SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 1(c)
VTC AGENDA
JULY 9, 1996
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: June 28, 1996
Dept. File No. 4051
TO: Vancouver Traffic Commission
FROM: General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT: Cypress Bike Route - Kerrisdale Portion,
from 41st Avenue to S.W. Marine Drive
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT the portion of the Cypress Bike Route between 41st
Avenue and S.W. Marine Drive be marked with signage only, as
illustrated in Figure 1.
B. THAT the circles, median, and other measures as previously
proposed, not proceed, but conditions along the corridor
continue to be monitored and discussed with residents and
cyclists to determine whether further measures are required in
the future.
C. THAT the pedestrian/bicycle signal installation at Angus Drive
and 41st Avenue proceed, with funding of $35,000 from the
Provincial Government, and $35,000 from Streets Basic Capital
Unappropriated Account No. 12/31/6903/999 -Bicycle Network.
D. THAT the signal maintenance budget be increased by $2,000
without offset for the maintenance of the traffic signal,
starting in 1997.
COUNCIL POLICY
- The Vancouver Comprehensive Bicycle Plan (1988) and the Clouds of
Change Report (1990) established the City's policy of promoting and
encouraging cycling as a transportation alternative.
- On May 14, 1992, Council approved a Citywide bicycle route network
with priority given to local street integration, and with the Cypress
route identified as high priority.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to obtain approval for the signing of the
Kerrisdale portion of the Cypress bike route, without the circles and
other traffic measures previously proposed, and the installation of a
pedestrian/cyclist activated signal at 41st/ Angus.
SUMMARY
In consultation with the Bicycle Network Subcommittee of the Bicycle
Advisory Committee to Council, a proposal for the Kerrisdale portion of
the Cypress bike route was developed. The overall route follows the
Cypress corridor from English Bay and the Burrard Bridge to Marpole.
This route connects with the Off-Broadway Bikeway and the Seaside Bike
Route and will eventually connect with the proposed 37th Avenue Greenway
and S.W. Marine Drive bike route. The proposed route in Kerrisdale
follows Angus Drive for the most part, with minor jogs at 64th, Adera,
68th and Cornish. Traffic calming devices such as diverters and traffic
circles were originally included to discourage vehicle short-cutting and
speeding.
However, the public response to this proposal clearly indicated that the
community required a different solution. The original process did not
allow sufficient time to discuss such options, and was confined to too
narrow a corridor. Accordingly, the process was lengthened in time, and
a second notification sent out to 6,000 addresses in a broader corridor.
A meeting was held to hear delegations at Prince of Wales School on June
13, 1996 and was continued on June 18 at Council Chambers, due to the
number of delegates.
The public response can be summarized as follows:
- Of 48 speakers registered for the two meetings, a clear majority
indicated opposition to the circles, medians, stop sign removals, and
similar measures.
- Of 6,000 surveys distributed in total, the response rate between 41st
Avenue and S.W. Marine Drive was 345 of 2,500, or 14%.
- A large number of letters, phone calls, and names on petitions have
indicated similar opposition to the circles and other measures, while
supporting the bike route in principle, and the signal at 41st
Avenue.
On the basis of this clear expression of community desire, it is
recommended that the bicycle route be signed along Angus Drive, but that
the circles, median, and other changes not proceed. The
pedestrian/cyclist signal at Angus/41st is supported, and funding for it
is available from Streets Basic Capital Bicycle Network Account. Staff
will continue to monitor conditions in the corridor, and will recommend
further measures in the future where these are desired by the community.
The total cost for the Kerrisdale portion of the Cypress Street bike
route project is estimated at $70,000. As $35,000 will be provided by
the Province, an allocation of $35,000 is being sought.
BACKGROUND
After extensive public consultation in 1991 regarding bike route
facilities, the option of enhanced integration on local streets was the
preferred option for encouraging more bicycling. On May 14, 1992,
Council approved the following recommendation:
THAT the development of the first trial bike routes along
local streets be based on the following priorities:
- Adanac/Union Corridor
- Broadway Corridor
- Ontario Corridor
- Arbutus Corridor
In pursuit of the foregoing bike routes, Engineering staff has worked
closely with the Bicycle Advisory Committee to Council and the Bicycle
Network Subcommittee. Also, residents and cyclists have been encouraged
to participate through open houses and surveys.
The Adanac, Off-Broadway and Ontario Bikeways were opened in 1993, 1994
and 1995 respectively. The bikeway adjacent to the Arbutus Corridor, as
proposed in this report, will complete the first four priority
corridors, and is reported under three separate covers because of
factors unique to the different sections of the route.
In addition, the Province of British Columbia has recently established a
cost-sharing program for bike routes, and a number of City routes have
received approval. These are detailed in the Cypress Street Bike Route
- Kitsilano Portion report.
RECOMMENDED CYPRESS CORRIDOR BIKE ROUTE DESIGN -
KERRISDALE PORTION
The recommended bike route design will function well to meet the comfort
and safety needs of cyclists. It has been extensively modified from the
original proposal, in order to address the concerns of area residents.
Affected residents, businesses and schools have been surveyed and the
majority support the route as detailed herein. Ongoing monitoring may
result in adjustments, and the results will be reported to Council as
necessary.
(a) Route Alignment and Improvements
Initially, route alignment was sought along, or adjacent to, the
Canadian Pacific Rail Right-of-Way. The cost of acquiring this
land and the lack of usable adjacent land or streets negate the use
of this route at this time. It is hoped that in the future this
Right-of-Way can be developed into a Greenway/Bikeway that will
complement the bike route currently proposed.
The general route alignment and details are proposed as shown on
Figure 1. The route is as direct and user-friendly as possible.
Some further comments are provided as follows:
i) Miscellaneous pavement upgrades are recommended along the
route and include repairing potholes, uneven pavement, bumps
and large cracks.
ii) A cyclist activated signal at 41st Avenue and Angus Street is
proposed to ease crossing this busy inter-section. A proposed
median to assist cyclists and pedestrians crossing 49th Avenue
at Angus has been deleted, and this location may require
further review in the future.
iii) Street lighting improvements along the route are proposed to
improve safety for cyclists, pedestrians and residents.
Overhead lighting will be added at some intersections and
better spacing of lighting will be achieved mid-block, where
necessary.
(b) Survey Results
Within this section of the route, 345 of 2,500 surveys were
returned, for an overall response rate of 14%. This low rate of
return can be attributed to the broad area covered by the survey.
The specific support or opposition for each of the measures, not
including unanswered or "No Opinion", is listed below. Further
details of the results can be found in Appendix A.
Items Supported by Neighbourhood
Traffic calming in principle: 47% for, 20% opposed
Pedestrian/cyclist signal at
41st Avenue: 70% for, 17% opposed
Eastbound and/or westbound stop
signs installed on 43rd, 50th,
51st, 54th, 59th, 60th, 61st,
62nd, and 63rd: 54-58% for, 22-30% opposed
Stop sign infill in area bounded
by 41st, 49th, E. Boulevard and
Granville: 40% for, 38% opposed
Items Opposed by Neighbourhood
Traffic circle at:
Angus/52nd 33% for, 40% opposed
Angus/58th 32% for, 45% opposed
Adera/66th 33% for, 38% opposed
Median at 49th/Angus: 32% for, 51% opposed
Install speed humps on
E. Boulevard 60th-64th: 31%for, 45% opposed
(c) Implementation
Installation of signage would begin shortly, and completion of the
route is expected this Fall with the installation of the new
pedestrian/cyclist signal.
(d) Maintenance
Elements of the proposed Cypress Street bike route could be
considered for maintenance levels above those of a normal street.
However, due to current budget constraints it is recommended that
the bicycle route receive the same level of service as would a
normal street, at no additional cost. This may require refusing
some public requests for extraordinary maintenance levels.
The pedestrian/cyclist activated signal will incur an annual power
and maintenance cost of $2,000.
(e) Route Name
The route was generally called the Arbutus Bicycle Corridor during
the planning stages. This name should be reserved for a potential
future route on the actual rail right-of-way. Therefore, several
alternative route names have been suggested, such as:
- Shaughnessy Bikeway
- Cypress Bikeway
- Cypress-Angus Bikeway
- X-press Bikeway
After discussions with the public and the Bicycle Network
Subcommittee, it is recommended that the route be named the Cypress
Bikeway.
(f) Route Signage
The signage, including route markers, destination signs, and
brochures, will be similar to those that have been successful along
the other bikeways. All are based on the use of clear,
internationally recognized standard symbols with a minimum of
wording. The route markers will be placed at two block
intervals in each direction.
Free brochures for the bike route will be available at City Hall
and other public areas and will be distributed at cycling related
events. They will provide help to users, promote the route and
reinforce cyclist etiquette and the need to co-exist with the
neighbourhood. These will be of leaflet size similar to other
Bikeway brochures.
Information and maps describing Vancouver's cycling program are
also available on the Internet through the City's home page.
FUNDING
The cost to implement the Kerrisdale portion of the Cypress Street bike
route is as follows:
Install new cyclist/pedestrian
actuated signal at Angus/41st $70,000
Senior Government Cost-Share ($35,000)
FUNDING REQUIRED AT THIS TIME $35,000
The amount required for signing has been previously approved.
The cost of $35,000 is available from the Streets Basic Capital account
set aside for the Bicycle Network (Account No. 12/31/6903/999).
BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND NETWORK SUBCOMMITTEE
The Network Subcommittee of the Bicycle Advisory Committee were involved
in the preliminary design of this route but due to time constraints they
have not had the opportunity to comment on this report. A copy of this
report will be submitted to them for comment and a response may follow.
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