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REPORT TO COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC MARCH 29, 2005 |
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Transportation and Traffic was held on Tuesday, March 29, 2005, at 9:30 a.m., in the Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: |
Councillor Fred Bass, Chair |
ABSENT: |
Councillor Peter Ladner, Vice-Chair (Leave of Absence) |
CITY CLERK’S OFFICE: |
Pat Boomhower, Meeting Coordinator |
*Denotes absence for a portion of the meeting.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic meeting of February 15, 2005, were adopted.
VARY THE AGENDA
The Committee agreed to vary the order of the agenda to have Item 1, Family Court/Youth Justice Annual Report for the Year 2004, moved to the end in order to allow time for a representative to attend.
RECOMMENDATION
2. Grant to Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (B.E.S.T.) for Cycling Education and Encouragement (File 2005)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated February 23, 2005, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services sought Council’s approval of a $20,000 grant to Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (B.E.S.T.) to produce and distribute a cycling information package in Vancouver local papers.
Jim Hall, Neighbourhood Transportation Engineer, provided an overview of the report and together with Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, and Scott Edwards, Strategic Transportation Planning Engineer, responded to questions regarding the city-wide brochure in relation to other projects, evaluation of investment and budget process, Bicycle Advisory Committee input, and cycling promotion for City of Vancouver staff.
Richard Campbell, Director of Transportation, B.E.S.T., provided further details in support of the grant and noted funding contribution from Transport Canada and TransLink for the cycling guide has been confirmed. Mr. Campbell also responded to questions regarding budget for maps, other funding sources, sources of data, target for ridership, tracking website hits, surveying potential cyclists on their barriers to cycling, and information availability in other languages.
MOVED by Councillor Louie
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
THAT a grant of $20,000 be approved for Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (B.E.S.T.) to produce and distribute a cycling information package in Vancouver local papers. The $20,000 grant can be provided from 2004 Streets Basic Capital for Bicycle Network (SCA2E).
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
3. Annual Speed Hump Installation Program, 2005 (File 5757)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated March 10, 2005, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services sought Council’s approval and funding for the 2005 Annual Speed Hump Installation Program.
David Rawsthorne, Neighbourhood Transportation Engineer, provided an overview of the report and noted that on page 4 of the report under “Financial Implications”, the number of proposed locations should read “27” rather than 33. Mr. Rawsthorne responded to questions on the process for ranking locations, neighbourhood collector streets, pedestrian crossings, how to address residents’ concerns for streets not listed, and comparison with Portland’s Office of Neighbourhood Involvement regarding similar concerns.
MOVED by Councillor Louie
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT speed humps be installed on the local residential streets specified in the Administrative Report dated March 10, 2005, entitled “Annual Speed Hump Installation Program, 2005”, subject to approval from a resident survey, with funding of $140,000 from (A5a), the Local Area Traffic Plans and Other Improvements program, subject to approval of the 2005 Streets Basic Capital Budget.
B. THAT commencing in 2006, the Traffic Operating Budget be increased by $4,000, subject to review as part of the 2006 Operating Budget.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Sullivan and the Mayor absent for the vote)
4. Marpole West Traffic Plan (File 8015)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated March 8, 2005, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services sought Council’s approval and funding to implement the Marpole West Traffic Plan as described in the report.
Peter Stary, Engineering Assistant, reviewed the report and public process, and noted traffic calming measures would have a six-month trial period. He also noted support for the plan was received from the Bicycle Advisory Committee. Mr. Stary together with Tom Timm, General Manager of Engineering Services, responded to questions regarding the intersections of 70th Avenue at Adera Street and at Cornish Street, 57th Avenue at Adera Street, local input, short-cutting, bus route limitations, Granville Street access and Oak Street Bridge traffic.
Allan Wallace thanked staff’s efforts to calm traffic and requested the closure at 70th Avenue and Adera Street be removed. Mr. Wallace also noted problems along Adera Street, Angus Drive, and increased traffic with condo development.
Claudia Laroye spoke on behalf of the Marpole Business Association (brief on file) in favour of some traffic calming measures in the Marpole West area and recommended:
· a traffic circle or time-limited turning signage at 64th Avenue at Adera Street;
· removal of the traffic circle at 66th or 65th Avenue if the City replaces the 64th Avenue diverter at Adera Street with a traffic circle;
· having the Cornish Street diverter remain “right in/right out”; and
· removal of the right in/right out diverter at 59th Avenue and Granville Street.
MOVED by Councillor Woodsworth
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT the Marpole West Traffic Plan be constructed as detailed in the Administrative Report dated March 8, 2005, entitled “Marpole West Traffic Plan”, at a cost of $200,000, funding from Streets Basic Capital account group SCA5a (Local Area Traffic Improvements) subject to the approval of the 2005 Streets Basic Capital Budget.
B. THAT commencing in 2006, the annual Operating Budget for Signage be increased by $450 and the Streets Operating Budget for Traffic Circle Maintenance be increased by $3000, without offset and subject to 2006 Budget Review, for maintenance of the area.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
5. Clark/Knight Corridor Plan (File 5560-1)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated March 15, 2005, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services and Director of City Plans sought Council’s approval and funding to implement the Clark-Knight Corridor Plan.
Peter Navratil, Transportation Engineer, and June Christy, Planner, provided an overview of the report and consultation process, and noted this plan was developed in response to the 1997 Vancouver Transportation Plan and the Community Visions approved for the neighbourhoods along the route.
Clair Wakefield, Noise Consultant, presented an update on noise monitoring being conducted at 39 sites in the city and noted analysis will be completed over the next four to five months. Mr. Wakefield outlined examples of noise level measurements and potential options for buffering it.
Mr. Navratil and Ms. Christy, together with Mr. Wakefield, Pat Ryan, Assistant Traffic Engineer, Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, and Scott Edwards, Strategic Planning Engineer, responded to questions regarding truck loads and timing, building design and health studies related to noise issues, potential for noise reduction, zoning changes and for TransLink service over Knight Street Bridge, enforcement, sidewalk improvements, pedestrian and cycling crossings, collisions, Port involvement, and timelines for the noise study.
The following speakers raised concerns and suggestions regarding Knight Street:
Liz Haan, SW Marine Drive Ratepayers Association (brief on file)
Marcel Larouche (brief on file)
John Boutin
May Robertson
Francis Reid (petition on file)
A summary of their comments follows:
· residents feel adversely affected from increased traffic over the years, are the ones negatively impacted by the plan, and do not want an increase in the capacity and traffic volume along the route;
· liveability, safety, land and tree loss concerns raised and noted noise and air quality problems need to be addressed, and that the noise study has not been completed;
· safety concerns were raised with respect to difficulty for school children and elderly crossing the street, vehicles frequently speeding, wet leaves and flying rock hazards;
· suggested taking the two centre lanes to create a single two-way left turn lane from 15th to SE Marine, and use the extra width from the 6th lane to have 8-foot boulevards on both sides of Knight Street;
· presented a petition “with over 200 signatures” opposed to the proposed left turn bay at Knight and 57th Avenue;
· suggested sidewalk improvements and greening of the street, as well as traffic calming measures at 57th Avenue;
· vibrations from truck traffic are felt on walls of homes as early as at 6:00 a.m. and noted problem of cracks on walls and foundation;
· noted the impact of increased container traffic expected and the need to prevent losing the container business;
· suggested that parking and cycling be banned during the Port hours of business and have light industrial zoning along corridor instead of residential;
· recommended building a median island between 33rd and 41st Avenue and south of 57th, eliminating access to 61st Avenue, building pedestrian and cycling overpasses in school areas, have left turn lanes and wider lanes; and
· recommended posting speed limit more frequently as well as indicating residential zones.
