Traffic Circle at East 13th and Lakewood

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: October 16, 2001
Author/Local: M. Scholefield/

604-873-7916

RTS No. 2338

CC File No. 5757

T&T: October 30, 2001

TO:

Standing Committee of Council on Transportation and Traffic

FROM:

General Manager of Engineering Services

SUBJECT:

Traffic Circle at East 13^th Avenue and Lakewood Drive

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT the installation of a traffic circle at East 13^th Avenue and Lakewood Drive be approved as detailed in this report with $6,500 funding provided from Order Number 10001044, Streets Operations.

B. THAT the 2002 Operations budget be increased by $200, without offset and subject to budget review, to account for the additional cost of road cleaning and signage.

COUNCIL POLICY

On May 27^th, 1997, Council approved the Vancouver Transportation Plan that emphasizes the need to provide more comfortable cycling and walking environments and to mitigate the effects of traffic in local neighbourhood areas.

Policies governing the Local Improvement process are set out in the Vancouver Charter and Local Improvements Procedure by-law.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to document the neighbourhood support for the installation of a traffic circle at the intersection of East 13^th Avenue and Lakewood Drive as part of the local improvement works currently underway at this location.
TRAFFIC STUDIES

The City has received several requests for traffic calming at this location since 1998. While our investigations have indicated that speeding is not prevalent at this location (85^th percentile speed of 49 km/h along Lakewood and 42 km/h along 13^th in 50 km/h zones), this section of Lakewood is a busy route that provides access to the Trout Lake Park parking lot. This section of Lakewood is also a part of the City's bike network. Thus, a traffic circle would be an appropriate traffic calming treatment at this location. The project area is shown in Appendix A.

CURRENT STATUS

In March of 1997, local improvements were approved by the Court of Revision for Lakewood Drive between 10^th Avenue and the lane south of 13^th Avenue. While installing the new curbs and reconstructing the roadway, City crews encountered significant road settling due to the high peat content of the soils beneath the road. This settling has caused the road surface elevation to be below the elevation of a sewer manhole at the centre of the intersection, a discontinuity that is a potential hazard to road users, cyclists in particular. In order to maintain adequate flows, the sewer pipe and manhole must maintain their current elevation. The installation of a traffic circle at this time is an appropriate design solution to address traffic concerns and to eliminate any hazards associated with these uneven surfaces.

CONSULTATION

On September 7, 2001, 47 surveys were delivered to the residents living on the four stem streets of the Lakewood Drive and 13^th Avenue intersection (2000-2100 block of East 13^th Avenue and 2800-2900 block of Lakewood Drive). A total of 19 surveys were returned, producing a response rate of 40%. The surveys indicated 100% support for the installation of this traffic circle. A copy of the letter and survey are given in Appendix B. Comments from residents are summarized in Appendix C.

DISCUSSION

Several factors that make this traffic circle proposal highly desirable and an asset to the local community:

· Lakewood Drive from 13^th Avenue to Powell Street is a designated bike route. Any measures that reduce driver speeding and encourage safer transition through an intersection are seen as highly desirable by the cycling community;

· At present, the local road intersections in this neighbourhood are uncontrolled, meaning that they do not have any stop signs or other right-of-way controls. As part of the City's Stop Sign In-fill Program, which adds stop signs at alternating, uncontrolled intersections, this segment of 13^th Avenue is scheduled to receive stop sign in-fills this year. A traffic circle would provide a very suitable alternative to the planned stop sign installations and offer the added benefit of providing an intersection control measure that is more conducive to cycling than stop signs;

· The installation of a traffic circle at the intersection of 13^th Avenue and Lakewood Drive would effectively deal with the elevation discrepancy between the manhole and the road surface elevation at this intersection; and

· The traffic circle will provide local residents with the opportunity to improve their neighbourhood atmosphere by allowing them to develop a greenery project in the center of the circle. Many residents have expressed their interest in maintaining such a garden.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Funding of $6500 for the traffic circle will be provided from the existing, approved budget for local improvements at this location (Order No. 10001044, Streets Operations). If approved, the 2002 Operations Budget will be increased by $200 without offset to account for the additional cost of signage and cleaning. This increase is subject to review during the annual Operating Budget Review.

