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CITY OF VANCOUVER
VANCOUVER TRAFFIC COMMISSION
May 16, 1996
A Regular meeting of the Vancouver Traffic Commission was held on
Thursday, May 16, 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
MANAGER'S
REPRESENTATIVE: Dave Rudberg, General Manager of
Engineering Services
CLERK: Denise Salmon
POWER TO ACT
On January 19, 1994, the Council, by the required majority, granted
this Commission Power to Act on all unanimous decisions. All decisions
of the Commission contained herein were unanimous and, therefore, stand
approved.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Vancouver Traffic Commission meeting of April
18, 1996, were adopted as circulated.
1. Franklin and Semlin Area - Traffic Measures File: 5757-3
5762-5
The Commission had before it an Administrative Report dated June
26, 1996 (on file), in which the General Manager of Engineering Services
recommended temporary traffic measures for the Franklin and Semlin area
to protect the area from through traffic and intrusion.
Ms. Alison Wong, Transportation Engineer, advised the proposed
traffic measures will restrict all eastbound traffic from crossing
Semlin to the residential area. This will substantially alter access to
the neighbourhood for local residents and a trial period is recommended.
The six-month trial will provide residents with first-hand experience of
the benefits and problems. The majority of the neighbourhood supports
the measures.
Clause No. 1 Continued
Commission members questioned the possibility of violations as well
as the success rate with this type of traffic calming. It was noted
both barricades and a Court Order were required to address a similar
problem in the West End. However, Engineering staff advised both Police
and the Integrated Service Team would work closely with the
neighbourhood on this problem.
Mr. David Clarke, Lakewood Drive resident and Strata Council
representative, supported the recommendations of the General Manager of
Engineering Services before the Commission. He stressed the unique
position of the Franklin/Semlin neighbourhood located between light
industrial and Dundas/Hastings travelled by 15-20,000 cars per day. He
also acknowledged these measure were but one part of the puzzle in
dealing with the prostitution activities within the area.
Ms. Cindy Piper, Hastings East Neighbourhood Action Group,
concurred with Mr. Clarke's statements.
As the sex trade was being pushed into the industrial area,
Councillor members sought assurance an on-going clean up program was in
place to deal with the residue from the sex trade. It was noted the
Integrated Services Team is working on this issue. Also, if the problem
moves west of Victoria Drive, residents are prepared to go to similar
lengths to address the problem there as well.
Commission members suggested a number of methods for making the
barriers more effective, including making them uncomfortable to sit on,
installing a person-activated sprinkler system, and greening the
diverter areas rather than relying solely on concrete barriers.
Engineering staff agreed to investigate barrier seating deterrent
methods. Mr. Clarke noted greening of the barriers was not the
neighbourhoods' immediate concern. Commission members also requested
Engineering Services explore possible use of photo-radar type technology
to address this issue.
Mr. Ian Adam advised the barriers would be installed before
mid-June.
Clause No. 1 Continued
The following motions by Councillor Chiavario were put and CARRIED.
The Commission, therefore,
RESOLVED
A. THAT a temporary partial closure be installed to close Triumph
Street to eastbound traffic, east of Semlin Street.
B. THAT temporary diagonal diverters be installed at the
intersections of Pandora Street and Semlin Street, and
Franklin Street and Semlin Street.
C. THAT funding of $8,000 be allocated from Streets Basic Capital
Unappropriated Account number 13/32/9801/999 for these
temporary traffic measures.
D. THAT staff continue to monitor the traffic impacts that result
from the temporary measures and report back after a six-month
trial period.
E. THAT photo-radar type technology be considered as one of the
measures to discourage traffic cruising within the
neighbourhood.
2. Bus Stop Relocations File: 5554-3
The Commission considered an Administrative Report dated April 29,
1996 (on file), in which the General Manager of Engineering Services
recommended a number of bus stop adjustments be approved. Also before
the Commission was a letter dated May 13, 1996, from BC Transit
providing comments on the foregoing report and a response dated May 16th
from Engineering Services addressed to the Commission.
A Commission member noted the bus stop located at Eastbound 4th
Avenue at Larch Street was to be discontinued, although presently
servicing a seniors development. Engineering staff agreed to seek
assistance of B.C. Housing Management Commission to determine patterns
of use for this bus stop.
Clause No. 2 Continued
The following motions by Councillor Chiavario were put and CARRIED.
The Commission, therefore,
RESOLVED
A. THAT the following bus stops be established;
1. Eastbound Broadway at Trafalgar Street
2. Eastbound Hastings Street at McLean Drive
3. Eastbound 4th Avenue at Trafalgar Street
4. Eastbound 4th Avenue at Balsam Street
5. Southbound Main Street at 40th Avenue
6. Southbound Main Street at 43rd Avenue
7. Westbound Cornwall Street at Arbutus Street
8. Westbound Cornwall Street at Maple Street
B. THAT the following bus stops be discontinued:
1. Eastbound Broadway at Stephens Street
2. Eastbound Hastings Street at Woodland Drive
3. Eastbound 4th Avenue at Stephens Street
4. Eastbound 4th Avenue at Larch Street*
5. Eastbound Broadway at Cassiar Street
6. Westbound S.E. Marine Drive at Nanaimo Street
7. Westbound S.E. Marine Drive at Duff Street
8. Westbound S.E. Marine Drive at Borden Street
9. Southbound Main Street at 42nd Avenue
10. Southbound Main Street at 44th Avenue
11. Westbound Cornwall Street at Laburnum Street
* With the proviso that the Larch and 4th Street bus stop
not be discontinued until such time as Engineering staff
has had the opportunity to meet with the B.C. Housing
Management Commission and the tenants of the seniors
development in the area to ensure no one is unduly
compromised.
3. Bicycle Route in the Arbutus Corridor
Report withdrawn.
4. Correspondence
a) BC Transit #2 P.N.E. Park-and-Ride Service File: 5551-3
The following motions by Councillor Sullivan were put and CARRIED.
The Commission, therefore,
RESOLVED
THAT the letter dated April 30, 1996, from BC Transit to the
General Manager of Engineering Services regarding the replacement
of the #2 P.N.E. park-and-ride service, be received for
information;
AND THAT BC Transit be requested to provide the City with the same
information, at the same time, they send their park-and-ride
customers outlining changes to the P.N.E. park-and-ride service.
5. Other Business
a) Public Notification Process File: 3126/5553-5
In response to comments from Commission members regarding the lack
of public notification and subsequent withdrawal of the report on the
Bicycle Route in the Arbutus Corridor, staff presented a draft document
(on file) suggesting guidelines for public participation processes for
the Vancouver Traffic Commission.
In addition to suggestions contained in the above guidelines, a
Commission member suggested using school students as a further method of
distributing notification material to affected neighbourhoods.
The following motion by Councillor Chiavario was put and CARRIED.
The Commission, therefore,
RESOLVED
THAT the draft Guidelines on Public Participation Processes
submitted by Engineering Services this day be received for
information;
AND THAT individual Commission members review the guidelines, for
discussion with Engineering staff, and if necessary request a
report back to the next meeting of the Vancouver Traffic
Commission.
Clause No. 5 Continued
b) Cypress Street Traffic Calming and
Burrard Street Left-Turn Bays File: 5761-3/5757-3
Commission members referred to a letter dated May 12, 1996, from
Ms. Sue Wisener regarding traffic calming in her neighbourhood, and in
particular, a left turn bay from northbound Burrard to westbound
Cornwall. She noted the Traffic Commission, at its November meeting,
agreed to revisit the issue when a decision had been reached on the
Burrard Bridge. However, a decision on the bridge has now been
postponed.
Mr. Rudberg advised he has agreed to meet with Ms. Wisener in June
and a survey of the residents, with input from Ms. Wisener, will be
completed as soon as possible. A public participation process, as per
the draft guidelines presented this day, will be followed.
c) Kitsilano Chamber of Commerce Sign File: 5808
Councillor Chiavario requested clarification regarding the status
of the Kitsilano Chamber of Commerce sign to be installed at the south
end of the Burrard Bridge.
Engineering staff advised installation of the sign is not
contingent upon a Burrard Bridge decision, and a report to Council, in
conjunction with the Park Board, will be prepared as soon as possible.
d) Bicycle Route in the Arbutus Corridor File: 5553-5
* * * * *
Councillor Clarke declared a conflict of interest as she owns
property in the vicinity of the proposed bicycle route, and left the
meeting.
* * * * *
Commission members referenced a memo dated May 15, 1996, from
Engineering Services regarding withdrawal of the Arbutus Bike Corridor
report from the Commission's agenda.
Clause No. 5(d) Continued
It was noted many residents had phoned and written regarding this
issue, and time was needed to explain, reconsider and debate the
proposals. Mr. Ian Adam, Engineering Services, did propose however, to
proceed with the signing of the bike route on Cypress Street, north of
16th Avenue, as this portion had been approved in the Kitsilano Traffic
Plan. A ribbon-cutting for the corridor is scheduled for June 3 to
coincide with Environment Week, as well as mark the first weekday
application of bike lanes on the Burrard Bridge.
The Commission discussed at length the appropriate timing for the
public meetings and subsequent consideration by the Commission, and it
was agreed to leave final meeting arrangements to be worked out with
Engineering staff and the City Clerk's Office. It was noted however, a
special meeting(s) of the Vancouver Traffic Commission would be required
to accommodate all anticipated delegations.
* * * * *
The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:50 p.m.
* * * * *