ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets

FROM:

General Manager of Engineering Services and Director of Current Planning

SUBJECT:

Granville Street Redesign (Granville bridgehead to Cordova Street)

 

RECOMMENDATION

GENERAL MANAGERS' COMMENTS

COUNCIL POLICY

On July 9, 2002, Council adopted the Downtown Transportation Plan to improve downtown access and liveability by creating a balanced transportation system that includes adjusting the road network, enhancing public transit, promoting a walkable downtown,

creating a network of bike lanes, maintaining efficient goods movement, managing parking supply and implementing intelligent transportation systems. Specific action items in the Downtown Transportation Plan regarding Granville Street/Mall were deferred pending a redesign study of the street.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to obtain Council approval for the terms of reference and budget for the redesign of Granville Street (Granville bridgehead to Waterfront Station).

SUMMARY

Downtown Granville Street's streetscape is in need of refurbishing. This was identified in a review of Granville Street as part of the Downtown Transportation Plan. Council requested a report back on terms of reference, budget and funding source for the redesign of Granville Street. This report outlines a recommended eight-month process for developing an urban design and streetscape concept for Granville Street at a total cost of $147,000. TransLink has agreed to share half the cost. The remaining City cost of $73,500 can be funded from the 2003 Operating Budget.

An urban design and streetscape concept for Granville between the bridgehead and Waterfront Station will help to create a great street with a more vibrant commercial and entertainment district. It will address in a comprehensive and attractive scheme the outdated streetscape elements, the new street furniture program, the functional requirements of the street, the greenway opportunities, and potential future changes at the north and south ends of the street.

BACKGROUND

On May 14, 2002, Council approved the following resolutions:

"THAT the Director of Current Planning and General Manager of Engineering Services report back on terms of reference, budget and funding source for Allan Jacobs and Elizabeth Macdonald (Cityworks Consultants) in association with senior transportation engineering expertise to complete a redesign of Granville Street (Granville bridgehead to Waterfront Station) which may or may not introduce automobile traffic to the street but without any loss of transit efficiency in the Downtown and that also integrates improvements to the streetscape, greenway, entertainment district and retail/commercial activity all in consultation with landowners and commercial/residential stakeholders

AND THAT options for the management of Granville Street be reviewed in consultation with stakeholders, and specifically in partnership with the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, to better promote and manage the on-street activities and assets along the mall, with a report back to Council before the end of 2002."

The resolutions were made following a review of Granville Mall as part the Downtown Transportation Plan and in response to a 1997 Granville Street Revitalisation Study completed by Hotson Bakker Architects on behalf of the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association.

Subsequent discussions with Allan Jacobs and Elizabeth Macdonald of Cityworks in July 2002 confirmed their agreement to assist the City in the redesign of Granville Street at a conceptual level. Additional urban design consultants will be retained to assist in the development and production of design details and presentation materials.

DISCUSSION

Many studies of and changes to Granville Street have been made over the years to create a more vibrant commercial and entertainment district. This redesign study offers the opportunity to integrate into a single coherent design a variety of Council directions for Granville Street and attempts to resolve some of the outstanding issues. These and other opportunities are summarized below.

Streetscape
Many observe that Granville Street's streetscape, especially along the mall, is outdated and in need of refurbishing. Elements of the streetscape, such as street trees, street lighting, sidewalk treatments are also inconsistent for the entire length of street. A comprehensive redesign is required to tie together and better highlight the neighbourhood retail centre in the south, the entertainment district in the middle, and the office district to the north. In addition to creating an attractive street, the streetscape also needs to better respond to the existing land uses and provide more opportunities for a variety of desirable street activities. Examples of this include the recently completed streetscape plan for Pacific Boulevard.

Street Furniture
The street furniture along Granville Street, as well as other parts of downtown, is in need of replacement. New street furniture comprising of bus shelters, benches, litter receptacles, bike racks, automated public toilets, way finding map stands, etc. is scheduled to be installed on Granville Street in 2003. This study will help to coordinate the selection of a street furniture design that will complement the design concept for the street.

Transportation
Since 1974 Granville Mall has been a principal transit priority facility in downtown Vancouver. The recently approved Downtown Transportation Plan recognized the critical role of transit in maintaining an accessible and economically vibrant downtown commercial core. While significant transit and traffic changes may be explored in the redesign of Granville Street, transit efficiency within the downtown must be maintained. As well, the transportation needs of pedestrians, cyclists, service vehicles and private autos must also be considered.

Greenways
Granville Street is identified in the Downtown Transportation Plan as the major north-south Greenway across the downtown peninsula. This is intersected by the east-west Greenway at Helmcken Street, which can become an important Greenway junction. Granville Street can become the primary walking route between the Downtown South neighbourhood and the Central Business District to the north. The redesign should incorporate Greenway elements used in many other parts of the city, including public art, special landscape treatments and pedestrian amenities.

Granville Bridgehead
Vancouver's False Creek bridges are critical links to the downtown peninsula. Pedestrian and bike improvements are currently being developed for Granville Bridge as directed by Council on October 1, 2002. The Granville Bridge ramps at the north end have been identified as a poor pedestrian environment and on May 2, 2002, Council directed that staff report back on the potential redesign of the ramps to Pacific Street and associated redevelopment of the affected properties to improve safety and the integration of the area into the adjacent neighbourhoods. While the loops are a separate study, this study will consider both these potential changes as they relate to the streetscape design and potential context for the development of a southern gateway or anchor to Granville Street.

Northern Terminus
The north end of Granville Street terminates at Granville Square and Waterfront Station. This area is an important transportation hub where many different transportation modes converge (SeaBus, WestCoast Express, SkyTrain, cruise ships, seaplanes, heliport, transit buses and the proposed downtown streetcar). A future rapid transit line to Richmond and ferries to the Vancouver Island may also be located at this hub. Together with the convention centre, hotels and other nearby destinations, it will be one of the most visited places in Vancouver. A comprehensive streetscape design at the north end would contribute to the functional needs, be an attractive destination for visitors and commuters travelling to the downtown and provide a link to the Granville Street entertainment district and beyond.

A recently completed study of the Waterfront Station transportation hub, as part of the Vancouver-Airport/Richmond rapid transit line study, explored linkages between the various transportation modes and with major land uses in the vicinity. This study will provide supporting information to the streetscape design.

Street Management
A separate review of options for the management of Granville Street will be undertaken next year. Although this review does not impact the physical elements of the street, it will relate to the future programming, animation and maintenance of the street and is an important component of making the street successful.

Community Consultation
The study will provide opportunities for the general public and all interested parties to participate. A Stakeholder Group will also be created consisting of select representatives from the business community, residential neighbourhoods, community organisations and user groups to provide regular input into the process. Comments from all participants will be documented and presented to Council for consideration.

TransLink is a co-sponsor of the study and will be participating in the redesign process.

Process
The general process is outlined in the Terms of Reference attached as Appendix A. The five stages of the process over an eight-month period are briefly summarized below:

Project Initiation (1.5 months):

Visioning (1 month):

High Level Screening (1.5 months):

Design Options (2.5 months):

Final Schematic Design (2 months):

Timing
It is proposed that the study begin in February 2003 and conclude in October 2003.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The following budget of $147,000 is proposed for the preparation of the plan:

The consultancy costs include the retention of Jacobs Macdonald - Cityworks, an urban design/landscape architect firm, and a transportation engineering and transit service design consultant.

Public consultation costs include hall rental, refreshments, advertising and overtime costs for the various public meetings, workshops and design charette planned. Staff costs related to this project are included in the Departments' current work program.

TransLink has agreed to co-sponsor the redesign of Granville Street at half the total costs -$73,500 (see Appendix B). The City's share for the project at $73,500 can be funded from the 2003 Operating Budget. Although some funds were initially identified in the Downtown Transportation Plan budget, a further review indicated that they are not available.

CONCLUSION

Granville Street is one of the most significant public spaces in the downtown. It is a key determinant of the City's image and quality of life. Granville Street is also one of the main bus priority facilities in Vancouver that currently makes a significant contribution to maintaining downtown accessibility. While the street has the potential to become one of central Vancouver's great streets, landscaping, paving treatments and pedestrian amenities are deficient. The proposed redesign study will help to tie together a number of initiatives and address some of the current issues in a comprehensive and attractive scheme.

LINK TO APPENDICES A and B

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csb021212.htm

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© 2002 City of Vancouver