Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic

FROM:

General Manager of Engineering Services

SUBJECT:

Mt. Pleasant Traffic Calming Plan - Temporary Northbound Traffic Closure at Quebec and 11th or 12th

 

RECOMMENDATION

COUNCIL POLICY

The Transportation Plan provides that the traffic calming program should give priority to streets and neighbourhoods where the traffic impacts are most serious.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to seek Council's approval to make permanent the trial northbound traffic closure on Quebec Street.

BACKGROUND

In March 1998, Vancouver City Council approved the implementation of the Mt. Pleasant traffic calming plan for the neighbourhood bounded by Yukon, Main, Broadway and 12th. All traffic calming measures have been made permanent, except the northbound closure on Quebec Street.

The last survey of the neighbourhood indicated that over 70% of those responding to the survey were in favour of this traffic calming plan. An important component of the plan to discourage short-cutting through-traffic is a closure to northbound traffic on Quebec Street at either 11th or 12th Avenue. Initially a temporary closure was built on Quebec Street at 12th Avenue. Neighbours supported the closure to northbound traffic on Quebec Street; however the majority were in favour of relocating the temporary closure from 12th to 11th Avenue on a trial basis.

This temporary closure on Quebec Street at 11th Avenue has been in place for some time now for the neighbourhood to assess. Thus, two temporary options have been tried (northbound closure at 12 and at 11th Avenues).

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

(a) Quebec Street

The Mt. Pleasant neighbourhood was surveyed about whether the northbound traffic closure on Quebec Street should be at 11th or 12th. The survey is contained in Attachment "A".

The results of the survey are:
- surveys distributed = 1415
- surveys returned = 202 a 14% response rate
- of those responding, 57% were in favour of the northbound traffic closure on Quebec being at 11th, 32% were in favour of the closure at 12th and 11% were neutral.

Comments from the survey are found in Attachment "B".

(b) Lane west of Qubec Street between 10th and 11th Avenues

A petition signed by fifteen residents "request that the closures at 10th Avenue & Quebec Street, and 11th Avenue & Ontario Street be removed. The alleyway behind 2649 Quebec Street has become the thoroughfares for all the traffic diverted by the installation of these closures at 10th Avenue & Quebec Street, and 11th Avenue & Ontario Street. All vehicles, which include cars, taxis, and trucks heading westbound, are using this alleyway as the main point of entry in order to access 10th Avenue. There is NO OTHER POINT OF ENTRY."

Over 70% of the neighbourhood are in favour of this neighbourhood traffic calming plan; consequently, removal of specific traffic calming measures is not supported. Cars are using the lanes because of the extensive number of restrictive calming measures associated with this neighbourhood plan (see map in Attachment "A"). Quebec Street is restricted at 11th and at Broadway, Ontario Street is restricted north of 11th. Manitoba is restricted between Broadway and 10th and at 12th. Columbia, Alberta and 11th are also similarly restricted.

Traffic counts were taken in the lane west of Quebec Street between 10th and 11th Avenues on five occasions:
- October 19, 1998 - 4:30 to 5:00pm - 8 cars short-cutted
- September 23, 1999 - 4:20 to 4:50pm - 7 cars short-cutted
- September 24, 1999 - 7:30 to 8:00am - 4 cars short-cutted
- May 28, 2001 - 4:30 to 5:00pm - 10 cars short-cutted
- May 29, 2001 - 7:30 to 8:00am - 5 cars short-cutted
This lane serves a number of apartment buildings with many parking spaces in the lane and access to underground parking off the lane. Most of the cars travelling behind the building were originating or destined to parking on or off of the lane. Vehicles were travelling quite slowly through this section of lane, which is quite narrow. At a meeting with the Mt. Pleasant Neighbourhood Residents Committee involved in developing the traffic calming plan for the neighbourhood, the Committee indicated that the lane should not be closed because some residents access parking off this lane and prefer the access be maintained. Due to the low number of short-cutting vehicles, it is recommended that the lane not be closed.

To conclude, the Mt. Pleasant neighbourhood supports the northbound traffic closure on Quebec Street at 11th Avenue and it is recommended that it made permanent.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The cost for the closure is estimated at $12,000. Funding is available from Streets Capital Unappropriated Account 30000326, Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Plans.

CONCLUSION

The northbound traffic closure on Quebec Street at 11th Avenue is an important component of the Mt. Pleasant neighbourhood traffic calming plan. The neighbourhood supported the overall plan by 70%, and prefers the northbound closure of Quebec Street at 11th Avenue.

* * * * *

tt010710.htm

City of Vancouver April 2001

Dear Neighbour:

This survey seeks your opinion about whether the northbound traffic closure on Quebec Street should be at 11th or 12th Avenue.

In March 1998, Vancouver City Council approved the implementation of the Mt. Pleasant traffic calming plan for your neighbourhood. All traffic calming measures have been made permanent, except the northbound closure on Quebec Street. Traffic calming involves slowing the speed or reducing the volume of vehicular traffic on neighbourhood streets to increase safety and livability in the neighbourhood.

The last survey of your neighbourhood indicated that over 70% of those responding to the survey were in favour of this traffic calming plan. An important component of the plan to discourage short-cutting through-traffic is a closure to northbound traffic on Quebec Street at either 11th or 12th Avenue. Initially a temporary closure was built on Quebec Street at 12th Avenue. Neighbours supported the closure to northbound traffic on Quebec Street; however the majority were in favour of relocating the temporary closure from 12th to 11th Avenue on a trial basis.

This temporary closure on Quebec Street at 11th Avenue has been in place for some time now for you to assess. Thus, two temporary options have been tried (northbound closure at 12 and at 11th Avenues). Your opinion on option preferences and response to the enclosed survey is requested. The results of the enclosed survey will be presented to Vancouver City Council for approval. Your response to the survey is important. If approved by Council, the temporary, yellow cement barriers will be made permanent with regular sized curbing and grass and brushed concrete surfacing similar to the bulge on 10th at Quebec.

The cost for these traffic calming measures is funded by the City's capital budget and will not increase your taxes.

Please detach the reply card along the perforation and mail by May 11, 2001. If you wish to expand on your comments, please fax them to 871-6192, e-mail jim_hall@city.vancouver.bc.ca or mail to Neighbourhood Transportation, Engineering Services, City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. V5Y 1V4. All personal information will remain confidential. Your opinion and comments will be forwarded to Vancouver City Council. If you have any questions, call Jim Hall at 873-7130 or e-mail jim_hall@city.vancouver.bc.ca You may also wish to consult with members of the Mount Pleasant Traffic Committee: Linda McLaren of Quebec Street (873-8394), Marilyn Bell of 10th Avenue (875-1742), Andre Pekovich of Alberta Street (879-0007) or John Davis of 10th Avenue (230-2114).


COMMENTS OF THOSE FAVOURING THE CLOSURE OF
QUEBEC STREET AT 11TH AVENUE:

