APPENDIX A
SUMMARY OF 24-HOUR TRAFFIC COUNTS
APPENDIX B
ENGINEERING SURVEY
ENG. LETTERHEAD
June 1, 2003
Dear Resident or Business Owner:
This survey seeks your opinion of the existing temporary one-way westbound traffic operation on School Avenue, between Joyce and Tyne Streets.
School Ave., between Joyce St. and Tyne St., has been a source of many public complaints due to the combination of high traffic volume, lack of proper pedestrian accommodation, and poor street condition. In response to residents' concerns, the trial one-way measure was proposed and subsequently approved, by area residents and Vancouver City Council, to deal with the traffic issues and to allow room for the provision of curb and sidewalk on the north side of School Ave.
The one-way traffic measure was installed on a trial basis, so its affect on traffic patterns could be monitored and adjustments be made if necessary. Please see figure on reverse for the traffic volume data collected before and after the implementation of the trial one-way measure. Based on the traffic calming and pedestrian safety benefits, it is proposed that this one-way measure be made permanent.
Please fill out this survey and return it in the enclosed postage paid return envelope, or fax it to 604-871-6192. The results of this survey will be calculated and reported to City Council for a decision on whether the one-way measure should be made permanent
If you have any comments or questions, please call me at 604-871-6445 or email me at fred_lin@city.vancouver.bc.ca. In order to be counted, your response must be returned to Vancouver City Hall no later than Tuesday, June 24, 2003.
Yours truly,
Fred Lin, EIT
Neighbourhood Transportation Branch
APPENDIX C
DISTRIBUTION AREA
APPENDIX D
SURVEY COMMENTS- APPROVAL
· I certainly notice the difference for the better. Much safer for pedestrian and much more orderly traffic.
· I fully support this. It eliminates traffic and is safer for pedestrians.
· I think the one-way westbound is a great idea but I still see cars heading in the opposite direction. It should be more visible.
· I appreciate very much what the City has done with School Ave- one-way conversion will save a lot of accidents.
· It makes a big difference since the one-way trial has been introduced, my family feels safer walking on School Avenue and not worry about being hit by cars. I have also talked to neighbours and they feel the same.
· I support to have one-way street on School Avenue permanently. People started to get use to not turning right from Joyce Street and into small alley to get to Safeway- out to Kingsway and turn right from there to Safeway and liquor store.
· Please make the conversion of School Ave. between Joyce St. & Tyne St. to one-way westbound permanently. This is to ensure the safety of the drivers and pedestrians who use School Ave., as drivers coming down eastbound from 41st often race down the street.
· The number of cars are noticeably much less. As a frequent pedestrian, I feel more comfortable/safe since this School Ave. has become one-way. Please make it permanent. Please ask the City Police to pay more attention to this one-way street because violators are not uncommon.
· This project is a very good idea, since School Avenue is very narrow and unfinished street. Most of the passage along the avenue constitute a potential danger for pedestrians and small children walking along. A continuation for two-way traffic would lead to many accidents, some may be fatal. I hope the city planning team make this street a permanent one-way to traffic.
· School Avenue should be widened and repaved with a sidewalk installed for pedestrian traffic. At the same time a two-way traffic arrangement could be convenient for local traffic if the street were repaved and sidewalk were installed for pedestrian safety.
· There should be a "four-way stop" intersection at Harold & School Ave. Reason: observed numerous near accidents, poor sight lines and speeding by Harold St. Also because of no stop line markings, many School Ave cars don't stop at the stop sign.
· Also, please make some kind of speed control. Because there is still a lot of speeders on this part of street. Thank you.
· By the way, I would like to inform you that the road surface of Tyne between School Ave. and E.45th Ave. is in bad condition. Please pay your attention to repair it. Thank you very much.
· Could use more police presence for the one-way measure. Suggested times: 10AM to 2PM or 3PM to 6PM.
· Drivers are still intentionally sneaking in when cars aren't exiting School Ave. It would be great if there could be some way to permanently angle the concrete block/curb so that westbound drivers can exit School Avenue, but make it difficult for other drivers to try and take a short cut by still entering a one-way street? We'd hate to see a head-on collision at that spot.
· I am in favour since it has reduced traffic overall. However there is still some chaos caused by the number of eastbound drivers who are oblivious to, and in some cases, clearly defying, the new regulation. Perhaps increased/more explicit signage would help? Speed is also a concern. Re pedestrian safety, the greater improvement has come from the parking restriction on the north side (though it's far from adequate without sidewalk and curb).
· I live along the alley that runs parallel with School Avenue on south side, there is increased traffic that needs to be slowed down. Cars are going full speed. A speed bump could be of some use. Thank you.
· I still can see people drive two ways on School Ave. everyday. I'm worried about my child walking on School Ave. The drivers don't care about the new one-way.
· I support the one-way street but more cars going along Latta Street. The road isn't in great condition but more importantly not all the houses even have curbs. People are parking on the grass & kills the grass; it looks awful.
