Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO: Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
FROM: General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT: Arbutus East Traffic Plan and Cypress Bikeway
 

RECOMMENDATION

COUNCIL POLICY

Council has a longstanding policy of protecting residential neighbourhoods from the intrusion of non-local traffic on local streets.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to seek Council’s approval to make permanent three existing right-in/right-out traffic diverters that had been installed on a trial basis as part of the Arbutus East Traffic Plan and the Cypress Bikeway. The report also discusses a proposal for additional trial traffic calming in the area and the result of a public survey on this subject.

BACKGROUND

In 1996 city staff worked with a group of local residents to create a traffic calming plan for the area bounded by Broadway, Burrard Street, 16th Avenue and Arbutus Street. At the same time a bicycle route was proposed on Cypress Street. These proposals were presented to the community at an Open House which was followed by a neighbourhood survey. Both proposals were supported by a majority of residents. City Council approved implementation of the Kitsilano portion of the Cypress Bikeway on July 9, 1996, and implementation of the Traffic Plan in the Arbutus East area on July 25, 1996. The traffic diverters proposed in the two reports were installed on a trial basis so that their effect on traffic patterns could be monitored and adjustments made if needed. Appendix A shows a map of the neighbourhood, including the locations of the existing temporary diverters:
- Cypress Street south of Broadway,
- Cypress Street north of 16th Avenue,
- Maple Street south of 12th Avenue.

DISCUSSION

A comparison of traffic counts taken before and after installation of the trial diverters indicated a reduction in traffic volumes on most streets (see Appendix B).

In general, the residents’ group was satisfied with the outcome of the Traffic Plan in the area south of 12th Avenue. A representative of one of the commercial developments on the south side of 12th Avenue expressed opposition to the diverter on Maple south of 12th, citing the need to take a more circuitous route to access the building’s parking facility; however, neighbourhood residents supported retention of the diverter.

The residents’ group remained concerned about traffic volumes north of 12th Avenue, in particular on Maple Street. It was agreed to consider adjusting the Traffic Plan in this area. Staff reviewed a number of alternative diverter configurations with the group. The consensus choice of the group was a right-in/right-out diverter on Maple Street north of 10th Avenue, shown on the map in Appendix A.

In April of this year a survey was delivered to all residents and businesses in the study area, bounded by Arbutus Street, Broadway, Burrard Street and 16th Avenue. Copies of the survey and covering letter are shown in Appendix C. Of 1147 surveys distributed 230 were returned, a response rate of 20%, which is about average for this type of survey.

Existing Trial Diverters

The table below shows the survey results for the question “Do you support making the temporary right-in/right-out diverters permanent at the following locations?”. Of those indicating a preference (i.e., not counting those who responded as neutral) 79% favoured retaining the diverters on Cypress and 70% favoured retaining the diverter on Maple.

LOCATION YES NO NEUTRAL TOTAL
On Cypress St.
south of Broadway		 160 (70%) 43 (19%) 27 (12%) 230
On Cypress St. north of 16th Ave. 157 (68%) 43 (19%) 30 (13%) 230
On Maple St. south of 12th Ave. 150 (65%) 65 (28%) 15 (7%) 230

Proposed Additional Trial Diverter

The response to the question “Do you support the proposal to install a trial right-in/right-out diverter on Maple Street at 10th Avenue?” was mixed. Overall, 107 (47%) responded “Yes”, 100 (43%) responded “No” and 23 (10%) responded “Neutral”. Responses from the portion of the neighbourhood directly affected by the proposal, the area north of 12th Avenue, indicated less support. Of a total of 96 responses from this area, 40 (42%) responded “Yes”, 45 (47%) responded “No” and 11 (11%) responded “Neutral”. Some respondents who supported retaining the existing diverters but opposed the proposed additional trial diverter expressed that there was enough traffic calming in the neighbourhood. Other respondents made the point that access to and from Broadway and the local shopping area would be made difficult by a diverter at this location. (A listing of all comments received is included in Appendix D.) Given the above, the addition of a trial diverter on Maple Street at 10th Avenue is not supported.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Funding for the permanent installation of the three existing temporary right-in/right-out diverters was previously approved. There will be an ongoing annual cost of approximately $100 to maintain the signing associated with the diverters.

CONCLUSION

The three trial diverters installed as part of the Arbutus East Traffic Plan and the Cypress Bikeway have been successful in reducing shortcutting traffic on most of the local streets in the neighbourhood and have received good support from the community. It is recommended that these diverters be made permanent.

The additional trial diverter proposed for Maple Street north of 10th Avenue received almost the same degree of opposition as support. A further breakdown of survey results showed that among those respondents in the area that would be directly affected by the diverter, more opposed the diverter than supported it. Accordingly, proceeding with the proposed trial diverter is not recommended.

Note from Clerk:
Appendix A and C are not available in electronic form - on file in the Office of the City Clerk.

Link to Appendix B

Link to Appendix D

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