- Thank you for all your work on providing traffic quieting in our neighbourhood.
- I feel strongly that the closure should be at 11th Ave. A closure at 12th would force people to cut through back lanes along 12th. The speeds are excessive for lanes - a safety issue
- I think that the traffic calming idea works. Make short cutting more difficult. Thanks
- Asinine enough. It is my only direct access to my home at 10th & Quebec after picking up my child and dropping off my car pool passenger. Traffic is already hell even without a strike. I don't know who your 70% were that were in favour, but they need to have their heads examined.
- Residents were advised by the City that the temporary closure at 11th Avenue would be for six months - it has been much longer than six months - at least a year , I am sure. Let's get on with it and move things forward.
- Access to the neighbourhood from 12th Avenue should be maintained at this location.
- I sit at my desk at 125 East 10th Avenue and watch cars blow by the temporary closure on 11th Avenue constantly and at high rates of speed. Also, 12th Avenue is already regulated. Thank you.
- The original closure on 12th Avenue was inconvenient for residents with vehicles and for students who were needed to be driven to the school at 11th Avenue and Quebec Street. Traffic was redirected up West 12th Avenue, then right (north) on Ontario, then down East on 11th Avenue.
- The corner of Ontario and 11th needs a 3-way stop with bigger STOP signs. Bicycles and pedestrians are constantly yelling at drivers who barely slow down. Before a fatality occurs, this situation must be looked at.
- If it is closed off @ 12th, it may cause traffic problems for the school and increase car #s on Ontario. Better to keep it at 11th!
- Since Manitoba at 12th is closed to northbound traffic, neighbourhood vehicles have few options for crossing 12th Avenue. The closure at 11th has worked well.
- Closure at 12th will cause increased access traffic onto Ontario Bike Route which is already heavily travelled. I favour the existing closure at 11th as this allows access to the neighbourhood that avoids travel on Ontario. As Manitoba Street is closed to northbound traffic at 12th, access to the neighbourhood is already well controlled. What about the alley between Manitoba and Ontario between 10th and Broadway? How about some speed bumps?
- It's already hard enough for residents of 11th Avenue west of Main and east of Yukon to legally turn from 12th and get to 11th. Make the closure permanent at 11th and leave us reasonable access to our own street. All the other closures have calmed traffic here successfully. Any more would end up creating more problems than they would solve.
- Good job!
- Turns north will be limited to Ontario, Yukon and restricted times on Columbia, if you close off Quebec. This makes it too circuitous to get home and almost impossible for visitors to find us.
- A closure at 11th Avenue enables me access to my home from 12th Avenue. If it were at 12th, I would have to go all the way up to Main down to Broadway and up to Ontario where I would have to take a left. Thanks for soliciting my opinion!
- It is already difficult to get to my house and to my area. Please do not make it more difficult. It should be up to those of us immediately affected, not people 4 - 5 blocks away.
- I think putting it at 12th Avenue would actually increase the residential traffic because the cars dropping people off at the school would be forced to drive through instead of having a way in andout of the area.
- More enforcement is necessary to stop cars from driving through the closure.
- If the closure is on 12th, shortcutting will be guided further west on 12th to Ontario, then Columbia, etc. Better perhaps to filtrate any shortcutting through several channels than one.
- A closure at 12th is very, very, very inconvenient for parents driving students to St. Patrick's High School at 11th & Quebec (indeed they are likely to not comply).
- It is useful for automobiles to turn off of 12th rather than congest other streets where a left or right can be made. Once off 12th, they can figure out where to go - east or west.
- I think the traffic calming is important to prevent through traffic, but by closing off Quebec at 12th, access points for neighbourhood residents and guests are reduced. Therefore, I think the closure at 11th is the better option.
- Re: 12th and Ontario - northeast corner is too narrow. Difficult right-hand turn from 12th on to Ontario.
- Hopefully the permanent barrier will be more effective than the temporary barrier, which was not.
- The basic reason I support 11th Avenue over the 12th closure is that if we close 12th Avenue, this will mean that every automobile that wants to zigzag through the City Hall areas on route to downtown in the morning is only left with my street (Ontario) as their option. If we close 12th and Quebec, Ontario will only get worse - and it is already congested as is. It amazes me the speed and frequency that drivers choose to motor down Ontario Street within this one short block given that it is a popular bike route and a nice neighbourhood with cats and kids roaming about. Thank you.
- We thank you for your good work!
- I prefer 11th, it keeps out people short-cutting through the area, but we local residents can still get through.
- Enforce it! Also, besides bikes, allow taxis!
- For those of us who live in the area of the closure, some sort of access is preferable, as we then know we are able to get home (through alleys usually) by more than one route!
- The closure at 11th allows for pick up/drop off of St. Patrick's School students, otherwise parents have to cut through other residential streets.
- Totally support the permanent closure at 11th & Quebec Street. It will assist with the traffic flow before and after school.
- I would also like it to be designed like a planted bulge-type area to be part of the Mt. Pleasant Community Centre garden plot program. As well, the police or someone needs to deal with the extreme driving, drop-off and parking by-law infractions by the students, parents and teachers of St. Patrick's Secondary School!! Thank you.
- We are moving down to the corner of Ontario and 11th in July and are concerned only one entry from 12th to the neighbourhood is insufficient. We are fully in support of all traffic calmed measures in this neighbourhood and have chosen to raise our two young girls in this area in part because of this policy. In general, the more closures the better but if the choice is 11th or 12th at Quebec, then we choose 11th so that not all the traffic comes down Ontario from 12th which would happen if Quebec and Manitoba are closed at 12th. Thanks.
