CITY OF VANCOUVER

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC

JULY 28, 1998

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Tuesday, July 28, 1998, at 11:05 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic meeting, to consider the recommendations of the Committee.

PRESENT:	Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Don Bellamy Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario Councillor Jennifer Clarke Councillor Alan Herbert Councillor Lynne Kennedy Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor Gordon Price Councillor George Puil Councillor Sam Sullivan
CITY MANAGER'S REPRESENTATIVE:	Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services
CLERK TO THE COUNCIL:	Nancy Largent

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,

THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor Owen in the chair.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Report of Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
July 28, 1998

Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in the following clauses of the attached report:

Cl.1: Discussion Item: Trans Canada Highway HOV Project
Cl.2: Skeena Street Traffic Calming
Cl.3: Proposed Mosaic Bikeway

Clause 1

MOVED by Cllr. Price,

THAT Clause 1 of this report be received for information.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Clause 2

MOVED by Cllr. Price,

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 2 of this report, be approved.

- CARRIED

(Councillors Bellamy, Kennedy and Puil opposed)

Clause 3

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 3 of this report, be approved.

- CARRIED

(Councillors Chiavario, Kennedy, Price and Sullivan opposed to C)

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Kennedy,

THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Council adjourned at 11:07 a.m.

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REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC

JULY 28, 1998

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Transportation and Traffic was held on Tuesday, July 28, 1998, at 9:30 a.m. in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT:	Councillor Gordon Price, Chair Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Don Bellamy Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario Councillor Jennifer Clarke Councillor Alan Herbert Councillor Lynne Kennedy Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor George Puil Councillor Sam Sullivan
CITY MANAGER'S REPRESENTATIVE:	Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services
CLERK TO THE COMMITTEE:	Nancy Largent

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic meeting of July 7, 1998, were adopted.

INFORMATION

1. Discussion Item: Trans Canada Highway HOV Project File: 5762-1

Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer-Transportation, introduced the following representatives of the Trans Canada Highway HOV Project, Ministry of Transportation and Highways, who described the project for the Committee's information:

Brian Stone, Project Director
Pam Ryan, Marketing Coordinator

The Trans Canada Highway HOV Project is one component of a long-term strategy to offer transportation opportunities other than single occupant vehicles. A new dedicated high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane has been constructed along the median, for use by vehicles carrying three or more occupants and other selected vehicles. Vehicles using the HOV lane will save time, particularly at intersections where the HOV lane must merge with regular traffic such as the Port Mann Bridge. The project is working in partnership with agencies such as the GVRD, law enforcement agencies, and the Jack Bell Foundation (re ride-sharing services). Information is being dispersed to the public through a variety of media. The representatives also answered a number of questions; some of their responses follow:

· The HOV lane will be enforced by the RCMP twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Negotiations are currently underway to ensure the necessary dedicated resources are available to maintain this level of enforcement.
· Penalties may include fines and license points. It was noted that the Washington State Police have found the use of warning letters quite effective, with very few repeat offenses;
· Three or more occupants is the Provincial standard for HOV lanes. It would not be operationally feasible to permit two-occupant use of the TransCanada Highway HOV lane, because volumes would become too high for it to be effective. Routes such as the Barnet Highway, which permit use of the HOV lane by two or more occupants, are lower volume routes where such use has proven feasible so far, but will continue to be re-evaluated;
· The representatives did not have figures available to answer questions regarding emissions or possible impact due to increasing use of larger sport utility vehicles;
· Not all traffic using the HOV lane will be destined for Vancouver;
· A new lane was constructed, rather than dedicating an existing lane, because dedication of an existing lane would have increased congestion enough to significantly impede movement of goods;

· The representatives acknowledged that traffic volumes and congestion will not be decreased by the HOV lane but will continue to increase. However, with the HOV lane, traffic volumes and congestion will increase more slowly.

In response to a question, Mr. Adam advised that this and most HOV projects will not connect with city streets. It is hoped their impact will be minimal.

The Committee felt that the HOV project is flawed in that it is still directed at the private automobile, despite increasing congestion, noise and emissions. Funds expended on such projects would have been put to better use in making transit improvements, for example, establishing commuter rail to the Fraser Valley. Concern was also expressed that public pressure may lead to a reduction in the minimum occupant requirement from three to two.
The Chair thanked the project representatives for their presentation.

