A9
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: February 27, 1996
Dept. File No. : 650182
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: General Manager, Engineering Services
SUBJECT: 1996 Provincial Cycling Network Program
- Preliminary Work
RECOMMENDATION
THAT $215,000 be allocated for preliminary work on the Arbutus
Bike Corridor, S.W. Marine Drive Bike Corridor, and commuter
connections and upgrades for the 7-Eleven Bike Path, as described
in this report, to be funded from the Streets Basic Capital
Unappropriated Account #12/31/6903/999, with report back on
detailed design after consultation with affected communities.
COUNCIL POLICY
The Vancouver Comprehensive Bicycle Plan (1988), the Clouds of Change
Report (1990), the City-wide Bicycle Network (1992) and the recent
Greenways Program establish the City's policy of promoting and
encouraging cycling as a transportation alternative.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to inform Council about the award of 1996
Provincial Cycling Network cost-sharing funding, to allocate
preliminary funding for the 1996 Provincial Cycling Network projects,
and to inform Council about four applications made to the 1997
Provincial Cycling Network Program.
BACKGROUND
On June 15, 1995, the Honourable Jackie Pement, then Minister of
Transportation and Highways, announced a Cycling Network Program. The
Cycling Network Program provides funding for the construction of
cycling infrastructure on provincial and local roads, the latter being
50% cost-shared with local municipalities up to a maximum of $200,000
per project. The intent of the program is to encourage additional
cycling infrastructure, not to replace existing municipal funding. For
the fiscal year 1996/97, approximately $2 million was allocated by the
B.C. Transportation Financing Authority. Municipalities are required
to have a comprehensive cycling network plan in place to qualify.
Applications for the 1997 program had to be submitted to the Ministry
by February 12, 1996 and all construction must be completed by March
31, 1997.On February 27, 1996, Council approved $334,000 to be used in
conjunction with Provincial and existing monies to fund three cycling
projects; the Arbutus Bike Corridor, S.W. Marine Drive Bike Corridor,
and Commuter connections and upgrades for the 7-Eleven Bike Path.
DISCUSSION
1996 Provincial Cycling Network Program
As part of the 1996 Provincial Cycling Network Program the Ministry of
Transportation and Highways awarded $360,000 to the City of Vancouver
to be applied towards three cost-shared bicycle projects. Of the seven
project applications submitted the following were approved:
1. Arbutus Bike Corridor
2. S.W. Marine Drive Bike Corridor
3. Commuter connections and upgrades for the 7-Eleven Bike Path
These three projects are similar to existing Bikeways and are detailed
in Appendix A. The total cost for these three projects is estimated at
$830,000, and will be funded by City and Provincial monies.
Allocation of $215,000 is requested for preliminary work on the three
projects approved for the 1996 Provincial Program. This work will
include pavement improvements, upgrading existing signals with cyclist
push-buttons, and route signs. This work is similar to preliminary
work done on previous bikeway projects. Also included in the
preliminary work is funding for an Engineering Assistant, level III,
for six months at a cost of $20,000.
Engineering will report back to Council for approval of the detailed
designs and funding allocation for all three projects after further
consultation with affected communities.
1997 Provincial Cycling Network Program
The City has approved bicycle plans in place, including the
Comprehensive Bicycle Plan, the Bicycle Network Plan, and Greenways
Plan. From these, the following bicycle projects were reviewed and
prioritized, in consultation with the Bicycle Advisory Committee to
Council:
1. 37th Avenue Bike Corridor
2. Bikeway Links
3. Kent Avenue Bike Corridor
4. West-End/Downtown Cycling Improvements
A detailed description of each project can be found in Appendix B.
The above applications were submitted to the 1997 Cycling Network Cost-
Share Program and the total estimated project cost is $1,469,000. If
all four projects are approved the City's share would be $816,000.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS
There is a positive environmental impact because a non-polluting form
of transportation (bicycles) would be promoted as an alternative to the
automobile, while discouraging automobile use along Bikeways.
PERSONNEL IMPLICATIONS
1996 Provincial Cycling Network Program
The July 4th Administrative Report, Provincial Cycling Network Program,
stated that additional staff may be required if two or more projects
were approved. Based on this year's award for three projects, an
additional staff member (Engineering Assistant, Level III), is required
for six months to ensure that the work is completed by September 1996,
the Provincial deadline. The additional staff member's work would
include drafting/design, traffic counts, graphics and some project co-
ordination.
Computer equipment is also required for use by the Bicycle Coordinator
and the temporary staff member as existing computer resources are
limited. The computer equipment would be used for drafting, graphics,
communications (fax/email), schedules, budgets, correspondence and
report writing.
1997 Provincial Cycling Network Program
Personnel implications for the 1997 application would be dependent on
the number of projects approved for cost-sharing. If there are more
than two projects approved, staff resources will need to be reviewed to
ensure the project completion date of March 31, 1997. This could be
accomplished within the proposed Capital Program for cycling.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
a) 1996 Provincial Cycling Network Program
The estimated costs for the three approved 1996 projects are:
Arbutus Bike Corridor............................... $510,000
S.W. Marine Drive Bike Corridor..................... $120,000
Commuter Upgrades for the 7-Eleven Bike Path........ $200,000
Total $830,000
The funding sources for the three projects under the 1996 program
are as follows:
Existing Funds...................................... $136,000
Funding Approved Feb 27, 1996....................... $334,000
Provincial Share.................................... $360,000
Total $830,000
$215,000 is requested now for preliminary work and Engineering
will report back with proposed allocation on the balance after
detailed design is completed.
The cost estimates for the preliminary work are as follows:
Pavement Improvements............................... $110,000
Push Button Upgrades................................ $ 40,000
Route Signs......................................... $ 35,000
Temporary Staff and Computer Equipment.............. $ 30,000
Total $215,000
Funding for the total project, $830,000, is available in Streets
Basic Capital Unappropriated Account (12/31/6903/999).
b) 1997 Provincial Cost-Share Program
Details of the four projects have not been finalized yet;
however, based on past bicycle projects the total cost is
estimated to be $1,469,000. If all four projects are approved for
Provincial Cycling Network Program funding, the City's share would
be $816,000. Sufficient funds will be submitted in the 1997 to
1999 Capital Program to fund these and other bicycle projects. If
the Capital Program submission is approved by voters in the
plebiscite, then sufficient funds will be available for the cost-
sharing Cycling Network Program.
Matching funds for the downtown portion could also be provided
from Concord-Pacific with funds provided in lieu of parking.
The estimated cost per project is as follows:
1. 37th Avenue Bike Corridor.................... $ 550,000
2. Bikeway Links................................ $ 413,000
3. Kent Avenue Bike Corridor.................... $ 356,000
4. West-End/Downtown Cycling Improvements....... $ 150,000
Total $1,469,000
BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMMENTS
The Bicycle Advisory Committee was involved in the selection of these
projects, has reviewed this report and finds it consistent with the
objectives of the committee.
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