- There is also need for prevention of trucks heading south on Ontario street from Broadway and then going east on 10th. They often are too large to navigate the 10th & Ontario traffic circle and turn illegally across the intersection causing danger to cyclists on the bikeway going north on Ontario street. Thank you.
- While traffic calming is an excellent idea, it's becoming increasingly difficult to access one's home legally!!!
- I like the traffic calming measures in this neighbourhood. I like the closure at 11th because it helpsprotect my street from some of the craziness of the school pick-up/drop-off at St. Patrick's School.
- I live at 11th & Alberta. Do you have figures showing the effects of the above closures on the nearby streets? e.g. Columbia R. turns off 12th (N'Bd turn) or Alberta (same turn). Generally I would support either option. Please note that as a cycle commuter (to DTES area) I observe, regularly, drivers ignoring the (BIKE) ONE WAY closure at Manitoba S. of Broadway as well as greatly increased intolerance, ignorance and blatant law breaking by drivers.
- I believe the 11th Avenue closure is much safer than the 12th Avenue. It gives every motorist a chance to slow down and be prepared for the change, otherwise the 12th Avenue could be more dangerous.
- However, this should be with signage - to 11th street only or similar. Most "foreign" cars don't know this and if turn to Main cannot cross etc. so are left going through the closure, about 10% go through at 10th & Quebec and about the same at 11th, if noticed.
- The stop signs at both 11th and Ontario and 11th and Quebec Streets must have stop lines painted on the road surface to enforce the stop line. I live at the corner of 11th and Ontario; drivers frequently ignore the stop sign. There have been dozens of near misses with cars and cyclists. Thank you.
- The alley between 10th and 11th, between Ontario and Quebec is being used as a last track by non-residents to get around the closures, especially at night - many at very high speeds. Plus, during the day, additional high school using the `dog leg' in alley with loud music and high speeds (St. Pat's).
- Please keep the closure at 11th Avenue. When the closure was at 12th Avenue, the traffic along 11th between Quebec and Ontario Streets was "nuts". With parking on both sides of 11th - only 1 vehicle travels safely and it has been reasonable traffic with the closure at 11th Avenue. Move the closure to 12th again; all St. Patrick's School traffic travel along 11th between Ontario and Quebec and the block tries hopelessly to accommodate two way traffic - "not"!...The horns come out...please leave the closure at 11th and Quebec. Thanks.
- This is not quite related but I'd like to see an abundance of the trees named on each of the streets that bear a tree name - thus Arbutus Street should have lots of Arbutus trees along it and Hemlock Street should be lined with Hemlock trees - keep up the good work! Thanks.
- We believe that more than one access to St. Patrick's School should be made available. Therefore, the existing 11th Avenue closure should be made permanent.
- Many vehicles cross this closure but once properly installed and planted, it will create more of a visual barrier.
- Any chance of speed bumps on 10th Avenue, between Yukon and Alberta Streets? - cars seem oblivious to the speed limit. Also, as parking on both sides, the street is narrow and there is often quite a bit of honking and yelling going on if cars stop for any reason - could we have a BIG SIGN indicating a "quiet zone"/"no aggressive honking or road rage allowed"...? Thanks!!
- I do not see the need to spend additional funds just to replace the temporary concrete blocks with something more permanent. It is fine the way it is. Maybe the money could be spent more wisely on something more important (e.g. maintaining highways/roads, Lion's Gate Bridge).
- I am concerned about traffic calming in the current configuration as it forces too much traffic from 12th and Broadway onto Ontario Street. Ontario Street is a bike route, but it is the only access to our neighbourhood from Broadway. Similarly, Ontario is one of two access streets (Quebec being the other) from 12th Avenue. The result is that Ontario Street is a busy, narrow street between Broadway and 10th Avenue, and between 12th and 11th Avenues. Please consider opening Quebec Street from Broadway and another street from 12th, so that 10th Avenue is no longer the connector for this neighbourhood and can be made safe for cyclists.
- I would like to add some more detailed comments regarding the survey that was recently distributed in my neighbourhood. I live at 90 East 11th Avenue and have a first hand view and experience with the traffic around this corner. There are two very significant problems. First, there is a very narrow lane behind the heritage apartment building located at 2649 Quebec Street that runs between 11th and 10th Avenues. It has become a convenient (for drivers) end-run around the fact that cars cannot, or should not, drive north from 11th & Quebec. As well, commercial garbage trucks and frequently other trucks use this lane for service provision. The problems are three-fold: first the narrowness of the lane creates back-up of vehicles going both ways, plus there is frequent collision of trucks and sometimes cars on the corner of the apartment building which has caused visible damage; second, the ability to see 11th avenue traffic when exiting south from the lane is hampered particularly because street parking always violates the triangle markings designating no parking; and third, the people who live in the apartment building are experiencing unacceptable sounds of traffic both day and night. It would be beneficial, and my recommendation, that the narrow north, south lane become one-way going south. This would stop people from turning into the lane from 11th Avenue and this seems to be the biggest problem. I do not recommend stopping traffic from turning onto Quebec Street from 12th Avenue because when this was initially done as a pilot some years ago, people trying to deliver their children to St. Pats and commuters wanting to use Quebec Street to get downtown simply turned north at Ontario Street then east on 11th Avenue and then north on Quebec. This block of 11th Avenue became a nightmare. Further, the traffic related to St. Pats Secondary School has become absolutely unacceptable in the mornings between 7:45 and 8:30, and in the afternoons between 2:45 and 3:00, plus in the evenings when the school has special events. As well, the crossing of the street by students during the day and before, after school is craziness. There needs to be some sort or crosswalk designated between the two parts of the school on the north and south sides of 11th Avenue and a school crossing sign. I also recommend a meeting with the parent committee and the new principle. Please let me know when this matter will, or if it will, be coming before Council for decision. Thank you.

