A5 ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT Date: March 24, 1997 Dept. File No. H 93-34 CC File No. 5551-1 TO: Vancouver City Council FROM: General Manager of Engineering Services SUBJECT: North Shore False Creek Transit Service RECOMMENDATION A. THAT the new bus service for False Creek North/Yaletown and the improvements to the #1 Beach Avenue route be approved. B. THAT the specific route proposals shown in Appendices A and B be referred to a further public meeting of BC Transit (to include the attendees at the February workshop), with a report back by staff on the outcome. C. THAT BC Transit be requested to provide at least a 12 minute service frequency for the daytime Monday to Saturday False Creek North route. D. THAT BC Transit be requested to review the proposed evening, Sunday, and holiday route for False Creek North and Beach Avenue over the next year, to determine whether a more frequent or less circuitous service should be provided. E. THAT staff report back on route details, bus stop locations and, as necessary, modifications to roadways, traffic management measures, bus stop amenities (including shelters and waste receptacles) and other details of the route implementation, including funding requirements, following the public meeting. - 2 - COUNCIL POLICY Council has established public transit as a high priority. Council supports measures to increase transit use as a means of reducing the impacts of general vehicular traffic growth and improving regional air quality, as per the Transport 2021 initiatives and Draft Transportation Plan. PURPOSE This report recommends that Council approve BC Transit s proposed new service for False Creek North/Yaletown and Beach Avenue/ Granville Slopes, and report back on route details after a further public meeting. The new services are scheduled to start June 30, 1997. BACKGROUND Introducing transit service in the emerging high density False Creek North/Yaletown area has been a high priority Council request to the Vancouver Regional Transit Commission for some time. Council has also requested that the evening, Sunday and holiday operation of the #1 service for Beach Avenue and Granville Slopes be reinstated. On March 11, 1997, Council received BC Transit s 1997/98 Annual Service Plan for information. The plan notes a number of improvements for the Downtown including a new False Creek North Service. BC Transit has provided a report on the service entitled Downtown Vancouver Transit Enhancement Phase 1 - Yaletown/False Creek North to Downtown (available in the City Clerk s office). TRANSPORTATION OBJECTIVES The purpose of the new route is to introduce transit service into the False Creek North area in order to serve residents and businesses. Direct, high-frequency connections are desirable for trips to and from: - the core of the Downtown - major transit routes on and parallel to Granville Street - SkyTrain - 3 - Other important destinations include: - shopping and health care (e.g., Davie Street and Robson Street); - recreation (e.g., Stanley Park and the enter- tainment/Library district); and - other neighbourhoods on the Downtown peninsula. PUBLIC PROCESS The public process to develop this service has included: 1. Telephone Survey BC Transit conducted a survey of residents in the Central Area. The survey included questions on existing travel patterns, mode of travel, destinations, and willingness to use new transit services connecting their neighbourhoods to areas in the Downtown. 2. Public Workshop On February 24, 1997, BC Transit staff hosted a public workshop at Library Square to discuss the new service. Approximately 25 persons attended, as well as City staff. After a brief discussion of some of the general service concepts, people broke into work groups to discuss their general service needs and interests. These are reflected in the objectives outlined above. At the meeting, BC Transit indicated it would be following up with the workshop participants. To summarize, there has been public involvement in the development of the route, but the public has not had the opportunity to comment in detail on this specific proposal. There does need to be a further public meeting on these specifics, and staff will report back on the results of this discussion. BC TRANSIT S ROUTE PROPOSAL Since the public workshop, a number of route options have been investigated in order to achieve the objectives identified above. Some of the options have potentially higher frequencies or provide better connections but are circuitous or would require a higher level of funding than is available. Others are potentially long term options only, as they involve changes to BC Transit s collective agreement or require property to allow roadway modifications. - 4 - There is no single route option that can meet all objectives without compromise. However, BC Transit has developed a preferred routing. As illustrated in Appendix A, the daytime plan has two elements: 1. a new Route from the False Creek North/Yaletown area to the Downtown. The new service is a rerouted extension of the existing #22 Downtown/Macdonald service and as such offers a cost saving over some other options. The #22 Downtown service currently terminates on Keefer Street at Columbia Street. 2. an extension of the #1 Gastown/Beach to Pacific Boulevard at Davie Street. Service would operate in the daytime, approximately 6 AM to 6 PM, Monday to Saturday. The service frequency would be 15 minutes on each of the two routes, with schedules coordinated to provide a combined 7-8 minute frequency for eastbound Pacific Boulevard between Richards Street and Davie street for trips to the Downtown. All buses would be wheelchair accessible. During the evenings, Sundays and holidays, a 20-minute service would be provided on a modified routing that combines the Beach Avenue and False Creek North services, as illustrated in Appendix B. DISCUSSION The extension of the #1 Beach and #22 Macdonald services into the False Creek North/Yaletown area generally provides the necessary connections to the rest of the Downtown peninsula. The daytime frequency to the downtown core (7-8 minutes) is acceptable. However, for other trips the 15 minute frequency is below policy for high density transit situations. BC Transit has proposed this lower frequency because of uncertainty about the productivity of the route. It is recommended that BC Transit be asked to improve this frequency to at least 12 minutes, as the service is in competition with the walking trip. The extension of the #1 Beach service east to Pacific Boulevard and Davie Street benefits the West End south of Davie Street by providing: - transfer connections to services on Granville Street and Howe/Seymour; - access to the new Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre; and - service to east Davie Street - 5 - However, because of the longer route, travel times to the Downtown would increase by about 5 minutes. Regarding the evening, Sunday, and Holiday service, Council s request to reinstate service on Beach Avenue in these time periods is accomplished. However, the route is circuitous and the frequency is low (20 minutes). This service should be reviewed over the next year to determine whether a more frequent or less circuitous service could be provided. IMPLEMENTATION BC Transit is proceeding quickly. Assuming Council approval of the new service now, BC Transit will seek Vancouver Regional Transit Commission approval on April 9th to allocate the necessary service hours. Following a further public meeting, staff will report back on route specifics, bus stop locations and, if necessary, on minor geometric modifications at two intersections, traffic management changes, and bus stop amenities such as shelters and waste receptacles. The service is scheduled to start on June 30, 1997. CONCLUSION It is encouraging that BC Transit is working quickly to establish the False Creek North service, albeit with tight timing, along with a number of other important new transit improvements in the City and Region. It is recommended that Council approve provision of the new service now; BC Transit s proposal will be discussed further with the public before finalization, and ongoing improvements will continue to be sought. * * * * *