Vancouver City Council

CITY OF VANCOUVER

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date:

October 28, 2004

Author:

Jim Hall

Phone No.:

604-873-7130

RTS No.:

04592

CC File No.:

5553

Meeting Date:

November 30, 2004

TO:

Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic

FROM:

General Manager of Engineering Services

SUBJECT:

West 4^th Avenue Cycling Improvements, Blanca Street to N.W. Marine Drive

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT the cycling improvements on West 4^th Avenue, between Blanca Street and N.W. Marine Drive, be implemented as detailed in this report.

B. THAT the cycling route be extended to Drummond Street (University of B.C.) to the west and on 4^th Avenue to Highbury Street in the east with connections north to the Seaside Bike route and south to the Off-Broadway Bike route subject to consultation about design details with neighbours abutting the route.

C. THAT the estimated cost of $350,000 for the cycling improvements be provided with $175,000 from the 2004 Streets Basic Capital for Bicycle Network and $175,000 cost sharing from the 2005 TransLink Bicycle Program.

D. THAT the estimated cost of $50,000 for the pedestrian bulges at 4^th Avenue and Sasamat Street be provided from the 2004 Streets Basic Capital for Arterial Improvements: Enhancements at Pedestrian Crossings.

E. THAT commencing in 2006, the Traffic Operations Budget for Signage be increased by $3,000, without offset and subject to the 2006 Budget review.

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.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to seek Council's approval and funding to implement the cycling improvements on West 4^th Avenue, between Blanca Street and N.W. Marine Drive, in coordination with a repaving of this street which is required for maintenance purposes.

Council approval is also sought to approve the extension of the bike route to Drummond Drive (University of B.C.) in the west and Highbury Street to the east with connections north to the Seaside Bikeway and south to the Off-Broadway Bikeway.

DISCUSSION

West 4^th Avenue, between Blanca Street and N.W. Marine Drive, is a primary arterial street providing connectivity between the City and University of B.C. It is a major transit corridor and a designated truck route. It is also a route frequently used by University of B.C. commuting cyclists.

The City of Vancouver 1999 Bicycle Plan identifies West 4^th Avenue as one of the arterial streets having the potential for the provision of bicycle lanes, without significantly impacting on-street parking, road capacity, and goods movement.

Currently, West 4^th Avenue has one eastbound and one westbound vehicular travel lane, with single-family detached homes on both sides. On-street parking is permitted on both sides of the street, with the exception of the Trimble Street to N.W. Marine Drive section, where on-street parking is restricted on the south side. The pavement condition is extremely poor.

To improve the poor pavement condition, West 4^th Avenue has been identified as part of the City's street repaving program. This would also provide a cost-effective means to improve existing cycling conditions, as only lane striping and some minor road widening are required.

The proposed cycling facility (Attachment "A") includes bike lanes on both sides of the street between Blanca Street and N.W. Marine Drive, except between Sasamat Street and Trimble Street where bike lanes are only proposed on the north side of the street. In this section (Sasamat to Trimble Streets), there are no curbs. To achieve a bike lane on both sides of the street would require removal of the boulevard and would result in parking right up against the sidewalk, with no curb protecting pedestrians on the sidewalk from parking cars. Also, it would require expensive street pole relocations. Addition of a second bike lane can be explored when this section of road is improved with curbs and gutters. This was discussed with the Bicycle Advisory Committee and given that the eastbound direction is downhill, it was felt that cyclists could share the lane eastbound, and given that the westbound direction is uphill, it is recommended that a bike lane be installed on the north side of the street where cyclists would be cycling slower.

In developing the plan for West 4^th Avenue, the Bicycle Network Subcommittee of the Bicycle Advisory Committee to Council has been consulted. Also, input has been received from the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition (Attachment "B")

In addition, to improve pedestrian safety and comfort, corner bulges at a cost of $50,000 are proposed for the west crossing at the intersection of 4^th Avenue at Sasamat Street. Corner bulges have proven to be effective measures in enhancing pedestrian crossing conditions at unsignalized intersections. In particular they help to: increase awareness of pedestrians; increase visibility of pedestrians and motorists; calm traffic; and decrease pedestrian crossing distances. Residents in the area have been requesting crossing enhancements at this location for some time due to difficult crossing conditions that include heavy UBC traffic and poor courtesy from motorists. Therefore, corner bulges are recommended to accompany a marked crosswalk to help address these concerns.

NEIGHBOURHOOD CONSULTATION

In March, letters (Attachment "C") were sent to residents along 4^th Avenue between Blanca Street and N.W. Marine Drive informing them of the bike lane proposal. The responses were very positive.

EXTENSION OF BIKE ROUTE

It is proposed to extend the 4^th Avenue bike route to Drummond Street (University of B.C.) in the west and to Highbury Street in the east with connection north to the Seaside Bikeway and to the south to the Off-Broadway Bikeway. This would involve only lane striping with possibly two traffic circles. It is recommended that this route extension be approved subject to consultation about design details with neighbours abutting the route.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

The cost to install the cycling facilities on 4^th Avenue is estimated at $350,000. This project is eligible for 2005 TransLink Cycling cost-sharing. It is recommended that funding of $175,000 be provided from 2004 Streets Basic Capital for Bicycle Network (SCA2E) and $175,000 cost sharing from the 2005 TransLink Bicycle Program. The estimated cost of the pedestrian bulges and crosswalk on 4^th Avenue at Sasamat is $50,000 which is available from the 2004 Streets Basic Capital for Arterial Improvements: Enhancements at Pedestrian Crossings.

* * * * *

CITY OF VANCOUVER
ENGINEERING SERVICES ATTACHMENT "C"
D.H. Rudberg, P.Eng., General Manager
T.R. Timm, P.Eng., Deputy City Engineer

March 8^th, 2004

Dear Resident:

RE: WEST 4^th AVE., BLANCA ST. TO N.W. MARINE DR.

As you are aware, the City of Vancouver will be replacing sewer/water pipes and improving existing pavement conditions on W. 4^th Ave., between Blanca St. and N.W. Marine Dr. This work is scheduled to begin in late spring of this year.

As part of the project, the existing cycling conditions on 4^th Ave. would also be improved from Blanca St. to N.W. Marine Dr. Specifically, bike lanes are proposed on both sides of the street, adjacent to the existing vehicular travel lanes.

Between Blanca St. and Sasamat St., the proposed bike lanes would be accommodated within the existing street pavement width. The remaining sections of 4^th Ave., from Sasamat St. to N.W. Marine Dr., would need to be widened (within the street right-of-way) to accommodate the proposed bike facilities. Please note that the widening would not increase traffic capacity on 4^th Ave., as the number of travel lanes for vehicles would remain the same.

Existing on-street parking would be maintained on both sides of 4^th Ave., between Blanca St. and Trimble St.

Between Trimble St. and Discovery St., it is proposed that parking restrictions be posted along the north side of 4^th Ave. Since the existing demand of parking is relatively low and the fact that residents of that block have access from and parking available on Locarno Cr., we expect that the removal of parking from 4^th Ave would not create undue hardship. However, should this not be the case, parking could be provided on the existing boulevard area (north side of 4^th Ave.) as an alternative. We want to hear from you, the affected residents on the north side of 4^th Ave., between Trimble St. and Discovery St., on this issue. Please contact Fred Lin of our Neighbourhood Transportation Branch to indicate your preference.

Please contact Fred Lin at 604-873-7693 or at fred_lin@city.vancouver.bc.ca should you have any questions related to the bike lane proposal. If you have any questions about the project in general, please feel free to contact me at 604-871-6293 or at carl_matricardi@city.vancouver.bc.ca

Yours truly,

Carl Matricardi
Project Manager

	Date:	October 28, 2004
	Author:	Jim Hall
	Phone No.:	604-873-7130
	RTS No.:	04592
	CC File No.:	5553
	Meeting Date:	November 30, 2004

TO:	Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	West 4^th Avenue Cycling Improvements, Blanca Street to N.W. Marine Drive