTHER THAT Council request the Park Board to review motor coach access to parking on scheduled time basis for tour operators to avoid congestion, in consultation with tour operators.

Working Group Recommendation

P. THAT Council endorse the establishment of a working group on a site-specific basis for bus and motorcoach impacts. This action-oriented group would:

1. Expeditiously address location specific issues such as noise, emissions, parking, loading/unloading, traffic congestion and safety;

2. Be coordinated by City staff and comprise of representatives from the Park Board, Vancouver Richmond Health Board, Coast Mountain Bus Company, Motor Carrier Commission, tourism, motor coach, taxi, hotel and retail industries. Participation of individual groups will be as required and where appropriate;

3. Provide mechanisms for input and participation from affected communities and the general public.

(Signed) "Raymond Segat"
Raymond Segat, Chair
Bus Impact Task Force

CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The City Manager notes that the report prepared by the Bus Impact Task Force is comprehensive and well done. It has been very positive bringing the various stakeholders and their viewpoints to the table. I would like to thank the members for their work in dealing with the complexities of the identified issues of motor coach noise, emissions, congestion and routing.

The Bus Impact Task Force was helpful in beginning to address issues in the downtown where changing land use and increased busing has had impacts. The Downtown Transportation Plan will provide an opportunity to further address these issues by creating a motor coach network in the downtown.

Many issues brought to the Task Force's attention were site specific. The formation of an ongoing working group to be convened as site specific issues arise will help address issues in an expeditious manner. The contacts and working relationships developed on the Task Force will assist in bringing the appropriate people together on the working group.

An ongoing issue with busing has been noise impacts and the recent decision by TransLink to replace the trolley bus fleet has been a positive direction. I would support the industry and TransLink to further work with the motor coach suppliers to decrease noise in their motor coach fleets.

Therefore, the City Manager RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing recommendations of the Bus Impact Task Force.

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