SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 5
T&T COMMITTEE AGENDA
MARCH 11, 1997
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: February 4, 1997
Dept. File No. 4102-3
CC File No. 5554-1
TO: Standing Committee on Traffic and Transportation
FROM: General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT: Broadway Express Service - "#99 B-Line"
RECOMMENDATION
THAT the following temporary motions of Council, originally
submitted on September 12, 1996, be approved on a permanent basis:
A. THAT the use of buses on 12th Avenue between Granville
and Fir Streets, and Fir Street between 12th Avenue and
10th Avenue, be approved.
B. THAT a bus stop on southbound Granville Street at 10th
Avenue in the AM peak period only, be approved.
C. THAT the approval for recommendations A and B above, be
reviewed once express buses can be routed on 10th Avenue
after it is improved between Granville and Fir Streets.
D. THAT a bus stop on westbound Lougheed Highway at Boundary
Road be approved.
E. THAT BC Transit be requested to provide additional
express bus stops on Broadway at Renfrew Street and Clark
Drive, and on 10th Avenue in the vicinity of Blanca
Street.
F. THAT BC Transit conduct appropriate consultation
processes in future with affected communities along new
transit routes or facilities (e.g., Richmond/Vancouver
Rapid Bus and Broadway LRT).
G. THAT the Vancouver Regional Transit Commission not
approve any reduction in the frequency of service of the
#9 Broadway bus route until a comprehensive ridership
review of both the #9 and #99 services is complete and
overloads on the #9 are significantly reduced.
Furthermore, the following are presented for approval:
H. THAT further to recommendation G, the proposed
discontinuation of the #9 service west of Alma Street
this summer in the peak AM and PM travel periods be
deferred until ridership information is available to
assess the impacts of this proposal on transit riders.
I. THAT the 1997 Sanitation Operating Budget be increased by
$5,300 in order to provide new litter receptacles at #99
B-Line bus stops.
J. THAT the Sanitation Operating Budget be increased by
$7,400 annually for the emptying of the added litter
receptacles.
COUNCIL POLICY
Council approved Transport 2021, which provides a high priority for
public transit, and specifies express bus routes along a number of major
corridors, including Broadway.
That the planned new express services on Granville Street and Broadway
be implemented as soon as possible
Council owns the streets and regulates their use for BC Transit buses
and bus stop locations.
Recommendations A to G above were approved on a temporary basis in
September, 1996.
SUMMARY
The #99 B-line Express Bus Service on Broadway, between Lougheed Mall
and UBC (see Appendix A), started operation on September 3, 1996.
Ridership has grown quickly and will soon likely exceed 12,000
passengers per day. BC Transit plans to install additional #99 service
bus stops in Vancouver, including initially on Broadway at Clark Drive,
and on 10th Avenue potentially at Sasamat Street.
PURPOSE
This report provides an update on the new #99 service.
BACKGROUND
On September 12, 1996, Council approved recommendations A through G
above on condition that the approval is temporary pending consultation
and a report back; and, that the General Manager of Engineering Services
report back to the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment in 90
days on the Broadway Express Services.
INITIAL OPERATION
BC Transit provided a report to the Vancouver Regional Transit
Commission (VRTC) regarding the new service (available in the City
Clerk s office) in November 1996. The report indicates that ridership
has grown to about 10,000 persons per day. Original projections
estimated 12,000 per day after one year. This is now expected to be
exceeded within the year. Most of the ridership is in the peak periods.
About half of westbound peak period transit ridership from Broadway
Station is on the B-Line.
Reliability for the new service has been a problem. Cancelled trips,
crowding and pass-ups have occurred due to a lack of operational buses.
At times, over 200 buses, in a fleet of about 975, are not in service.
As a result, all services in the region in the peak periods are
adversely affected. BC Transit expects to have the number of buses
restored in the next few weeks.
Staff had intended to monitor BC Transit s management of the new service
in order to ensure there is an adequate level of transit service for
Vancouver riders. However, because of the vehicle shortages and
cancelled trips, BC Transit s data collection program planned for
January and February has been temporarily suspended. Monitoring will be
resumed as soon as full service returns.
LOCAL IMPACTS
The Vancouver Traffic Commission expressed concern about BC Transit s
process for consulting property owners affected by the new route. In
order to potentially improve passenger service and reduce negative
impacts on local businesses, the existing bus stop locations have been
reevaluated. Concerned local merchants were consulted. Overall, most
of the locations appear to be satisfactory and reflect a trade-off among
various factors in achieving a modern Rapid Bus system, including better
travel times (e.g., separated-stops in order to reduce loading delays),
transit/traffic operations, transit passenger walking distances,
on-street loading and customer parking needs.
In particular, a new review regarding the position of the westbound #99
stop at Broadway Station was initiated with BC Transit in consultation
with local merchants east and west of Commercial Drive. As a result,
the #99 service bus stop location west of Commercial Drive has been
improved. The potential for further improvements at this and several
other bus stop locations will continue to be considered as the passenger
loading distribution and volumes change in future.
The operation of the new short-turn route using 12th Avenue between
Granville and Fir Streets, and Fir Street, between 12th Avenue and 10th
Avenue, has been satisfactory and no concerns have been expressed by
local merchants or residents.
Bus shelters have been installed at many locations in order to focus
transit user activity, as well as benefit passengers. The distinctive
blue colour of the shelters helps advertise the new service.
In addition, new litter receptacles are required. However, no funds
exist for this purpose. Therefore, it is recommended the 1997
Sanitation Operating Budget be increased by $5,300 to pay for new
receptacles at the #99 B-Line stops and that $7,400 be approved annually
for emptying and maintaining them (recommendations I and J).
FUTURE SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS
BC Transit plans to develop the 99 B-Line in phases. The proposed
frequency changes are described in Appendix B and discussed below.
Service changes planned for April to September 1997 include:
1. #99 Buses Short-turned at Alma
In recognition of reduced summer activity at UBC, some of the #99
service buses will be short-turned at Alma Street rather than
routed through to UBC. This will concentrate the frequency of
service on the core portion of the service east of Alma Street, and
reduce frequency to UBC during the quieter season.
2. #9 Buses Terminated At Alma
BC Transit is also considering terminating all #9 service trips at
Alma Street during the summer. Since service west of Alma Street
in the peak periods is normally retained in the summer, this
proposal represents a significant service reduction. Council has
indicated the frequency of the #9 Broadway bus route should not be
reduced until a comprehensive ridership review of both the #9 and
#99 services is completed. The VRTC should be requested to defer
consideration of the #9 service reduction until after this review
(recommendation H).
3. Additional Bus Stops
BC Transit plans to install #99 bus stops at Clark Drive, near the
Vancouver Community College King Edward Campus, and on 10th Avenue,
potentially at Sasamat Street. Ultimately, bus bulges (widened
sidewalks) could be installed at the stops on 10th Avenue in order
to reduce bus stopping delay and minimize any permanent loss of
existing on-street parking. Staff plan to report on the West Point
Grey stops after discussions with the local business community.
Future phases will include a number of longer-term measures including:
1. Bus Stop Improvements
Council asked for a new stop at Renfrew Street. BC Transit is
studying the potential to add this stop and potentially other
locations in this area.
Marketing strategies could include adding distinctive graphics for
the bus stop signs and shelters. City staff are reviewing designs
for larger shelters at major stops.
2. Service Level Improvements
Service frequency increases are planned in the Fall of 1997, as
described in Appendix B. With sufficient ridership increases, the
route could be extended east of Lougheed Mall. As well, evening
and Sunday service may be added.
3. Transit Priority Measures
Transit priority measures such as transit priority signal
actuation, HOV lanes, strategic on-street parking changes, and bus
bulges will be examined in consultation with BC Transit in order to
improve travel times for the service. BC Transit and Burnaby will
be installing a trial transit priority signal system for a portion
of the Lougheed Highway route this year.
Staff will discuss potential transit priority measures with the
local communities affected and report to Council for approval prior
to installation.
4. More Articulated Buses
Large articulated buses are needed to handle the increasing
ridership and variable loading patterns for the route. At present,
not all of the #99 service buses are articulated. More articulated
buses will be used later this year.
5. Improved Data Collection
Ongoing monitoring of ridership levels and origins/ destinations
will make it easier to ensure service levels are adequate to meet
passenger needs and reduce the possibility of crowding and
pass-ups.
CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary observations confirm the new express service is very
popular. BC Transit suggests that a substantial number of motorists are
switching to transit for some trip types. Ultimately, service in this
corridor is proposed to be provided by LRT. In the interim, the #99
route will continue to grow in regional importance as more people become
aware of the service, and as improvements such as the new bus stops in
Vancouver are introduced.
It is recommended that Council give final approval to the previous
temporary motions A to G, and the new recommendations H to J. Staff
will continue to work with BC Transit and report to Council as necessary
regarding improvements and route monitoring.
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