|
CITY OF VANCOUVER ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT |
Date: |
November 27, 2003 | |
Author: |
Fred Lin | |
Phone No.: |
604-873-7693 | |
RTS No.: |
03757 | |
CC File No.: |
5757 | |
Meeting Date: |
January 13, 2004 |
TO: |
Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic |
FROM: |
General Manager of Engineering Services |
SUBJECT: |
Traffic Circle at Earles Street and East 38th Avenue |
A. THAT the temporary traffic circle at Earles Street and East 38th Avenue be made permanent at a cost of $15,000 to be provided from the Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated Account SCA5A- Local Area Traffic Plans and Other Improvements.
B. THAT the Streets Operating Budget for Horticultural Maintenance be increased by $400 and the Traffic Operating Budget for Signage be increased by $100, without offset, commencing in 2005, for the maintenance of the traffic circle.
COUNCIL POLICY
· In May 1997, Council approved the Vancouver Transportation Plan that emphasizes the need to mitigate the effects of traffic in local neighbourhood areas and to give priority to streets and neighbourhoods where traffic impacts are most serious.
· In July 2001, Council approved the Earles St. Community Traffic Calming Plan intended to calm traffic on residential streets within the Earles St. neighbourhood.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to seek Council's approval for the permanent installation of the traffic circle at the intersection of Earles St. and E. 38th Ave.
DISCUSSION
The traffic circle in question was installed on a trial basis so its effect on traffic patterns could be monitored and adjustments be made if necessary. The purpose of the circle is to calm traffic on Earles St., without causing significant diversion of traffic to adjacent streets.
A comparison of the traffic speed data collected before and after the installation of the trial measure indicated that the 85th percentile speed range has reduced by 15km/h, from a range of 50-55km/h to a range of 35-40km/h). While the measure has effectively slowed the traffic on Earles St., it has not caused traffic diversion to adjacent residential streets. In fact, the before and after traffic volume data indicated that overall, the amount of traffic on adjacent streets has decreased by more than five percent, while traffic volume on Earles St. remained relatively unchanged. Please see Appendix A for the summary of traffic volume and speed data collected before and after the implementation of the trial measure.
NEIGHBOURHOOD CONSULTATION
In September 2003, affected residents were surveyed to seek their opinions on the permanent installation of the circle. See Appendices B and C for the survey sent out and survey comments, respectively. The results of the survey, as summarized in Table 1, show that the majority of the respondents (61%) support the proposed trial measure. 34% of the respondents do not support the proposal as they were mainly concerned with issues related to vehicle manoeuvrability and operation around the circle.
Table 1. Summary of Survey Results
Number of surveys distributed |
273 |
Number of surveys returned |
80 (29% response rate) |
Responses in favour (approval rate) |
49 (61%) |
Responses not in favour (disapproval rate) |
27 (34%) |
Neutral responses |
4 (5%) |
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The estimated cost of $15,000 for the permanent installation of the traffic circle at Earles St. and E. 38th Ave. would be provided from the Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated Account SCA5A- Local Area Traffic Plans and Other Improvements. There should also be an increase to the Streets Operating Budget for Horticultural Maintenance by $400 and the Traffic Operating Budget for Signage by $100, without offset, commencing in 2005, for the maintenance of the traffic circle.
CONCLUSION
The permanent installation of the traffic circle at Earles St. and 38th Ave. is recommended based on the overall benefits to the neighbourhood and the support from the affected residents.
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