Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic

FROM:

General Manager of Engineering Services in consultation with the Director of Central Area Planning

SUBJECT:

Pender Street Design - Hamilton to Carrall Streets

 

RECOMMENDATION

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

COUNCIL POLICY

· The Vancouver Comprehensive Bicycle Plan (1988) and the Clouds of Change Report (1990) established the City's policy of promoting and encouraging cycling as a transportation alternative.

· On May 27, 1997, Council approved the Vancouver Transportation Plan which emphasizes the need to provide more comfortable walking, cycling and transit environments in a network of bikeways, greenways and transit facilities.

· On July 18, 1995, Council adopted the Vancouver Greenways Plan, comprising 14 routes.

PURPOSE

This report recommends a new street design for Pender Street between Hamilton and Carrall Streets that improves the pedestrian, cycling, and transit environment.

BACKGROUND

The street and sidewalks along Pender Street between Hamilton and Carrall Streets are generally in poor condition and will soon be due for reconstruction. The width of Pender Street from Carrall Street and Cambie Street is 20 m. It currently accommodates four general traffic lanes with left turn bays at Abbott and Cambie. Conceivably, it could accommodate six moving lanes. This is wider than the sections to the east and the west. Pender street through Chinatown is 12.5 m wide and functions with two moving lanes and two parking lanes. Pender Street west of Cambie is 15.5 m wide and has four moving lanes.

The existing sidewalks in the study area are generally 3.8 m. West of Cambie, the sidewalks are 4.4 m. wide and through Chinatown, the sidewalks are 5.0 m wide.

Vehicle volumes through the study area are similar to the volumes found to the west of Cambie and are between 30 and 100 percent greater than vehicle volumes through Chinatown, where there are only two moving lanes. In 1994, prior to the conversion of Abbott and Carrall Streets from one-way to two-way, a traffic study was done by N.D. Lea Consultants Ltd. for International Village. This study projected future traffic volumes that can be accommodated on the existing four moving lanes and the existing left turn bays at Pender and Abbott Streets.

Pursuant to the letter of agreement with Concord Pacific dated April 3, 1990, City Council agreed to reduce the number of parking spaces to be built around BC Place Stadium, and established a GreenLinks fund representing an equivalent cash payment in lieu of parking to be applied to integrated pedestrian / bicycle / transit networks to the downtown area.

DISCUSSION

The curb and sidewalk adjacent the Europa project (south side of Pender Street between Abbott and Taylor Streets) will be reconstructed this summer. This presents an opportunity to modify this section of Pender Street and redistribute the road width to provide for improved pedestrian, cycling and transit facilities. This can be achieved while maintaining approximately the same number of curbside parking spaces and maintaining the same number of moving lanes for buses and general traffic.

The proposed street design extends from Carrall Street to Hamilton Street (the study area). However, street reconstruction within the study area would occur only where required.

In our review of the study area it was identified that:

· Parking should be provided where possible, particularly along the commercial frontage on Pender Street.

· Pender Street between Hamilton and Gore Streets was approved as part of the "Downtown Historic Trail" in the Greenways Plan (figure 2). There are few trees and a lack of pedestrian amenity in the study area along Pender Street. Pedestrian bulges and sidewalk widening should be considered at all locations, including bus stops, and implemented where possible and desirable.

· Pender Street is the top candidate for an East-West Bikeway connecting the Adanac Bikeway with the Downtown (figure 2). The Adanac Bikeway is one of the City's busiest Bikeways, carrying approximately one thousand cyclists per day. Most of these cyclists are heading to or from downtown. A recent survey of cyclists indicated that the downtown was the number one preferred location for additional cycling routes. This survey showed that downtown bike routes were considered to be a priority over bike routes on bridges.

· A number of transit routes use Pender Street. The resultant frequency of buses, combined with expectant increases in pedestrian flows to and from Chinatown, would support wider sidewalks and bus shelters.

· The existing, partially exposed railway track that crosses Pender Street near Taylor Street is a significant historical feature that should be maintained and fully exposed as part of the overall effort to preserve the former CPR right-of-way as a public open space in the neighbourhood.

The resultant plan that takes into consideration all of the above is shown in Figure 1.

Specifically the plan

· includes four lanes for buses and other traffic,
· maximizes the amount of curb side parking in key areas adjacent to retail activity,
· creates improved pedestrian facilities at intersections and bus stops,
· creates a combination of bike lanes and shared bike/vehicle lanes, and
· maintains existing left turn lanes at Abbott and Cambie Streets.

These improvements on Pender Street are consistent with the intent of the GreenLinks funding for providing improved pedestrian, cyclist/transit links to the downtown. Detailed designs for street lighting, furniture, sidewalk treatment, street trees and other pedestrian amenities would be generated following Council approval and would be coordinated by the City's Greenways staff.

CONSULTATION

A public open house was held in the community (at the SUCCESS offices on Pender Street) on May 26th, the details of which will be reported at the Committee meeting. The open house was jointly organized by Engineering and Planning. Ads were placed in five local newspapers, and letters were sent to all community leaders, and property owners and tenants along Pender Street.

In addition, this plan has been reviewed and is supported by the City Greenways staff, the City's Neighbourhood Transportation Branch (Bikeways), and by the Chinatown Heritage Area Planning Committee. The Bicycle Advisory Committee also supports the construction of bike lanes on Pender Street, as presented to them by Engineering Services staff on April 21, and has further requested that the eastbound bike lane be extended one block by eliminating the four parking spaces on that block of Pender Street (extract from minutes in Appendix A).

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

The proposed work would cost the City $560,000 to achieve a standard level of finish. A submission for this funding has been included as part of the 1999 Streets Basic Capital Budget. In addition, sidewalk construction adjacent to the Europa project will be funded by the developer. Further funding for enhanced sidewalks, signage, etc. would be allocated from the GreenLinks fund in the amount of $480,000. Of this amount, $180,000 would be applied to the construction of wider sidewalks and $300,000 would be applied to the development of all additional Greenway/Public Way upgrades.

CONCLUSION

The required street reconstruction next to the new development in International Village provides an opportunity for the City to modify the design of Pender Street to accommodate improved pedestrian, cycling and transit facilities, while accommodating future traffic flows. This section of Pender can become a key Bikeway link between the central business district and the Adanac and Ontario Bikeways. The proposed geometric design shown in Figure 1 achieves a balanced use of the street and is supported by local community, cycling and greenways stakeholders.

Staff recommend Council approve the proposed design.

* * * * *


tt990622.htm

APPENDIX A
Page 1 of 2

Vancouver Bicycle Advisory Committee
Extract from Minutes - April 21, 1999

3. Pender Street Bike Lanes

APPENDIX A
Page 2 of 2


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