ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: June 19, 2002
Author/Local: S.Brown / 7693

RTS No. 02266

CC File No. 5757

P&E: July 11, 2002

TO:	Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	1900 Pender Street Traffic Calming

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT the traffic calming plan for the neighbourhood of 1900 block Pender Street, as outlined in this report, be installed on a temporary basis, for a 6 month trial period.

B. THAT funding of $225,000 for the implementation of the traffic calming plan be provided from Streets Capital Unappropriated Account Group SCA5A-Unap (Local Area Traffic Calming).

C. THAT city staff report back after the 6 month trial period and resurvey of the neighbourhood on whether the measures will be installed on a permanent basis.

D. THAT the installation of left turn bays on Hastings at Victoria be approved in principle in order to improve safety and help reduce the impacts of traffic short cutting through the neighbourhood, and that City Staff report back on the details of design, costs and funding including cost sharing with TransLink and ICBC."

COUNCIL POLICY

The Vancouver Transportation Plan emphasizes the need to mitigate the effects of traffic in local neighbourhood areas and indicates that the City's traffic calming program will give priority to streets and neighbourhoods where traffic impacts are the most serious. It is Council policy to implement diversionary traffic calming measures on a trial basis, with a follow-up survey, before making the measures permanent.

The Transportation Plan provides that intersection improvements may be required to improve safety at some intersections. These will be designed so as not to increase capacity and wherever possible will be accommodated within the existing roadway width. Hastings Street is designated as a part of the regional Major Road Network.

PURPOSE

This report outlines measures that were developed in consultation with the neighbourhood bounded by Victoria, Nanaimo, Hastings and Venables, to deal with the speed and volume concerns on the 1900 block of Pender Street without diverting traffic to adjacent streets.

BACKGROUND

The development of the neighbourhood traffic calming plan was initiated by local residents and parents/ staff of Macdonald Elementary school, who contacted City Hall and expressed their concerns about vehicle volumes and speeds along the 1900 block of Pender Street. City staff took measurements along this street and confirmed that vehicle speeds (52 km/h 85th Percentile speed) and volumes (4800 vehicles per day 2-way) were high, particularly for a school zone and residential street. This street also ranked near the top, compared to other streets in the city and during field visits vehicles were tracked originating here and shortcutting through other adjacent neighbourhoods all the way out towards Burnaby.

At the initial meeting, the attendees were presented with possible directions to deal with their concerns. One option was to install speed humps on their block that would help control speeds but not generally divert traffic. These would be able to be installed with the approval of the residents of 1900 Pender. The other option was to examine diversionary measures that would address volumes of traffic as well as speeds. However, this type of plan would need to be done in consultation with the entire neighbourhood. The residents decided that they wanted to go with a plan that involved diversionary measures since the volumes of traffic were also a major concern and not just the speeds.

Subsequent meetings were held with residents from the rest of the neighbourhood and a neighbourhood plan was developed that would help to avoid a large diversion of traffic to the adjacent streets. During these meetings there were five key locations that were identified where measures were required to help address the speed and volumes without diverting traffic onto the adjacent streets.

TRAFFIC CALMING PLAN ELEMENTS

The traffic calming plan was designed by the neighbourhood to address their goals and concerns through the use of measures at five principal locations: Victoria/ Pender, Semlin/Ferndale, Lakewood/ Turner, Semlin/ Georgia and Victoria/ Hastings. Figure 1
displays the location of these measures and an explanation of each can be found in the following section.

Figure 1: Pender Area Traffic Calming Plan
"A" Victoria/ Pender

A half Cul de Sac is proposed for the east side of Pender Street at Victoria Drive. A half cul de sac is a closure of a street to all directions except for one movement. In this case it would be formed by blocking all entering and exiting lanes from Victoria to the 1900 block of Pender except for exiting right turning vehicles. Westbound Traffic on Pender would only be able to go north on Victoria or turn around and go back east on Pender. The blockage would be created by extending the curb and may create extra green space. The purpose of this cul de sac would be to:

-eliminate short cutting traffic on Pender
-realign the offset intersection for pedestrians
-reduce speeds through the 1900 block of Pender
-provide a safer environment for school children near the schoolyard
-provide an opportunity for green space
A centre median (min 1.5m) is proposed for Victoria Drive at Pender Street. The purpose of the median is to:
-reduce the vehicle speeds on Victoria
-improve pedestrian safety as they only have to cross one direction at a time

-further enforce the turning restrictions from the 1900 block of Pender

-provide an opportunity for green space

A corner bulge is proposed for the north west corner of the Pender/ Victoria intersection. The purpose of the bulge is to:
-reduce vehicle speeds on Victoria;
-reduce the crossing distance for pedestrians (school children) across Victoria;
-increase pedestrian (School Children) visibility;

-prevent parking close to the west leg of the Pender/ Victoria Intersection to improve pedestrian visibility; and
-provide an opportunity for green space

"B" Semlin/ Ferndale and "C" Semlin/ Georgia
A diagonal diverter is proposed for the intersections of Semlin Drive/ Ferndale and Semlin Drive/ Georgia Street, similar to the diverter at Lakewood/ Ferndale. A raised curb will be installed diagonally across the intersection with an opportunity for greenery in the centre. The purpose of a diverter is to:

-reduce short cutting traffic volumes
-reduce vehicle speeds
-provide an opportunity for green space

"D" Lakewood/ Turner

A full cul-de-sac is proposed for the intersection of Lakewood Drive and Turner Street. A cul-de-sac is a physical closure of one leg of an intersection that will restrict all movement to and from that leg. A full closure is proposed at this location due to the current number of violations of the existing partial diverter. A 48hr count was performed at this location and recorded an average of 110 vehicles per day that travelled through the diverter in the wrong direction. This number could significantly increase as short cutting traffic tries to find a new route through the neighbourhood. The full closure will prevent this increase from occurring.
"E" Victoria/ Hastings

Motorists are currently prohibited from making a westbound to southbound left turn at the intersection of Hastings at Victoria because of concerns regarding a limited sight distance over the crest of the hill on Hastings just west of the intersection. As a result, many motorists are shortcutting on local streets in order to achieve their travel objectives. As described above, this results in safety, livability and environmental concerns, and difficult access for residents in the neighbourhood.

In order to address this situation, it is proposed to make the following intersection improvements:

· add left turn bays on Hastings Street at Victoria Drive (see appendix). This would give left- turning motorists an unobstructed view of oncoming traffic, eliminate through traffic stopping behind left turning traffic, and reduce the incidence of motorists weaving between lanes in order to pass left turning vehicles. Right angle, rear-end and side swipe collisions would be reduced accordingly .

· adjust the intersection grade marginally in order to provide better sight distance over the crest of the hill.

· consider installing an advance westbound-to-southbound left turn traffic signal arrow. This would encourage left turns at the intersection rather than shortcutting movements in the neighbourhood.

The project would be in conformance with the City's Transportation Plan which recognizes left turn bays may be required to improve safety and wherever possible should be accommodated within the existing road width. Overall, the eastbound/westbound traffic capacity of Hastings Street would not change as corridor capacity is limited by other signals on Hastings. Roadway widening would be required in order to accommodate the left turn bays; this could be accomplished generally within the existing street right-of-way. Existing on-street parking regulations would be retained.

Collectively, the above measures at the intersection would significantly reduce the rate of motor vehicle crashes for residents traveling on the arterial and local streets in the area.

This project would be constructed before other traffic calming work in order to give traffic diverted by the traffic calming measures a safe and preferable route to travel.

TRIAL/ MONITORING PERIOD

The half cul-de-sac, the diagonal diverters, and the full cul-de-sac would be installed on a temporary basis, for a six month trial period. After this trial period, traffic counts would be conducted to determine if there is substantial diversion to the adjacent streets. Also, a re-survey of the neighbourhood would be conducted to obtain feedback from the neighbourhood. After this trial period, if there is no substantial diversion and the plan is still supported by the neighbourhood, the measures can be installed on a permanent basis.

NEIGHBOURHOOD CONSULTATION

Six meetings were held with residents from the neighbourhood bounded by Victoria, Nanaimo, Hastings and Venables. Residents from the area to the south (eg. Napier Street/Parker Street) also attended these open houses to ensure the plan would not adversely affect traffic conditions on their streets. During these meetings a proposed traffic calming plan was developed and the neighbourhood was surveyed to determine the approval rating. A response rate of 13% was achieved with an overall approval rate of 79%. During the meetings the residents stressed that all elements of this plan are required to address the short-cutting issues and that the plan would not be complete if any of the plan elements are removed. The survey form is provided in Appendix A and a list of comments is provided in Appendix B.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The estimated cost of the half cul-de-sac, the two diagonal diverters and the full cul-de-sac is $225,000. These funds can be provided from the Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated Account Group, set aside for Local Area Traffic Calming.

