SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 4
T&T COMMITTEE AGENDA
JULY 8, 1997
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: June 17, 1997
Dept. File No. 602124
CC File No. 5554
TO: Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
FROM: General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT: Transit Delay on Robson Street Between Howe and Hornby
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT right turns be prohibited from:
1) southbound Howe Street to westbound Robson Street;
2) northbound Hornby Street to eastbound Robson Street; and
3) westbound Robson to northbound Hornby to improve transit
movements.
B. THAT right turns be controlled by a signal arrow from
eastbound on Robson Street to southbound on Howe Street to
improve eastbound transit movements.
C. THAT the above traffic control changes be monitored and staff
report back to Council with further options if the situation
does not improve.
COUNCIL POLICY
Council's transportation policy places the highest priority on
pedestrians, bicycles and transit.
PURPOSE
This report recommends traffic control changes to improve transit
movements on Robson Street between Howe and Hornby Streets.
BACKGROUND
In 1977, the Robson Square Court House was constructed in the 800 block
Robson between Howe and Hornby Streets. A four-lane "bridge" structure
with full sidewalks was constructed over Robson Square. However, the
surface roadway was narrowed to one traffic lane in each direction and
was initially restricted to buses and emergency vehicles only. In 1982,
in response to West End requests to improve retail continuity, the 800
block Robson was opened to traffic. The Mall-type street design
remained, with one lane of general purpose traffic in each direction.
On March 25, 1997, the Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
requested a report on ways to reduce transit delays on the 800 block
Robson.
DISCUSSION
This section of Robson is one of the most popular pedestrian corridors
in the City. The main cause of transit delays in the 800 block Robson
is its reduction to a single traffic lane in each direction. Vehicles
turning right are delayed because of high pedestrian volumes -
approximately 800 pedestrians per hour on the south sidewalk and 1700
pedestrians per hour on the north sidewalk. The narrow roadway makes it
difficult to bypass stopped vehicles which are waiting to make right
turns onto Howe or Hornby. Traffic backups can quickly fill the 800
block Robson, resulting in extensive delays to buses and other traffic.
Figure 1 shows the existing traffic conditions.
The following options to improve transit movements were considered:
1. Ban right turns from Robson onto Howe and Hornby
2. Ban turns onto Robson from Howe and Hornby
3. Install right-turn arrows from Robson onto Howe and Hornby
4. Widen Robson at each end for right turns
5. Widen Robson to four traffic lanes
6. Close Robson to vehicular traffic except transit
This report focuses on the more minor traffic control changes in options
1, 2 and 3. Council may wish a more comprehensive review of options 4,
5 and 6. However, it may be more appropriate to look at these more
complex options when the downtown transportation network is reviewed in
the future. The recommended measures are shown in Figure 2, and are as
follows:
(a) Eastbound Traffic and Transit Movements
At Hornby Street, it is recommended that the northbound right turn
to Robson be prohibited (option 2). This will reduce the volume of
traffic on Robson, and hence the delay for eastbound through
traffic. The right turns can be made one block further north at
Georgia Street, where pedestrian conflicts are less severe.
At Howe Street, pedestrians crossing in the south crosswalk
(approximately 800 pedestrians per hour) are held back for ten to
fifteen seconds after the start of the green for Robson Street.
This pedestrian delay period helps clear eastbound right turns from
Robson to Howe so they do not block the through transit and vehicle
movements. It is recommended that a green arrow be installed
(option 3) to emphasize the right-turn flow and improve the
eastbound transit movement. Banning the right turn from eastbound
Robson to southbound Howe (option 1) is a further option, but is
not recommended because the next permitted right turn is three
blocks east at Richards. This would be an excessive route
diversion, but may need to be considered further if delays persist.
(b) Westbound Traffic and Transit Movements
The southbound right turn from Howe to Robson creates three
problems:
1) delays southbound buses on Howe
2) adds to westbound congestion on Robson
3) interferes with pedestrians crossing Robson
It is recommended that this right turn be prohibited (option 2).
The right turns can be made one block further south at Smithe
Street, where conflicts are minimal.
A major cause of westbound delay is that right turns to Hornby are
held back by high pedestrian volumes (approximately 1700
pedestrians per hour). It is recommended that this right turn be
prohibited (option 1). The right turns can be made one block
further west at Burrard Street. Pedestrian conflicts at Burrard
are also severe, but buses will have the option of using the second
lane to bypass the queue.
In summary, a hybrid of options (1), (2) and (3) is recommended at this
time, with further monitoring.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
All measures recommended for installation in this report can be funded
in existing operating and capital accounts.
CONCLUSION
On the 800 block Robson between Howe and Hornby, eastbound traffic and
transit service can be improved by prohibiting north-to-east right turns
from Hornby Street, and by installing an east-to-south right-turn arrow
to Howe Street. Southbound and westbound transit service can be
improved by prohibiting south-to-west right turns from Howe Street and
the west-to-north right turns from Robson Street.
These changes will result in improvements to the function of the 800
block Robson, for pedestrians and transit, with some inconvenience to
motorists. They will be monitored for effectiveness.
Further changes can be considered when the downtown street and transit
networks are reviewed, as a follow-up to the Transportation Plan.
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