ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: April 17, 1997
Dept. File No. H193-35
CC File: 5551-1/5560-1
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: General Manager of Engineering Services,
in consultation with the Director of Planning
SUBJECT: Richmond RapidBus Project
INFORMATION
The General Manager of Engineering Services submits this report for
INFORMATION.
COUNCIL POLICY
Transportation 2021 provides for high-capacity transit in the Richmond
corridor.
The Transportation Draft Plan recommends that transit service in the
City be enriched by such methods as limited stop express service.
Council has created the Granville Street HOV lane in Marpole with the
understanding that BC Transit would be forthcoming with the express bus
service at standard fares.
PURPOSE
BC Transit is now planning the Richmond Rapidbus project in partnership
with Vancouver and Richmond. An accelerated schedule will be necessary
to meet the conditions for use of available federal infrastructure
funding.
The purpose of this report is to introduce the issues which must be
dealt with over the next few months, including a public consultation
process, and those issues which can be addressed after implementation.
BC Transit staff are available to explain the project and answer
questions.
BACKGROUND
This project was proposed in the BC Transit 10 year plan and more
recently in the 5-year plan. Until now, the project has been on hold as
part of a Provincial capital funding freeze. The project is included in
the Regional Transportation 2021 Plan and the City's Draft
Transportation Plan.
In 1993 and 1995, Council dealt with the HOV lane on Granville in
Marpole. In May 1995, Council moved:
THAT a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane be approved on
southbound Granville Street from 63rd Avenue to Southwest
Marine Drive, from 3 to 6 PM, Monday to Friday, subject to ...
express bus service being committed to Marpole residents and
shoppers at one-zone fare level ...
DISCUSSION
BC Transit proposes a Rapidbus service between Richmond and downtown
Vancouver along Granville Street with the following objectives:
reduced travel time
improved convenience
improved comfort
The express service would project a distinctive image in terms of
design, logos, marketing, etc. The service would be accessible to
Vancouver users at major transit connections. Low-floor accessible
articulated buses will be used with multiple-door loading procedures.
Exterior bicycle racks will be provided on vehicles.
The bus stops are proposed to be distinctive. Well-lit shelters would
include modern technology such as "time to the next bus" displays and
direct phone links to customer information. Schedule and route
information would be posted. Conventional phones and newspaper boxes
would also be available. Tickets would be purchased in these shelters,
with "proof of payment" on the vehicles, similar to Skytrain.
BC Transit has applied for federal infrastructure money. In order to
secure the funding, however, they must show substantial completion of
the physical infrastructure by March, 1998. The most significant element
is a bus storage facility which will be located in Richmond.
Organization
The City of Vancouver will be invited to participate in this project
through a technical steering committee which will direct staff
involvement in those issues which affect the City. Council will be kept
informed and, from time to time, will be asked for guidance and required
to make decisions.
Public Participation
Public participation is an important component of this project. BC
Transit intends to set up a public information office at the existing
LRT office at Broadway and Granville.
The details of the public participation program will be defined more
completely in the next month. Council will be kept informed of
meetings, etc. Topics may include the following:
Routing
Granville Street has been identified as the most appropriate route for
the following reasons:
- the existing Richmond express buses use it
- the route offers the fastest travel between downtown Richmond
and the Vancouver downtown
- it offers better connections to the airport via shuttle buses
- it may offer further decreases in travel times if the Arthur
Laing Bridge is used, especially if transit priority is
provided on the Moray Channel Bridge
Stops
This will be an express service with limited stops. Connections with
major east-west transit routes will be provided. Most probable stop
locations are:
- 70th Avenue
- 49th Avenue
- 41st Avenue
- King Edward
- Broadway
In the downtown local stopping will resume, per the existing express
services. It is anticipated that the service will terminate at the
Discovery Station at Burrard Street. The new waterfront convention
centre could also be the site of a future terminus.
Other technical tasks within the City will be to design the station
landing areas including distinctive shelters with all amenities. This
will involve discussions with abutting land owners.
This must be done now so that any capital works can take advantage of
federal infrastructure funding.
Longer Term Issues
Existing rush hour regulations which prohibit parking in the peak
direction of travel are sufficient to assure the desired travel times.
Some signal pre-emptions may be necessary, as well as reserved bus lanes
in specific situations. Upon implementation of this service, BC Transit
and the City will monitor the new service to determine what further
transit priority measures will be required.
CONCLUSION
BC Transit is proceeding with the Richmond RapdiBus project for speedy
implementation. This project is consistent with regional and City
transportation objectives. The public will have an opportunity to
participate in the design of the implementation through a communications
programs designed by the project team. City staff will be represented on
this project team and Council will be kept informed. The goal is to
have this service operating by September 1998.
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