The cost of the left turn bay at Hastings and Victoria could be approximately $1,000,000. Prior to construction, a more accurate cost estimate, project design, cost sharing, funding and other details would be considered as part of a public process and reported to Council for approval. Cost sharing for a portion of the project would be expected from TransLink and ICBC.

APPENDIX A

City of Vancouver Survey
Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Plan

City of Vancouver May 2002

Dear Resident:

This survey seeks your opinion about a traffic-calming plan for your neighbourhood. Traffic calming involves slowing the speed or reducing the volume of vehicular traffic on neighbourhood streets to increase safety and liveability in the neighbourhood.

This action was initiated by local residents and parents/ staff of Macdonald Elementary school, who contacted City Hall and expressed their concerns about vehicle volumes and speeds along the 1900 block of Pender Street. City staff took measurements along this street and confirmed that vehicle speeds (52 km/h 85th Percentile speed) and volumes (4800 vehicles per day-2way) were high, particularly for a school zone and residential street.

Initial consultation between city staff and a neighbourhood working group, consisting of a number of residents from the 1900 block of East Pender and the teacher involved with school crossing safety from Macdonald Elementary School, identified three main areas of concern. These areas included traffic volumes, traffic speeds, and the safety of children crossing Victoria Drive to Macdonald Elementary School. Out of this consultation, a traffic calming approach that limits vehicle speeds/ volumes and improves the safety of the school crosswalk was selected by the neighbourhood working group. This working group canvassed the neighbourhood from Victoria to Nanaimo and Hastings to Venables and distributed newsletters describing the ongoing process and listing the date and time of the next meeting. Residents were then involved from the entire neighbourhood to develop a traffic calming plan that would complement the measures already in place to the south of Pender while meeting the objectives of the East Pender working group and preventing substantial diversion to adjacent streets.

The traffic calming plan was designed by the neighbourhood to address their goals and concerns through the use of measures at the five principle locations displayed in Figure 1. These locations are Victoria/ Pender, Semlin/ Ferndale, Lakewood/ Turner, Semlin/ Georgia and Victoria/ Hastings. An explanation of these measures as used in the neighbourhood plan is found below.

FIGURE 1: Proposed Traffic Calming Measures

"A" Pender/ Victoria
A half Cul de Sac is proposed for the east side of Pender Street at Victoria Drive. A half cul de sac is a closure of a street to all directions except for one movement. In this case it will be formed by blocking all entering and exiting lanes from Victoria to the 1900 block of Pender except for exiting right turning vehicles. Westbound Traffic on Pender can only go north on Victoria or turn around and go back east on Pender. The blockage will be created by extending the curb and can often create extra green space. The purpose of this cul de sac is to:
-eliminate short cutting traffic on Pender
-realign the offset intersection for pedestrians
-reduce speeds through the 1900 block of Pender
-provide a safer environment for school children near the schoolyard
-improve the environment (when landscaped, can improve the appearance of a street)
A centre median is proposed for Victoria Drive at Pender Street. A centre median is a refuge area created in the middle of the street to narrow the street width so that pedestrians only have to cross one direction at a time. This median will be at least 1.5m wide and also provide an opportunity for extra green space. The purpose of the median is to:
-reduce the vehicle speeds on Victoria
-improve pedestrian safety by decreasing the crossing distances

-further enforce the turning restrictions from the 1900 block of Pender

-improve the environment (when landscaped, can improve the appearance of a street)

A corner bulge is proposed for the north west corner of the Pender/ Victoria intersection. A corner bulge is a horizontal extension of the curb into the roadway, resulting in a narrower cross section. In this case the curb on the west side of Victoria is extended to further reduce the roadway width for the southbound direction. The purpose of the bulge is to:
-reduce vehicle speeds on Victoria;
-reduce the crossing distance for pedestrians across Victoria;
-increase pedestrian visibility;

-prevent parking close to the west leg of the Pender/ Victoria Intersection to improve pedestrian visibility; and

-improve the environment (when landscaped, can improve the appearance of a street)
"B" Semlin/ Ferndale and "C" Semlin/ Georgia
A diagonal diverter is proposed for the intersections of Semlin Drive/ Ferndale and Semlin Drive/ Georgia Street, similar to the diverter at Lakewood/ Ferndale. A diagonal diverter is a physical closure that is installed in the centre of an intersection to remove unwanted through traffic. A raised curb will be installed diagonally across the intersection with an opportunity for greenery in the centre. The purpose of a diverter is to:
-reduce short cutting traffic volumes
-reduce vehicle speeds
-improve the environment (when landscaped, can improve the appearance of a street)

"D" Lakewood/ Turner
A full cul-de-sac is proposed for the intersection of Lakewood Drive and Turner Street. A cul de sac is a physical closure of one leg of an intersection that will restrict all movement to and from that leg. A full closure is proposed at this location due to the current number of violations of the existing partial diverter. A 48hr count was performed at this location and recorded an average of 110 vehicles per day that travelled through the diverter in the wrong direction. This number could significantly increase as short cutting traffic tries to find a new route through the neighbourhood.

"E" Victoria/ Hastings
A left turn bay and advance left turn arrow are proposed for the Westbound to Southbound movement from Hastings to Victoria. The left turn is currently banned due to a safety problem at this intersection related to poor sight distance. Since motorists are not currently allowed to turn at this intersection, they turn into the neighbourhood and then travel along Pender to Victoria. This left turn arrow and Bay will help to keep vehicles on the arterial streets rather than short-cutting through the neighbourhood

The cost for these traffic-calming measures is funded by the City's capital budget and will not increase your taxes.

There will be an open house at Macdonald Elementary School Staff Room on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Please come to meet City staff and your neighbours who have developed this proposal for your neighbourhood. They will be pleased to answer any of your questions.

If the results of the enclosed survey indicate that the neighbourhood supports this Plan, the Plan will be presented to Vancouver City Council for approval. Pending approval, the measures will be installed on a temporary basis for a 6-month period. After this period the neighbourhood will be surveyed again to assess the perceived effectiveness of these measures. Also, speed and volume statistics will be collected throughout the neighbourhood before and after the measures are installed to ensure that large volumes of traffic are not diverted to adjacent streets.

Your response to the survey is important. Please fill in the enclosed survey and mail. If you wish to expand on your comments, please fax them to 871-6192, e-mail steve_brown@city.vancouver.bc.ca or mail to Engineering Services, City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. V5Y 1V4. All responses will remain confidential, however, your comments will be forwarded to City Council. If you have any questions, call Steve Brown at 873-7693.

Steve Brown, EIT.
Neighbourhood Transportation Engineer

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ENCLOSED

Please read the enclosed information and return the postage paid reply card

This survey seeks your opinion of a traffic calming plan for your neighbourhood

Please fill out the survey below and mail in the attached enclosed postage paid envelope

Victoria/ Pender Area Proposed Traffic Calming Plan- Steve Brown- Neighbourhood Transportation)

Name: __________________ Address: _____________________________________

Postal Code:

I would like to be advised when this plan goes to City Council

YES

NO

NEUTRA L

Do you support the overall concept of the Traffic Calming Plan?

I offer the following comments about the overall concept of the plan:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

I offer the following comments on specific measures in the plan
(please include why you like or dislike individual plan elements):
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

APPENDIX B

COMMENTS ON THE PLAN

The concept that is in place now works without any problem - why change?

I feel that traffic needs to be slowed on Ferndale Street. The Lakewood/Ferdale corner is very dangerous due to blindness around the corner and the speeds that drivers turn at to get to Pender or Hastings

Blocking or reducing traffic through our residential areas are not solutions to the MACRO problem. We live near/next to a secondary school as well as a public pool. Students/parents/patrons need to get through, not to mention emergency vehicles. We live in the city and as a consequence have to deal with a higher volume of traffic. Lets enforce existing traffic blockers and speed limits and look at solvingMACRO problem of left hand turn lights from Hastings onto Nanaimo and left hand turn lights from Victoria onto 1st Avenue.

Do not approve of "A" Pender/Victoria because it would not allow access to LEFT HAND TURNS on Victoria (Southbound).

Put an advance left turn signal on Hastings and Nanaimo

Put on advance left turn light on Hastings & Nanaimo also.

Great ideas!

This will resolve a lot of problems.

I agree that the traffic volume and patterns are particularly heavy in the school area.

I am in favour of the plan because the Victoria - Pender intersection as it is dangerous to pedestrians.

