Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic

FROM:

General Manager of Engineering Services

SUBJECT:

Annual Speed Hump Installation Program

 

RECOMMENDATION

POLICY

On November 2, 1999, Council approved an annual speed hump installation program that would identify the highest ranking local, residential street segments for speed humpinstallation.

PURPOSE
This report seeks approval and funding for the first Annual Speed Hump Installation Program. It identifies the proposed speed humps locations and outlines a method for public consultation.

BACKGROUND

In 1999 the City completed the Speed Hump Pilot Project. The results of the pilot project indicate that speed humps are an effective device for decreasing speeds on local residential streets while not diverting traffic to other streets.

In order to choose the streets to be included in the pilot, an objective scoring calculation was used, adapted from a successful program in Portland, Oregon (see Appendix A). This calculation was then approved by Council in November 1999 and used to identify the priority, or top ranked, streets for speed hump installation in this year's program. The calculation considers the number and speed of vehicles on the block, as well as special attributes such as whether the street is near a pedestrian generator or is part of a greenway or bikeway. The speed measure used is the 85th percentile speed, or the speed at which 85% of vehicles are travelling below and 15% of vehicles are travelling above.

There are two designs used for speed humps on local streets (see Appendix B), one for 30 km/h speed zones and another for 40 km/h speed zones. The latter reflects the City's intention to lower the speed limit on local, residential streets from 50 km/h to 40 km/h. The main difference between the humps is their length, or driving distance, as the 40 km/h hump is designed to be more gradual. The speed hump calculation allows 30 km/h zones to be compared directly to 40 km/h zones.

One of the lessons learned from the pilot project was that the distance between speed humps can greatly affect the amount by which the humps will reduce the speeds on a street segment. The speed humps on Fremlin Street and Carrington and West 53rd Streets were the least effective of any of the humps at the pilot locations. The existing humps are double the distance apart that is now recommended in the new Canadian Guide to Neighbourhood Traffic Calming (Transportation Association of Canada).

DISCUSSION

16 street segments are being recommended for speed hump installation this year. Of these segments, ten are adjacent to parks, five are in school zones and three are on bike routes. Allbut two segments, Maple Crescent and West 29th between Doncaster and Kevin, are in 30 km/h zones. The following is a list of the street segments with information about their ranking and the approximate number of humps to be installed:

Evidence suggests that speed humps will not cause significant diversion of traffic on to adjacent streets. However, it is recommended that volumes be monitored before and after these installations and that staff report back prior to future installations.

59TH AVENUE

On January 20 1998, Council approved the installation of a full traffic signal at 59th and Cambie as well as a recommendation from the General Manager of Engineering Services thatfurther traffic calming measures on 59th Avenue be evaluated as part of the speed hump trial report and future Greenway Corridor. Although it was later determined that 59th would not be included in the speed hump trial, it was recommended that 59th be monitored for future speed humps.

59th has now been re-evaluated and the results indicate that 59th is a good candidate for speed humps and that both sections are among the top ten highest ranking locations in the City. It is recommended that speed humps be installed in both the park and school zones on West 59th Avenue between Yukon and Ontario.

FREMLIN AND CARRINGTON/WEST 53RD

It is recommended that additional speed humps be added to the existing humps on Fremlin and Carrington and West 53rd that were installed during the Pilot Project. This will increase the effectiveness of the humps thereby lowering speeds on the streets. Residents of these streets will be surveyed in the same way as the 15 high ranking streets with installation subject to resident approval (see below).

