SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 2
VTC AGENDA
OCTOBER 19, 1995
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: September 28, 1995
Dept. File No. 4102-1
TO: Vancouver Traffic Commission
FROM: General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT: Safety Improvements for the Commuter
Rail Project "West Coast Express"
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT safety improvements be made to the Victoria Drive
crossing of the CP Rail tracks, with all costs to be funded by
West Coast Express (B.C. Transit).
B. THAT Council approve the closure of Rogers Street at the CP
Rail crossing on a part time basis during morning and
afternoon rush periods, and the eastbound use of the Port
Roadway adjacent to BC Sugar, with all costs to be funded by
West Coast Express.
C. THAT the issue of continuity of Stewart/Commissioner Street in
the vicinity of the Rogers crossing, in order to reduce
trucking activity on City streets, be referred to the
Transportation Plan process for further study, and the Port of
Vancouver and CP Rail be requested to participate in this
study.
COUNCIL POLICY
On March 6, 1984, Council approved:
- the reservation of a waterfront transportation corridor right-
of-way from Cardero Street to the Second Narrows Bridge to
accommodate the potential for possible future transit commuter
use only.
- a Port Roadway, preferably two lanes, from Cardero Street to
the Second Narrows Bridge to accommodate existing and future
port-related traffic, but only if the Port will take all
appropriate measures to discourage commuter traffic.
PURPOSE
This report seeks Council's approval for commuter rail related safety
improvements at the Victoria Drive crossing, and the part-time closure
of the Rogers Street crossing of CP Rail tracks.
BACKGROUND
B.C. Transit's West Coast Express is scheduled to begin commuter rail
service on CP Rail tracks between Mission and the Waterfront Station
this November (see fig.1). The service will consist of five inbound
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trains during two hours in the morning, each carrying up to nine hundred
passengers. The trains will store in Vancouver during the day and
return to Mission in the afternoon. There are three level crossings
west of the Second Narrows Bridge which require safety improvements due
to the commuter trains' higher speeds, at Victoria, Rogers and Dunlevy.
West Coast Express, Vancouver Port Corporation, waterfront industries,
CP Rail and City staff have reviewed these crossings in detail. The
options are:
- permanent closure of the crossings
- part-time closure during the hours of commuter rail operation
- the installation of automatic crossing protection devices designed
for higher train speeds (approximately 50 km/h)
The Port and its industries are extremely concerned about any closures
that would impede access to the waterfront, which is already difficult.
The present access arrangements are circuitous and often require
excessive travel by Port-bound trucks on City streets. It would be
desirable to improve the existing access rather than degrade it. Staff
have pursued options that reduce truck travel on City streets,
particularly in residential areas. After extensive discussion, a
proposal has been prepared for Council approval.
DISCUSSION
A) Victoria Crossing
The Victoria Drive railway crossing is located between the intersections
at Powell and Commissioner Streets (see fig.2). Approximately three
thousand vehicles, many of them trucks, cross the railway each day. The
railway crossing is equipped with protection devices consisting of gates
and warning signals that are activated by trains. Trains also activate
the traffic signal at Victoria and Powell so that it displays only those
traffic movements which do not cross the tracks. It is not feasible to
close this crossing for extended periods since it is a major route to
the port.
The recommended safety improvements include:
- upgrading the rail signals for commuter train speeds
- revising the traffic signal on Victoria at Powell to clear
vehicles from the railway tracks before the gates are lowered
- traffic bollards on the centre line of Victoria to discourage
motorists from driving around the lowered gates
- widening of Commissioner Street to store trucks north of the
railway crossing
- overhead-mounted stop signs on Commissioner at Victoria for
better visibility
All work on the Victoria Drive right-of-way will be done by City crews
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and funded by the commuter rail project.
B) Rogers Street Crossing
This crossing is located immediately north of Powell Street, just west
of the Clark Drive railway overpass. Its geometry, with six railway
tracks over a forty-metre road section, makes it unsuitable for train
activated railway gates (see fig.3). There is too great a possibility
of vehicles being trapped on the tracks when the automatic gates are
lowered. The remaining options are to install manually operated railway
gates which would remain closed during the hours of commuter rail
service, or to close the crossing permanently. Although it is not a
major crossing and the overpass is nearby, Port industries indicate that
its closure would be detrimental. Staff do not favour its permanent
closure unless a two-lane extension of Stewart/Commissioner Street is
provided in front of the B.C. Sugar building. The Clark Drive overpass
is not directly accessible from Powell Street and trucks on Powell
would be required to divert to Hastings to use the overpass. This is a
concern to the Port as well as to east-side neighbourhoods.
To minimize the disruption to traffic destined to and from the port, it
is recommended that the Rogers Street crossing be closed only during the
morning and afternoon periods when commuter rail is operating. This
will be accomplished by manually operated gates. The gates will be
provided with a system acceptable to emergency response agencies to
allow evacuation of the port in an emergency. Signing will be installed
on City property to prohibit turns during the periods when Rogers is
closed. A related traffic change will make the port roadway west of
Rogers Street one-way eastbound. This road, currently an emergency
access only, is too narrow at present
to safely carry two-way traffic. Allowing one-way truck access will
reduce truck movements on city streets, and reduce difficult left turns
at Rogers.
Concerns have been expressed by B.C. Sugar about the partial closure of
Rogers Street. They are concerned that it will lead to backups on the
Clark Drive overpass and restricted access to their property. Some of
these concerns can be addressed by traffic management changes. For
example, paint marking revisions have been made on Heatley Avenue at
Hastings Street to promote the use of the Heatley overpass as an
alternative route to B.C. Sugar and other port properties. A traffic
signal at Heatley/Hastings would ease access onto Hastings from the port
and has been requested by neighbourhood groups. This will be pursued in
the 1996 Traffic Signal Program. The traffic signal timings at
Clark/Hastings can be adjusted to minimize southbound backups on the
Clark Drive overpass.
C) Dunlevy Avenue Crossing
This is a private crossing that is not administered by the City of
Vancouver. However, closure would impair access to facilities by city
businesses (Canfisco, Centerm, Mission to Seamen). Therefore, West
Coast Express has developed a plan to replace access by improving the
port road from the west to allow pedestrian access and by providing a
space for a hammerhead truck turnaround.
LONGER-TERM PLANS
The provisions noted above will permit the West Coast Express to operate
safely, and will maintain or improve access to the port and its
industries. They may also reduce slightly the number of trucks using
city streets. In the longer term, however, it would be desirable for
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the Port to become more self-sufficient in accommodating the
transportation needs of its various users. This could be accomplished
by providing a two-way road in front of the B.C. Sugar building. Such a
project would likely necessitate relocation of both the tracks and
Powell Street. This should be referred to the goods-movement component
of the Transportation Plan for further study, with participation by the
Port of Vancouver and CP Rail.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS
West Coast Express will provide an alternative mode of transportation
to the automobile and serve up to 4500 commuters on the northeast
corridor. The reduction in automobile traffic will benefit air quality.
CONCLUSION
The above modifications at Victoria Drive and part-time closure of
Rogers Street railway crossings are recommended to improve traffic
safety and pedestrian/vehicle access to port facilities when the
commuter rail service goes into operation.
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