Thank you! We need this. Need sidewalk bulge Georgia/Victoria for Crossing school kids.

This area needs work (e.g. Pender street is a thoroughfare) but still my neighbourhood has problems - Napier, Lakewood, etc. Is there any way to keep mainstream traffic and yet not frustrate residents with endless diverters?

Very good.

Great ideas how soon will it be done?

Very important to have L turn light @ Hastings/Victoria. A: Pender/Victoria proposal very good!

In order to succeed, all elements of the plan must be in place.

It limits my options getting home, but it is worth it!

Traffic on 2100 block Venables one way. Drivers don't obey the rules, they go right thru

It is great, please do it as soon as possible. The traffic is terrible.

I am in total agreement with every aspect of this plan

I really like it. I am please about plan B & C as it has become dangerous to cross our street at rush hour.

I am generally in favor of traffic calming. But, NO consideration is given to consequences for residents of 2000 Adanac who are trying to return home from the east (Hastings or Nanaimo)

I think the overall plan is multiple cases of "I don't want traffic on my street". The result is a neighbourhood impassable by even residents. It all started with "A" and has ballooned from there.

We are already affected by traffic calming in our area in a negative way ie.- one way at Adanac and Victoria, one way on Adanac beside Templeton School and left turn on Parker

We are generally in favour of the plan's overall concept, but wish to express some concern about how the plan will affect traffic flow on Adanac Street between Semlin and Victoria.

I agree with this providing that the ability to turn left onto Victoria Drive is implemented prior to the other restrictions taking place.

My concern is that these measures will increase the traffic in other streets including our own (Venables) Our street also needs traffic calming (Venables and Garden) and so does Napier. A plan should include the entire neighbourhood from Hasting to 1st; Nanaimo to Victoria.

I don't have children but on a daily basis I walk south on Victoria to Hastings for the bus, and I regularly hold my breath as I watch the kids cross Victoria to go the school - the speed of the cars, and the small size of the kids are just an accident waiting to happen - I'm glad this plan is in place and if there's anything further I can do to support it, please contact me.

Not comprehensive enough!!! Need an overall plan for this area, not band-aid solutions. Enforcement of existing measures - eg speed zones.

This was not designed very well as it completely blocks Pender Street eastbound toward Victoria Street and to quickly get to Venables - as the same for the access to Clark and the Viaduct (Georgia)

Something definitely needs to be done to deter volume/speed on Pender Street but this is going to increase the traffic on Victoria which is already a problematic street. Crosswalks with lights and double lanes during rush hour on Victoria should be considered next.

Ban the driving of cars, not close off roads so that they can't be used. If you allow cars then you need roads to travel on.

Anything that reduces speed on this toad is good!

I think the plan is very comprehensive and will hopefully be successful in adequately diverting and/or slow the traffic down in our neighbourhood. Children at McDonald Elementary deserve access to safety!

Calming measures are badly needed. I look forward to the implementation of this plan.

I would like speed bumps or an overhead crossing light on Victoria at Pender to force drivers to slow at the crosswalk - most don't now and with increased traffic from the proposed left on Hastings if will probably be worse.

Good job - thank you. Looks carefully thought out. Safety of pedestrians especially children is paramount. I will take awhile to figure out how to get to and from home, it's already difficult to drive from (ie) London Drugs to my street. But I should be walking that distance right?

Good and necessary

I continuously witness near misses between cyclists and motorists at Adanac and Semlin. I see nothing in the plans that address this issue. Since both use Adanac as an east/west bound route with little consideration for the other person the present north/south stop is rarely respected.

Pender Street has become a major traffic route because of the traffic calming measures implemented in other parts of the neighbourhood a d this must be calmed. "A" Pender Victoria is a great idea. If this happens then "E" must be implemented so I can get to Victoria Drive and therefore to work.

While we support the southbound left turn lane and arrow at Victoria and Hastings, this likely depends on funding...which is not yet approved. Without this funding, the whole plan will be very inconvenient.

If the overall change is to calm traffic in the school zone, which was stated by your planning department at the meeting I attended. I feel there could be other less costly means to try to alleviate the speed firstly. Secondly the overall amount of care.

Existing traffic calming measures should be enough, but drivers ignore the signs. Enforcement of the rules would help! I rarely see police enforcing these signs (never in the past 5 years)

I agree with the overall concept to reduce "shortcutting" traffic - I question how you measure thru traffic and distinguish shortcutting from local legitimate residents' traffic.

