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REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC

JUNE 5, 2001

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Transportation and Traffic was held on Tuesday, June 5, 2001, at 9:30 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT:	Councillor Jennifer Clarke, Chair Councillor Fred Bass *Councillor Lynne Kennedy Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor Tim Louis Councillor Sandy McCormick Councillor Gordon Price, Vice-Chair Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT:	Mayor Philip Owen (Civic Business) Councillor George Puil (Civic Business)
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:	*Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:	Tina Hildebrandt, Meeting Coordinator

* Denotes presence for a portion of the meeting.

RECOMMENDATION

1. Zebra Pavement Markings and Wider Crosswalks (File 5702)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated May 16, 2001, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services sought Council's approval for the use of zebra pavement markings at selected pedestrian crosswalks and informed Council of the use of wider crosswalks at high volume pedestrian crossings.
Winston Chou, Traffic Management Branch, with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, provided an overview on crosswalk design including materials used for marking, maintenance and pedestrian safety improvements.

Mr. Chou together with Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, Transportation, and Elizabeth Ballard, Traffic Management Engineer, responded to questions regarding criteria used to determine locations of priority, curb design and maintenance costs.

Bev Ballantyne (brief filed) spoke in favour of the recommendations. She also expressed concern over the limited number of crosswalks identified for upgrade per year, the chosen material for markings, and the doubling up of resources at intersections, i.e. placing zebra crossings where signals exist or will be installed.

Staff responded to additional questions regarding turning radius for vehicles at corners, the policy on pedestrian bulges and crosswalks of concern which are not identified in the Administrative Report.

MOVED by Councillor Sullivan
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT Council approve the installation of zebra pavement markings at crosswalks involving school children, the elderly or disabled, mid-block crosswalks, crossings of right-turn channels, and Special Crosswalks;

B. THAT the Pavement Marking Maintenance Budget be increased by $53,000, for the installation and maintenance of the zebra pavement markings effective year 2002. The Pavement Marking Maintenance Budget will be re-evaluated at the time of Budget review once staff have gained experience with zebra pavement marking installations.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

MOVED by Councillor Price
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

C. THAT staff report back on vehicle turning radii at intersections.

CARRIED
(Councillor Sullivan opposed)

MOVED by Councillor Price
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

D. THAT pedestrian bulges be considered standard unless specifically removed by Council.

CARRIED
(Councillors Clarke, Don Lee and Sullivan opposed)

MOVED by Councillor McCormick
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

E. THAT staff be encouraged to accelerate the installation of various methods for improving pedestrian crossings.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

MOVED by Councillor Bass
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

F. THAT Engineering provide a memo to Council members on fines for vehicles encroaching in a pedestrian zone and whether a percentage of income can be used as a basis for determining fines acknowledging the incoming Provincial Policy on the return of traffic fine revenue.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. 2001 Traffic Signal Program (File 5761)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated May 14, 2001, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services recommended approval of proposed locations for installation and modification of pedestrian and traffic signals.

Winston Chou, Traffic Management Branch (materials distributed - on file), with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, reviewed various studies conducted by staff to identify areas of priority, locations which have been identified as having high pedestrian or traffic volumes, and proposed locations for installation of traffic signals.

Mr. Chou together with Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, Transportation, and Elizabeth Ballard, Traffic Management Engineer, responded to questions regarding various crosswalk designs, installation time from identification through completion of work, crosswalks ofconcern, policies on pedestrian and traffic flow, encroachment of vehicles on crosswalks and signal timing

Bev Ballantyne (brief filed) spoke in general support of the recommendations. She also drew attention to four intersections and other areas of concern which need to be addressed.

George Brissette spoke in general support of the recommendations, but expressed concern regarding the proposed signal at 6th Avenue/Great Northern Way and Glen Drive in the absence of a traffic calming plan for the area.

MOVED by Councillor Bass
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT installation of a full signal light at 6th Avenue/Great Northern Way and Glen Drive be delayed.

LOST
(Councillors Clarke, Kennedy, Daniel Lee, Don Lee, McCormick and Sullivan opposed)

MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT the intersections of 10th and Kingsway and 10th and Tolmie be added to the list of sites recommended for Pedestrian-Actuated signals this year.

LOST
(Councillors Clarke, Kennedy, Daniel Lee, Don Lee, McCormick, Price and Sullivan opposed)

MOVED by Councillor McCormick
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT Council approve the 2001 Traffic Signal Program, and that the General Manager of Engineering Services be authorized to install and modify pedestrian and traffic signals, as described in the Administrative Report dated May 14, 2001; and

FURTHER THAT additional annual costs of $38,500 related to ongoing maintenance be reflected in future Operating Budgets, without offset, commencing year 2002.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
MOVED by Councillor Bass
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

B. THAT Council request the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia consider developing and maintaining a Registered Owner Database that would keep track of driving complaints forwarded by police agencies and ensure a system is in place which will flag offenders who have two or more complaints within a two year period.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. Reduced Waiting Times for Pedestrians at Traffic Signals (File 5701)

Due to time constraints the Committee referred consideration of this item to the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets scheduled for Thursday, June 7, 2001 at 9:30 a.m.

4. East First Avenue Traffic Impact Mitigation (File 5762)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated May 15, 2001, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services recommended Council approve a number of measures to reduce the impacts of traffic on residents along East First Avenue and approve intersection geometry and signal improvements to enhance safety at the intersection of Boundary Road and First Avenue.

Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, introduced Sheri Reed, Structures and Greenways. Ms. Reed, with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, provided an overview of the report and noted that East First Avenue is a major traffic artery with many residents living beside it.
Dorothea Hendriks, resident, spoke in opposition to the recommendations contained in the Administrative Report. Ms. Hendriks expressed concern that the recommendations may not be long term resolutions for traffic and on-street parking issues. She noted traffic should be diverted to other areas such as the Grandview Cut to reduce traffic flow on East First Avenue as well as allow for more on-street parking. Ms. Hendriks also suggested parking bays should be studied further.

Marko Vicic, resident, spoke generally in opposition to the recommendations contained in the Administrative Report. Although Mr. Vicic indicated support for resurfacing East First Avenue with new pavement as a measure for noise reduction, he expressed concern that the issue of speed has not been addressed. He also expressed concern that if a third lane isintroduced it may be used for traffic rather than on-street parking, and installation of curb-side barriers may give the appearance of East First Avenue being a highway.

Mr. Adam and Ms. Reed, along with Staff-Sergeant Garnet Salmond, Police Services, and Doug Kennedy, BKL Consultants, responded to questions regarding noise and traffic reduction measures as well as options for speed control.

MOVED by Councillor McCormick
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT $50,000 be allocated from the 2000 Streets Basic Capital Local Area Traffic Plans & Improvements account No. 30002984 to research, publish and distribute a Homeowner's Traffic Noise Reduction Guide to help residents sound-proof existing houses on busy streets.

B. THAT scheduled resurfacing of First Avenue from Nanaimo to Boundary use open-graded pavement mix to reduce noise and that $3,000 be allocated from the 2000 Streets Basic Capital Local Area Traffic Plans & Improvement account No. 30002984 to measure noise on East First Avenue before and after new pavement is installed between Nanaimo Street and Boundary Road.

C. THAT the intersection geometry and signal changes for pedestrians and traffic at the intersection of Boundary Road and 1st Avenue as described in this report be implemented in order to improve safety, at a total cost of $275,000, less cost sharing to be pursued with Burnaby, TransLink and ICBC, with the City contribution to be funded from the 2001 Streets Basic Capital Budget set aside for construction of safety related improvements on Arterial and Transit streets.

D. THAT staff thank the Coast Mountain Bus Company for voluntarily removing 64 buses from First Avenue and that the company be requested to further review the matter to see if they can remove the last 17 buses from East First Avenue.

E. THAT staff report back with results and recommendations following completion of the consultant study on front-yard fences.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Kennedy not present for vote)

MOVED by Councillor Sullivan
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT $150,000 be approved from the 2000 Streets Basic Capital Local Area Traffic Plans & Improvements account No. 30002984 to build a pilot project of several small parking bays between Nanaimo and Rupert Street, subject to local property owners' approval.

LOST
(Councillors Bass, Clarke, Daniel Lee, Don Lee, Louis, McCormick, Price opposed)
(Councillor Kennedy not present for the vote)

MOVED by Councillor Bass
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT traffic on East First Avenue be reduced to one lane in either direction.

LOST (tie vote)
(Councillors Clarke, Daniel Lee, Don Lee, Sullivan opposed)
(Councillor Kennedy not present for vote)

The Committee adjourned at 12:15 p.m.

- - - - -

CITY OF VANCOUVER

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC

JUNE 5, 2001

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Tuesday, June 5, 2001, at 12:15 p.m. in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic meeting, to consider the recommendations of the Committee.

PRESENT:	Councillor Jennifer Clarke, Acting Mayor Councillor Fred Bass Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor Tim Louis Councillor Sandy McCormick Councillor Gordon Price Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT:	Mayor Philip Owen (Civic Business) Councillor Lynne Kennedy, Deputy Mayor Councillor George Puil (Civic Business)
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:	Tina Hildebrandt, Meeting Coordinator

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Don Lee
SECONDED by Councillor Bass

THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Acting Mayor Clarke in the chair.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Report of Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
June 5, 2001

Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in the following clauses of the foregoing report:

Cl.1: Zebra Pavement Markings and Wider Crosswalks
Cl.2: 2001 Traffic Signal Program
Cl.3: Reduced Waiting Times for Pedestrians at Traffic Signals
Cl.4: East First Avenue Traffic Impact Mitigation

Clauses 1, 2 and 4

MOVED by Acting Mayor Clarke

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 1, 2, and 4 of this report, be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Clause 3

This item was referred to the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting scheduled for June 7, 2001.

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Don Lee

THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Don Lee
SECONDED by Councillor McCormick

THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS

1. Leave of Absence - Councillor McCormick (File 1254)

MOVED by Councillor Price
SECONDED by Councillor Sullivan

THAT Councillor McCormick be granted Leave of Absence for July 12 - 31, 2001.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. Leave of Absence - Councillor Price (File 1254)

MOVED by Councillor McCormick
SECONDED by Councillor Don Lee

THAT Councillor Price be granted Leave of Absence for June 7 - 12, 2001.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Council adjourned at 12:20 p.m.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver