ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: October 16, 2001
Author/Local: Don Klimchuk/

604-873- 7345

RTS NO. 02325

CC File No. 5551

T&T: October 30, 2001

TO:	Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Transport Canada's Urban Transportation Showcase Program

INFORMATION

The General Manager of Engineering Services submits this report for INFORMATION.

COUNCIL POLICY

In May 1997, Council adopted the City of Vancouver Transportation Plan, including the mode split targets which emphasize: the need for increased provision and use of transit; limiting overall road capacity to the present level; maintaining an efficient goods movement network; traffic calming in neighbourhoods; and providing more comfortable biking and walking environments.

PURPOSE

This report provides the Committee with information on a preliminary submission, that has been prepared by Engineering Services, to Transport Canada on their Urban Transportation Showcase Program.

BACKGROUND

This August, Transport Canada announced that they will be providing new federal cost-sharing for urban transportation initiatives called the "Urban Transportation Showcase Program". This is one of the products of the Government of Canada Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change. The federal plan notes that transportation is Canada's largest source of greenhouse gases, and that two-thirds of these emissions are generated from urban areas. Accordingly, the intent of this program is to demonstrate and evaluate ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from urban transportation, as examples for other Canadian cities.

Some of the key aspects of the program are as follows:

Funding Level

The program will contribute $35 million across the country. Although this is not a large amount for a national program, Transport Canada's program description notes that they anticipate awarding only 4 or 5 showcases, and that a single showcase could receive up to $10 million in funding. The federal contribution would be for a maximum of one-third of the showcase costs, with the other two-thirds paid for by the local government and their partners. There has been no indication from the provincial government that they have an interest in matching the federal funding.

What a Showcase Is

Each showcase is to integrate several measures, which may include active transportation (e.g. walking and cycling), high-occupancy vehicles, public transit, traffic operations, transportation pricing, land use planning, and public outreach/education. A showcase must also identify and monitor its expected benefits, such as improved air quality, enhanced safety and reduced operating costs.

Timing

The first step in the application process is to submit an Expression of Interest to Transport Canada by October 31st, 2001. These submissions would be short-listed by December 31^st, 2001, and those on the short-list would have until April 30^th, 2002 to prepare a Detailed Proposal ($30,000 in funding would be provided for proposal development). Successful applicants are to be notified by June or July 2002, and will have until 2006 to complete their Showcases.

Overview of Proposed Vancouver Showcase

The proposed Vancouver showcase is intended to build on existing proposals that support the City's Transportation Plan, and integrate with land-use proposals. The main components of the proposal include:
· A pilot downtown streetcar line that would begin regular operations between Science World and Granville Island,

· Pedestrian and bicycle improvements both in the downtown and on False Creek bridges,

· A public outreach and education plan, and
· A monitoring program to document results.

DISCUSSION

A copy of the preliminary submission prepared by Engineering Services, titled "City of Vancouver Expression of Interest - Urban Transportation Showcase Program" is attached. As noted above, this proposal would use non-auto transportation projects, for which planning is already underway, to form the core of the City's Showcase. These projects would be developed further in consultation with City Council, stakeholders and potential partners. Once planning activities are completed and funding approvals received, implementation would include active promotion and close monitoring of the projects, and documentation of costs and actual benefits. Results in helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as other positive impacts, could then be shared with other municipalities across Canada.

Besides being both a national and international issue, greenhouse gases are also a significant issue for our region. Monitoring conducted by the Greater Vancouver Regional District has shown an increase in greenhouse gas emissions between 1990 and 1998 of about 4%. Success towards reversing this trend will require increased use of non-auto modes.

Staff feel that Vancouver has a valuable contribution to make as a Showcase of innovative urban transportation measures that could help lead to a more sustainable future. The transportation projects being proposed will be complemented by transportation plans and land use plans which are already in place. The benefits of a streetcar line serving the downtown, and improved pedestrian and cycling facilities in the downtown and on the False Creek bridges are high. However, so are the challenges in implementing them in a mostly built-out urban core.

Although a great deal of preliminary planning for these projects has been done, their implementation could be significantly expedited with the assistance of the Urban Transportation Showcase Program. Accordingly, it would be to the mutual benefit of the City and the federal government, to share the cost of implementing, monitoring and reporting on Vancouver's proposed Showcase projects. Granville Island (owned by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation), would particularly benefit from improved access provided by this Showcase.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The total cost of the proposed Showcase is approximately $30 million. If the City's submission is short-listed by Transport Canada, estimates would need to be refined further and project scopes more clearly defined. If the total costs remains at $30 million (which would provide the maximum federal funding of $10 million), funding for the City's share of $20 million would need to be found. Possible sources of funding for the City portion could include the next Capital Plan, future operating budgets, Development Cost Levy revenues, TransLink cost-sharing, Concord-Pacific payment-in-lieu funds (Green Links), or in the case of the Streetcar, fare revenues and possible private sector funding.

CONCLUSION

The attached Expression of Interest will not commit the City to any specific funding or projects related to it. It is a first step in the application process. Transport Canada plans to short-list the applications received by the end of 2001. Accordingly, if this submission is short-listed, staff will report back on the Detailed Proposal for Council's approval in early 2002.

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NOTE FROM CLERK - The "City of Vancouver Expression of Interest - Urban Transportation Showcase Program" is not available in electronic form - on file in the Office of the City Clerk.

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver