ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: Dec 6, 2001
Author/Local: M.Honey/604-871-6447

RTS No. 2432

CC File No. 4201

P&E: December 13, 2001

TO:	Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	2002 Sun Run Re-Route

RECOMMENDATION

THAT City Council approve the 2002 Sun Run, to take place April 21st, 2002, with the route changes indicated in this report and shown as Appendix A.

COUNCIL POLICY

The FEST Committee will obtain Council approval annually for the anticipated Special Events that use City property or where the event could have an impact on the adjacent property.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to request that Council approve a change in route for the 15^th Annual Vancouver Sun Run, to be held Sunday, April 21st. The Sun Run is a 10 km fun run that attracts more than 45,000 participants.

BACKGROUND

Since the inaugural event in 1985, the Vancouver Sun Run has grown to be not only the largest Fun Run in our City, but the third largest run of its kind in North America. More than 45,000 runners and walkers, hundreds of volunteers and a large number of spectators participate in the event. In past years, City Council has approved the Sun Run as part of the annual Special Events report. However, in the 2001 report staff warned that construction of a new S-curve on the Stanley Park Causeway would likely necessitate a significant route change for the Run, and agreed to report back to Council for its approval if the change was likely to have significant impacts on other Vancouver neighbourhoods. The proposed route for 2002 is significantly different, and we are seeking Council's support for the change. In the past, the route has been confined to the downtown area and Stanley Park. This year'scauseway construction will prevent runners from entering Stanley Park via Georgia Street, eliminating four kilometers of the existing route. This distance must be recovered by extending the route through other parts of the City. After numerous discussions with the FEST Committee members, particularly Vancouver Police and Coast Mountain Bus Company, a new route has been proposed that eliminates most of the Stanley Park route and instead carry runners southbound over the Burrard Bridge, through the mostly light industrial area just north of 4^th Avenue, south to 6^th Avenue and eastbound to the Cambie Bridge. After traveling northbound over the bridge the runners would proceed east on Pacific Boulevard to the finish line at the Plaza of Nations, its long-established end-point (see Appendix A).

DISCUSSION

Although this route change will have significant impacts on both vehicle and pedestrian traffic on two major bridges, much of the proposed route on the south side of False Creek is through a mainly industrial area, and as the run occurs on a Sunday morning, its impacts should be minimal. Alternate access to Granville Island and the south shore of False Creek will be from West 1^st Avenue under the Cambie Bridge. This route will be publicized by the City and by the Run organizers, and the roads will be reopened to traffic by 11:00am. As well, this new route significantly reduces the impacts of the run on the people living on the north side of False Creek, south of Pacific Boulevard. In the past, Pacific Boulevard has been blocked as the line of runners and walkers stretch out into long lines toward the end of the route. There has been no discussion at this point about whether this new route is a temporary one while the S-curve construction on the causeway is being completed, or if the organizers will want to return to their original route, or if the organizers will propose a new route. The organizers and the FEST Committee will meet after the Run to discuss pros and cons of the revised route.

CONCLUSION

The Vancouver Sun Run is one of the biggest annual special events in the City, with over 45,000 participants. The revised route for the 2002 Sun Run is one that will be attractive to the runners and walkers, and one that works from a City perspective. If Council approves in principle the proposed route changes for this year's event the FEST Committee will continue to work with the organizers to fine-tune the plan to ensure that it meets all City criteria for safety and impact on neighbourhoods.

* * * * *

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver