SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 2
VTC AGENDA
JULY 13, 1995
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: June 27, 1995
TO: Vancouver Traffic Commission
FROM: General Manager, Engineering Services
SUBJECT: STREET IMPROVEMENTS AT NANAIMO & MCGILL
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT the design of the Nanaimo / McGill intersection as
presented in this report and shown on figure 1 be approved, with
funding of $250,000 provided from the Streets Basic Capital Budget.
B. THAT a landscape design for the boulevards on the north leg of
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COUNCIL POLICY
Council policy requires that design reports be submitted for
modifications on major streets.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to advise Council of neighbourhood
concerns related to the intersection of Nanaimo and McGill Streets, and
to recommend safety and landscape improvements to address their
concerns.
BACKGROUND
Nanaimo Street and McGill Street form a 90 degree intersection,
requiring all through traffic to make a right-angle turn. Because of the
sharp turn, crossing the street is difficult for pedestrians. Accidents
are frequent, often involving cars crossing into adjacent or opposing
traffic lanes. There have been 158 accidents in 6 years. Approximately
80 % of the accidents occur in wet weather and at least 80 % of the
accidents are related to the 90 degree turn and loss of vehicle control.
Council has previously instructed staff to pursue property acquisition
to provide space for improvements. This has been attempted several
times; however, to date this has been unsuccessful.
DISCUSSION
Several meetings and open houses were held in the community (see
attached listing) to discuss these concerns and potential solutions. As
an integral part of this input, funding of a pedestrian signal was
approved in the 1995 Traffic Signal Program. In addition, traffic
safety improvements have been developed and reviewed with the
neighbourhood. Intersection features include:
Pedestrian Signal - A pedestrian signal will be installed at the
intersection with a marked crosswalk. This will give the neighbourhood
a safe crossing location, and good access to bus stops. The signal will
also give drivers a visual warning of the pedestrian activity.
Signing - Overhead curve warning signs will be installed for both
directions. Reflective markers will be used to define the curve.
Centre Median - A concrete median with landscaping will be installed on
the curve. This will not only prevent cross over accidents, but it will
also prevent accidents caused by vehicles northbound on Nanaimo turning
onto McGill west of Nanaimo or Nanaimo north of McGill. The median will
also assist by visually defining the curve. Additional lane width on
the curve will also accommodate bikes.
Repaving - Residents pointed out that the present pavement is rutted,
resulting in water accumulation and hazardous conditions. Resurfacing
will reduce this hazard, and will give drivers more control in wet
weather. A curb will be built on the outside of the curve which will
assist drivers by visually defining the curve.
Landscaping - Through the development of greenways, staff have been
encouraged to seek opportunities for landscaping. This project provides
landscaping throughout. On the inside of the curve, additional grassed
boulevards will be located on both Nanaimo and McGill. The entry to
McGill Street west of Nanaimo Street will be treated with corner bulges
to define the transition to the residential neighbourhood and reduce the
crossing distance for pedestrians. The design for the north leg of
Nanaimo Street will be treated with a raised, landscaped entry island,
and wide landscaped boulevards (40 ft east side, 30 ft west side).
Lighting - Additional street lights will be used to improve the night-
time visibility of the intersection. This will help both pedestrians
and drivers.
Project Benefits
The proposed changes will help reduce accidents at this intersection.
Accidents cause not only vehicle damage and injury, but they also cause
significant property damage and place pedestrians at risk. Pedestrian
safety will be improved with the new pedestrian signal, a marked
crosswalk and reduced crossing distances. Additional landscaping on the
arterial and at the entrance to the neighbourhood helps to improve the
visual appearance and define a transition to the residential area.
Project Impacts
To provide a landscaped median and to eliminate the need for trucks to
cross lanes and take two lanes around the corner requires a modification
to the curve. As directed by Council, staff have tried to purchase land
from the inside corner to allow this change; however, the owner is not
willing to sell. The improvement has been provided by shifting the road
to the outside of the curve. This can be done without purchasing land;
however, the existing boulevard must be cut back to 2.7 meters (9 ft) at
the narrowest point and 3 small existing trees will be relocated or
replaced.
Design Standards
Council should be aware that the design presented is a minimal design.
A normal standard would require wider lanes, larger radius, a truck
design for all lanes (not just the curb lanes) and a higher design
speed. A median typically would not be used on a sharp radius.
However, such a design is not practical in the environment of a fully
developed city.
The proposed design is low speed, but with proper signing and lighting
it should operate safely. It will also help reinforce to drivers that
they are entering a City where driving habits should be different than
they are on the highway. Given the unique situation at Nanaimo and
McGill the design presented is appropriate. The pedestrian signal, a
marked crosswalk, increased street lighting, overhead curve warning
signs, centre median, and reflective markings will all contribute to
improved safety of the intersection.
Trucking Impacts
The proposed changes will improve the safety of trucks on the curve.
Future changes in the area which will help to reduce truck traffic
include:
i reconstruction of the Renfrew overpass;
ii Port roadway improvements near B.C. Sugar; and
iii a review of goods movement as part of the City's Transportation
Plan.
Community Comments
Through the open house and work with the Engineering Integrated Service
Team member for this area, there was overall support for the project.
The most recent open house was held in April and was attended by over 30
people. Of the 20 questionnaires returned, 19 supported the project.
Two options were discussed for the treatment of the north leg of Nanaimo
Street. The features of the design supported and shown on the attached
plan are that the island cuts off access from McGill to the lane,
provides a shorter crossing for pedestrians, and allows landscaping to
be placed on the island. These were seen as important features by the
residents.
There was strong support for the amount of landscaping proposed;
however, there was still a desire for more, especially on the median.
Given the roadway constraints, staff will maximize the area available
for landscaping. Park Board staff are concerned about the safety of
maintaining this median landscaping on a busy arterial corner.
Maintenance may require the closure of one traffic lane, resulting in
traffic disruptions and higher costs. The plan presented concentrates
the landscaping at the entries to the neighbourhood, especially on
Nanaimo Street with 30 to 40 foot wide boulevards.
The previous owners of the property have been unwilling to sell the land
for a corner cut. The property has just been sold and the new owners
will be consulted. Should the property come available from the inside
of the curve, this would give more flexibility for pedestrian space,
lane width, and additional landscaping.
B.C. Trucking Association and B.C. Transit Comments
The plan has been reviewed with the BC Trucking Association. The plan
is felt to be reasonable given the constraints, and will provide needed
improvements.
BC Transit notes the roadway changes will improve movements for buses
and the pedestrian signal and crosswalk will improve access to the bus
stops for transit passengers. BC Transit is reviewing the plan
internally.
Financial Implications
Funding for the pedestrian signal has been approved in the 1995 Traffic
Signal Program. The estimated cost of the street improvement is
$250,000 and is available from the Streets Basic Capital Budget. This
project can be funded from the 1995 budget because other previously
approved projects are now funded from the Federal / Provincial
Infrastructure program. The landscaped median will require an increase
in the annual operating budget of $2,000/year to cover ongoing
maintenance costs. Further increases will be required if a
neighbourhood maintenance plan cannot be implemented for the north leg
of Nanamio Street.
CONCLUSION
The plan presented has received strong support from the community. The
improvements will help to improve pedestrian safety, improve access for
transit customers, reduce vehicle accidents, and add needed landscaping.
Ideally, further improvements should be made, but without acquisition of
land, this is not possible. On balance, the plan achieves the best
improvements for the area.
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