RR-2(i)
                             ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

                                            Date: May 16, 1996
                                            Dept. File No. H193-31

    TO:       Vancouver City Council

    FROM:     General Manager of Engineering Services

    SUBJECT:  The Vancouver Task Force on
              Transportation Access to UBC and UEL


    RECOMMENDATION

         A.   THAT the members of the Task Force on Transportation Access
              to UBC and UEL be thanked for their efforts in preparing a
              thorough and constructive report in a very short time frame.

         B.   THAT the Task Force report be received and referred for
              public comment and discussion at an early meeting of Council.

         C.   THAT the Task Force report be referred to Engineering,
              Planning and the Transportation Planning Team for a staff
              report.

         D.   THAT, in the interim, the Task Force report be forwarded to
              UBC and the GVRD as a statement of community expectation for
              inclusion in the UBC Official Community Plan.

    COUNCIL POLICY

    Council has no direct jurisdiction over the UBC Community Plan,
    although there is strong involvement through GVRD participation, supply
    of services, and access.  To address the concern over access Council
    has asked that the UBC OCP incorporate provisions for:

    -    housing appropriate for students, staff and other workers;
    -    significant traffic demand management policies;
    -    retail development limits; and
    -    adequate planning, provision and funding for required road,
         transit, and traffic control improvements in the City.

    Council has indicated the modes of transportation be placed in the
    priority of pedestrian, bicycle, transit, goods movement and auto.

         "Put transit, walking and biking ahead of cars to slow
         traffic growth in neighbourhoods and improve the
         environment."  (City Plan, June 1995)
    PURPOSE

    The purpose of this report is to bring forward to Council the
    recommendations of the Vancouver Task Force on Transportation Access to
    UBC and University Endowment Lands.  The Task Force will present its
    findings at Council.  It is recommended that the Task Force report be
    referred for comment and discussion at an upcoming meeting of the
    Planning and Environment Committee, at which time a staff report will
    also be submitted.  The Task Force report should also be referred to
    the Transportation Planning Team for consideration in the Planning
    Process.

    BACKGROUND

    An Official Community Plan is being prepared for the University of
    British Columbia.  The provisions of the OCP will have a direct impact
    on streets and traffic in Vancouver's west side.  The University
    proposes to build about 10,000 units of primarily market housing
    concentrated south of 16th Avenue.  In October 1995 Council considered
    a report on the OCP and adopted recommendations identifying City
    concerns to be addressed in the OCP.  The draft OCP was to be completed
    by March 31, 1996, but is still being prepared.

    Over the past several years staff have met with area representatives,
    including personnel from local schools and the Park Board, to discuss
    their concerns related to the impact of traffic in neighbourhoods
    adjacent to Electoral Area A.  Traffic concerns are the escalation of
    volume and speed, the lack of traffic gaps for driveway access, the
    volume of trucks, and pedestrian safety.  In 1994, Vancouver Traffic
    Commission requested that staff investigate these concerns and report
    back.  A subsequent report was deferred by the Vancouver Traffic
    Commission at its September 14, 1995 meeting, in order to allow for a
    wider notification along Marine Drive.  On September 26, 1995 Council
    approved, instead, that a citizen Task Force be formed to examine
    transportation access to UBC and the UEL.  

    The Task Force was comprised of citizen representatives from the
    affected neighbourhoods, and representatives from UBC, BC Transit,
    GVRD, the Ministry of Transportation and Highways, and the City of
    Vancouver.  A University Endowment Lands citizen representative was
    granted observer status.  This Task Force addressed the broad issues of
    traffic in West Side neighbourhoods which will be affected by the
    provisions of the Official Community Plan for Electoral Area A.  

    DISCUSSION 

    Beginning in January the Task Force met every two weeks.  Speakers were
    brought in to provide information pertaining to BC Transit, GVRD, the
    Official Community Plan at UBC, bicycling and other relevant topics. 
    In addition, a public open house was held on Wednesday, March 13, to
    gather input from the community.

    The Task Force report is thorough and investigates many opportunities
    for improvement in a wide variety of areas.  Proposals touch on form of
    development, traffic management, transit, policing, and other issues. 
    Many recommendations of the ideas will need to be further examined and
    possibly implemented by the responsible agencies.  

    Because of the short time-frame for development of the UBC Official
    Community Plan, analysis of this report should proceed quickly.  The
    report should be circulated to interested individuals and groups, as
    well as the agencies involved, immediately.  Delegations should then be
    heard at an early meeting of Council.  In the meantime, because
    development of the Official Community Plan for UBC is underway, the
    report should be forwarded to UBC and the GVRD as a statement of
    Vancouver community expectations on the planning process.


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