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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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