|
CITY OF VANCOUVER ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT |
Date: |
March 2, 2004 | |
Author: |
Fred Lin | |
Phone No.: |
604-873-7693 | |
RTS No.: |
04037 | |
CC File No.: |
5553 | |
Meeting Date: |
April 6, 2004 |
TO: |
Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic |
FROM: |
General Manager of Engineering Services |
SUBJECT: |
Gladstone Bikeway |
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT the Gladstone Bikeway be constructed as detailed in this report.
B. THAT funding of $47,500 be provided for the implementation of the bike route from the Streets Basic Capital Account Group CB2EA2E (Bicycle Network), subject to the approval of the 2004 Streets Basic Capital Budget.
C. THAT commencing in 2005, the annual Streets Operating Budget for Horticultural Maintenance be increased by $1,200 and the Traffic Operating Budget for Signage be increased by $1,500, without offset and subject to 2005 Budget Review, for the maintenance of the measures.
COUNCIL POLICY
· Council approved the 1997 Vancouver Transportation Plan that emphasizes the need for developing more bikeways and ranks cyclists second priority after pedestrians.
· Council approved the 1999 Bicycle Plan that outlines the goal to develop the bicycle network in the City to ensure a grid of bikeways approximately 1km apart.
· Council approved the recommendations of the 1992 Bicycle Network Study that recommended giving the priority to integrate bicycles on local streets through the construction of locally integrated bikeways.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to seek Council's approval and funding to implement the Gladstone Bikeway, as described in this report.
DISCUSSION
ROUTE DESIGN
Gladstone St. was selected for the development of a bike route due to its proximity to Victoria Dr. and Nanaimo St. Between these two arterial streets, Gladstone St. is the only north/south local residential street that would provide a comfortable and direct connection between the Lakewood Bikeway to the north and Midtown/Ridgeway Bikeway to the south. Implementing the Gladstone Bikeway would also reduce the spacing between the nearest north/south bike routes to less than 1.5 kilometers. Figure 1 shows the location of the proposed bike route and how it ties into other bike routes in the area.
The Gladstone Bikeway proposal was developed in consultation with the Bicycle Network Subcommittee of the Bicycle Advisory Committee to Council. Along the route, a number of traffic calming measures and bike facilities are proposed to calm traffic and provide cyclists additional comfort and safety. The following provides a summary of the proposed measures and recommended locations.
Traffic Circles
Traffic circles are recommended on Gladstone St. at 29th Ave., 32nd Ave. and 37th Ave. The circles are proposed at intersections where the existing orientation of the stop signs does not favour cyclists' momentum along the route. In addition, the proposed circles would also reduce vehicle speeds and increase intersection safety.
Speed Humps
Speed humps are recommended in the 3900-4100 blocks of Gladstone St. The humps would reduce the high vehicle speeds recorded on the street (an 85th percentile speed of 48 km/h), which is located adjacent to Gladstone Secondary School and has a posted speed limit of 30km/h.
Bicycle Pathway and Ramps
A new bicycle path and two ramps are recommended on the north side of the Vanness Ave. and Gladstone St. intersection. These improvements would connect the proposed bike route to the existing Lakewood and BC Parkway Bikeways located just north of the Skytrain.
FIGURE 1. Gladstone Bikeway General Alignment
ROUTE SIGNAGE
The signage would be similar to what has been successful on other bike routes throughout the city. All would be based on the use of clear internationally recognized standard symbols with minimum wording. The route markers would be placed approximately two blocks apart with signs and stencils placed near the intersections with arterial streets. As well, replacement street name signs that include a bicycle logo and new bicycle pavement markings would be installed along the length of the new route.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
In January 2004, approximately 300 surveys were sent out to residents along the bike route to seek their opinion on the proposed traffic measures. See Appendix A for the survey sent out. Survey results and comments are included in Appendices B and C, respectively. The overall response rate is 15%. The results of the survey indicate that the proposed traffic measures are well-supported (each measure with an approval rate of 75% or higher) by the affected residents. A few respondents requested a signal be installed at the Gladstone St. and 33rd Ave. intersection to assist cyclists crossing 33rd Ave. However, this will not be pursued at this time as it was determined that there are sufficient gaps in the traffic stream available for cyclists to cross the street. However, this intersection will be monitored to determine if improvements are required in the future.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The total cost of the Gladstone Bikeway will be $85,000 for route signage, pavement markings and construction of the traffic measures along the route. Translink has committed a contribution of $37,500 towards the project. The remaining $47,500 would be funded from the Streets Basic Capital Account Group CB2EA2E (Bicycle Network), subject to the approval of the 2004 Streets Basic Capital Budget. There should also be increases to the Streets Operating Budget for Horticultural Maintenance ($1,200) and Traffic Operating Budget for Signage ($1,500) for the maintenance of the traffic measures. All the preceding annual maintenance costs are without offset, commencing in 2005 and subject to the 2005 Budget Review.
CONCLUSION
The proposed Gladstone Bikeway is recommended based on the benefits to the cyclists and the support from the affected residents of the proposed traffic measures.
- - - - -
APPENDIX A
ENGINEERING SURVEY
APPENDIX B
SUMMARY OF SURVEY RESULTS
Location and Traffic Measure |
Approval Rate |
Disapproval Rate |
Neutral |
Location: Gladstone St./Vanness Ave.
|
75% |
9% |
16% |
Location: 3900-4100 Blocks of Gladstone St.
|
80% |
11% |
9% |
Location: Gladstone St./29th Ave.
|
84% |
14% |
2% |
Location: Gladstone St./32nd Ave.
|
80% |
18% |
2% |
Location: Gladstone St./37th Ave.
|
80% |
4% |
16% |
APPENDIX C
SURVEY COMMENTS
· An excellent idea and proposal. Traffic needs to slow down for cyclists and pedestrians. Gladstone's students would benefit from these safety improvements.
· We support anything that will stop vehicles from speeding.
· Please also consider speed humps on Gladstone St. at 35th Ave. We get a lot of cars that use Gladstone St. as an alternative to Victoria Dr. or Nanaimo St. These vehicles speed through a neighbourhood area where young children live (especially from 34th to 37th). From my experience on this street, traffic circles, while useful, tend to be misused as people do not seem to know: a) right-of-way rules and b) left-turn rules. Speed humps are more effective. This is a great idea! Glad to hear you have chosen our street as a bike route!
· Excellent idea. Speeds on Gladstone St. near 30th Ave. are often excessive. Too many streets intersecting with Gladstone St. Lots of traffic from Canadian Tire. Roundabout would be good at this location.
· As a resident of the area and as a cyclist, the proposed changes (except for the speed humps) are a clear improvement. This is especially true for the intersection of Gladstone St. and 29th Ave., which has probably become more dangerous with the two strangely located stop signs installed about two years ago. Two other comments: 1) speed humps should stop 18 inches away from the curb as cyclists do not have shock absorbers and 2) a push button traffic signal at the 33rd Ave. is necessary otherwise crossing accidents are likely.
· Thank you, we look forward to seeing these improvements. We have been waiting for something to be done along Gladstone St. between 31st Ave. and 32nd Ave. The noise from speeding cars has become intolerable. You have saved us from having to move out of this neighbourhood!
· There should also be a pedestrian/cyclist light at 33rd Ave. and Gladstone St. in order to make this bikeway work.
· These suggestions sound great! One note of concern though regarding the crossing at 33rd Ave. We live very close to this intersection and it is very difficult to cross the street most of the day. 33rd Ave. is a very busy road and the corner of 33rd Ave. and Gladstone St. has frequent crashes. For this route to be viable, something must be done to make this a safe and effective crossing. The timing of the lights at Victoria Dr. and Nanaimo St. makes it very difficult to cross at Gladstone St.
· I like your proposal. On 37th Ave., between Victoria Dr. and Gladstone St., there is a house using City's equipments to save public parking spaces on the street.
· I do not support the traffic circle in the middle of the intersections. It makes it hard to transit and is nothing but a complication to a lot of drivers in the city. I do believe it is painful for some of the light truck drivers to transit in the area for deliveries.
· Consider a speed bump in the middle of the block between Kingsway and 29th Ave. on Gladstone St.
· I strongly support the installation of speed bumps in front of our house. It is an area of very high pedestrian use and it is very heavy with vehicular traffic at certain times of the day. Often vehicles are traveling at an unsafe speed.
· Speed bumps are the way to go. Prior to installing speed bumps, no one paid attention the signs. The bumps have stopped heavy truck traffic from using these streets as shortcuts. Thank you. A traffic control light at 33rd Ave. and Gladstone St. is a must.
· At the corner of 29th Ave. and Gladstone St., cars speed through the intersection and ignore the stop signs on Gladstone St. Cars also speed down 29th Ave. using it as a bypass for Kingsway. A traffic circle at 29th Ave. and Gladstone St. would definitely help slowing down the traffic. Thank you.
· We live on Gladstone St. at 30th Ave., and we would really like to see some kind of speed deterrent at this intersection. High speed is only half of the problems at this corner. There are stops signs but they might as well not even be there, many drivers do not stop. Luckily, no one has been injured but it's only time before it happens. I myself have been just barely missed from being hit in my car as the other driver sped through the stop sign. The speed of some cars coming off Kingsway to go straight through to 33rd Ave. is unbelievable. Something has to be done before something very serious happens. I feel you should come out and see what happens at this intersection and I don't mean for an hour one day or 3 hours another day. It has to be seen through a whole day and night if possible. Out of curiosity, who determines where what goes where? Is it feedback from people in the area or is it the City decides to do something just for the sake of doing something or is it that there is a true and genuine concern to the safety of Vancouverites that these proposals are put together? I would really like to know and would appreciate a response back.
· I think an additional traffic circle at 30th Ave. and Gladstone St. should be installed. The intersection is hazardous because of the five entry points and the huge volume of traffic entering/exiting the Canadian Tire store. There have also been numerous accidents involving residents' parked cars on the west side of Gladstone St. at 30th Ave. Over the 20 years that I have lived on this street, the traffic volume is disproportional to the number of residents on Gladstone St. between Kingsway and 33rd Ave. Thanks.
· The two main problems along Gladstone St. across from the high school are: 1) constant street litter which is never cleaned up by the City and 2) no snow removal or salting despite the heavy school traffic from parents picking up and dropping off their children. I don't find that there are excessive speeds on this street. Other than the drop off and pick up times, a lot of traffic on this part of Gladstone St. are skate boarders, roller bladers, and bicyclists which speed bumps would not be helpful and likely detrimental.
· Finally! This is a fantastic proposal and I will support it whole-heartedly. The more solutions to the speeding problem along Gladstone, the better! Thanks for including me in your survey.
* * * * *
