Appendix C - Terms of Reference - Burrard Bridge Sidewalk Capacity Improvements for Pedestrians and Cyclists

Purpose

The purpose of this consultancy is to complete the detailed design development of providing additional sidewalk capacity for pedestrians and cyclists in both directions at the deck or upper level of the Burrard Bridge (while maintaining the existing six moving lanes for vehicle traffic).

Project Description

As outlined in the False Creek Pedestrian and Cyclist Crossings Study Final Report, the next step towards implementing the first major crossing improvement for pedestrians and cyclists across False Creek is to undertake a detailed design that will provide additional sidewalk capacity in both directions at the deck level or upper of Burrard Bridge. The final goal of the project is to select a design and to proceed to construction.

The scope of work will include preparing visual schematics and cost estimates of design solutions and determining how they will be built. Given that the Burrard Bridge is an important heritage resource, alternative designs should be developed in addition to the 3m outward sidewalk extension. The design solutions should be consistent with the design criteria and respect as many of the heritage elements of the bridge as possible.

The study area includes the necessary connections to the pedestrian system and cycling network at both ends of the bridge. The design solutions should incorporate the redesign of the Burrard Street/Pacific Boulevard/ Hornby Street intersections and possibly the addition of a cycling ramp at the south end of the bridge.

Project Team

The project team should have demonstrated skills, knowledge, and expertise in the following fields to complete this assignment:

· Design, costing and construction of additions or modifications to bridges and major urban arterial intersections
· Design of facilities to accommodate the needs of non-motorized modes of transportation such as pedestrians, cyclists, and in-line skaters
· Design and alterations to heritage buildings and/or bridges and applying heritage conservation principles and practices

Project Tasks

The project itself would comprise of the following tasks:

Design Alternatives
· Develop 2 or 3 alternative conceptual designs and preliminary cost estimates for providing additional sidewalk capacity for pedestrians and cyclists at the deck or upper level of the Burrard Bridge based on the design criteria and heritage principles and guidelines outlined below
· Prepare visual schematics of 6 locations for each design option including the original option of outward sidewalk extensions in both plan and profile as well as diagrammatic plans and cross-sections of 4 locations and artistic renderings or rough perspectives (i.e. photograph based) of the bridge as viewed from the sea and road level at the major cross section points (the schematics and renderings should be at a suitable scale to understand any changes to the heritage aspect of the bridge)
· Determine preliminary cost estimates and assess each alternative design solution as compared to the outward sidewalk extensions in terms of the evaluation criteria (Safety, Usage, Quality of Trip, Cost/Construction, Traffic Impacts, Neighbourhood Integration, Urban Design/Appearance, Heritage) for various user groups (pedestrians & cyclists, recreational & commuter)
· Screen the design alternatives to determine preferred solutions based on consistency with the above evaluation criteria
· Provide recommendations on the replacement/refurbishment of the existing railings and street lighting with respect to the design alternatives, giving consideration to reconstructing the original lamp standards
· Review the outward sidewalk extensions and any preferred alternative design solution(s) with staff and Council in a workshop to determine how to proceed with further detailed structural designs and cost estimates

Structural/Construction

· Produce capital and operating/maintenance cost estimates (+/- 10%)

· Determine ease and feasibility of construction including duration and impact on current users
· Confirm ability of existing and new structure to accept additional loads and ability to accommodate pedestrian live loads during special events
· Determine need and ability for emergency and/or maintenance vehicles to access proposed sidewalk additions (i.e. emergency services)
· Recommend suitable surface and gradient of proposed sidewalk additions to encourage and accommodate all non-motorised users
· Review effect of additional structure with respect to recent and planned seismic upgrades
· Recommend edge protection (i.e. railings) of adequate height to prevent cyclists toppling over with consideration of the views from the bridge

Design Selection
· Public consultation that would assist staff and Council in selecting a preferred alternative which may include but not be limited to the following:

o Stakeholder Meeting
o Council Workshop
o Public Open House
o Public Opinion Survey

Design Criteria

The structural design alternatives for providing additional capacity for pedestrians and cyclists at the deck or upper level of the Burrard Bridge should meet the following criteria:

· Should be approximately 3m on both sides (6m overall) in addition to the existing 3m sidewalks and six vehicular lanes to meet the long term future demand of pedestrians and cyclists
· Should be the full length of the bridge, continuous without excessive diversion, allow for the separation of pedestrians and cyclists, not restrict either pedestrians or cyclists to only one side of the bridge, and continue to allow cyclists to operate similar to how they do now in an one-way direction
· Should allow for the separation of pedestrians and cyclists and provide the ability for cyclists to pass one another
· Should at a minimum connect at the south end with the Burrard/Cornwall intersection and possibly the Seawall
· Should at a minimum connect at the north end with the Burrard/Pacific intersection, including cycling connections to the proposed downtown SB and NB cycling lanes on Burrard and Hornby respectively and possibly the Seawall
· Should adequately address the safety and operational issues for all non-motorised users on the bridge deck such that:

o Potential conflicts between pedestrians, cyclists, and in-line skaters is minimized
o Potential conflicts between non-motorised users and vehicular traffic is minimized

· Should be well-lit, attractive, aesthetically pleasing and provide a high quality of trip that encourages people to shift to non-motorised modes

Heritage Principles and Guidelines

The design solutions should also strive to apply where possible the heritage principles and parameters for improvement options in conjunction with the heritage value statement of the Burrard Bridge Heritage Study as outlined in Appendix B of the False Creek Pedestrian and Cyclist Crossings Study Final Report.

Miscellaneous

The alternative design solutions should also adhere with the following:

· CPTED guidelines
· The Navigational Waters Protection Act (NWPA)

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver