Vancouver City Council

COUNCIL MEETING FOLLOWING
STANDING COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC MEETING

January 18, 2005

For information, please contact Pat Boomhower, Meeting Coordinator,
at 604-871-7015 or e-mail patricia.boomhower@vancouver.ca

At its meeting immediately following the Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic meeting on January 18, 2005, Vancouver City Council approved the following:

1. Truck Emissions: Presentation by BC Trucking Association

THAT Council receive for information the presentation by the President of the BC Trucking Association entitled "The Road to Cleaner Air", regarding truck engine technologies and strategies to reduce truck emissions.

2. City of Vancouver Cycling Program

A. THAT Council receive for information the Administrative Report dated January 4, 2005, entitled "City of Vancouver Cycling Program" on the status of the Vancouver Cycling Program.

B. THAT a new, regular, full-time Engineering Assistant IV staff position be approved in 2005 in the Neighbourhood Transportation Branch for cycling initiatives, subject to classification review. This position will be funded from an increase in the Operating Budget which will be fully recovered from the Engineering Streets Capital Budget.

3. City of Vancouver Cycling Program (2006 - 2008 Capital Plan, Cycling Portion)

THAT Council supports in principle the following recommendations of the Bicycle Advisory Committee:

A. That Council set an aggressive target for cycling's share of the City's transportation mode split of 10% by 2010 and works towards achieving cycling mode levels of more aggressive European cities.

B. That the cycling routes identified in the 1999 Bicycle Plan and in the 2001 Downtown Transportation Plan be completed by year-end 2008, at the latest, as a first step towards attaining a 10% cycling mode share and that funding be provided in the 2006-2008 Capital Plan to complete these routes ($17 million) and for upcoming needs ($3 million).

C.(i.) That, building upon the 1988 and 1999 Bicycle Plans, a next stage comprehensive master cycling plan be completed by year-end 2006, including both physical cycling network and people-centered programs, to support attaining the target cycling mode share, thereby identifying capital, staffing, other resources, and related funding needs required to support such a comprehensive plan, and further;

C.(ii) That, as an essential component of the plan, ongoing market research be undertaken to determine and monitor:

a. opportunity and magnitude for growth of cycling as a form of transportation focusing on opportunities for conversion of motorists to cycling and on former cyclists who have given up on cycling as a form of commuting,
b. personal decision factors that would persuade motorists to switch to cycling as a form of transportation, and
c. supportive programs that would effect such mode switch to cycling and attain the targeted cycling mode split; and

C.(iii) That, in preparation of the plan, staff be directed to determine new practices and enhancements to current cycling facilities design practices (designs, tools, options, guidelines, standards, etc.) which would sufficiently appeal to the non-cycling and infrequent cycling populous to switch permanently to cycling and to attain the target 10% cycling mode split.

D.(i) That sufficient cycling staffing, resources, and funding be provided to support the on-time implementation of the 2006-2008 Capital Plan and recommendations A, B, and C;

D.(ii) That sufficient cycling staffing and funding be provided for unexpected cycling infrastructure opportunities resulting from redevelopment of lands so that implementation timing of programmed projects are not negatively affected by such opportunities; and

D.(iii) That the cycling staff's focus would be to coordinate and:

a. Carry out the master plan described in Recommendation C through planning, designing, and implementing the cycling facility infrastructure, and
b. Develop and deliver programs for marketing, promotion, communication, safety, and education, among others in co-ordination with TransLink.

E. That the annual capital budget include funding for spot improvements requested by the cycling public and supported by the Bicycle Advisory Committee and staff, and that the initial funding level be $100,000 annually.

F. That the route priorities, as set out in Attachment A - Recommendations Route Priorities - 2006-2008 Cycling Capital Plan, serve as guidance for future development of the bicycle network.

AND FURTHER THAT Council requests, two months prior to the final decisions on the 2006-2008 Capital Plan, a report that includes:

1) the costs of implementing C.(i)-(iii) and D.(i)-(iii) (set out above); and

2) several intermediate options (with benefits and costs of each specified) for funding the bicycle capital plan for 2006-2008 at levels between the preliminary $4.3 million proposed by staff and the $20 million proposed by the Bicycle Advisory Committee.

4. Temporary Cul-de-sac on East 8th Avenue at Grandview Highway North

A. THAT the temporary cul-de-sac on East 8^th Avenue at Grandview Highway North be made permanent at a cost of $110,000 to be provided with $90,000 from the Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated Account SCA5A- Local Area Traffic Plans and Other Improvements, and $20,000 from the Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated Account SCA2H, Greenways.

B. THAT commencing in 2006, the Streets Operating Budget for Horticultural Maintenance be increased by $2500 and the Traffic Operating Budget for Signage be increased by $250, without offset, subject to budget review, for the maintenance of the cul-de-sac.

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