Corner Bulges Near Major Project Downtown

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: January 23, 2002
Author/Local: L. LaClaire
604-871-6690
RTS No. 02478
CC File No. 5757
CS&B: February 7, 2002

TO:

Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets

FROM:

General Manager of Engineering Services

SUBJECT:

Corner Bulges Near Major Projects Downtown

RECOMMENDATION

THAT corner bulges be constructed at sixteen downtown locations with funding of $150,000 to be included as part of the 2002 Streets Basic Capital Budget (A-4A2 -Geometric Improvements) as outlined in this report.

COUNCIL POLICY

Council reviews plans for geometric modifications on major streets.
Council's priorities for transportation are, in order: walking, cycling, public transit, goods movement and private automobiles.
The Vancouver Transportation Plan emphasizes the need to provide more comfortable pedestrian environments.

PURPOSE

This report seeks approval for the construction of sixteen downtown pedestrian bulges to take advantage of the timing of road construction near major development projects.

BACKGROUND

Major projects are currently under development in the downtown area on False Creek North (Concord Pacific), False Creek East (City Gate), and at Coal Harbour (Marathon). All three major projects have street designs that are underway.

The Downtown Transportation Plan has been under development over the last two years and is expected to report to Council with a Draft Plan in April of 2002.

On June 5, 2001, Council passed the following motions:

C. THAT staff report back on vehicle turning radii at intersections,
D. THAT pedestrian bulges be considered standard unless specifically removed by Council, and
E. THAT staff be encouraged to accelerate the installation of various methods for improving pedestrian crossings.

DISCUSSION

Staff will be reporting back on motion C in an upcoming report, expected later this Spring. With respect to motion D, it should be noted that it is current City practise to include corner bulges as standard for local improvement projects, unless specifically excluded. Council approves all of these projects and exclusions. Furthermore based on motion C, staff included a new bulge on Richards north of Pacific as part of reconstruction of that street. Street reconstruction projects can create opportunities to construct pedestrian bulges at a discounted cost. In these circumstances, staff evaluate the potential for pedestrian bulges on a case by case basis. As an example, a pedestrian bulge was constructed on Barclay Street at Denman Street as part of the recent reconstruction of Denman Street.

In response to motion E, staff identified sixteen locations where pedestrian bulges could be built, at a reduced cost, as part of street construction that is currently underway or about to begin. Table 1 lists the locations and the costs of the proposed bulges. Concord Pacific, Marathon Developments, and Bosa Developments all have previously approved geometric street designs. This report identifies potential bulge locations that are in addition to any previously approved bulges. Note, for example, that the Concord Pacific Beach Neighbourhood includes ten previously approved pedestrian bulges. The three bulges for Pacific Street proposed in this report represent three of the four remaining bulgeopportunities in this new neighbourhood. (See appendices for bulge locations.)

The funding contributions for each location is dependant on the extent to which construction is currently complete. The developer would be expected to change the street designs, at their cost, in locations where no significant road construction has yet been completed. The City would contribute funding towards the construction of corner bulges at locations where road construction is substantially complete. The City contribution, noted in table 1, is the additional funding required to create the bulge.

Table 1: Proposed pedestrian and bus bulges

Location

no. of bulges

City contribution

Developer

Comments

Hastings Street (Coal Harbour)

6

$ 77,513

Marathon

Six pedestrian bulges on Hastings at Nicola, Broughton, and Jervis

Pacific (False Creek North)

3

$ 25,265

Concord Pacific

One bus bulge at Richards. Pedestrian bulges at Richards and Homer

Richards Street at Pacific

1

$ 10,000

Local improvement

This is the additional cost for the bulge (Sidewalk improvements are funded by the adjacent property owner)

Millross Avenue (City Gate)

4

$ 0

Bosa Developments

This design change has been fully funded by the developer.

Mainland Street

2

$ 30,000

The full cost of these bulges $65,000. The developer is contributing $35,000.

TOTAL

16

$ 142,778

Since a streetscape design study is currently underway for Pacific Street/Boulevard, construction of the bulges on Pacific would be contingent on the outcome of that study.

In the Coal Harbour Neighbourhood the proposed pedestrian bulges will help to slow traffic and create a streetscape more typical of local residential streets. Staff will report back on any additional traffic controls needed to address the issue of non-local traffic on these local streets.

CONSULTATION

The Downtown Transportation Plan Team have been consulting with the public and a wide cross-section of downtown stakeholders over the last two years. Proposals to install pedestrian bulges in downtown locations have received strong support as a way to improve safety and comfort for pedestrians and other road users. There is general aceptance that pedestrian bulges should be considered at locations where full-time parking is in place.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The cost of building pedestrian and bus bulges in downtown locations is typically high due to the intricate sidewalk design and the relocation of traffic signals, trolley wires, etc.. It is not unusual for a bus bulge to cost $50,000 or more. The average cost of these sixteen bulges is less than $9,000 per bulge and represents good value to the City.

The estimated capital cost of installing all sixteen bulges is $150,000. Funding for this project will be included in the 2002 Streets Basic Capital Budget as part of the program providing for Geometric Improvements.

CONCLUSIONS

In response to Council's motions, staff have identified sixteen downtown locations where early implementation of pedestrian bulges is desirable due to the timing of street construction that is underway or about to begin. This report recommends that the City fund pedestrian bulges at these locations now to take advantage of these cost savings. Further reports will be advanced on other opportunities as appropriate.

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Link to Appendices

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TO:	Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Corner Bulges Near Major Projects Downtown


Table 1: Proposed pedestrian and bus bulges
Location	no. of bulges	City contribution	Developer	Comments
Hastings Street (Coal Harbour)	6	$ 77,513	Marathon	Six pedestrian bulges on Hastings at Nicola, Broughton, and Jervis
Pacific (False Creek North)	3	$ 25,265	Concord Pacific	One bus bulge at Richards. Pedestrian bulges at Richards and Homer
Richards Street at Pacific	1	$ 10,000	Local improvement	This is the additional cost for the bulge (Sidewalk improvements are funded by the adjacent property owner)
Millross Avenue (City Gate)	4	$ 0	Bosa Developments	This design change has been fully funded by the developer.
Mainland Street	2	$ 30,000		The full cost of these bulges $65,000. The developer is contributing $35,000.
TOTAL	16	$ 142,778