SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 1
VTC AGENDA
JUNE 12, 1996
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: May 29, 1996
TO: Vancouver Traffic Commission
FROM: General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT: Joyce - Aberdeen Crest Walk Design Report
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT the design and construction of the pedestrian corridor
improvements collectively referred to as the Joyce - Aberdeen
Crest Walk be approved according to geometric YYD-827,
illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B, with funding from Streets
Basic Capital Unappropriated Accounts 12/31/6901/999 - New
Sidewalks ($25,000) and 13/32/9801/999 - Other Improvements
($152,000).
B. THAT the Sanitation Operating Budget be increased by $2,300
annually for the emptying of added litter receptacles along
the route.
C. THAT the Streets Operating Budget be increased by $6,000
annually for the maintenance of the landscaping of item A.
D. THAT staff conclude arrangements with B.C. Hydro to secure
the necessary right-of-way for the improvements in item A.
above, if approved.
E. THAT B.C. Transit be requested to complete the landscaping of
the Joyce SkyTrain Station to the same standard as other
stations.
COUNCIL POLICY
New geometric designs for capital projects are approved by Council.
In the consideration of transportation improvements, pedestrians are to
be treated as the highest priority.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to obtain Council's approval of the
design and funding of the pedestrian corridor improvements collectively
referred to as the Joyce - Aberdeen Crest Walk.
BACKGROUND
During the mid-1980's a local area transportation plan was approved for
the Joyce Station Area as part of preparations for the coming of
SkyTrain. One of the recommendations of the plan was to pave the
unpaved sections of the pedestrian route to the east of Joyce and north
of the SkyTrain. Since commencement of the Collingwood Village
development, staff have been working with the Joyce community to
resolve new and outstanding transportation issues. Neighbourhood
representatives have placed as a top priority upgrading of the
pedestrian link atop the ridge east of Joyce Street. Since Greystone
Development is preparing to develop its two pedestrian links with the
community north of SkyTrain, it is timely to proceed with the Joyce -
Aberdeen Crest Walk so all these pedestrian improvements can be
implemented together.
DISCUSSION
The Joyce - Aberdeen Crest Walk exists in an informal state, using
portions of City lane (paved) and connecting paths (unpaved) to form a
continuous route, shown in Figure 1. This route runs for four blocks
between Joyce Street and Aberdeen Street atop the ridge north of the
B.C. Hydro right-of-way, which includes the SkyTrain guideway and B.C.
Parkway landscaped pathway. The existing route acts as a pedestrian
collector for the community north and east of Joyce Station, but is
deficient in a number of ways:
* The unpaved sections are poorly drained, with an uneven surface,
puddles, and muddy sections;
* Pedestrians, particularly those who are physically challenged,
face obstacles such as curbs without ramps, abrupt changes in
grade, a poorly-placed fire hydrant, and the occasional parked
vehicle;
* Lighting is poor to non-existent; and
* The area's overall appearance is poor, with trails eroding slopes,
large quantities of litter present, and landscaping lacking
(particularly in the vicinity of Joyce Station).
The Crest Walk project, illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B (see Appendix
A), seeks to rectify the problems listed above:
* Unpaved sections will be paved, either 1.8m wide in asphalt or
1.5m to 1.8m wide in concrete, and grading improved;
* Curb ramps will be installed, a fire hydrant moved, and additional
signage posted to reduce blockage by parked or stopped vehicles;
FIGURE 1
* Lighting will be significantly upgraded, including new lane
lighting along asphalt sections of the route, and low-level,
decorative pedestrian lighting along concrete walkway sections at
the western end leading from Joyce Station and at the eastern end
linking the ends of Ruby Street and Aberdeen Street.
* The area adjacent to Joyce Station, from Joyce Street to the lane
east, would be rehabilitated. This would include cleaning up,
filling and regrading, and landscaping. Also, the railing will be
extended along the lane to discourage short-cutting and reinforce
usage of new paved paths.
* Finally, litter receptacles will be installed along the route to
help keep the area clean.
Collectively, the above improvements will allow the Crest Walk to
provide a proper standard of service, safety, and amenity. With the
addition of the two new community links provided by Greystone, the
improvements form a cohesive pedestrian network serving Collingwood
Village, the community to the north, and the SkyTrain.
B.C. HYDRO RIGHT-OF-WAY
In the vicinity of Joyce Station, the Crest Walk traverses a portion of
the B.C. Hydro right-of-way. Preliminary discussions with Hydro, as
well as B.C. Transit, have not been able to secure any financial
contribution toward the project. However, Hydro has pointed out that
it recently granted licenses to the City for the Collingwood Village
links, to be constructed by Greystone at a cost of $125,000. Approval
of Recommendation D. would have staff conclude discussions with Hydro
on making improvements on their right-of-way as part of the Crest Walk
project.
If the City were to install and maintain landscaping on Hydro land
adjacent to Joyce Station, this would provide the finished appearance
that has been lacking for the decade of SkyTrain.
The other stations were landscaped as part of the original
construction, the maintenance provided by B.C. Transit. Landscaping
was not provided at Joyce Station due to the operation of Southern
Railway. Currently City staff are working with B.C. Transit and B.C.
Hydro on improvements to the B.C. Parkway and former railroad corridor,
including bicycle paths, street crossings and, potentially,
landscaping. How this piece of the corridor is treated could be seen
as a precedent for the future improvements.
Staff believe it is important that the landscaping at Joyce Station be
achieved now. The $44,000 capital cost is included in the Crest Walk
funding proposed in Recommendation A., with ongoing maintenance in
Recommendation C., as a basic element of this pedestrian improvement
project, and is not regarded as an undertaking of landscaping of the
B.C. Parkway. Neither does the landscaping fulfill all needs for
Joyce Station; hence, in Recommendation E. staff propose that B.C.
Transit perform additional landscaping to bring Joyce Station up to the
standard of the others.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The Joyce Area Planning Association (JAPA) has had ongoing input into
the needs for its community. As pedestrians are the highest priority,
and the Crest Walk is the most-needed pedestrian improvement, this
project is at the top of the group's list of capital improvements. The
project was posted at the Collingwood Crime Prevention Office at both
the preliminary stage and for the week leading up to an Open House.
The Open House was held at the Collingwood Neighbourhood House on April
18, 1996, to allow staff to present the proposed pedestrian
improvements to the neighbourhood (1050 flyers in total were delivered
or mailed). Eight comment forms were filled in at the CPO in the week
leading up to the Open House, and another nine surveys were filled in
by the eleven individuals attending the Open House.
The comments received were strongly in favour of the project. The
concerns expressed reinforced staff's understanding of the deficiencies
along the route; indeed, every attendee at the Open House who filled in
a questionnaire indicated that at present there is not enough lighting,
that the route is poor for wheelchairs, and that there is too much
garbage/litter. In addition, there were comments that the route must
be maintained during periods of snowfall. This facility will be added
to the Snow Removal Manual's list of Public Walks, which identifies
locations serviced by City forces after higher priority street clearing
is performed.
FUNDING AND TIMING
The capital cost of the Joyce - Aberdeen Crest Walk project is
$177,000. The largest component is for lighting ($87,000), with the
balance equally split for landscaping and for walkways and related
measures. Funding could be provided from the Streets Capital Accounts
set aside for Miscellaneous Improvements, and for New Sidewalks. In
addition, servicing of six new litter receptacles by the Sanitation
Operations Branch will require an increase in its budget of $2,300 per
year, and maintenance of landscaping will require an increase in the
Streets Operating Budget of $6,000 per year.
The Crest Walk improvements, if approved, could be constructed later
this year (likely in the fall). Construction would be coordinated with
work by Greystone in their provision of two community links.
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