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REPORT TO COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
OCTOBER 7, 2003 |
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Transportation and Traffic was held on Tuesday, October 7, 2003, at 9:30 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: |
Councillor Fred Bass, Chair
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CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: |
Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager |
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Lori Isfeld, Meeting Coordinator |
* Denotes absence for a portion of the meeting.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic meeting of July 29, 2003, were adopted.
RECOMMENDATION
1. 2003 Travel Time Study (File 5560)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated September 22, 2003, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services provided information about the 2003 Travel Time Study initiated by TransLink and additional travel time data for Vancouver. The report also recommended that TransLink be requested to repeat the study on a regular cycle of 5 years or less.
Don Klimchuk, Transportation Monitoring Engineer, reviewed the report, noted the benefits of collecting regional data on a regular basis, and responded to questions.
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT TransLink be requested to repeat their Travel Time Study on a regular cycle of 5 years or less, as a means of providing timely input into the transportation planning process.
B. THAT a report back be requested from staff that examines the technology resources and budget in assessing bus, bicycle and pedestrian travel times as part of the 2003 Travel Time Study.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Ladner absent for the vote)
2. Alma Street and West 8th Avenue - Median (File 5809/5553)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated September 12, 2003, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services reviewed the operation of the median refuge on Alma Street at West 8th Avenue and made recommendations for improvement.
Jim Hall, Neighbourhood Transportation Engineer, reviewed the report. Sylvia Kirk, Neighbourhood Transportation, was available to answer questions.
Tom Morton spoke in support of the recommendation and complimented the staff who worked on the project.
MOVED by Councillor Louie
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
THAT the median refuge on Alma Street at West 8th Avenue be repainted to improve safety and that a parking layby area be created on the eastside of Alma St., south of 8th Avenue at a cost of $12,000 to be funded from Street Basic Capital Account SCA2E-UNAP, Bicycle Network Unappropriated.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
3. Hawks/Union Mini-Park Improvements (File 5553)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated September 8, 2003, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services sought Council's approval for the installation of measures to help improve the pedestrian and cycling environment through the Hawks/Union mini-park.
Fred Lin, Neighbourhood Transportation, reviewed the report and with Jim Hall, Neighbourhood Transportation Engineer, responded to questions regarding pedestrian and cyclist safety and the rationale for the design of the proposed path.
Tom Nichols, Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition, and Richard Campbell, BEST, expressed support for improving the dead end section of Union Street at Hawks Avenue and offered the following recommendations:
· cyclists and pedestrians should be separated whenever possible;
· the path should be wide enough for two bike trailers to pass in opposite directions with clearance (minimum 4 metres);
· no centre post preferred;
· the path should be straight without any curves or measures to slow down cycling commuters;
· landscaping should provide adequate lines of sight for cyclists;
· a raised intersection along Union Street should be considered;
· stop signs should be installed on both sides of Hawks Avenue.
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
THAT Council approve the improvements to the mini-park at Hawks and Union as outlined in the Administrative Report dated September 8, 2003, entitled "Hawks/Union Mini-Park Improvements", at a cost of $45,000 to be provided from the Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated Account Group set aside for the Bicycle Network (SCA2E-UNAP).
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
4. 10th Avenue Bike Route (File 5553)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated September 23, 2003, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services sought Council's approval to implement the 10th Avenue Bikeway.
Jim Hall, Neighbourhood Transportation Engineer, and Geoff Rice, Neighbourhood Transportation, provided an overview of the report and measures proposed for the main intersections along 10th Avenue, and responded to questions.
The following spoke in support of the new bike route:
Bill Bargman
Tom Nichols, Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition
Richard Campbell, BEST
Croft Bain
Comments and recommendations made by the speakers included the following:
· increased support from Council for cycling amenities was requested;
· the route should be installed as soon as possible;
· the intersection at Prince Edward needs a stop sign;
· the intersections at Fraser and Victoria should have traffic lights;
· cars and bikes should be separated as much as possible;
· motorists should be made aware of the route and the presence of cyclists;
· motorists should be discouraged from using the route as a short cut;
· traffic circles should be large enough to force cars to slow down;
· there needs to be clear signage on the route;
· the route should be designed to the highest possible standard to encourage more cyclists;
· updated bicycle and pedestrian plans should be developed now so resources can be included in the next capital plan;
· support was expressed for the installation of traffic signals at Oak and Burrard Streets because they will also improve pedestrian safety.
Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, Transportation, advised the requests for traffic lights at Fraser and Victoria will be included as part of the 2004 Traffic Signal Program.
MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT the 10th Avenue Bike Route be constructed as detailed in the Administrative Report dated September 23, 2003, entitled "10th Avenue Bike Route", at a total cost of $1,100,000, with $900,000 funding to be provided from the Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated Account Group for the Bicycle Network (SCA2E-UNAP) and the remaining $200,000 to be provided by re-allocation of funds from the Inverness Bikeway Project (CA2EA2E).
B. THAT, commencing in 2005, the following budgets be increased, without offset, subject to the 2005 Budget Review:
· $4500 - Streets Operating Budget for Traffic Circle Maintenance
· $4000 - Traffic Operating Budget for Sign Maintenance
· $16,000 - Traffic Signal Maintenance Budget
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Ladner absent for the vote)
The Committee adjourned at 11:30 a.m.
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CITY OF VANCOUVER REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
OCTOBER 7, 2003 |
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Tuesday, October 7, 2003, at 11:30 a.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall,
following the Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic meeting, to consider
the recommendations of the Committee.
PRESENT: |
Mayor Larry Campbell
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ABSENT: |
Councillor Peter Ladner |
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: |
Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager |
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Lori Isfeld, Meeting Coordinator |
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
SECONDED by Councillor Green
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor Campbell in the Chair.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report of Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
October 7, 2003
Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in the following clauses of the foregoing report:
Cl. 1: 2003 Travel Time Study
Cl. 2: Alma Street and West 8th Avenue - Median
Cl. 3: Hawks/Union Mini-Park Improvements
Cl. 4: 10th Avenue Bike Route
MOVED by Councillor Bass
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 1-4 of this report, be approved.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Stevenson
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
SECONDED by Councillor Stevenson
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
NEW BUSINESS
1. Leave of Absence - Councillor Louie (File 1254)
MOVED by Councillor Green
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman
THAT Councillor Louie be granted Leave of Absence for Civic Business for the morning of October 9, 2003.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Council adjourned at 11:34 a.m.
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