· The safety of other people has increased as when they cross the street they only have to look one way.
· In addition, I suggest to build a pedestrian sidewalk on School Ave.
· It should be further police enforced as a lot of people seem to ignore the signs!
· It would be nice if sidewalks could be installed ASAP. Also, it would be helpful if it was enforced.
· Look forward to the one-way westbound traffic and new paved road and sidewalk.
· More enforcement of new traffic flow restrictions will be required, as many drivers appear to blatantly ignore or are apparently oblivious to new by-law. To that end, there continues to be east bound traffic. Further, future traffic calming measures may be requested on E.44th Avenue (3300) as volume is being diverted to that street and block.
· More police patrol is needed since most drivers don't observe there is one-way traffic.
· Only concern is that all people who like to go to London Drugs, they are turning left in the backlane of School Ave. and Harold St. My daughter was almost hit by this fast car that's using this street. So is there any solution for this? They should not even turn left from Joyce to the backlane of School Street going to Harold. There are still lots of people that are turning right from Tyne Street to School Street or Harold Street to School Street. Please help up solve this problem for our backlane. They are lots of children playing at the back during summer time and every time when the weather is nice. Thank you.
· Should have a sign posted (residential traffic only) on the alley which run parallel to School Avenue. I see most cars zoom through from my sundeck.
· The street condition of School Avenue is getting worse. I hope City of Vancouver could repave the street and build the sidewalk.
· There are still a significant number of drivers going against the traffic direction. This is more of a problem than the traffic counters have indicated, particularly as many drivers use the short cut of turning from Latta eastbound on School. While there are good signs at the intersections there are no wrong way or do not enter signs or arrows once a driver is eastbound on School Ave.
· There are still too many motorists turning right from Latta St. onto School Avenue to reach Safeway.
· There must be a barrier or deterrent to cars turning right onto School Street from Latta northbound. Cars often do this in order to get to Safeway from Senlac St. This was not a problem before the one-way was put in place because people knew to look for cars doing this. Now that it is one-way drivers and pedestrians don't expect a car to turn east ontoSchool. This may also reduce the number of cars going east on Marmion, since they won't be able to slip over to Senlac.
· There should be a thru stop sign posted on Latta Street and School Avenue in addition to the no right turn sign. Vehicles coming from Wessex, sometimes, try to sneak and violate the traffic signs to gain easy access to make way into Latta Street or all the way there to Tyne. It is an added caution to prevent collision, especially head-on collision.
· This street needs more police monitoring and proper sidewalks. This street should be the example for the city because of its name and heritage.
· Though the School Avenue has been adjusted to a one-way traffic, lots of cars still use it as a two-way traffic, going in wrong direction, causing danger.
· Up to now many cars still pass the wrong direction. Would you please assign a traffic enforcer to educate people how to read signs, also can you please enforce the parking just for the block residence only.
· We support this conversion. However, our concern still is that wreckless drivers still seem to disobey the one-way signs and are driving eastbound on School Ave. My understanding is that we are going to be convering some of the costs for any construction work, therefore, there should be some simple measure taken to ensure that those who disobey will be fined, so that we feel we are getting our money's worth.
· We would like that the repairs and installation of sidewalk start as soon as possible as well as the repairs for School Avenue (Street).
· We would like to see improvements continue in this area, i.e. 3300 block of East 44th Ave which has not been paved since the early seventies.
· We'd like to see some enforcement of the one-way, perhaps more signage is required as we witness many vehicles still using School Avenue as a two-way street.
· While the one-way street conversion is underway, I wish the sidewalk is repaired. The condition of the sidewalk is extremely bad and a hazard for the others. The road should be repaved too, for it is full of gravel and sand. The dirt drifts in the air when a car passes by, damaging the air and pedestrians' lungs.
· While you are doing the survey, you may consider rerouting the buses that speed down Joyce St between 43 & 45. The road narrows and the buses don't even slow down. There are a lot of young families on the street and only street parking on the west side due to no back lane. We would like to see more one-way systems.
· Since School Ave. temporary one-way westbound has been set up, a lot of cars try cheating by driving on my back lane and back onto School Ave. again eastbound. This traffic is so dangerous to my family and the whole neighbourhood due to this high speed.
· I don't support the removal of parking restrictions on the south side of School Ave. between Joyce and Harold Streets. We don't want to go through with that nightmare again and besides, School Ave. between Joyce and Harold is too narrow and we have seen people, especially kids, opening the door and coming out from the parked cars without looking and the drivers have to slam their brakes really hard. If nobody cares about somebody from the parked cars getting killed, go ahead with the plan.
· It is not a good idea to remove the no parking signs between Joyce & Harold St.
· I support the removal of parking restrictions ONLY if there would be a pavement or curb on the south side added. As before, people parked too close to the fence/gate making it hard to exit my home.
· We find with parking restrictions - less congestion, less noise & litter, less hookers, less drug dealers. Please keep the restrictions in force. All of the above provides pedestrian safety and more safety for our homes.
SURVEY COMMENTS- DISAPPROVAL
· For me, it does not matter as I don't work or have noticed any difference.
· I find this one-way street an inconvenience especially when I'm travelling eastbound. However I do feel we need some traffic control on Tyne St. It is very, very busy. At the very least some marked crosswalks on 44th Ave. and one at School Ave.
· If we drive from Joyce along Marmion to Latta to School Avenue we can not turn right to Senlac (or Safeway) we must go out to Kingsway to get to Safeway. Coming out we can't turn right for quick convenient shopping. Short distant but can't right turn!
· It's dangerous since some drivers pay no attention to the one-way signs. It's also totally inconvenient for locals who now have to use Kingsway, which is a nightmare at the best of times, or travel out their way to get home. The stop sign at School and Harold should be facing Harold Street since it's less travelled than School. There should also be stop signs on Wessex and Latta at School.
· One-way traffic makes people drive without common sense. People go wrong way all thetime. People go from Latta Street then turn right (wrong way) then turn left to Safeway. Also you can tell by the data you given me. 1967/189 and 1087/112, it is like 10% of the drivers that don't follow the rule. It means people don't like it! WRONG way traffic creates many car accidents.
· Pedestrian sidewalk should be installed along School Ave. to protect pedestrian safety. The excuse of traffic using School Avenue to bypass Kingsway & Joyce is weak and not valid. To get to my office, I often have to use back lanes which is unsafe.
· Repair street to better condition, resume 2-way traffic, large inconvenience for residents of the area to have to circle neighbourhood and commute on Kingsway just to get home and head to Safeway. Other issues: Monitor regular illegal parking on Joyce between School Ave. and Kingsway, possible "permit parking" for residents of that block.
· Since the new one-way street has come into effect, not only has the traffic continued but has now affected the surrounding streets. One of the biggest problems is parking. Since the one-way system only allows parking one on side of the street on School Ave. we have found that there is never adequate parking on Marmion or Latta. If the new one-way system is approved I would suggest that there be permit residential parking put in place ASAP. It is a daily occupancy that when I come home every afternoon there is no parking available to me in front of my own home! I do not support the current one-way system. Changes need to be made as per the attached figure...the number of cars "before and after" do not justify the one-way system.
· The temporary one-way conversion has caused inconvenience to the local residents by heavy traffic congestion on Joyce-adjacent streets. Joyce Street is a bus and bike route, plus many children walk to school, pedestrians go shopping and to Killarney Community Centre, etc. Pedestrian safety is inadequate due to extra traffic being forced on to Joyce Street. It is like a freeway. Leave School Ave. two way street, put in a sidewalk and speed bumps. Diverting traffic to adjacent streets will not address the real problem. There are to many cars now, all the streets are required to accept traffic to control the congestion. School Ave. is not the only street with high traffic volume. All the other streets have been too far many years. No one complained they know that the streets are meant for traffic and are to be shared. Now people who came from abroad since three years or so ago started to live on these streets have began to complain and are beginning to receive favouritism. There have been some changes made on some streets around this neighbourhood which have been of no benefit to many. If School Ave. becomes one-way street there will be a problem. You will receive many more similar requests by other concerned residents in this neighbourhood which will be difficult to fulfill. Please give this matter a special thought before making a change. Everyone should learn to obey all the traffic rules and signs to carry on safely.
· There not much traffic on School Rd. since the one-way sign went up they don't use it much.
· Traffic flow is difficult for our customer, parking is becoming a problem for customers and staff.
SURVEY COMMENTS- NEUTRAL
· What your latest traffic survey does not reflect is the number of vehicles who travel as I have shown on your map which is enclosed.
APPENDIX E
INFORMATION LETTER
ENG. LETTERHEAD
June 20, 2003
Dear Resident:
RE: Proposed Traffic Change-
Lane South of School Ave., between Joyce St. and the Lane West of Harold St.
Previously, you have received a survey (dated June 1, 2003) asking for your opinion of permanently converting traffic operation on School Ave., between Tyne St. and Joyce St., to one-way westbound. The purposes of the proposed measure are to allow room for the provision of sidewalk on the north side of School Ave. and to reduce the number of short-cutting traffic through your neighbourhood.
To-date, the responses of the permanent one-way proposal have been positive. However, there are concerns about eastbound traffic short-cutting through the neighbourhood using the lane south of School Ave. at Joyce St. City staff have subsequently conducted an on-site investigation and confirmed the problem. It is therefore proposed that "Do-Not-Enter" signs be posted on the lane at Joyce St. to alleviate the short-cutting problem (see reverse for the schematic illustration). This measure would convert the lane south of School Ave., between Joyce St. and the lane west of Harold St., to one-way westbound.
If you have any comments or questions concerning the proposal, please call me at 871-6445.
Yours truly,
Fred Lin, EIT
Neighbourhood Transportation