Staff agreed to provide a memo back to Council regarding options for a grade separated trucking route along the corridor and potential funding from the Port and other levels of government, as well as information from the Health Authority’s Environmental Health office on air quality assessment and impact of motor vehicle emissions along Knight Street.
MOVED by Councillor Roberts
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT the proposed improvement plan for the Clark-Knight Corridor as detailed in Appendix 1 of the Administrative Report dated March 15, 2005, entitled “Clark/Knight Corridor Plan”, be adopted in principle, with the following modifications:
i) eliminate the east-west left-turn bays on 33rd Avenue;
ii) re-examine the Broadway and Clark intersection to determine if a wide median can be created for a pedestrian refuge;
iii) work with TransLink and the Area Transit Plan to improve transit along Knight Street, particularly over the Knight Street Bridge; and
iv) conduct air quality tests along the corridor, especially near schools.
B. THAT staff report back on the findings and recommendations of the City-wide traffic noise study, including specific noise mitigation measures for the Clark-Knight Corridor, and that any additional costs be integrated with the overall financial framework of the Corridor Plan.
C. THAT Council direct staff from Engineering and Planning, in conjunction with Real Estate, Legal Services and Parks, to report back on a phasing and implementation plan for the boulevard enhancement measures, so as to achieve a landscaped boulevard from 15th Ave. to SE Marine Drive within a 12 to 15 year timeframe; that the implementation plan include a discussion of the most feasible ways of acquiring up to 2 ft. of right-of-way or land from private property owners.
D. THAT Council direct Staff from Engineering and Parks to report back on the implementation and operational costs of the Tree Voucher Program so it can become operational by the fall of 2005.
E. THAT the approval of the Left Turn Bay proposed at 57th be deferred pending further public consultation and a report back to address the potential redesignation of 57th to Neighbourhood collector, network analysis and a traffic calming plan.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillors Green and Sullivan and the Mayor absent for the vote)
1. Family Court/Youth Justice Committee Annual Report for the Year 2004 (File 3118-1)
The Committee had before it a Report dated January 24, 2005, in which the Family Court/Youth Justice Committee provided information on activities of the committee for the period of February 1, 2004, to February 1, 2005.
MOVED by Councillor Woodsworth
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
THAT the Report dated January 24, 2005, entitled “Annual Report for the year 2004”, be postponed to a future Standing Committee in order for a representative from the Family Court/Youth Justice Committee to be present.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillors Green and Sullivan and the Mayor absent for the vote)
The Committee adjourned at 1:00 p.m.
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CITY OF VANCOUVER REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC MARCH 29, 2005 |
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Tuesday, March 29, 2005, at 1:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic meeting, to consider the recommendations and actions of the Committee.
PRESENT: |
Deputy Mayor Tim Stevenson |
ABSENT: |
Mayor Larry Campbell |
CITY CLERK’S OFFICE: |
Pat Boomhower, Meeting Coordinator |
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
SECONDED by Councillor Roberts
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Deputy Mayor Stevenson in the Chair.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report of Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
March 29, 2005
Council considered the report containing the recommendations and actions taken by the Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic. Its items of business included:
1. Family Court/Youth Justice Committee Annual Report for the Year 2004
2. Grant to Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (B.E.S.T.) for Cycling Education and Encouragement
3. Annual Speed Hump Installation Program, 2005
4. Marpole West Traffic Plan
5. Clark/Knight Corridor Plan
Items 1, 3 - 5
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
THAT the recommendations and actions taken by the Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic at its meeting of March 29, 2005, as contained in items 1, 3, 4, and 5, be approved.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Item 2
This item was referred to the Regular Council meeting to be held later that day for a decision as Item 2 required eight affirmative votes and only six Council members were present.
NOTE FROM CLERK: Item 2 was subsequently carried unanimously by the required majority, at the Regular Council meeting.
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Roberts
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Woodsworth
SECONDED by Councillor Roberts
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Council adjourned at 1:05 p.m.
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