COMMENTS OF THOSE FAVOURING THE CLOSURE OF
QUEBEC STREET AT 12TH AVENUE:

- I think in the long run closing the street at 12th will prevent short cutting along 11th Avenue to Yukon. This survey card is the best quality I've seen. Very easy to spot, well laid out - easy to answer.
- I would like traffic discouraged on both West 10th and West 11th Avenues. These are residential streets, not arterial roads.
- It will also reduce traffic on 11th and make it safer for cyclists crossing 11th at Ontario. I would think that most cars turning on to Quebec are planning to stay on Quebec. Because they can't, why tease them?
- If blocked of at 11th, I cannot get into our neighbourhood from 10th and Main (I get routed back out onto Broadway).
- I feel that a closure along 12th Avenue is important in order to prevent traffic from the school and from Main Street from cutting through the neighbourhood and threatening the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.
- The closure at 12th and Quebec improved our traffic situation considerably. The closure at 11th is much worse for us than no closure at all. It intensifies the congestion and confusion for parentsdropping off and picking up children at St. Patricks. It leads to increased traffic down the back alley as northbound traffic to 10th seeks an alternate route. Worst of all, it poses a real safety risk to the tenants, particularly the small children in the front of our apartment because many drivers will drive through the closure if no oncoming traffic is blocking it. Children playing in front of the building are seriously at risk. The speed of traffic on 12th makes this illegal manoeuver much more difficult when the closure was at 12th Avenue, and it did not endanger our residents.
- Idea is to stop cars turning right on 12th Avenue and then turn left on back lane or 11th Avenue for short cut.
- Finally!
- This would be very good because there is a school with small children. We have to think of their safety.
- From my experience as a resident, a cyclist and a pedestrian along this street, I think that the closure along 12th is essential to ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists who use the route.
- I am most concerned about city employees parking outside for our guests. Every weekday, all the non-permit parking in our area is completely full from 8:00 - 4:00, so no one else can park. Is there any way city employees can receive more parking help so they don't need to block all our streets? In addition, city employees park in the lane (300 blk between 10th and 11th) and don't receive parking tickets?
- People don't pay any attention to the closures so I don't see much sense in doing this survey. Have the police pass out tickets or leave things the way they are.
- Closure at 11th Avenue offers no protection to residents from cut-through traffic, and is frequently ignored. Closure should be at 12th Avenue. P.S. Please provide exposed aggregate concrete, not brushed, to fit with heritage neighbourhood. Thank you.
- There are too many cars in this neighbourhood, more studies/changes need to be made to make Vancouver more bike friendly.
- People ignore the "Do Not Enter" signs no matter where they are. Residents have to drive further (more noise + air pollution) just to get to a parking spot.
- There is a lane behind west side Quebec Street between 10th and 11th - between our building 43 East 11th and 2649 Quebec. With Quebec Street closed, everyone just cuts down this very narrow lane. It's dangerous for pedestrians/tenants and very noisy for tenants on that side of the building. There have also been problems with the Fire Dept. being able to access this area (10th/11th Ontario/Quebec) with so many one-ways, etc. You should come visit here 4:00 - 5:00 pm on a weekday. It's busier than 10th or 11th Avenues! Hoping you will give this due consideration.
- I support the closure of 12th due to the documented reduction in traffic. I have lived at the same address for 11 years and am a strong supporter of the traffic calming plan. Thanks!
- Thank you for soliciting the residents' opinion. I think closure at 12th was more efficient as a traffic calming measure. It has gotten a little too busy lately. Also, many drivers do not respect the closure at 11th anyway. There is enough space for them to drive through to Broadway.
- The closure at 12th appears to reduce the traffic in the neighbourhood generally for everyone - all #s are lower.
- All these recent closures have INCREASED traffic in this area rather than decrease it. Also people live here and therefore need to get in and out of sole streets. Please be advised (idiots).
- This is all fine and good till you need a fire truck, ambulance, police or cab, etc. These closures really make a big difference in their arrival time, e.g. 15 minutes to come to above address (125 West 10th Avenue). Good thing it was a false alarm! I am very much against all this.
