A4
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: February 27, 1996
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT: Pedestrian Signals for the
Ridgeway Greenway Pilot Project
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT $282,500 be approved for the installation of pedestrian
signals with cyclist push buttons on the portion of the
Ridgeway to be built this year.
B. THAT funding from Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated
Account #13/32/9801/999 (Local Area Plans and Other) be
reallocated to cover a portion of these costs ($200,000) and
that the remainder of the costs ($82,500) be funded from the
Greenways Pilot Project Account #12/31/6801/999
COUNCIL POLICY
- On July 18, 1995, Council approved the Vancouver Greenways Plan.
On this date Council also approved the selection of the portion of
the Ridgeway Greenway on 37th Avenue between Granville and Knight
Street as the city greenway pilot project.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to obtain approval for funding of the
pedestrian signals with cyclist push buttons for the city greenway
pilot project on 37th Avenue between Granville and Knight Street
referred to as the Ridgeway. A subsequent report will deal with the
other aspects of the Ridgeway.
BACKGROUND
On July 18, 1995, Council approved the Vancouver Greenways Plan. At
the same time Council approved the selection of the portion of the
Ridgeway on 37th Avenue between Granville and Knight Street as a pilot
project. Since then staff have gone through an extensive consultation
process with the public to obtain their comments and ideas about the
development of this greenway.
DISCUSSION
In order for pedestrians and cyclists to be given priority on the
Ridgeway it is essential that there be pedestrian/cyclist activated
signals wherever the route crosses an arterial street. To ensure that
the Ridgeway pilot project can be completed this year the construction
of these signals should proceed now. This is necessary to ensure that:
- scheduling does not conflict with other high priority
requests for pedestrian signals;
- adequate time is provided for design, material acquisition
and construction.
Therefore, funding for these improvements is requested in advance of
reporting to Council on the whole design of the Ridgeway.
SIGNAL DETAILS
The following lists the improvements required along with their
locations and estimated cost.
Location on 37th Improvement Cost
Granville St. Pedestrian signal with cyclist push $68,000
button.
Oak St. Add cyclist push button to existing $10,000
signal.
Cambie St. Pedestrian signal with cyclist push $76,000
button.
Main St. Pedestrian signal with cyclist push $55,000
button.
Fraser St. Pedestrian signal with cyclist push $64,000
button - south leg.
Knight St. Add cyclist push button to existing $9,500
signal.
Total $282,500
FUNDING
At the time the 1994-1996 Capital Plan was developed the Greenways Plan
was in the early conceptual stage. This made it difficult to determine
the scope of work which would be involved in implementing the Greenways
Plan. Our experience now shows us that the funds available in the
current capital plan are not adequate for the construction of the
Ridgeway Pilot project. To address this it is recommended that
$200,000 be reallocated from the Streets Basic Capital Account
#13/32/9801/999 (Local Area Plans and Other) to cover a portion of the
pedestrian signal costs. This account is set aside for Local Area
Plans and miscellaneous improvements. Funding for the remainder of
these costs is available in the Greenways Pilot Project account
#12/31/6801/999.PUBLIC CONSULTATION
Extensive consultation with the community surrounding the Ridgeway
Pilot Project has been conducted over the past year. During this
process the residents generally supported additional signals and
frequently supported them strongly. These signals will also facilitate
the development of the Bicycle Network since the Ridgeway is also on
one of the designated bike routes. The Bicycle Network Subcommittee is
also aware of this project and supports it.
When the conceptual design of the Ridgeway is complete the community
will have an opportunity to review it and provide us with their input.
The communities input will be included in the report to Council on the
conceptual design.
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