ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: May 12, 1998

Author/Local: R. Hodgins/7345

S.Clift/7306

CC File No. 5752-1

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Street Works for the East Granville Bridge Loop Park/Open Space

RECOMMENDATION

A.THAT deletion of the circular on-ramp to the Granville Bridge, associated street works on Granville, 4th/6th Diversion, Hemlock, realignment of the existing pedestrian tunnel under Granville, and the creation of the new 5th Avenue in the 1400 block between Hemlock and Granville proceed as described in this report at a cost of $1,339,000 to be funded from the Development Cost Levy of the Pacific Press Development.

B.THAT a traffic signal at Hemlock and the 4th/6th Avenue Diversion be installed in conjunction with the street works at an estimated cost of $80,000, to be funded in advance of the 1998 Traffic Signal Capital Program approval.

COUNCIL POLICY

The Burrard Slopes Policy Plan

-Council has approved maximizing the public open space potential of the site specifically by eliminating the Granville Bridge on-ramp

-Council has adopted a Development Cost Levies By-law.

The Transportation Plan Road Initiative 5 recommends small changes that favour the pedestrian environment.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to describe the necessary street changes required to support the development of the improved and expanded East Granville Loop park and open space, to be constructed in conjunction with the redevelopment of the Pacific Press site at 2198 Granville Street.

BACKGROUND

On July 29, 1997, Council approved the principle to maximize the public open space potential of the East Granville Bridge Loop (see Fig. 1) by:

- using 3,290 square metres (35,400 square feet) of the Pacific Press site adjacent to the East Bridge Loop for public park and road:

- removing the existing bridge on-ramp, creating a new 5th Avenue between Hemlock and Granville Streets, and relocating the existing trolley wires, any affected underground utilities, realigning the underground pedestrian tunnel and relocating the tunnel entrance; and

-amalgamating the portion of the Pacific Press site with the East Bridge Loop and redeveloping the expanded loop to incorporate active and passive recreational uses

DISCUSSION

At the request of the City, the developer, Bosa Ltd., commissioned a traffic and transit study to assess the impacts of the proposed Loop and Pacific Press sites on the surrounding area. This report presents the proposed roadway design (Figure 2) and other related infrastructure works required to meet the Council objectives for the Burrard Slopes Open Space Opportunities. A general park use plan (Figure 3) is described in detail in a companion report.

The details of the proposed street works are described below.

A.STREET WORK

5th Avenue

A new 5th Avenue is proposed to be created in the 1400 block between Hemlock and Granville. This street would replace the existing 4th Avenue/Granville on-ramp to the Granville Bridge. This street would be 12 metres in width set in a standard 20 metre right-of-way. The travel portion is sufficient for one lane of moving traffic in eachdirection and parking on both sides to serve the park and the development. This street would provide for local traffic circulation and access to two buildings of the new development to the south.

The street would be narrowed to 8.4 metres in the centre of the block, to facilitate a north/south pedestrian corridor flowing through the development and into the park on the north side of the street towards Granville Island. The pedestrian corridor can be built with special surface treatment to improve visual definition. A corner bulge would also narrow 5th Avenue at Hemlock Street.

The local transit trolley services (#4, #7) would be routed on this street. A bus layover would be established on the north side of the street west of the crosswalk described above.

A small island would be created at the Granville intersection to permanently prohibit westbound to southbound left turns and to provide for pedestrian refuge.

The new 5th Avenue would have Stop Sign control both westbound (exiting to the bridge) and eastbound (at Hemlock).

In general, the elimination of the on-ramp and the use of Hemlock and the new 5th Avenue adds 125 metres to the travel length of vehicles accessing the Granville Bridge and less than half a minute to the travel time.

Alternative 5th Avenue

An alternative design for 5th Avenue ( shown in Figure 4) has been provided per the Council discussion of March 24, 1998. This design is a compromise between the existing ramp and the proposed design described above. It is 100 metres longer than the existing ramp and 25 metres shorter than the proposed design. In reference to Figure 3, however, the design affects the park by reducing green area and requiring some existing trees to be removed. East/west pedestrian movements would become confusing and potentially less safe. Also traffic control would be more complicated with the split of southbound Hemlock from the revised ramp and the merge with westbound traffic on the new 5th Avenue. Speeds would be higher at the eastern end of this alternative design(Figure 4) than the proposed design (Figure 2).

In consideration of the park impacts the reduction in pedestrian safety and the minimal travel time gains, the alternative design shown in Figure 4 is not recommended.

Granville Street

Granville Street would be widened by 0.6 metres in the block between 6th Avenue and the new 5th Avenue to provide for a wider curb lane for buses and bicyclists. The new development is set back by 1.6 metres so that an adequate sidewalk width of 3.8 metres would also be created.

North of the new 5th Avenue the fourth merging lane onto the bridge would be eliminated for a length of 50 metres. This length is proposed to be used as the new stop for the Richmond Rapidbus, creating a superior transfer point to Granville Island and connecting local services. There would be three residual northbound lanes to the bridge which match the street to the south.

Hemlock

Minor curb modifications for southbound traffic are proposed. In the northbound direction two lanes are proposed in anticipation of a new signal.

4th/6th Diversion

Minor modifications to centre islands are proposed.

B.TRAFFIC SIGNAL

A new vehicular traffic signal at Hemlock St. and the 4th/6th Diversion is recommended as part of enhancing local vehicular and pedestrian movements.

The present northbound operation of Hemlock is one lane approaching a stop sign at the 4th/6th Diversion. Entry into westbound 4th Avenue consists of two manoeuvres including crossing the eastbound flow to the refuge of a centre island and then merging into westbound flow with the assistance of a short merging lane. This latter movement is especially awkward. The signal would improve the safety of these movements. In consideration of volumes and storage requirements, a two-lane approach on Hemlock would be required with signal operation.

This signal would also assist pedestrians to cross the diversion in safety. They would use the east cross-walk, which allows direct access to the pedestrian structure to Moberly Road. With the installation of this signal the merging lane on the westbound diversion would be eliminated.

C.TRANSIT

#4-#7 Fourth Avenue/Dunbar #50 Services

The rebuilt Hemlock Street and the new 5th Avenue serve to replace the existing bridge on-ramp. The routing is only one-half block longer. A stop/layover point for two buses would be located on 5th Avenue at Granville, facilitating good transfer access to other routes described below.

Local Granville Services

Local northbound trolley services using Granville will continue to stop north of 7th Avenue.

Richmond Rapidbus

The proposed stop for this new service would be north of 5th Avenue on a widened sidewalk area adjacent to the park. From this stop, steps and ramps are being integrated into the park design to lead pedestrians to Granville Island, the new development or the reworked pedestrian tunnel under Granville. This stop avoids conflict with the local service stop to the south and avoids occupying more street space fronting retail, but at the same time offers good pedestrian connections and access to all local services listed above.

D.PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENTS

The pedestrian boulevards on the new 5th Avenue would be generous (4 metres) with a mid-block crossing provided. Similarly a wide sidewalk would be provided on Granville (3.8 metres) because of building setbacks.

Figure 2 also shows a realigned pedestrian underpass. This underpass would be rebuilt with new lighting and wall finish to enhance its appearance.

E.COSTS

The costs to undertake the above work are estimated at:

-Street Work, Pedestrian Tunnel $1,550,000

and Trolley Overhead

-Traffic Signal $ 80,000

The street work, pedestrian tunnel and trolley overhead are estimated at $1,550,000. However, the developer has agreed to enter into a lump-sum legal agreement to do this work for the City for $1,339,000. The source of funds for the work is the DCL's from the Pacific Press development and is the subject of an accompanying report before Council today.

The proposed traffic signal at Hemlock and the 4th/6th Avenue Diversion, estimated at $80,000 will be included as part of the 1998 Signal Program report. However, due to construction timing issues, this report asks Council for funding approval in advance of that report.

CONCLUSION

The development of the East Granville Loop will be proceeding as the Pacific Press site is redeveloped by Bosa Ltd. The street work is an integral part of meeting Council’s objectives for the provision of open space for Burrard Slopes. The main features of this work are:

-the elimination of the 4th Avenue on-ramp to the Granville Bridge

-the replacement of the ramp with a new 5th Avenue between Hemlock and Granville Street

-the use of the fourth lane of the Granville Bridge, north of the new 5th Avenue for the placement of a new Richmond Rapidbus stop

-the realignment of the pedestrian tunnels underneath Granville Street

The total cost of the street work and related utilities described in this report is $1,339,000, to be funded from the Pacific Press site DCL’s. The traffic signal will be funded from 1998 Signal Program.

NOTE: ELECTRONIC COPIES OF FIGURES 1 - 4 ARE NOT AVAILABLE. FULL COPIES OF REPORT MAY BE PICKED UP FROM THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver