REFERS TO ITEM NO. 2
VTC AGENDA - DEC. 7/95
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: October 27, 1995
TO: Vancouver Traffic Commission
FROM: General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT: Traffic Calming - 4th to Broadway, Arbutus to Burrard
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT the temporary traffic circles along Cypress at 5th and at
7th be made permanent.
B. THAT traffic circles be installed at Cypress and 8th, and at
Maple and 8th, and the right-in/right-out diverter on Cypress
at 8th be removed.
C. THAT a No Left Turn, 7:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. -
6:00 p.m., Monday - Friday restriction be installed for
eastbound traffic on Broadway at Cypress.
D. THAT Engineering Services review existing parking and expedite
a permit parking system for 8th Avenue with provisions for
short-term parking.
E. THAT funding of $14,000 for permanent installation of traffic
circles at Cypress & 8th and Maple & 8th be allocated from the
existing Kitsilano Traffic, Cycling & Parking Plan fund.
F. THAT funding of $500 per year per traffic circle, for a total
of $2,000 per year, be added to the Streets Operating Budget
for maintenance.
COUNCIL POLICY
Council has a long standing policy of protecting neighbourhoods
from shortcutting.
PURPOSE
To report the results of public opinion surveys and traffic studies done
regarding temporary traffic mitigation measures, to recommend that most
of these measures be made permanent, and to propose anumber of
additional measures.
BACKGROUND
October 1992: The Kitsilano Traffic, Cycling & Parking Plan
approved that traffic circles on Cypress at 5th and 7th Avenues
and a right-in/right-out diverter at 8th Avenue be installed on a
trial basis, and followed up with an opinion survey.
2
May 1994: The temporary traffic measures were installed following
Waterworks and Sewers construction on Cypress.
September 1994 and February 1995: follow-up traffic counts were
conducted on Cypress.
October 1994: A neighbourhood opinion survey was distributed from
4th Avenue to Broadway and from Maple to Burrard Streets which
showed that the neighbourhood favoured the traffic circles but that
the right-in/right-out diverter was controversial.
May 1995: Discussions with neighbourhood representatives indicated
another opinion poll was required to assess further traffic
mitigation measures. The poll area was expanded with the addition
of the two blocks between 7th and Broadway and Arbutus and Maple;
this area was added to include the residents within a block of the
proposed traffic circle at Maple and 8th.
DISCUSSION
The results of the first survey are summarized in Appendix A and a
sample of the survey is shown in Appendix B. Of the 1,245 ballots hand
delivered on October 14 and 17, 1994, 355 (29%) were returned. The
traffic circles at 5th and 7th were supported by 86% and 85% of the
votes respectively. The right-in/right-out diverter was very close to a
50/50 split, with numerous requests to consider a traffic circle in
place of this diverter.
Traffic counts on Cypress prior to any traffic calming were recorded at
3388 per 24 hour period. After the temporary measures were installed,
volumes were recorded at 1869 per 24 hour period (a decrease of 45%).
However, residents reported an increase of both traffic and commuter
parking along 8th Avenue.
Neighbourhood representatives met with staff to discuss these issues and
to determine if further traffic mitigation measures would be
appropriate. Engineering Services agreed to conduct another ballot in
the neighbourhood regarding additional proposed measures including
parking proposals for 8th. In addition, a right-turn arrow will be
installed for southbound Burrard at Broadway to help draw some of this
traffic back to the arterials.
The 50:50 response to the question of whether to keep the right-
in/right-out diverter at Cypress and 8th was interpreted, in light of
the many comments stating so, that the residents wanted some form of
traffic control at this location but not what had been tried.
Observations confirmed complaints that this diverter was frequently
violated. Further discussion narrowed the issue to three options as
follows:
1. A traffic circle; or
2. four-way stop signs; or
3. move the diverter to the north-side of 8th.
Concerns were expressed that traffic volumes on Cypress may increase
again especially if the diverter is removed. To address this and to
further mitigate Cypress Street traffic a No Left Turn restriction was
proposed for eastbound Broadway at Cypress during the a.m. and p.m. rush
periods. To deal with 8th Avenue traffic concerns, a traffic circle was
proposed for the intersection of Maple and 8th to compliment the measure
3
at Cypress and 8th.
The results of the second public opinion survey are summarized in
Appendix C and a sample of the ballot is shown in Appendix D. Of the
1,479 ballots distributed 402 (27%) were returned. Traffic circles are
supported on 8th at Maple (65%), and on 8th at Cypress (68%).
Furthermore, a No Left Turn 7-9:30 a.m. & 3-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri. restriction
on eastbound Broadway at Cypress was favoured (62%), as was some form of
Resident Parking restriction along 8th (58%).
A summary of comments is shown in Appendix C. 175 comments were received
concerning parking, 143 related to traffic and safety, and 25 were
general comments. The most common comment was that a parking permit
system is needed due to heavy and constant use by business patrons,
employees and commuters.
FUNDING
As part of the Kitsilano Traffic, Cycling & Parking Plan Council
approved Streets Capital funding of $106,400. Implementation costs have
been less than anticipated, and sufficient funds remain to implement the
measures recommended in this report.
CONCLUSION
It is recommended that the traffic circles along Cypress at 5th and 7th
be made permanent, that additional traffic circles be installed along
8th at Maple and Cypress, that a No Left Turn 7-9:30 a.m. 3-6 p.m Mon.-
Fri restriction be installed on eastbound Broadway at Cypress, and that
Engineering Services develop a Resident Parking plan for this area.
* * * * *