Excellent although I am not sure that there has been consideration for the traffic that turns west off Nanaimo onto Ferndale.

I live on Turner Street between Templeton and Lakewood. Traffic has increased tremendously especially in the morning and early evening. Street is presently one way east to west Now there is much traffic two way as before. Something has to be done. Also because there are too many young people speeding on this street no one is observing the speeding limit around the schools.

I think that the plan is well thought out and should definitely be tried for 6 months to determine if it does what it is designed to do. As Adanac, a bicycle route, will be one of the few through streets remaining, increasing monitoring and enforcement may be appropriate to ensure that bicycle -automobile conflicts are minimized. Everyday I observe cars violations of the "one way" and "no entry except bikes" signs. If seems likely that violations will increase with the proposed traffic.

I think it will calm traffic in the neighbourhood, but it completely blocks us from travelling anywhere to the west other than via Hastings Street.

Thank you for incorporating neighbourhood input. The plan looks very comprehensive.

I support the measures. The school area and Victoria Crossing are problematic as they currently stand.

I am in favour however going anywhere from our house is becoming increasingly difficult. I now must drive about 6 extra blocks to access Venables--->Prior, my main route from our home to our work and downtown, even though I live so close as the crow flies.

I really appreciate how you have tried to accommodate everyone's wishes/needs. I am concerned about Napier Street's heavy traffic and support their idea of stopping commuter traffic at Nanaimo and at Clark Drive.

We have no concerns about this plan - it will improve the neighbourhood - particularly by making it safer for kids around the school. We understand that the primary purpose of the Ferndale/Semlin diverter is to prevent shortcutting between Hastings and Victoria (which would be much heavier is Pender was closed off as a route), and suggest that you make it more clear that the intention is to prevent traffic diverted from Pender from using Ferndale instead. We don't understand the purpose fot he diverter at Semlin, but assume that there must be a sound reason for proposing it. As in the case of Ferndale/Semlin, it would be useful to include the specific reason for proposing the Semlin/Georgia diverter. Once again though - 100% support for all aspects of plan.

It will decrease traffic; however, it will make it more difficult for residents to get out of the area. I totally disagree that diagonal diverters create traffic calm.

The photocopy was very hard to read. Our neighbour continues to have increase volume in traffic at higher speeds. I live at Venables and Lakewood where there is a stop sign that a majority of the cars do not stop. Is seem like we receive more cars everytime another street in the area has a calming plan. Is this ever looked at>

When the left hand turn signal goes in at Victoria it will stop traffic from coming into the neighbourhood, also there are all kinds of push button lights all the way up Victoria and Hastings so why can't one be installed at MacDonald School Pender and Victoria. They got these kinds of lights at other school crossings on Broadway for eg. Broadway, Technical, the college at Clark and Fraser. Why upset the neighbourhood with circular blockages and such, when a simple light would suffice. As for greenery. Everybody has their own gardens to look nice. So Less Expense. This money couldgo back to keep poor people off the streets, if you want somewhere to spend it.

I agree that traffic travels at speeds greater than what is safe for kids and other pedestrians in the neighbourhood. But I think you need signage on the main streets (Victoria) to indicated to traffic so that the blocked intersections can be anticipated - otherwise, you get road rage.

I would like speed bumps added when coming onto Ferndale from Semlin. Otherwise happy with cutting down commuter traffic in this segment of neighbourhood

Add more large trees along streets, add bike routes that would interconnect instead of cutting off and if you have to cut off put on both sides of cut off, signing which direction to go to reconnect to bike path

Glad to hear about the left turn bay @ hastings and Victoria

Stop the commuters from using Venables btween Nanaimo and Victoria the one way at templeton is ignored by westbound traffic (perhapsspikes would work). The eastbound commuters ignore the blockage on Victoria as well. The stop sign @ garden and Venables is also ignored regularly- perhaps a traffic circle @ templeton and @ Garden would be in order

Good idea, Too many Commuters are making the streets unsafe

see letter

I think it's crucial to go forward with all aspects of the plan. Leaving out one piece will mean an increase in traffic for a particular area as commuter traffic seeks the path of least resistance.

The safer our community is for our children the better

COMMENTS ON SPECIFIC ELEMENTS

The new plan makes it difficult in going from Nanaimo Street to my home.

It will make it difficult to access Victoria from Ferndale. Landscaping needs to be improved on Pender as it is! Grass is rarely cut or maintained.

Oppose "D" Lakewood/Turner because it does not give residents access to Victoria Drive.

Everything is good (the plan for calming traffic)

Everything is good on the plan - putting an advance left turn light on Hastings & Nanaimo would reduce the stalling during rush hour.

The other elements - B, C and D seem to be overly restrictive. However it is worth a try

Finally a left turn lane from Hastings to Victoria!

Left turn off Hasting onto Victoria essential to make overall plan feasable for resident into h 3-500 blocks of Victoria

I like left turn on Hastings to Victoria. This will be effective.

Sounds good.

We need police to monitor closed-street offenders!!

Does this plan preclude us getting the corner bulges we have been requesting for East Georgia/Victoria?

I provided detailed verbal comments in round one - and received an indifferent response. How about ticketing offenders who travel in wrong direction for a week? Don't punish residents for the transgressions of commuters!

There are too many traffic calming devices in this neighbourhood. It is hard to get around.

"C" & "D" are totally unnecessary. "A" & "E" are the only two I can support totally - B is necessary if A is built.

We do not want any more traffic calming in our area. It makes it very difficult to get to and from our house. We are opposed to any and all traffic calming.

By instituting this plan the problem of commuter traffic cutting through is simply offloaded to Napier Street or others further south.

If you want to slow the traffic flow use the flower filled traffic circles!!

Something has to be done! I have seen so many near misses, as well as accidents at the Victoria Drive/Pender Street intersections. It seems that motorists ignore the fact that this intersection is a school zone!! And a crosswalk. The noise of screeching brakes is norm.

I am a small business with a "drive to" establishment - closing of streets is a huge detriment in trying to keep a business successful. No traffic - no business!

I think the advanced left on Victoria (E) is critical to keeping cars on Victoria and off the side streets. Also the half cul de sac and improved crossing at E Pender and Victoria (A) is super important, especially if traffic is effectively re-located to Victoria through (E)

Pender is being used as a short cut to Nanaimo. I would suggest a cul-de-sac at Nanaimo to stop drivers from turning at Lakewood, Templeton and Garden. Good work!

I dislike plan B because diverter causes a lot of problem to get thru Semlin/Ferndale & Georgia.

Dislike left on Hasting because of school crosswalk which is already disregarded - (for me, personally, the left will make getting home easier)

I like the left turn at Victoria (from Hastings) - keeps cars on arterial routes I like any opportunity for flower beds etc Just a note: some major publicity on the correct use of roundabouts (yield to the car on you right) would be great.)

As a resident and owner on 900 block Semlin, my concern is the volume of traffic and speeds, east on Parker and on to Semlin. The near misses I witness every day is nerve wracking. It's only a matter of time before a child is hit - they play on the cement diversion - or a head on collision.

Please consider speed bumps on Semlin north and south of Adanac and on Adanac west of Semlin and perhaps a four way stop at Adanac and Semlin. I believe that changes will encourage unlawful turns onto Adanac eastbound at Victoria Drive and westbound at Templeton.

Please do not put a diagonal diverter at Semlin/Georgia. This will increase traffic and problems in front of our home. Traffic can be calmed at Pender (which is the problem) without coming all the way over to Georgia.

At least this plan is better than the first proposal.

Drivers will continue to turn left off Nanaimo and onto Turner and Ferndale streets in the morning to avoid the Hastings/Nanaimo intersection in spite of the cul de sacs on Turner and Pender.

I dislike the "B" and "C" in the plan, if traffic is rerouted from Pender in this fashion it takes them in a large U shape that goes along the tennis courts and playing fields at Templeton. I think it is counterproductive to route traffic where we know children are playing. I support the current center "go arounds" as they reduce speed - thereby making the existing routes safer. I also don't want to see more traffic on the N/S alley on Georgia between Victoria and Semlin. I strongly support the left turning lane on Victoria and I believe it will reduce the shortcutting traffic currently on Semlin Drive, reducing the need for complete closures at Ferndale and Georgia.

As above this traffic returns to Hastings via Lakewood or Semlin thus missing the Hastings/Nanaimo lights. I am not sure that C adds anything. Templeton School traffic will now be forced onto Turner. Georgia Street homeowners bought knowing they were abutting school property. Turner people did not.