- People still drive through closures at 11th, as well as 10th & Quebec (westbound). To prohibit traffic violations, closures need to be policed regularly and tickets given. Despite the calming plan in Mount Pleasant, many drivers break traffic regulations, placing not only the plan at risk, but alsopedestrians and cyclists.
- I would prefer it closed at 12th. Would like to be able to enter Broadway going north on Quebec Street.
- Thanks.
- Need to stop/prevent people that enter the closure. Seems like it's a problem as people try to race through the barrier.
- I am supporting a closure at 12th Avenue, because there is no other way to get off of 11th Avenue (heading east) without turning left on Quebec. This may increase traffic, but for a "traffic calmed" area, 11th Avenue is just as bad as 12th Avenue!! If we open up Quebec Street, at least the people of the neighbourhood will have the option to turn left!!
- I think it keeps the neighbourhood calm, livable, cleaner with less traffic, SAFE for both children & animals, a more peaceful place for the elders in our neighbourhood and generally a better place to live.
- Traffic gets more congested at 11th and Quebec as it is currently, partially due to the school at that location.
- People drive through regardless of the barriers - as seen on 10th & Quebec heading west!
- It's easy enough to get in (for me) via Ontario, but to travel from my home to areas north is extremely awkward with the 11th closure - until close to Yukon, I can't get out at all. Most un-environmental to have to constantly drive so far out of my way.
- The closure of Quebec at Broadway (one way) isn't working. Cars continue to drive straight through south on Quebec and some even turn right on Quebec at that intersection (The marks in grass offer testimony). What is needed are posts which would stop cars from, at least, making right turns on Quebec Street. Posts similar to those at Ontario and 11th Avenue might help.
- The closure seems ineffective at 11th Avenue. The majority of vehicles are illegally crossing this closure anyway - especially the vehicles coming from 12th Avenue. The closure at 12th is more "public" and hence, more effective at deterring vehicles form heading north along Quebec (from my observations and my suite faces Quebec Street).
- All traffic that would normally go through Quebec Street would go through our alley way which is too busy already.
- Is there anyway that drivers can be further discouraged from entering through closures? People still disobey the no entry signs.
- Moving the closure back to 12th Avenue is the minimum that should be done to calm traffic. The school generates much too much traffic that is dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists and noisy and polluting for all. Slowing traffic by installing speed bumps and raised crosswalks as well as removing on-street parking in most areas is also long overdue. Thanks for this process and I look forward to your advisory.
- If it is closed at 11th Avenue, traffic will divert north in back alley from 11th to 10th. Presently traffic goes around barricades on Quebec from 11th to 10th Avenues.
- Closure at 12th Avenue will better prevent cars from driving through the area including 11th and then onto other side streets.
- Closures force traffic through alley! That's my bedroom.
- Since you relocated the closure to 11th Avenue, the lane beside the building where I live has become a major thoroughfare and has created a major headache for residents, such as myself, who are forced to use this lane to access our parking area. Traffic in the lane has increased tenfold since the change in closure. I know as I hear it day and night being that my suite is adjacent to the lane. Not to mention that I was recently involved in a car accident while exiting this lane way (due to the volume of traffic using the lane and East 11th Avenue), thus, I am absolutely opposed to the existing closure. I have also witnessed more than one accident resulting from the use of the laneas a means of accessing East 10th Avenue and Broadway. The noise pollution and chaos has become unbearable! This continues day and night.
- I believe it is safer to move the closure to Quebec and 12th. Because with the current system, traffic cuts down the alley between Ontario and Quebec Streets, often at high speeds.
- I support the City's efforts to calm our neighbourhoods - money well spent. In general, more of the broad costs of car driving should be borne by motorists, both in terms of speed and dollars. Our neighbourhood should be places where kids can play in the streets without being run down and where we can chat with a neighbour without the background roar of traffic.
- If the closure occurs at 12th, please consider a "roundabout" at 11th so we can manoeuver our cars in the neighbourhood.

