|
CITY OF VANCOUVER ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT |
Date: |
January 29, 2004 | |
Author: |
Carli Edwards | |
Phone No.: |
604.871.6422 | |
RTS No.: |
03940 | |
CC File No.: |
5551 | |
Meeting Date: |
February 24, 2004 |
TO: |
Vancouver City Council |
FROM: |
General Manager of Engineering Services |
SUBJECT: |
Funding for Urban Transportation Showcase Program |
RECOMMENDATION
THAT Council approve participation in the Urban Transportation Showcase Program, with City funding of $4.63 million to be provided as follows:
· $500,000 to be provided from the Unappropriated account for Street Capital for Greenway (SCA2H- UNAP) to add to existing funding of $1.13 million received from the Province for the Central Valley Greenway;
· $1,000,000 to be provided from 2004 Street Basic Capital for Greenway (subject to approval of the 2004 Street Basic Capital Budget);
· $2.0 million from the $20 million of borrowing authority approved by the voters for the City's share of projects receiving senior government cost sharing.
COUNCIL POLICY
In April 2003, Council endorsed the City's participation with Translink (GVTA), the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) and other regional municipalities in the Greater Vancouver Grant Application for the Transport Canada's Urban Transportation Showcase Program Competition. At that time Council also approved, "in principle" the allocation of funds as described in the above recommendation.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to seek Council's approval for the allocation of Capital funds to cover the City's participation in the Urban Transportation Showcase Program.
BACKGROUND
In 2001, the Greater Vancouver Regional District and Translink (GVRD /GVTA) applied for a grant from Transport Canada under the Urban Transportation Showcase Program (UTS Program). The Program was developed to encourage cities to adopt more energy-efficient transportation, land use patterns and practices. In April 2003, Council endorsed the City's participation in the UTS Program and approved, "in principle" the allocation of funds for the City's share of the funding.
As described in detail in the April 2003 report to Council, six projects are outlined in the Grant application. These projects are:
· Hybrid Bus Demonstration Project;
· Central Valley Greenway;
· Travelsmart: Individualized Travel Marketing Program;
· Main Street Transportation and Pedestrian Priority;
· Transit Villages; and
· Goods Movement Efficiency and Green House Gas Study.
All six of these projects involve improvements to systems or infrastructure in the City of Vancouver.
DISCUSSION
On November 26, 2003, Transport Canada announced that the Greater Vancouver Regional District had been awarded up to $8.8 million under Transport Canada's Urban Transportation Showcase Program. Across the GVRD, the total value of projects included in the UTS Program is $35 million. This announcement was good news for the GVRD, Translink, the City of Vancouver and the other municipal partners. However, it was less than the $10 million that was originally asked for in the Grant application (the announcement, including more information on the program is attached as Appendix A). In order to address the funding shortfall from Transport Canada, Translink is having discussions with other senior government agencies, such as the Western Economic Diversification fund ("WED"), to explore other grant programs and funding opportunities.
In the event that the $1.2 million shortfall is not addressed, it is unknown at this time how the budgets of the six UTS projects will be affected. Each of the six projects is outlined in the grant application in terms of performance objectives and general measures to be implemented. However, the work program and exact scope of each project will be determined once the funding from other senior government sources is confirmed. For example, the work on Main Street is estimated to cost $4.5 million and includes such measures as signal priority, bus bulges, improved bus stops and other general improvements to the public realm. If the overall grant of $8.8 million is not topped up by other sources then the scope of work within the individual projects may be adjusted.
Regardless of whether the grant from the UTS program is topped up, the City's participation, including the funding approved in principle by Council, should be maintained as Council originally approved last year. The capital cost of UTS projects included in the Grant application to be implemented in Vancouver is estimated to be $16.6 million whereas the City is only being asked to contribute $4.63 million. Even with the decrease in funding, the City contribution to the projects will be less than one-third of the actual costs and this represents good value for the City of Vancouver. It is not recommended that the City contribute any less as this would affect the scope of the projects as discussed above.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
In order to cover the City's $4.63 million share of the Showcase Program project costs, funding is recommended from the following sources:
· $500,000 to be provided from the Unappropriated account for Street Capital for Greenway (SCA2H- UNAP) to add to existing funding of $1.13 million received from the Province for the Central Valley Greenway;
· $1,000,000 to be provided from 2004 Street Basic Capital for Greenway (subject to approval of the 2004 Street Basic Capital Budget);
· $2.0 million from the $20 million of borrowing authority approved by the voters for the City's share of projects receiving senior government cost sharing
The $4.63 million capital cost would be contributed to three of the 6 UTS projects as follows:
Project |
Estimated Capital Cost |
Vancouver Share |
Share from other sources |
Hybrid Bus |
$ 1,600,000 |
no cost |
$ 1,600,000 |
Central Valley Greenway |
$ 6,390,000 |
$ 2,130,000 |
$ 4,260,000 |
Travelsmart |
$ 900,000 |
no cost |
$ 900,000 |
Main Street |
$ 4,500,000 |
$ 1,500,000 |
$ 3,000,000 |
Transit Villages |
$3,000,000 |
$ 1,000,000 |
$ 2,000,000 |
Goods Movement |
$ 200,000 |
no cost |
$ 200,000 |
Total in Vancouver |
$ 16,590,000 |
$ 4,630,000 |
$ 11,960,000 |
CONCLUSION
In April 2003, Council approved the City's participation in a regional grant application for the Urban Transportation Showcase Program. This approval included funding, in principle, to be applied to the City's share of the program should the grant be successful. In November 2003, Transport Canada announced that the Greater Vancouver's application to the Program would receive $8.8 million in Federal funding. It is recommended that Council formally commit the funding as outlined in this report.
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APPENDIX A
For release November 26, 2003
TRANSPORT MINISTER ANNOUNCES
SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS OF
URBAN TRANSPORTATION SHOWCASE PROGRAM
OTTAWA -- Transport Minister David Collenette today announced funding of up to $35 million for eight municipalities under Transport Canada's Urban Transportation Showcase Program. The municipalities will use the funding to implement projects designed to lower greenhouse gas emissions from transportation in their cities and contribute to cleaner air and reduced congestion.
The finalists were chosen by a selection committee of experts in sustainable transportation which reviewed 15 proposals from municipalities across Canada. The successful municipalities are: Gatineau, the Greater Vancouver Regional District, Halifax, Montreal, Greater Toronto/Hamilton, Waterloo, Whitehorse and Winnipeg.
"These proposals, when implemented, will help the Government of Canada fulfill its Kyoto Protocol climate change commitments by reducing greenhouse gases," said Mr. Collenette. "They propose a variety of solutions that will add to the efficiency of transport systems in these cities. The proposals offer innovative and integrated approaches to transportation challenges, and bring together regional partnerships in working towards sustainable transportation."
The Urban Transportation Showcase Program, with a budget of $40 million over five years, is designed to promote alternative strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation in municipalities. The program is part of the Government of Canada's Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change. Transport Canada will provide one-third of eligible project costs.
The showcases seek to bring together technology, urban design, infrastructure and social marketing to enhance transportation efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Information from the showcases and other sustainable transportation best practices will be shared with cities across Canada through a national information network.
Funding for this program was provided for in the December 2001 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework.
BACKGROUNDER
URBAN TRANSPORTATION SHOWCASE PROGRAM
The Urban Transportation Showcase Program is a key component of the Government of Canada's Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change. The $40 million program calls for the creation of community showcase programs to demonstrate and evaluate ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and to address other urban challenges, such as air quality, congestion, safety and rising operating costs.
The program was developed in consultation with provincial, territorial, municipal and other partners in response to the 1999 Transportation Climate Change Table Report. The report identified a need for Canada to develop better planning and practices for transportation and land use. Eight municipalities have been selected to showcase their strategies for dealing with these urban challenges in a two-stage, nation-wide competitive process.
Under the program, the showcase proposals could include: transportation services, infrastructure investments, demand management initiatives, land use strategies, pricing strategies, public outreach and advanced technologies.
An independent selection committee, comprising seven members, was announced by the Transport Minister in July 2002 to review the expressions of interest submitted by municipalities. The members were chosen based on their expertise in the transportation sector. In December 2002, Minister Collenette announced the 15 municipalities selected for the second phase of the program. These municipalities were provided up to $30,000 in funding and given four months to develop and submit their detailed project proposals. The committee reviewed these 15 submissions and recommended to the Minister proposals from eight municipalities across Canada for implementation.
Public education and outreach is an important component of the program, and will include seminars, workshops and regular reports on the implementation and results of the showcases. This approach lays the foundation for communities to adopt best technologies and strategies across Canada by 2010.
The Government of Canada Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change, which commits $500 million in funding over five years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, is expected to take Canada about one-quarter of the way to the greenhouse gas reduction target set by the Kyoto Protocol.
Detailed program information is available on Transport Canada's Web site at www.tc.gc.ca/programs/environment/utsp/menu.htm
November 2003
BACKGROUNDER
MUNICIPALITIES SELECTED
Eight finalists have been chosen to receive funding under the Urban Transportation Showcase Program to implement the detailed project proposals submitted. Below is a list of the successful municipalities and a short description of the successful proposals.
Gatineau-The Urban Transportation Showcase Program of the Société de transport de l'Outaouais
This project, proposed in collaboration with partner Société de transport de Montréal, emphasizes park-and-ride, as well as more reserved bus lanes, as a means of improving the competitiveness of public transit. This proposal also includes the use of hybrid diesel-electric bus technology. This project is eligible for up to $8.8 million in funding from Transport Canada.
The Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton-Smart Commute Initiative
The proposal of the municipalities of the Greater Toronto Area and the City of Hamilton involves a network of transportation management associations to promote demand management and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The network will aim to encourage maximum car occupancy at peak periods, and use less congested routes and travel times. This proposal is eligible for up to $2.5 million in funding from Transport Canada.
The Greater Vancouver Regional District-Sustainable Region Showcase for Greater Vancouver
The Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority and the Greater Vancouver Regional District proposes an innovative, broadly based combination of programs involving development of land use patterns that support greater transit use and the application of a variety of transportation demand measures, including a universal transit pass and main street transit priority corridors. This proposal is eligible for up to $8.8 million in funding from Transport Canada.
Halifax-Innovation towards integrated bus rapid transit
This municipality proposes to implement two bus rapid transit corridors, which would not require major investments in new transit infrastructure. The proposal will also implement new on-road and off-road bicycle routes that link stations to existing networks and nearby destinations. This proposal is eligible for up to $4.1 million in funding from Transport Canada.
Montreal-Branché-self service electric car and bicycle project in the metropolitan region of Montreal
The Agence métropolitaine de transport proposes the use of a fleet of electric vehicles and bicycles based in downtown Montreal and at selected suburban commuter rail stations, intended for trips in areas that cannot be well served by conventional public transit. This proposal is eligible for up to $2.5 million in funding from Transport Canada.
Waterloo-Central transit corridor express project
The Region of Waterloo proposes linking three communities with cycle-friendly, express bus service along a clearly defined corridor, incorporating information technology to provide real-time transit information and web-based trip planning opportunities. This proposal is eligible for up to $3 million in funding from Transport Canada.
Whitehorse-The Whitehorse driving diet
The City of Whitehorse proposes three major projects. One project will reduce the number of road lanes to improve safety and continuity of walking and cycling routes, while another aims to improve three existing trails between downtown and residential areas by adding new connections, river crossings, lighting and stairs at steep grades. In addition, one roundabout will be added to a major intersection to reduce vehicle speeds and improve safety. This proposal is eligible for up to $700,000 in funding from Transport Canada.
Winnipeg-The Winsmart showcase
The City of Winnipeg, the Province of Manitoba and partners propose 20 initiatives which focus on building and testing prototypes for eco-bus and eco-fuel, more efficient use of cars and trucks, policy development through research, and making transit, cycling and walking more attractive to commuters. This proposal is eligible for up to $4.6 million in funding from Transport Canada.
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