We would like it if you could turn left onto Victoria from Pender as well as right. This would provide a way out of the neighbourhood for locals. With a left turn bay on Hastings at Victoria and "local traffic only" signs, and the removal of east bound traffic on Pender, it seems reasonable.

As a resident on Turner I am pleased by the cul-de-sac "D". I believe it will enhance my neighbourhood and improve safety for the kids who use the Templeton Pool Park. I also heartily approve of the rest of the plan.

I live at Semlin and Adanac. With all these measures in place there will be no direct route to my house turning anywhere off the major routes: Victoria, Nanaimo, Hastings unless I am coming from the south (Try it!) The one I would be least in favour of is measure C. Remember to add all the existing one-ways and half cul-de-sacs and diverters in place from Adanac south - it's quite a challenge.

Proposal "C" is a big problem for us. We live at Templeton and Adanac and because of not being able to use Venables and Adanac east of Victoria, we must get to our house by Georgia to Semlin and then south to Adanac and east to our home. This is blocked by C unless the direction of the diverter is changed.

The people who objected to the Georgia and Semlin diverter seemed to have valid concerns. I am curious about why this isn't going to be placed at Semlin & Adanac, since the concern that gave rise to this particular diverter was that our streets were being utilized by commuters to gain access to Adanac on the way to Nanaimo Street. If it were moved to Semlin and Adanac, it would have the same (or similar) effect, and allow the Georgia people's concerns to be addressed. Thank you.

A partial cul de sac and full cul de sac literally traps me. If I wish to go west of my residence I will have to get onto Hastings, not an easy feat. I would like to point out that the diagonal diverter at Ferndale and Lakewood does not stop traffic. People just drive over it creating an ungodly racket as their vehicles crash and scrap across the upright. I would propose some kind of barrier there that only emergency vehicles can go over or remore. I would love to see a count performed for this diverter to show that this form of traffic calming does not produce any kind of calm. I think more stop signs and speed bumps would do just as well and be less costly.

Venables via Parker from Victoria to Nanaimo is also a problem. Napier is very high fast traffic as well. I like the left turn lane at Hastings. I don't like the diagonal diverter and prefer the round about to slow traffic. If you stop traffic it has to go somewhere else and the local traffic has to move as well. One diverter at Ferndale ok, not another at Georgia. I would like to stress the continued problem in the over all area. Putting lots at one area is overkill. I am afraid that this will move more traffic south to Venables. I don't see the point of the one at Georgia. To come home I drive many side streets to end up in front of my house. Reduction may not be as possible as we would like, slowing down is better. I still see if you reduce traffic on one street it moves to the next, I have witnessed this over the years. Turn signal at Victoria and 1st would also move through on the main streets and not promote drive throughs. I regularly turn onto Victoria from Georgia from Semlin. I do this to not drive

I agree with A - it is a difficult intersection for both pedestrians and drivers. I have concerns about the diagonal diverters at B and C. My experience with the diverter at Parker and Semlin is not so positive. Vehicles do not stay in their proper lanes when making the turn - either onto Semlin or onto Parker. There have been many near collisions. The second factor is speed. Cars travel way too fast on Parker even with the diverter. Drivers barely slow down when they approach the curve, making it dangerous for pedestrians drivers always seem surprised to see one!) and other drivers. This is made worse by the fact that residents park their cars close to the curved intersection (to which I have not objections). Lastly, I've seen one truck drive right over the raised diverter on several occaisions (last fall). Some suggestions: Use traffic circles instead of diagonal diverters - I'm not so convinced that this totally works - you'll need direction arrows to indicate proper flow around the circle. Paint dotte

Concerned about the safety in 2000 block Ferndale St No warning when car is coming around the corner. Many small children playing on this otherwise already traffic calmed street.

put an occasional bench and trees in parks and busy side streets. Picnic tables and open washrooms in parks. Put small garbage cans directly on most bus stops where there is no garbage especially around stores

I like the full closure at Turner and Lakewood. There are too many people entering the one way street illegally

I particularly like option D. I will be directly impacted by this since I live only two doors down from this intersection. However without this cul de sac Turner will become even more of a commuter corridor than it is now. The "Do not Enter" sign there is completely ignored.

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General Mgr./Dept. Head:
Date:
This report has been prepared in consultation with the departments listed to the right, and they concur with its contents
Report dated:	June 19, 2002
Author:	Steve Brown
Phone:	604-873-7693
Concurring Departments
Finance

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