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 Finance

SUBJECT:

Sidewalk Task Force

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

CONSIDERATION

Should Council wish to expand the Task Force to deal with issues of traffic safety, then the following motion would address this:

COUNCIL POLICY

On May 27, 1997, Council passed The Vancouver Transportation Plan, which established pedestrians as the top transportation priority.
PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to recommend to Council the terms of reference for a Task Force to address the safety, comfort and convenience of pedestrians within the City of Vancouver. The Task Force will focus on Planning, Engineering, Education and Enforcement for pedestrian related issues on city sidewalks and pathways. Appendix A provides a terms of reference for a Sidewalk Task Force while Appendix B provides an expanded terms of reference to include traffic safety issues.

BACKGROUND

On Tuesday, May 30, 2000, Council approved the following motions regarding a Pedestrian Strategic Working Group:

On June 6, 2000, the Mayor declared June to be Pedestrian Safety Month in Vancouver.

DISCUSSION

Sidewalk Task Force (Sidewalk Safety Working Group)

High quality sidewalks and pathways are the foundation of a safe and effective pedestrian environment. However many pedestrians, especially seniors, encounter barriers to walking on sidewalks and pathways. Barriers include both stationary objects (sandwich boards, signs, litter bins, tripping hazards, etc.) and moving objects (cafe patrons, skateboarders, pan handlers, dogs tied to poles, bus patrons, buskers, etc.) These issues are relevant to the general pedestrian population but are especially important for seniors and disabled pedestrians.

These concerns led to a proposal to develop a Sidewalk Safety Working Group. The attached mandate and terms of reference describes a Sidewalk Task Force with representatives from City advisory committees, outside agencies, City staff and the general public to look into these issues.

Pedestrian Safety Task Force / Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee

Pedestrians are particularly vulnerable to injury in the event of a collision with a motor vehicle (or bicycle). For these reasons, the City has active programs for installing new facilities, enforcement and education to improve pedestrian safety. The major aspects of these programs are outlined in Appendix C.

The Sidewalk Task Force may wish to comment on issues related to traffic safety issues from time to time, and to assist in coordinating the activities of member agencies. However, this is not listed as a major focus of the Task Force, because this will duplicate work already underway and would overlap existing working groups among Police, School Board and City Staff. Furthermore the requirement to clear all programs through another group would delay implementation of needed safety measures.

Should Council wish the Sidewalk Task Force to deal with issues of traffic safety in more detail, then Appendix B contains additional items that could be added to the terms of reference to form a Pedestrian Safety Task Force. The need and role for a Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee could be an outcome of this expanded Task Force.

Funding

The formation and operation of the Task Force will require a half time coordinator position to be created as existing staff in the City Clerk’s Office and Engineering are working at full capacity. The additional cost is estimated to be $30,000 per year for both salary and expenses, representing an increase in the Operating budget without offset.

CONCLUSION

The pedestrian mode of travel is the most fundamental transportation mode and the top transportation priority for the City of Vancouver. The adoption of a Sidewalk Task Force would help to improve the pedestrian environment and encourage more people to use this mode of travel.

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APPENDIX A: SIDEWALK TASK FORCE - TERMS OF REFERENCE

MANDATE

This Task Force shall serve as a forum to bring together the various groups, agencies, and departments to discuss and coordinate their efforts to improve the safety, comfort, and convenience of pedestrians in the City of Vancouver.

The Task Force shall discuss a strategy for ensuring a high quality pedestrian space is provided, with street furniture appropriate to permit safe and comfortable passage, and which provides interest and excitement to the pedestrian environment.

Prior to completion of its term, the Task Force shall prepare a report to Council.

Aspects to be discussed

- Street Furniture and Amenities Project
- Moving Objects on Sidewalk (skateboards, roller blades, panhandlers, other pedestrians, dogs etc.)
- Minimum useable pedestrian corridor widths in various situations
- Sidewalk Engineering Standards (curb ramp design, tactile warning, lighting, etc.)
- Sidewalk Maintenance Standards and Funding (trips, tree roots, puddles, etc.)
- Adjacent Buildings (setbacks, weather protection, encroachments, sidewalk cafes, produce displays, sandwich board signs, etc.)
- Accessibility Issues for physically and visually disabled pedestrians
- Interaction with driveways
- Pedestrian access routes

TERM

The term of the Task Force is 12 months, beginning September, 2000, and ending September, 2001, when the Task Force will be dissolved.

MEETINGS

Once a month (or as determined by the Task Force) with minutes submitted to the City Manager and General Manager of Engineering Services who may provide advice to Council from time to time.

SUPPORT

Budget - $30,000 for advertising, meeting expenses, displays, room and equipment rental and salary

MEMBERS

City of Vancouver
2 Councillor liaisons
1 Engineering (additional staff may be required for support)
1 Planning (additional staff may be required for support)

Residents
2 Residents (advertise for volunteers)
1 Bicycle Advisory Committee
1 Special Advisory Committee on Seniors
1 Special Advisory Committee on Disability Issues

Business
2 Business Association Representatives

Other Agencies
1 Vancouver /Richmond Health Board
1 CNIB
1 TransLink

CHAIR

To be elected at the inaugural meeting

APPENDIX B: PEDESTRIAN SAFETY TASK FORCE - ADDENDUM TO SIDEWALK TASK FORCE TO INCLUDE TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUES

EXPANDED MANDATE

The Task Force shall discuss a strategy for improving the safety of pedestrians interacting with traffic (bicycles, cars, buses and trucks) and build upon and complement existing City initiatives.