COMMENTS OF THOSE NEUTRAL ABOUT THE CLOSURE OF QUEBEC STREET AT 11TH AVENUE:

- Although I don't have a strong opinion about the traffic circle, I am impressed with the level of consultation. Good work!
- The traffic control measures produce a dramatic change for the better. There's school(s) nearby, domestic cats & dogs, lots of bicycle traffic and seniors about. I've lived at 12 West 10th since 1982. I commend you for implementing measures that have made the neighbourhood incredibly safer for all non-vehicle traffic.
- There is too much traffic in the lane beside me!! These closures contribute to that! (Lane runs north-south just west of Quebec, between 11th and 10th) NOISY!
- We do not drive and none of these changes really affect us.
- I don't like any of these closures.
- I do not agree on permanent closure of 11th and 12th Avenues for the reason that would affect/take my business away. I've seen that temporary closure on 10th and 11th Avenues never prevent anybody from entering these one-way streets. It only causes the traffic problems and traffic volume is still same.
- Idiotic procedure. You people are stupid, stupid, stupid. All that insane ideas do is move the traffic off up the streets and into the alleys. This causes more problems than if you had just left the streets the way they were intended!!! It is obvious that not one of you morons lives in this neighbourhood! Get your heads out of your asses!
- Petition: We, the undersigned, request that the closures at 10th Avenue & Quebec Street, and 11th Avenue & Ontario Street be removed. The alleyway behind 2649 Quebec Street has become the thoroughfare for all of the traffic diverted by the installation of these closures at 10th Avenue & Quebec Street, and 11th Avenue & Ontario Street. All vehicles, which include cars, taxis and trucks heading westbound, are using this alleyway as the main point of entry in order to access 10th Avenue. There is NO OTHER POINT OF ENTRY. The City of Vancouver is showing favoritism towards the home and condo owners on 10th Avenue while showing a serious lack of consideration and respect for apartment dwellers. Get the traffic out of the alleyways and back onto the streets where it belongs. We pay our share of taxes and deserve to have our concerns addressed.
- The maze of `traffic calming' in the neighbourhood already makes it extremely difficult to park my car near my building without breaking several rules to get there. It's a pain in the ass if you live here: e.g. Ontario: closed between 10th and 11th ; 10th: DO NOT ENTER at Quebec; Quebec: closed northbound between 10th& 11th; Broadway: NO LEFT at Quebec; Manitoba: closednorthbound between 12th & 11th, etc.. I either have to drive down back alleys or break the law to get home. It's impossible to drive home directly from anywhere south of me. CUT IT OUT!!
- You have made the alleys major thoroughfares INSTEAD. So what good are your closures? The alley ways should have NO ENTRY signs, speed bumps, and any other means to deter speedways in alleys. It's disgusting. We had many petitioners protesting your "CALMING" effects. One person's calm is another person's nightmare. Your engineers are incompetent!
- We already have one on Ontario Street, so we would rather not have any on Quebec Street. There is too much congestion because of St. Patrick's School.
- I DO NOT SUPPORT the northbound closure on Quebec Street.
- My recommendation would be to remove the temporary measure and not install at either location. If one location must go ahead, then 11th Avenue is better. Where is my choice for `no closure'?

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