ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

   

TO:

Transportation and Traffic Standing Committee

FROM:

General Manager of Engineering Services

SUBJECT:

FCM Application - Downtown Streetcar

 

RECOMMENDATION

B. THAT if the Federation of Canadian Municipalities grant is approved, staff proceed with the Downtown Streetcar Layout, Transportation Modeling and Market study, as described herein.
C. THAT if the Federation of Canadian Municipalities grant is NOT approved, staff proceed with the Downtown Streetcar Layout, Transportation Modeling and Market study, as described herein, with $120,000 provided from Streets Capital - Greenlinks Unappropriated Account (order group CA3EA2HCX1).

COUNCIL POLICY
The City of Vancouver Transportation Plan (1997) supported the use of transit in meeting our future transportation growth needs.
The City of Vancouver Downtown Transportation Plan (2002) recommended implementation of a downtown streetcar network.
Council supports establishing and preserving streetcar corridors in the False Creek area and Downtown.
The City has consistently supported the introduction of a demonstration electric rail transit service along the south side of False Creek, with the potential of providing regular service linking the high employment, residential and activity nodes in and around the Downtowncore.
Council approved conceptual design and routing and directed staff (March 1999) to "report back on a proposed work program and funding requirements to undertake detailed design and cost analysis of Phase One and Phase Two" of the streetcar.

PURPOSE
This purpose of this report is to update Council on the status of the planning for the Downtown Streetcar and seek approval from Council to apply for matching funds from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for Downtown Streetcar Layout, Transportation and Market Studies and if successful, proceed with these studies.

BACKGROUND
The Downtown Streetcar initiative is a key element of the City's continuing transition to more sustainable transportation modes. In particular the Downtown Streetcar has been a cornerstone of the sustainable planning and design for South East False Creek. Its purpose is to link a number of activity centres in the Downtown Area (residential, employment, tourist, shopping, etc.) which have expanded the core beyond reasonable walking limits. As a transportation service, it will provide a transit alternative to the automobile for commuters, tourists, shoppers and a variety of other users. It will link into other transit services, such as SeaBus, SkyTrain, West Coast Express and regular bus services to provide a seamless transit network.
To further these objectives in the short term Council has approved the development of a demonstration line from Science World to Granville Island. This line operates two historic interurban rail vehicles, using volunteers on Saturday and Sunday afternoons during the summer months. The demonstration line consistently enjoys support from local residents and the broader community. In 2002 17,329 people rode the system, with only weekend operation.
While the demonstration line has enjoyed short term success, there is a medium to long term vision to expand and integrate the streetcar system into the transit network serving the Downtown area with modern equipment. Following a 1998 consultant study, Council endorsed a routing from Science World to Waterfront Station via Quebec, Columbia and Cordova Streets as Phase I, and a general routing form Science World to Roundhouse Community Centre, along Pacific Boulevard and Davie Street, as Phase II of the Downtown Streetcar system.

DISCUSSION
In order to secure funding a good business model is needed. A key component in the development of a transportation business plan is confirmation of the potential ridership and layout.
The previous studies have done a good job in providing preliminary figures but prior to proceeding further to public consultation and detailed design, it is recommended that a track layout design be developed and detailed ridership estimates done.

Layout Design
A consultant will be hired to work with staff to develop a number of detailed scenarios for how the streetcar will integrate on street. For each block segment of the proposed route we will develop options related to the following topics:
· Will the streetcars run in traffic or in segregated lanes?
· Is there appropriate space for the stop locations?
· How will on street parking be affected?
· How will the intersection signal phasing be done?
· What will the surface treatment for the tracks be?
· Where would the maintenance yard be located?
· What style of streetcar is best suited for Vancouver?

Transportation Study and Market Research
There are two different but interdependent studies proposed. In order to get a comprehensive picture of potential ridership an EMME 2 Transportation Model must be run and a Market Survey must be conducted. EMME 2 is a computer model used by transportation planners to predict travel patterns based on travel demand and transportation infrastructure. A Market Survey will use quantitative questions to generate a statistically reliable number of potential streetcar riders, including commuters, tourists and recreational riders.
Both studies would be done in parallel to gather the following information:
a. Identify and quantify transit generators (homes, businesses, schools, shopping, hotels, other transit)
b. Review connectivity with other transit systems.
c. Determine ridership split between commuters, locals and tourists.
d. Determine fare elasticity relative to ridership.
e. Explore ridership sensitivity based on system configuration (travel time, frequency, station location).
f. Estimate the ridership ramp-up period.
g. Estimate mode shift to streetcar from walking, biking, driving, or other transit.
h. Determine public perception and general acceptance of a streetcar system.

TRANSLINK
We have included Translink staff in our preliminary planning and while they feel the Downtown Streetcar concept is supportable, they believe there is a need to obtain better ridership and cost estimates. We will continue to work with Translink to ensure the Downtown Streetcar integrates with other transit operations in a way that enhances the overall transit system.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are three separate components that are proposed in this report, the EMME 2 Transportation Model, the Market Research Study and the Detailed Design Layout. The total cost for all three is $120,000.
The EMME 2 Transportation Model is estimated to cost $20,000 including taxes and overhead.
A Request for Proposals has been drafted for the Market Research Study and after review with Translink's Marketing Research Department they estimate the cost to be around $70,000 including taxes and overhead. These studies are typically expensive as they are labour intensive and require a large sample size to be accurate.
The development of a Detailed Design Layout to complement the existing studies would cost approximately $30,000, including taxes and overhead.
The City can apply for a maximum of $50,000 toward this $120,000 project from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Grant. Prior to submitting the grant application the City must confirm that at least $50,000 is available to match this grant. It is proposed to secure the total City contribution of $70,000 from the Greenlinks Funding to meet this obligation.
Greenlinks is funding provided by Concorde Pacific Developers in lieu of parking requirements on their sites. The intent of the fund is to assist the development of pedestrian, cyclist and transit linkages in the downtown area. The street car proposal meets this requirement.
The Government of Canada has endowed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities with $250 million to establish the Green Municipal Enabling Fund (GMEF) and support municipal government action to cut pollution, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve quality of life. The Downtown Streetcar project meets these goals.

The City has recently been awarded $30,000 toward a $60,000 study to examine sustainable transportation as well as $15,000 toward a $30,000 study to examine urban agriculture, both in South East False Creek from the same FCM/GMEF program.

In the event that this FCM-GMEF application is not approved, staff believe that this work should still proceed and that the total amount of $120,000 for this work be taken from the Greenlinks Funding.

NEXT STEPS

If approved, the work program proposed in this report would generate more detailed cost and ridership estimates and a detailed layout plan for track location and operation.

If the conclusions of this study support further development of this project, the next steps would include:

· public consultation on adjustments to the overall proposal,
· public consultation on system aesthetics, i.e., heritage vs modern style for cars and stations,
· special working groups set up to collaborate with business and residents directly adjacent the proposed alignment to ensure public and private needs and concerns are dealt with,
· production of tender drawings,
· confirmation of funding sources.

CONCLUSION

While all existing studies indicate that a Downtown Streetcar on the proposed alignment would be a successful and beneficial addition to Vancouver's transportation network, staff feel more information on ridership is necessary to determine if there is a business case. If the conclusions of this study continue to support development of the system, staff will report back on the details for the next steps, as described above.

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Link to Appendix A

tt20030708.htm

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© 2002 City of Vancouver