RECOMMENDATION

2. Skeena Street Traffic Calming File: 5757

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated June 16, 1998 (on file), in which the General Manager of Engineering Services sought approval and funding for the construction of two traffic circles to discourage non-local truck traffic on Skeena Street, in the Vancouver Heights neighbourhood. The recommendations of the General Manager are reflected in the recommendations of this report.

Jody Andrews, Neighbourhood Transportation Engineer, explained that this recommendation responds to validated concerns expressed by Skeena Heights residents that significant non-local traffic is using their streets. Installation of the proposed traffic circles will be beneficial to the residential neighbourhood, and is generally supported by residents.
In response to questions, Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer-Transportation, advised that traffic circles reduce incentive for short-cutting through residential neighbourhoods and appear to be a successful deterrent. Mr. Adam confirmed that emergency vehicles will be able to get through them.

Betty Greenwell, Sir John Franklin Community School Transportation Committee, advised her group had originally indicated support for one traffic circle, on grounds that two would be redundant. However, Mrs. Greenwell now withdrew that support until the issue of bus service to Skeena Heights is resolved and bus service has been returned to that community. Mrs. Greenwell also complained about the loss of parking for New BrightonPark.

The Committee pointed out that the issue of bus service to Skeena Heights has already been dealt with, and will not be resumed due to insufficient demand. Some members felt that traffic circles are confusing and potentially dangerous, and therefore, did not favour their installation in Skeena Heights. However, the majority supported the recommendations of the

General Manager of Engineering Services.

The following motion by Mayor Owen was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

A. THAT two traffic circles be constructed on Skeena Street, one at Triumph Street and one at Oxford Street, at a total cost of $15,000, to be funded from the Streets Basic Capital Budget Unappropriated Account 13/32/9801/999 (traffic calming).

B. THAT the annual streets maintenance budget be increased by $1000, to be reduced by $400 for each traffic circle adopted by residents, and the sign maintenance budget be increased by $200, both without offset, starting in 1999.

- CARRIED

(Councillors Bellamy, Kennedy and Puil opposed)

3. Proposed Mosaic Bikeway File: 5553

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated July 14, 1998 (on file), in which the General Manager of Engineering Services sought approval for the construction of the Mosaic Bikeway and requisite funding, as reflected in recommendations A and B of this report. The General Manager also submitted for consideration the option of postponing construction in order to apply for cost-shared funding under the 1999/2000 Cycling Network Program, noting that this would delay construction by as much as one year with no guarantee funding would ultimately be cost-shared.

Doug Louie, Bicycle Coordinator, Neighbourhood Transportation Branch, described the proposed bikeway, which would formalize an already popular north/south link between Adanac Bikeway and BC Parkway, and provide access to Britannia and Trout Lake Community Centres. This project received a neighbourhood approval rating of 90 %, the highest of any bikeway. Mr. Louie pointed out the option to seek cost-sharing, but indicated that staff are not recommending a delay.

Committee members supported construction of the Bikeway and the recommended funding arrangements, but differed on the question of delaying construction to seek cost-sharing. Some members felt construction should proceed immediately. However, the majority felt the cost-sharing option should be pursued, as reflected in recommendation C of this report.

The following motion by Councillor Chiavario was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

A. THAT the Mosaic Bikeway be constructed as detailed in the Administrative Report dated July 14, 1998 at a total cost of $436,700, with $408,000 funded from the Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated Account 12/31/6903/999 (Bicycle Network) and $28,700 of funds be approved as an increase to the 1998 Streets Basic Capital Budget, with the source of funding to be debenture borrowing approved as part of the 1997-1999 Capital Plan.

B. THAT the annual signal maintenance budget be increased by $4,000, the annual streets maintenance budget be increased by $3,500, to be reduced by $400 for each traffic circle adopted by residents, and the sign maintenance budget be increased by $2,000, all without offset, for the maintenance of two new cyclist/pedestrian signals, seven new traffic circles and approximately 63 new bicycle route and traffic control signs along the new bike route, starting in 1999.

The following motion by Councillor Clarke was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

C. THAT construction of the Mosaic Bikeway be postponed to allow for an application for cost-shared funding under the 1999/2000 Cycling Network Program.

- CARRIED

(Councillors Chiavario, Kennedy, Price and Sullivan opposed to C)

The meeting adjourned at 11:05 a.m.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver