ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: April 10, 2002
Author/Local:D.Rawsthorne/7343

RTS No. 2483

CC File No. 5757

Council: April 30, 2002

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Annual Speed Hump Installation Program, 2002

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT speed humps be installed on the local, residential streets specified in this report subject to approval from a resident survey, with funding of $270,000 provided from funds remaining following the completion of the 2000 and 2001 Speed Hump Programs (Order Group CA1EA51C01 & CA2EA5IC01 ).

B. THAT commencing in 2003, the Traffic Operating Budget be increased by $5,000, subject to review as part of the 2003 Operating Budget.

POLICY

On November 2, 1999, Council approved an annual speed hump installation program that would identify the highest ranking local, residential street segments for speed hump installation.

PURPOSE

This report seeks approval and funding for the third Annual Speed Hump Installation Program. It identifies the proposed speed humps locations and outlines a method for public consultation.

BACKGROUND

In 1999 the City completed the Speed Hump Pilot Project. The results of the pilot project indicate that speed humps are an effective device for decreasing speeds on local residentialstreets while not diverting traffic to other streets.

In May 2000 and April 2001, Council approved the installation of speed humps on 31 street segments throughout the city. These speed humps were installed during the summer of 2001.

In order to choose the streets to receive speed humps, an objective scoring calculation was used, adapted from a successful program in Portland, Oregon (see Appendix A). This calculation was approved by Council in November 1999 and used to identify the priority, or top ranked, streets for speed hump installation. The calculation considers the number and speed of vehicles using the block, as well as special attributes of the street, such as nearby pedestrian generators or its status as a greenway or bikeway. The speed measure used is the 85th percentile speed.

There are two designs used for speed humps on local streets (see Appendix B), one for 30 km/h speed zones and another for 40 km/h speed zones. The latter reflects the City's intention to lower the speed limit on local, residential streets from 50 km/h to 40 km/h. The main difference between the humps is their length, as the 40 km/h hump is designed to be more gradual. The two hump types are also designed to be installed at different intervals along the street, with more frequent humps on lower speed streets.

Prior to and following the installation of speed humps in 2001, traffic was monitored on the street segments which received speed humps, as well as on adjacent streets. In every location where speed humps were installed, speeds were reduced. A typical school or playground zone which previously had an 85th percentile speed over 50 km/h has seen this reduced to between 30 and 40 km/h. Residential streets which had 85th percentile speeds over 60 km/h now experience speeds between 40 and 50 km/h.

Diversion of traffic to adjacent residential streets is often a concern when implementing traffic calming measures. Traffic data collected before and after the installation of approximately 130 speed humps in 2001 show that, in the vast majority of applications, speed humps produce no appreciable diversion of traffic to adjacent streets.

In one case, on Maple Crescent between King Edward and 33rd, the installation of speed humps appears to have resulted in notable diversion to other local residential streets. Maple Crescent is a significant shortcutting route. Some of this traffic now appears to be using Angus, part of the Cypress bike route, to avoid the new speed humps. Staff recommend installing speed humps on the entry blocks to this section of Angus to deter hump-averse drivers.

One other location showed a marked increase in traffic volume before and after the installation. However, this section of Camosun Street, close to speed humps on West 8th Avenue, is immediately adjacent one private school and only one block from a second. Itappears likely that the variation in volume is attributable to school-related traffic. Staff will continue to monitor this location to confirm that speed humps have not diverted traffic to this residential street.

DISCUSSION

40 street segments are being recommended for speed hump installation this year. Of these segments, 24 are adjacent to parks, 11 are in school zones and 13 are on existing or proposed bike routes. 31 segments are in 30 km/h school or playground zones. The following page lists the street segments with information about their ranking and the approximate number of humps to be installed.

Two highly ranked street segments, one on Muirfield Drive and the other on Adanac Street, are not on this list. They are on a transit routes. Staff are consulting with Translink to develop traffic calming treatments which will be compatible with transit vehicle operation.

Six other street segments which rank among the proposed speed hump locations are not included in this proposal. The traffic calming warranted in these locations is being addressed by other neighbourhood traffic calming or Greenways programs.

Experience shows that speed humps rarely produce significant diversion of traffic to adjacent streets. However, staff recommend that volumes be monitored before and after these installations and that they report back prior to future installations.

Street Segment	Score	85th % Speed (km/h)	Design Speed (km/h)	Est. Traffic Volume (vehicles/day)	Est. No. Speed Humps
Ontario, 33rd to 37th	159	56	30	2400	5
Ash, 46th to 49th	130	57	30	800	4
Stainsbury, Sidney to Nanaimo	124	54	30	1400	3
East Georgia, Nootka to Lillooet	121	53	30	2000	2
Ontario, 29th to 33rd	115	56	30	2400	5
Dinmont, Midlothian to Peveril	113	53	30	800	4
Peveril, Dinmont to Ontario	111	54	30	700	4
West 10th, Vine to Larch	111	51	30	1200	5
Euclid, Taunton to McKinnon	106	56	30	1300	2
West 31st, Dunbar to Wallace	106	52	30	1600	6
Wall, Oxford to Cambridge	105	52	30	900	2
Oliver, Trafalgar to Valley	100	53	30	700	4
East 15th, Maddams to Fleming	100	53	30	700	4
West 37th, Kersland to Mackie	99	58	40	3000	4
West 27th, Crown to Wallace	99	50	30	900	2
Pine, W 14th to W 16th	98	50	30	900	2
Adanac, Templeton to Garden	98	49	30	1800	2
Penticton, Broadway to Grandview	97	52	30	1100	5
East Kent North, Portside to Elliott	96	59	40	2700	4
Prince Albert, East 41st to East 45th	96	50	30	1600	6
East 62nd, Pr. Edward to St. George	94	50	30	700	4
Vine, W 10th to W 12th	92	47	30	2500	2
East 61st, Borden to Argyle	91	49	30	1600	2
Wall, Penticton to Kaslo	90	51	30	700	5
Heather, W 20th to W 22nd	89	49	30	1500	2
East 59th, Pr. Albert to Sherbrooke	88	48	30	1600	4
Nanaimo, E 37th to 38th	86	47	30	2900	2
West 37th, Oak to Willow	86	60	40	1100	2
Adanac, Kamloops to Penticton	85	62	40	1900	3
West 75th, west of Angus	85	60	40	900	4
Laurel, W 20th to W 22nd	84	48	30	1500	2
East 45th, Sophia to Prince Edward	83	49	30	1600	2
Columbia, W 42nd to W 44th	83	49	30	1400	2
West 37th, Selkirk to Oak	82	59	40	1200	3
West 45th, Maple to Cypress	82	48	30	1100	3
West 31st, Blenheim to Balaclava	81	52	30	400	3
East Kent North, Argyle to Victoria	79	58	40	1400	5
East 61st, Pr. Edward to St. George	76	47	30	500	4
Angus, King Edward to Nanton	n/a	48	40	1400	2
Angus, W 32nd to W 33rd	n/a	48	40	1600	2

CONSULTATION

Resident consultation and subsequent approval is an important part of the Speed Hump program. Staff propose that all residents living on the same street segments as the proposed speed humps be surveyed for their opinions. The surveys would ask two questions (see Appendix C for an example) about whether the residents feel that there is a speeding problem on their street and whether they approve of speed humps. Installation of speed humps on each street segment will be subject to a survey response rate greater than 30% and an approval rate greater than 50%. Staff recommend that speed humps be installed on all of the proposed streets that meet these criteria and that staff report back on any locations that do not for further consideration.

Of the more than 40 residential blocks which were surveyed as part of the 2000 and 2001 Speed Hump Programs, only one, 4000/4100 West 8th Avenue, did not support the installation of speed humps. Adjacent blocks of this same street did approve speed hump installation.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The estimated capital cost of installing speed humps, as specified in this report, is $270,000 for the 40 proposed locations. This includes $148,500 for the construction of the asphalt humps, $108,000 for paint markings and warning signs, and $13,500 for traffic monitoring and public consultation. Funding for this project is available from funds remaining following the completion of the 2000 and 2001 Speed Hump Programs.

In addition to the capital costs for this project there will be maintenance costs associated with the signing and paint marking of the speed humps. Staff recommend that the Traffic Operating Budget be increased by $5,000 per annum, subject to review in the 2003 budget process.

CONCLUSION

Speed humps are an effective means by which to slow vehicles on local streets and the locations identified in this report are the highest ranking, highest priority locations, in accordance with the ranking system approved by Council in November 1999. Staff recommend that speed humps be installed in 41 locations, subject to resident approval. Staff will report back on any locations that are not approved by the survey and will monitor traffic volumes before and after the humps are installed.

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APPENDIX A - SPEED HUMP SAMPLE SCORE CALCULATION

Vanness Avenue 3400 block

Raw Data
Sample size = 98 vehicle speeds
Average Daily Traffic (ADT) volume = 3000 ADT
85th percentile speed (calculated) = 52.2 km/h
Design speed limit = 40 km/h

Description Points
Primary Score

Speed Points:

Assign 3 points for each km/h in excess of 8 km/h over the design speed

(max. 50 points) (52.2 - (40 + 8)) x 3 = 12

Volume Points (ADT/100 = 3000/100) = 30

Subtotal = 42

Is the Primary Score greater than 40? IF NO, then STOP HERE. IF YES, then proceed to Secondary Scoring. (Since 42>40 proceed to Secondary Scoring.)

Secondary Score
Additional Speed Points for excessive speed (based on percentage of
vehicles travelling over 16 km/h beyond the design speed of the hump

i.e. percent travelling>40 + 16 km/h = 56km/h) : 8% = 8

Score 5 points for each school zone (maximum 10) 0
Score 5 points for each pedestrian generator (maximum 15) 10
Count SkyTrain Station/bus loop and retail area as two ped generators
Score 5 points if adjacent to a Greenway (is part of the BC Parkway) 5
Score 5 points if the street segment is part of a Bikeway 5
Score 5 points if the street segment lacks a continuous sidewalk 5
Subtotal = 33

TOTAL SCORE (Primary + Secondary) = 75

APPENDIX B - SPEED HUMP DESIGNS

APPENDIX C - SAMPLE RESIDENT SURVEY

City of Vancouver Survey
Speed Hump Program

City of Vancouver May 2001

Dear Resident:

This survey seeks your opinion of vehicle speed on your street and whether or not you approve of the installation of speed humps.

Speed humps are proven as an effective means by which to decrease vehicle speeds on local, residential streets. In response to a neighbourhood complaint about speeds on your street, the City has taken field measurements and confirmed that vehicle speeds are high on your street and that your street is a good candidate for speed humps. City Council has therefore approved speed humps for your street, subject to your approval.

At least 30% of the residences on your street must respond to this survey and 50% of the responses must support the installation of speed humps. Should you approve speed humps, you can expect them to be placed 50-70 m (160-230 ft) apart. They should not affect parking. A typical design showing the dimensions of the humps is shown on the reverse side of this letter, for your information.

The Speed Hump Program is funded by the City of Vancouver's capital budget and will not increase your taxes.

Please give this survey your consideration and return it in the addressed, postage paid envelope provided by May 31, 2002. Alternatively, you may fax the completed survey to 871-6192. Your name and address must be included on the survey in order to validate your response; however, individual replies will be kept confidential.

The results of this survey will determine whether speed humps will be installed on your street. If you have any questions about speed humps in general, or how they will be installed on your street, please call me at 873-7343 or e-mail me at david_rawsthorne@city.vancouver.bc.ca.

Yours truly,

David Rawsthorne, P.Eng.
Neighbourhood Transportation Branch

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