ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: February 25, 2000
Author/Local: P Ryan/7424

RTS No. 01324

CC File No. 5702

Council: March 14, 2000

TO:
Vancouver City Council
FROM:
General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:
Enhancement of Pedestrian Facilities at Nanaimo Street and Broadway

RECOMMENDATION

THAT the right-turn channelization on Nanaimo Street at Broadway be removed and the intersection normalized as part of upgrade of signals at the intersection, with funding of $50,000 provided from Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated Account # 30000159 - Arterial Miscellaneous Modifications.

POLICY

The City Transportation Plan indicates that pedestrians should be able to cross roads safely, easily and comfortably.

BACKGROUND

As part of the ICBC Road Improvement Safety Program, the signalized intersection of Nanaimo Street and Broadway is currently being upgraded to a fully activated signal, 40 percent funded by ICBC. This will provide left turn arrows, additional and larger signal heads, new signal poles and audible pedestrian signals. As part of this work, it is proposed to remove the existing right-turn channel and to normalize the intersection. The signal construction is currently underway although sections of the work are on hold subject to Council approval of the above recommendation.

Council has approved removal of right-turn channels at several other intersections, most recently Pacific Street and Richards Street.

DISCUSSION

Broadway has a change in alignment at Nanaimo Street. To accommodate this alignment change, the existing intersection has a large right-turn channel for vehicles turning from northbound Nanaimo onto eastbound Broadway. Pedestrians are accommodated by a marked crosswalk and small pedestrian island. The island places pedestrians in an uncomfortable position between moving vehicle lanes.

This design may have been appropriate in the past, when the area was a lower density and had few pedestrians. The area has since been redeveloping to a higher density and is becoming more transit orientated.

The signal upgrade will require new poles and require parts of the intersection to be dug up and repaved. The present upgrade would require a large diameter pole to be placed in the existing island along with pedestrian buttons. As part of this work it is proposed to remove the right-turn channel.

Turn movements using the channel are 60 to 70 vehicles per hour and can be easily accommodated by a normalized intersection. Pedestrian volumes are between 50 and 60 per hour during peak periods, and are expected to be higher in the future.

The works required to remove the channel are relatively straight forward and can be done more cost effectively as part of the signal upgrade work. The works involve removing the island, median adjustments, moving a trolley pole, new curbs, sidewalks and paint markings. Cost is estimated to be $50,000. The cost to remove the island at a later date would be considerably higher.

Both Nanaimo Street and Broadway are truck routes. A normalized intersection would accommodate the largest trucks allowed in Vancouver more easily than the existing right-turn channelization.

CONCLUSION

Normalizing of the Nanaimo Street and Broadway intersection will provide for a safer and more pleasant pedestrian environment and can be undertaken as part of existing signal work. This will help to improve pedestrian access for students of the Vancouver Technical School and for residents of the higher density apartments in the area. Pedestrian volumes are also expected to increase as a result of the new SkyTrain line.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver