Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Vancouver City Council

FROM:

General Manager of Engineering Services in consultation with the Director of City Plans

SUBJECT:

Broadway/Commercial Precinct Public Enhancement Plan (Transportation Element)

 

RECOMMENDATION

CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS

COUNCIL POLICY

Staff will work with the Province on planning for the Phase 1 SkyTrain route, alignment, station locations, and station area planning.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to recommend Council approve the transportation changes developed by staff in consultation with the Rapid Transit Project2000 ltd. ( the Rapid Transit Project Office (RTPO)), TransLink and the public in the vicinity of the Broadway and Commercial Stations.

BACKGROUND

Over the last two years, City staff have worked closely with the RTPO, TransLink and the public on the planning of the SkyTrain alignment, station locations and precincts surrounding the stations. In addition, the Urban Design Panel and the Development Permit Board have provided advice on the Rupert, Renfrew and Commercial stations and surrounding precincts. Finally, the Urban Design Panel and senior staff have provided advice on the design of the Vancouver Community College (VCC) Station.

Staff have previously reported to Council on the Rupert and Refrew Stations and their Precinct Public Enhancement Plans and the Commercial Station Design. As well, Council has also approved a traffic calming plan for Grandview Highway North and the removal of Grandview Highway North from the truck route network. Outstanding reports to Council remain on the Commercial Station Precinct Plan and the Vancouver Community College station design and precinct plan.

This report deals with the transportation component of the Commercial Station precinct plan, particularly the street changes.

The Commercial Drive Area Plan in the vicinity of the Commercial Station including the review of the Commerical Drive zoning and development of more detailed public realm improvements remains outstanding as "work in progress" and will be reported to Council when complete.

It is important Council approve the proposed street changes at this time so staff can proceed to the implementation stage of this work as an integral part of the Station and Greenway/Bikeway construction. The surface details of the proposed sidewalk improvements, particularly around the perimeter of the triangle site will be addressed at the more detailed design stage and in the landscaping plan for the triangle site redevelopment.

COMMERCIAL STATION PRECINCT PLAN (TRANSPORTATION PORTION)

Figures 1, 2 and 3 show the street designs for Commercial Drive between Grandview Highway North and 12th Ave. and Broadway between Commercial Drive and Victoria Drive.

The following are the key elements that integrate the transit and pedestrian movements with the new Commercial Station ticket concourse at the northeast corner of Broadway and Commercial:

Pedestrian Improvements

1 New, widened sidewalks on Commercial Drive and Broadway adjacent the new ticket concourse (the "Triangle Site") (Fig.1)

1. Widened sidewalk on the eastside of the Commercial Drive Bridge across the Grandview Cut.(Fig 1)

2. Reduced pedestrian crossing width of both 8th Ave. and Commercial Drive at this intersection and a pedestrian signal across Commercial Drive at 8th Avenue. Eighth Avenue on the west side of Commercial Drive is also rebuilt as a conventional right angled intersection.(Fig.1)

3. Reconstruct, as a right angle turn, the Grandview Highway North intersection at Broadway west of Victoria to slow westbound vehicles entering Grandview Highway North.(Fig. 3)

4. Reduced pedestrian crossing width of Commercial Drive at 10th and 11th Avenues and Grandview Highway North.(Fig. 2)

5. Wider crosswalks at Commercial and Broadway.

Transit Improvements

1 Improved assignment of bus stopping positions on Commercial Drive and on Broadway at the Commercial Station ticket concourse that also allows for commercial loading of the adjacent retail. (Figs. 1 and 3)

2. Advance left turn arrow on Broadway at Commercial to assist #99 B-line and #9 Broadway buses turning into the Commercial Station.

3. Bus bulges on Commercial at 6th and 14th Avenues, at the approaches to the SkyTrain stations, where the buses are heavily loaded, to provide improved bus operations and pedestrian amenities.

Street Improvements

A portion of the existing sidewalks and pavement on Commercial Drive in the vicinity of 11th Ave. is failing due to settlement and tree roots. It is intended to replace portions of this existing infrastructure as part of the proposed work described above. Various sources of funding will be used to complete this work including the Municipal Integration Fund (MIF) and Engineering Services street maintenance accounts. In addition, local improvement funds may be available where the local property owners want to participate by enhancing what is being proposed. These additional enhancements will be more fully described in the previously referred Commercial Drive Area Plan.

Conclusion

The construction of the Millenium Line is progressing. Similarly, the RTPO is designing, in consultation with City staff and the public, the Central Valley Greenway/Bikeway with the expectation that construction will begin in 2001 and be complete when the new SkyTrain line opens.

Council has previously endorsed street works associated with the Rupert and Renfrew Stations. It is important Council now review the street changes proposed for the Broadway/Commercial Stations so that staff can proceed with the next steps of confirming cost sharing arrangements with the RTPO and TransLink and undertaking the necessary detailed street design work.

The above described work also shown in the figures has been developed in consultation with the public, RTPO and TransLink. Staff recommend approval of Recommendation A.

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