Agenda Index City of Vancouver


ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets

FROM:

General Manager of Engineering Services

SUBJECT:

Hastings and Victoria - Left Turn Bays/Safety Improvements

 

RECOMMENDATION

That the design for safety improvements, including left turn bays, lowering the roadway and an advance westbound-to-southbound traffic signal arrow indication, at the intersection of Hastings Street and Victoria Drive as described in this report be approved with funding of up to $950,000 provided from the unexpended Streets Capital accounts detailed in Appendix B; and, that Council recommend to the incoming Council that this funding be repaid from the 2003 Streets Basic Capital Budget, subject to Plebiscite approval of the 2003 to 2005 Streets Capital Plan.

COUNCIL POLICY

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.

Left turn bays on Hastings and Victoria were approved on July 11, 2002 in order to improve safety and help reduce the impacts of traffic shortcutting through the neighbourhood.

PURPOSE

This report recommends design and funding approval for the subject project, as described below.

BACKGROUND

Motorists are presently prohibited from making westbound to southbound left turns at the intersection of Hastings at Victoria because of the 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.

On July 11, 2002, Council approved a traffic calming plan for the residential neighbourhood southeast of the subject intersection and directed that "the installation of left turn bays on Hastings and Victoria be approved in order to improve safety and help reduce the impacts of traffic shortcutting through the neighbourhood, and that City Staff report back on the details of design, costs and funding, including cost sharing with TransLink and ICBC." The left turn bays must be installed in advance of the other traffic calming measures in order to give shortcutting motorists an appropriate route after the traffic calming is introduced. Council members and the community representatives at the July 11th meeting indicated the need to proceed quickly in order to provide traffic relief to the neighbourhood.

PROJECT DESIGN

The project design includes the following intersection improvements:

- add left turn bays on Hastings Street at Victoria Drive (see appendix A). 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.

- install an advance westbound to southbound left turn traffic signal arrow indication, in order to encourage left turns at the intersection rather than shortcutting movements.

Letters outlining the roadway and boulevard changes were delivered to the North Hastings Business Improvement Association and all properties abutting the project. In view of the narrower sidewalk widths, a number of existing trees will have to be replaced. However, additional boulevard trees will be added such that the total number of trees in the area will be increased significantly. There will be no change to the parking regulations on Hastings.

FUNDING

This project was not anticipated in the 2002 capital budget, as it was initiated through a local residential traffic calming program conducted in 2002. However, Council has expressed the need to proceed quickly in advance of the normal 2003 capital budget process. Given the priority, it is recommended that funding for the total cost, estimated at $950,000, be provided from the unexpended Streets Capital accounts detailed in Appendix B; and, that Council recommend to the incoming Council that this funding be repaid from the 2003 Streets Basic Capital Budget, subject to Plebiscite approval of the 2003 to 2005 Streets Capital Plan. Notwithstanding, we have applied for and expect to receive cost sharing of $435,000 from TransLink and $80,000 from ICBC. When this is confirmed, the net cost to the City would be reduced accordingly, to $435,000.

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APPENDIX B - STREETS CAPITAL BUDGET, PROPOSED FUNDING SOURCES

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