CONCLUSION

The proposed traffic circle installation has very strong support from the neighbourhood and is perceived by residents to be a valuable addition to their community. The traffic circle will also improve conditions for cyclists along this route, assist in calming the volume of traffic using Lakewood Drive and 13^th Avenue to access Trout Lake Park and effectively reduce the existing hazard caused by an uneven surface at the centre of the intersection.

* * * * *

APPENDIX A
PROJECT AREA

TROUT LAKE
PARKING LOTLOCATION OF PROPOSED TRAFFIC CIRCLEN

APPENDIX B
LETTER AND SURVEY DISTRIBUTED JUNE 2001 IN PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROCESS

APPENDIX C
RESIDENT SURVEY COMMENTS

Street:

Comments:

E. 13th Ave.

Proposal ok, but because they have narrowed the adjacent curbs, how can a truck going east on 13th Ave. for example, turn north on Lakewood? ANSWER - remove narrowed curbs.

E. 13th Ave.

I (we) would love to see additional traffic calming on 13th Ave. A tremendous amount of traffic uses 13th as a by-pass off 12th Ave. A second traffic circle at 12th and Semlin would be a huge benefit in that regard. There are significant dangers on this corner now with very high traffic flow, speeding through the intersection and a high number of pedestrians including many children accessing the park.

E. 13th Ave.

I was hoping you would construct a traffic circle with a small garden. Thank you.

E. 13th Ave.

Highly in favour. Great idea! I don't know what is involved in sponsoring but as long as it's not too expensive - sure. I would favour small bushes and perennial flowers so that we don't have to keep spending money every year. Can the speedbumps in the Trout Lake parking lot (between Lakewood and Templeton) be expanded to cross the entire width of the parking lot? Cars usually go around them - sometimes at high speeds which means rather than speeding down the middle, they veer towards the edges - right near kids.

E. 13th Ave.

We need this - traffic is too fast at the moment. Good idea.

E. 13th Ave.

We maintained greenery - yes.

E. 13th Ave.

Please note that traffic calming on 13th is a matter of safety also. Prior to repaving the pavement was scored by speeding vehicles bottoming out at the intersection of 13th and Lakewood. When traffic backs up between Victoria and Nanaimo on 12th Ave., cars frequently speed along 13th to bypass traffic. Other traffic calming measures along 13th would also be appreciated.

E. 13th Ave.

After 43 years, I am well aware of soil conditions and sewer problems in this area. As you are aware, the sewer being laid on both sides has caused the road to crown at the centre to the extent that the 2100 block 13th Avenue is so high that smaller, lower cars are presently scraping the bottom of their vehicles. In order to delay doing any major sewers and road works for a number of years, I would ask you to consider the possibility of removing 12-16 ft. from the centre of the road and replace. I realize by doing this, the sewer would probably be too close to the surface. If this is the case, you can consider the ban of heavy trucks as you have done on some of the former old bridges and unstable roads. As for the traffic circle, care of plants, etc., if you could arrange a meeting of volunteers in these two blocks, I am sure we can successfully look after the upkeep of the circle. Thank you for the opportunity to comment (hopefully you will give consideration to my proposal on lowering the crown as it is getting quite hazardous).

E. 13th Ave.

I think it's a good idea, to slow down traffic in the neighbourhood area.

Street:

Comments:

E. 13th Ave.

I have lived at this address for the past 27 years and during this time, I have seen traffic going through 13th Avenue increase as people take shortcuts from Grandview and 12th to Victoria Drive. I strongly recommend a traffic circle at 13th Avenue and Lakewood. I had an accident in front of my house with a woman who lives in Burnaby taking a shortcut through 13th Avenue and speeding. This project has been overdue. It is time the City looked at things like this as the population is getting bigger and there are more cars on the roads. There should be more traffic circles built in intersections to cut down on speeding. It looks like you guys are just waking up, go to other countries and see how a traffic circle works. Thank you.

E. 13th Ave.

Traffic circle sounds okay. It may slow down rush hour traffic that speeds down Lakewood to avoid traffic lights and turns onto 13th Avenue to Victoria, going 60+.

E. 13th Ave.

We would like to see a garden but don't want to keep it up. It's hard enough keeping our own garden up. We would also like to see the rest of 13th Avenue (from Victoria to Templeton) repaved.

Lakewood Dr.