Additional aspects to be discussed
- Interaction with traffic (crossing streets, lanes etc.)
- Innovative Safety Measures
- Pedestrian and Driver Education

ADDITIONAL MEMBERS

City of Vancouver
1 Police
Other Agencies
1 Vancouver School Board
1 TransLink (Coast Mountain Bus Co. / West Vancouver Transit)
1 ICBC

APPENDIX B: PEDESTRIAN SAFETY TASK FORCE - ADDENDUM TO SIDEWALK TASK FORCE TO INCLUDE TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUES

EXPANDED MANDATE

The Task Force would discuss a strategy for improving the safety of pedestrians interacting with traffic (bicycles, cars, buses and trucks) and build upon and complement existing City initiatives.

Additional aspects to be discussed
- Interaction with traffic (crossing streets, lanes etc.)
- Innovative Safety Measures
- Pedestrian and Driver Education

ADDITIONAL MEMBERS

City of Vancouver

Other Agencies

APPENDIX C: CITY PEDESTRIAN RELATED INITIATIVES

Annual Signal Program - On May 30, 2000, 9 new pedestrian signal locations and 9 new special crosswalk locations were approved with one new signal for vehicles. In addition, Council approves roughly six new signals each year as part of Greenways, Bikeways and new developments. 53 out of the 77 new signals installed in the last 5 years were pedestrian signals. In addition the City also undertakes traffic signal changes such as adding pedestrian heads, increasing crossing time for pedestrians, increasing responsiveness of signals to pedestrians and planned removal of pedestrian holds (report pending to Council).

New Safety Measures - A Flight Light Warning System was installed at Alma & 6th as a pilot project funded by ICBC. This system involves yellow flashing lights embedded in the pavement alongside the crosswalk, activated by the pedestrian. Another new measure are Special Crosswalks which involve a higher level of signage, special downward lighting of the crosswalk and flashing amber beacons activated by the pedestrian. This new measure allows the City to provide protection at four to five locations for the cost of one pedestrian signal.

Audible Signal Program - The City has more audible pedestrian signals than any other City in North America. Over 166 signals currently have audible signals with 28 added in 1999/2000. Audible signals have also been added to all fully actuated signals due to the complexity of judging traffic flows for visually disabled persons. A trial of a tactile audible signal at Broadway and Glen is also underway for pedestrians with multiple disabilities.

Pedestrian Related Road Improvements -A number of road improvements are made each year to improve pedestrian safety such as:
· Removing dedicated right-turn channels at intersections to help provide a more controlled and safer pedestrian crossing. Right turn channels are being removed at Richards & Pacific and being replaced with a large pedestrian plaza with trees and public art. Council recently approved removal of the right-turn lane at Nanaimo and Broadway and expansion of the sidewalk area. Similar treatments were previously applied at Marine and 70th, Cordova and Carrall and elsewhere.
· The Granville Bridge off ramp at 6th Avenue was removed and replaced with a new park.
· One lane of traffic on Beach Avenue was removed, to make space for a wider pedestrian and bicycle corridor around English Bay. This project won international awards for its design.

Bus Bulges - Bus Bulges, such as Sasamat and 10th for the 99 B-Line and at Discovery and 10th for the trolley service, are an extension of the sidewalk, providing increased room for pedestrians and a decreased crossing distance across the roadway.

Traffic Calming - An extensive traffic calming program is undertaken each year by the Neighbourhood Transportation Branch. The Branch has developed many experimental calming techniques, including installation of raised crosswalks (Laurel and 24th) and traffic chicanes (45th at Rupert). Council recently approved a speed hump program to control excessive speeds on residential streets. (An existing program addresses speed on laneways with lower speed humps) Curb bulges are also a standard tool for traffic calming as they improve the visibility of pedestrians and decrease the crossing distance across the roadway.

Schools - Close liaison occurs with the Vancouver School Board, Parents, Police Department, ICBC and Engineering to ensure safe access to schools and safety around schools. This includes education programs in the schools, safe walking route plans for all schools and a walking school bus program.

ICBC - The City has a cooperative program with ICBC to improve safety, including improved signals, traffic calming, the flight-light trial, educational materials, etc. ICBC participates in this because of the cost saving’s obtained in reducing claims. This program is a leader in North America, and was featured last year on NBC Dateline.

Greenways - The Greenways program provides a network of walking corridors throughout the City. Most of the Greenways also function as bikeways.

Police Traffic Section - The Traffic Section has recently been reconstituted the traffic enforcement section of the Police Dept, under Inspector Ken Davies.

Left-Turn Lanes and Signals - The City has an active program, often in conjunction with ICBC, to add left turn bays and / or signals. A left-turning vehicle is four times as likely to hit a pedestrian than a right-turning vehicle largely because a drivers' attention is directed to looking for gaps in traffic. Provision of a proper left-turn facility helps to reduce these accidents as well as other vehicle accidents.

High Pedestrian Volume Locations - Staff are currently investigating new standards for accommodating high pedestrian volumes at various intersections throughout the City. Options being investigated include widening the cross walk and longer walk times.

Bus Landing Areas - The City is gradually retrofitting all bus stops to provide for a wheelchair landing area and improved amenities for other passengers.

Wellness Walkway - The City is experimenting with a number of design changes to sidewalks and sidewalk layout to provide a more accessible pedestrian environment in the St Joseph Hospital area. Sidewalks are tinted yellow to improve visibility and to reduce glare. Wheelchair ramps are also provided with tactile surfaces to guide visually disabled pedestrians.

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