Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Transportation and Traffic Committee

FROM:

City Manager

SUBJECT:

Planning for Richmond Rapid Transit

 

RECOMMENDATION

COUNCIL POLICY

Council supports a rapid transit line from Richmond to Downtown (City Transportation Plan)

Council approved discussions with TransLink regarding planning for a north-south rapid transit line between Richmond and downtown and, following these discussions, requested a report back on a work program and budget

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to summarize TransLink's proposed initial planning program for a north-south rapid transit line between Richmond and downtown, and to seek Council's approval to participate in the planning program, and in particular to second the City's Project Manager for Rapid Transit, to TransLink on a part time basis, to develop the plan.
BACKGROUND

In April of this year Council passed the following recommendation:

TransLink's Strategic Transportation Plan identifies a review of the options for rapid transit connecting Richmond, the Airport and Vancouver as a 2000/2001 work item.

At its May 3 meeting, the TransLink Board has approved following recommendations:

"A That the Board approve a current planning program for a rapid transit link connecting Richmond, the Airport and Vancouver, as set out in this report but subject to the agreement of the proposed participants.
B. That staff be directed to enter into discussion with the proposed partners to seek formal agency approval".

A copy of the TransLink report is attached as Appendix A.

DISCUSSION

The Manager's Office and staff have had preliminary discussions with TransLink, and through TransLink, have established several organizational principles on which to base the planning for a rapid transit line connecting Richmond, the Airport and Vancouver.

These principles are as follows:

· the project will be a multi agency one, involving TransLink, Richmond, the Airport, Vancouver, Transport Canada, the Port and the GVRD (the "Agencies").
· as the regional transportation agency, TransLink will be the coordinating agency.
· given the number of agencies involved, it will be important to establish a clear definition of the working and reporting relationships between the participating agencies, as well as dispute resolution mechanisms.
· the terms of reference for the planning exercise will have to be clear and agreed by all participating agencies.
· the project should proceed as soon as possible.

On the basis of these principles, the TransLink report proposes a three phase program:

1. project planning;
2. project definition; and
3. project execution.

As proposed, agreements between the participating agencies at the end of the first and second phases would provide the foundation for subsequent work.

The elements of the three phase planning program are as follows:

1. Project Management Plan (May 15 to June 30, 2000)
· project management structure
· resource requirements to manage the project and related budget
· preliminary schedule for project definition and project execution phases
· structure providing for the participation of the Agencies in the project definition phase (Phase 2), likely involving a team of representatives of the Agencies and consulting resources and providing for dispute resolution
· outline of key elements of the project definition phase

2. Project Definition (following Project Management Phase to early 2001)
· significant consultation with all involved agencies - identification of objectives
· review of existing technical work
· definition of the work program for corridor and technology evaluation
· terms of reference for additional planning and engineering work
· a program for public consultation required in Phase 3
· preliminary public consultation with interest groups on the proposed process
· preparation of a budget for the conduct of Phase 3
· preparation of an agreement between the Agencies for Phase 3, including dispute resolution mechanisms

3. Project Execution (early to late 2001)
· culminating in approval of participating Agencies in accordance with objectives
· full involvement of participating Agencies
· tendering and completing all necessary engineering and planning studies
· full public consultation
· preparation of technical and policy reports, including proposed cost sharing
· agency decision making on the corridor and technology

The Airport has agreed to provide the initial funding for consultants for the initial phase of the project. TransLink has requested that the City second its Project Manager, Rapid Transit, on a part time basis, for the first phase of the program: the preparation of a project management plan.

The City Manager is recommending that Council second its Project Manager to assist TransLink in the preparation of a project management plan. The majority of the Richmond line will be in Vancouver and will have a significant impact on both north/south connections, and the downtown; it is important that the detailed design of the western extension of the Broadway line be linked with the future Richmond line; as a result of her involvement in Phase 1 of the SkyTrain extension, and the Phase 2 study, our project manager is familiar with both the City's issues, and those of several of the other Agencies.

The City Manager, in consultation with the Project Manager, Rapid Transit, believes that the Project Manager can prepare the project management plan and continue to fulfill her responsibilities to the City for the completion of Phase 1 of the SkyTrain line, from Boundary to VCC. As regards Phase 2, any extension west of VCC is now being considered by TransLink and the Province. If and when an agreement is reached to proceed, the City's involvement will be the subject of a separate work program.

Once the project management plan is complete, the City Manager will report back to Council as to the content of the plan and request Council approval to proceed further.

ATTACHMENTS THAT DO NOT HAVE ELECTRONIC COPY ARE AVAILABLE ON FILE IN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.

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