3 MINUTES VANCOUVER TRAFFIC COMMISSION APRIL 18, 1996 A Reg...

3
MINUTES

VANCOUVER TRAFFIC COMMISSION

APRIL 18, 1996

A Regular Meeting of the Vancouver Traffic Commission was held on
Thursday, April 18, 1996 at approximately 7:30 p.m., in Committee Room
No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT: Councillor Bellamy, Chair
Councillor Chiavario
Councillor Clarke
Councillor Sullivan

CLERK: Gary MacIsaac

Power to Act

On January 11, 1994, Council, by the required majority, granted
this Commission Power to Act on all unanimous decisions. All decisions
of the Commission contained herein are unanimous and, therefore, stand
approved.

Adoption of Minutes

The Minutes of the Vancouver Traffic Commission meeting of March
14, 1996, were adopted as circulated.

1. Traffic Measures for the Lane
Between the 6100 - 6400 Block
Ash and Cambie, South of 45th Avenue File: 5762-5

In an Administrative Report dated March 18, 1996, the General
Manager of Engineering Services in consultation with the Director of
Community Planning informed the Commission about the actions taken by
staff regarding traffic concerns in a lane between the 6100 - 6400
block Cambie and Ash, South of 45th Avenue.

Mr. Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, introduced Mr. Dennis
Alexander from the Manitoba Yards and Ms. Sandy James from Community
Planning, who are part of the Oakridge/Marpole Integrated Services Team
which worked with area residents and institutions to better resolve the
back-lane traffic concerns. Previously, the installation of speed
bumps had been defeated through the local improvement process, but the
integrated services team resolved this problem by getting agreement
from the four institutions; St. John's Ambulance, Peretz School, the
Clause No. 1 Continued

Chinese Presbyterian Church and Alliance Francaise, to fund the
installation of the speed bumps. Speed bumps were installed in
February of this year. Response to date from residents has been
positive.

Members of the Commission complimented staff for the successes
achieved through this integrated staff approach.

The following motion by Clarke was put and CARRIED. The
Commission, therefore,

RESOLVED

THAT the Administrative Report dated March 18, 1996 be received
for information.

2. Pedestrian Crossing Conditions on
49th Avenue at Doman Street File: 5702-3

In an Administrative Report dated April 2, 1996, the General
Manager of Engineering Services recommended that a pedestrian signal
not be installed at the intersection of Doman and 49th Avenue at this
time, but that it be reviewed for possible inclusion in the 1997
Traffic Signal Program. However, should the Commission wish to proceed
with the signal at this location, the following motion was submitted
for consideration:

THAT a pedestrian signal be installed at Doman and 49th, at a
total cost of $70,000, with funds allocated from the deferred
signal installation at Begg and Terminal ($52,000) and the
reallocation of funding from the 1996 Traffic Signal Program
(Signal Modification, Left-Turn Phasing, $18,000).

Mr. Scott Edwards, Traffic Management, Engineering, reviewed the
contents of the report and advised that Doman Street and 49th Avenue is
a suitable candidate for future signalization, but staff have to review
and prioritize many locations and recommend those which will provide
the greatest safety benefit. There are other locations, including
school crossings, with a greater need for a signal.

Clause No. 2 Continued

The following speakers appeared before the Commission to request
that a pedestrian signal be installed at the intersection of Doman
Street and 49th Avenue:

- Tony Scaiano;
- Dave Martindale;
- James Aitchison;
- Monica Scaiano;
- Maria Rasic.

The foregoing based their requests on one or more of the following
observations:

- there have been two accidents involving pedestrians at this
location, and not one as stated in the report;

- one of the City's priorities is the safety of pedestrians, and
a pedestrian signal at this location would meet this objective;

- the volume of traffic at this intersection has increased over
the past few years;

- the speed of traffic on 49th Avenue is excessive, further
jeopardizing the safety of pedestrians; and

- the reason there is such a small number of people crossing at
this location is that people recognize the danger and do not
use this crossing. In the case of seniors who have limited
mobility, this results in them staying home more often.

During discussion, members of the Commission agreed with the need
for a pedestrian signal at this location. As the speed and volume of
traffic on 49th Avenue is significant, pedestrian safety will be
greatly enhanced with the installation of a pedestrian signal.

The following motion by Councillor Chiavario was put and CARRIED.
The Commission, therefore

RESOLVED

3. Knight Street at 41st Avenue -
Left-Turn Bay Design File: 5761-3

In an Administrative Report dated April 3, 1996, the General
Manager of Engineering Services requested Council's approval to proceed
with the installation of north and southbound left-turn bays on Knight
Street at 41st Avenue and outlined the proposed design of these
left-turn bays.

Mr. Ken Low, Projects, Transportation & Design, Engineering,
advised Knight Street is a major truck route and an important transit
route which carries over 40,000 vehicles per day near 41st Avenue. The
intersection at Knight Street and 41st Avenue consistently ranks in the
top 10 in the number of accidents at City intersections. Annually
these accidents result in losses of $600,000 including 22 injuries. It
is estimated that left-turn bays at this intersection could reduce
annual personal injury and property damage claims by approximately
$240,000 per year.

Mr. Low advised the intent of the design is to improve safety and
not to accommodate traffic. Given that the Knight Street Bridge is
currently near 95% capacity, the traffic volume on Knight Street at
41st Avenue would not increase significantly as a result of the
left-turn bays. The design indicates that property acquisitions of
various widths up to a maximum of 2.9 metres are required for 42
properties.

Mr. Low also reviewed the public consultation process involved,
which included a questionnaire which was sent out to 600 residents and
owners in the area. The majority of residents in the area support the
proposed design.

The following speakers appeared before the Commission to oppose
the installation of the left-turn bays:

- Norman Fisher;
- Terry Bowerman;
- Bill Wang.

All of the speakers owned property which would be directly
impacted by the proposed installation of the left-turn bays.

The foregoing opposed the installation of left-turn bays for one
or more of the following reasons:

- since the construction of the Knight Street Bridge, the
continuous increase in traffic on Knight Street has led to a
deteriorating quality of life for residents. The proposed
left-turn bays will worsen the situation and make it
unbearable;

Clause No. 3 Continued

- the noise at this intersection will increase. The noise is not
caused by the stop and go traffic, as indicated by City
Engineers, but rather by the through truck traffic;

- the properties being affected will experience a loss in value;

- in addition to the noise problem, the residents must live with
the vibrations caused by the large trucks and other vehicles,
and this will worsen with the traffic being closer to their
homes. Also, experts have indicated that if the distance from
the streets to the houses decreases from 20 feet to 10 feet,
the vibration will not double, but quadruple;

- this commercial traffic corridor benefits many residents of
Vancouver, but a small number of property owners are being
asked to make sacrifices to maintain this traffic corridor;

- the City should research alternatives other than the
installation of left-turn bays;

- there is a greater potential danger for residents, particularly
children, who will now be living much closer to the street;

- the loss of property will further diminish the privacy of the
neighbours, especially given that it will result in a loss of
shrubbery in some instances; and

- the City should consider converting this area into commercial
zoning, rather that single-family zoning in order to increase
the potential value of this property.

Responding to questions from members of the Commission, regarding
the City's position if it were requested to purchase an entire piece of
property, rather than a portion of a property, Mr. Dave Rudberg,
General Manager of Engineering Services, advised it is the City's
preference only to purchase the necessary portion of the property. In
similar situations in the past, the City has managed to resolve these
differences, but it does have the ability to expropriate property if
all other negotiations fail. Real Estate staff will have to look at
the impacts on each individual property and negotiate with the
respective owners. The final purchase price for each property will be
reported to Council for formal approval.

Clause No. 3 Continued

Responding to a question from a member of the Commission regarding
options for this corner other than the installation of left-turn bays,
Mr. Ian Adam advised staff have looked at additional options, but have
found them to be unworkable.

A member of the Commission also enquired about the possibility of
converting this strip of land to commercial rather than single-family
usage. Mr. Adam advised that Real Estate staff have recommended the
City not proceed in this manner, as single-family is the highest and
best use of the land, and would have better value than commercial
zoning.

The following motions by Councillor Clarke were put and CARRIED.
The Commission, therefore,

RESOLVED

A. THAT the design for north and southbound left-turn bays on
Knight Street at 41st Avenue be approved as shown in Appendix
1 in the Administrative Report dated April 3, 1996.

B. THAT the Manager of Real Estate Services sit down with
individual property owners to negotiate the sale of
properties and to negotiate traffic and noise impact
mitigation measures.

C. THAT the Director of Planning and the Manager of Real Estate
gather additional information on alternate forms of land use
that would provide alternatives to noise and traffic
mitigation measures and report back to the neighbours and
Council.

D. THAT the Streets Operating Budget be increased by $2,200
annually for the maintenance of landscaping on the traffic
medians.

OTHER BUSINESS

1. Letter from Kitsilano Chamber of Commerce
dated April 11, 1996

Councillor Chiavario referred to correspondence received from Mr.
Bill Stott, Director of Kitsilano Chamber of Commerce dated April 11,
1996 which provided information on proposed signage welcoming people to
Kitsilano, and which requested the City participate by donating the
cost of the installation of wiring, lights and on-going power for this
community project. Councillor Chiavario asked this correspondence be
forwarded to staff in the Engineering Department and the Park Board.

2. Traffic Signage

Councillor Chiavario referred to newspaper clippings displaying
information about traffic warning signs and requested this information
be forwarded to the Engineering Department.

3. Recreational Vehicle Parking on Northwest Marine Drive

Councillor Clarke advised she has received phone calls from area
residents complaining about RV parking on Northwest Marine Drive at
Park Board lots. These recreational vehicles have been using the water
hook-ups and are, in effect, living there. The residents have
approached officials from the Health Department, the Park Board, and
the Police Department, but have been unable to achieve any resolution.

Mr. Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, agreed to speak with the
Integrated Services Team in this area in an attempt to achieve a
resolution of this problem.

* * * * *

The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m. * * * * *