Some trees along the strip between the sidewalk south of 13th Avenue and the west side of Lakewood would make a nice shady entrance to the park. The idea of an asphalt curb is less than satisfactory. Parking cars and trucks will break it up in no time. The concrete curb may have hairline fractures but isn't this a matter of caring not material.

Comments or questions? You can send us email.


TO:	Standing Committee of Council on Transportation and Traffic
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Traffic Circle at East 13^th Avenue and Lakewood Drive

Street:	Comments:
E. 13th Ave.	Proposal ok, but because they have narrowed the adjacent curbs, how can a truck going east on 13th Ave. for example, turn north on Lakewood? ANSWER - remove narrowed curbs.
E. 13th Ave.	I (we) would love to see additional traffic calming on 13th Ave. A tremendous amount of traffic uses 13th as a by-pass off 12th Ave. A second traffic circle at 12th and Semlin would be a huge benefit in that regard. There are significant dangers on this corner now with very high traffic flow, speeding through the intersection and a high number of pedestrians including many children accessing the park.
E. 13th Ave.	I was hoping you would construct a traffic circle with a small garden. Thank you.
E. 13th Ave.	Highly in favour. Great idea! I don't know what is involved in sponsoring but as long as it's not too expensive - sure. I would favour small bushes and perennial flowers so that we don't have to keep spending money every year. Can the speedbumps in the Trout Lake parking lot (between Lakewood and Templeton) be expanded to cross the entire width of the parking lot? Cars usually go around them - sometimes at high speeds which means rather than speeding down the middle, they veer towards the edges - right near kids.
E. 13th Ave.	We need this - traffic is too fast at the moment. Good idea.
E. 13th Ave.	We maintained greenery - yes.
E. 13th Ave.	Please note that traffic calming on 13th is a matter of safety also. Prior to repaving the pavement was scored by speeding vehicles bottoming out at the intersection of 13th and Lakewood. When traffic backs up between Victoria and Nanaimo on 12th Ave., cars frequently speed along 13th to bypass traffic. Other traffic calming measures along 13th would also be appreciated.
E. 13th Ave.	After 43 years, I am well aware of soil conditions and sewer problems in this area. As you are aware, the sewer being laid on both sides has caused the road to crown at the centre to the extent that the 2100 block 13th Avenue is so high that smaller, lower cars are presently scraping the bottom of their vehicles. In order to delay doing any major sewers and road works for a number of years, I would ask you to consider the possibility of removing 12-16 ft. from the centre of the road and replace. I realize by doing this, the sewer would probably be too close to the surface. If this is the case, you can consider the ban of heavy trucks as you have done on some of the former old bridges and unstable roads. As for the traffic circle, care of plants, etc., if you could arrange a meeting of volunteers in these two blocks, I am sure we can successfully look after the upkeep of the circle. Thank you for the opportunity to comment (hopefully you will give consideration to my proposal on lowering the crown as it is getting quite hazardous).
E. 13th Ave.	I think it's a good idea, to slow down traffic in the neighbourhood area.
Street:	Comments:
E. 13th Ave.	I have lived at this address for the past 27 years and during this time, I have seen traffic going through 13th Avenue increase as people take shortcuts from Grandview and 12th to Victoria Drive. I strongly recommend a traffic circle at 13th Avenue and Lakewood. I had an accident in front of my house with a woman who lives in Burnaby taking a shortcut through 13th Avenue and speeding. This project has been overdue. It is time the City looked at things like this as the population is getting bigger and there are more cars on the roads. There should be more traffic circles built in intersections to cut down on speeding. It looks like you guys are just waking up, go to other countries and see how a traffic circle works. Thank you.
E. 13th Ave.	Traffic circle sounds okay. It may slow down rush hour traffic that speeds down Lakewood to avoid traffic lights and turns onto 13th Avenue to Victoria, going 60+.
E. 13th Ave.	We would like to see a garden but don't want to keep it up. It's hard enough keeping our own garden up. We would also like to see the rest of 13th Avenue (from Victoria to Templeton) repaved.
Lakewood Dr.	Some trees along the strip between the sidewalk south of 13th Avenue and the west side of Lakewood would make a nice shady entrance to the park. The idea of an asphalt curb is less than satisfactory. Parking cars and trucks will break it up in no time. The concrete curb may have hairline fractures but isn't this a matter of caring not material.