CONSULTATION

Resident consultation and subsequent approval is an important part of the Speed Hump program. It is proposed that all residents living on the same street segments as the proposed speed humps be surveyed for their opinions. The surveys would ask two questions (see Appendix C for an example) about whether the residents feel that there is a speeding problem on their street and whether they approve of speed humps. Installation of speed humps on each street segment will be subject to a survey response rate greater than 30% and an approval rate greater than 50%. It is recommended that speed humps be installed on all of the proposed streets that meet this requirement and that staff report back on any locations that do not, for further consideration.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The estimated capital cost of installing speed humps, as specified in this report, is $240,000 for the 16 high ranking locations plus $20,000 for the speed humps added to the Pilot Project locations. Included in this cost is construction of the asphalt humps, paint markings, warning signs, traffic monitoring and public consultation. Funding for this project is available fromStreets Basic Capital Unappropriated Account No. 30000326 - Local Area Traffic Plans and Other Improvements, subject to approval of the 2000 Streets Basic Capital Budget.

In addition to the capital costs for this project there will be maintenance costs associated with the signing and paint marking of the speed humps. It is recommended that the Traffic Operating Budget be increased by $3,400.

CONCLUSION

Speed humps are an effective means by which to slow vehicles on local streets and the locations identified in this report are the highest ranking, highest priority locations, in accordance with the ranking system approved by Council in November 1999. It is recommended that speed humps be installed in the 16 high ranking locations, plus two other locations, subject to resident approval. Staff will report back on any locations that are not approved by the survey and will monitor traffic volumes before and after the humps are installed.

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APPENDIX A

SPEED HUMP SAMPLE SCORE CALCULATION

Vanness Avenue 3400 block

Raw Data
Sample size = 98 vehicle speeds
Average Daily Traffic (ADT) volume = 3000 ADT
85th percentile speed (calculated) = 52.2 km/h
Design speed limit = 40 km/h

Description Points
Primary Score

Speed Points:

Volume Points (ADT/100 = 3000/100) = 30

Subtotal = 42

Is the Primary Score greater than 40?
IF NO, then STOP HERE.
IF YES, then proceed to Secondary Scoring.
(Since 42>40 proceed to Secondary Scoring.)

Secondary Score
Additional Speed Points for excessive speed (based on percentage of
vehicles travelling over 16 km/h beyond the design speed of the hump
i.e. percent travelling>40 + 16 km/h = 56km/h) : 8% = 8
Score 5 points for each school zone (maximum 10) 0
Score 5 points for each pedestrian generator (maximum 15) 10
Count SkyTrain Station/bus loop and retail area as two ped generators
Score 5 points if adjacent to a Greenway (is part of the BC Parkway) 5
Score 5 points if the street segment is part of a Bikeway 5
Score 5 points if the street segment lacks a continuous sidewalk 5
Subtotal = 33
TOTAL SCORE (Primary + Secondary) = 75

Appendix C


City of Vancouver Survey
Speed Hump Program

City of Vancouver June 2000

Dear Resident:

This survey seeks your opinion of vehicle speed on your street and whether or not you approve of the installation of speed humps.

Speed humps are proven as an effective means by which to decrease vehicle speeds on local, residential streets. In response to a neighbourhood complaint about speeds on your street, the City has taken field measurements and confirmed that vehicle speeds are high on your street and that your street is a good candidate for speed humps. City Council has therefore approved speed humps for your street, subject to your approval.

At least 30% of the residences on your street must respond to this survey and 50% of the responses must support the installation of speed humps. Should you approve speed humps, you can expect them to be placed 50-70 m (160-230 ft) apart. They should not affect parking. A typical design showing the dimensions of the humps is shown on the reverse side of this letter, for your information.

The Speed Hump Program is funded by the City of Vancouver's capital budget and will not increase your taxes.

Please give this survey your consideration and return it in the addressed, postage paid envelope provided by June 16, 2000. Alternatively, you may fax the completed survey to 871-6192. Your name and address must be included on the survey in order to validate your response; however, individual replies will be kept confidential.

The results of this survey will determine whether speed humps will be installed on your street. If you have any questions about speed humps in general, or how they will be installed on your street, please call me at 873-7916 or e-mail me at carli_williams@city.vancouver.bc.ca.

Yours truly,

Carli Williams, EIT
Neighbourhood Transportation Branch

CW/
TT3.WPD

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

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