CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC
JULY 8, 1997
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held
on Tuesday, July 8, 1997, at approximately 12:50 p.m., in Committee Room
No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on
Transportation and Traffic meeting, to consider the recommendations of
the Committee.
PRESENT: Mayor Philip Owen
Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario
Councillor Alan Herbert
Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Don Lee
Councillor Gordon Price
Councillor George Puil
ABSENT: Councillor Don Bellamy (Civic Business)
Councillor Jennifer Clarke (Sick Leave)
Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Civic Business)
Councillor Sam Sullivan
CLERK TO THE
COUNCIL: Denise Salmon
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Herbert,
SECONDED by Cllr. Price,
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor
Owen in the Chair.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report of Standing Committee on
Transportation and Traffic
July 8, 1997
Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as
contained in the following clauses of the attached report:
Cl.1: Policy Discussion: Regional Bike Activity
Cl.2: Ridgeway Greenway - Proposed Street Closures
Cl.3: Keefer Triangle Improvements
Cl.4: Transit Delay on Robson Between Howe and Hornby
Clauses 1 and 3
MOVED by Cllr. Herbert,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses
1 and 3 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Ridgeway Greenway - Proposed Street Closures
(Clause 2)
MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT the previously closed portion of 37th Avenue (west of Fraser
at Mountain View Cemetery) be opened.
- LOST
(Councillors Chiavario, Herbert, Price and the Mayor opposed.)
MOVED by Cllr. Chiavario,
THAT the previously closed portion of 37th Avenue (west of Fraser
at Mountain view Cemetery) be made a one-way street eastbound.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Price opposed.)
Transit Delay on Robson Between Howe and Hornby
(Clause 4)
MOVED by Cllr. Herbert,
THAT the recommendation of the Committee, as contained in Clause 4
of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Puil opposed to Recommendations A and E.)
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Herbert,
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Chiavario,
SECONDED by Cllr. Herbert,
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Council adjourned at 12:55 p.m.
* * * * *
REPORT TO COUNCIL
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC
JULY 8, 1997
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on
Transportation and Traffic was held on Tuesday, July 8, 1997, at
approximately 9:30 a.m. in the No. 1 Committee Room, Third Floor, City
Hall.
PRESENT: Mayor Philip Owen
Councillor Don Bellamy
Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario
Councillor Alan Herbert
Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Don Lee
Councillor Gordon Price
Councillor George Puil
ABSENT: Councillor Jennifer Clarke (Sick Leave)
Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Civic Business)
Councillor Sam Sullivan
CLERK TO THE
COMMITTEE: Denise Salmon
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
meetings of April 9, 1997, reconvened May 14, 1997, and June 3, 1997,
were adopted.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Policy Discussion: Regional Bike Activity File: 5553
Doug Louie, Neighbourhood Transportation Branch, Engineering
Services, provided Council with a verbal report on regional bike
activity. Also distributed for Council's information were:
Commuter Cycling Map of Metro Vancouver;
Vancouver Bicycle Routes Information Brochure; and
Greater Vancouver Regional Bicycle Sign and Pavement Marking
Guidelines, dated October 1996
With the aid of slides, Mr. Louie indicated those G.V.R.D.
municipalities which have Master Bicycle Plans, bicycle advisory
committees, and municipal bicycle parking by-laws. The following key
activity elements were highlighted:
Regional projects, i.e. Richmond's bicycle lanes, Second Narrows
retrofit, new bridge over Lynne Creek with bicycle access provided
by way of ramps adjacent stairs, bike lockers installed at SkyTrain
stations, and sponsored on-street bike racks in New Westminster and
North Vancouver.
Regional bicycle initiatives this year, i.e. regional spot
improvements, pavement marking standards, bicycle loop detector
standards, regional end of trip standards, educational initiatives,
bicycle accident statistics, bicycle data collection standards, and
an on-line regional cycling map.
Cycling projects in Vancouver, commencing in 1988 with the
Comprehensive Bicycle Plan, Bicycle Network Study in 1992, the BC
Parkway upgrade, in addition to multiple bike routes, i.e.
Seaside, Adanac, Off-Broadway, Heather, Lakewood, Ontario, and
Ridgeway.
Funding from senior levels of government will allow for the Seaside
route upgrade at English Bay, and completion of the Elliott route
in 1998.
Further projects for 1998 include the western extension of the
Ridgeway Greenway, Kent, Dunbar, review of street bicycle racks,
review of bicycle parking by-law, and the False Creek and Coal
Harbour routes.
The following motion by Councillor Chiavario was put and carried.
The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
THAT the verbal report from Engineering Services on Regional Bike
Activity be received for information.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. Ridgeway Greenway Proposed Street Closures File: 5767/5753
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated June 10,
1997, (on file) in which the General Manager of Engineering Services
informed Council of the additional public comments staff obtained
regarding the four Ridgeway Greenway street closures after temporary
closures were installed to assess changes in local traffic patterns.
The report also informed Council that construction to make these
closures permanent will begin this summer.
Peter Bremner, Greenways and Local Improvements Engineer, provided
Council with an overview of the report, and noted concerns with
shortcutting through the Mountain View Cemetery have now been addressed.
Mary Sutherland, speaker, advised:
of her support for the proposed road closures
on the success of Windsor Castle Park, and future visions for the
park (a Council member suggested Ms. Sutherland contact the Manager
of Park Development in the Park Board to investigate options for a
gazebo)
on the need to monitor the closed portion of road on 37th Avenue
east of Ross which allows emergency vehicle access, to ensure cars
observe the closure
Betty Iu, speaker, (petition filed) noted:
the difficulty in accessing the adjacent arterials of Fraser and
41st Avenue with the current road closures
the need to open 37th Avenue at Mountain View Cemetery west of
Fraser to traffic
Prince Edward at 41st is a dangerous intersection, although one of
the few neighbourhood options for travelling to John Oliver High
School via car
90% of those contacted to sign her petition were against the road
closure on 37th west of Fraser
In response to questions from Council staff noted 71% of those
surveyed by the City were in favour of this proposed street closure.
Gunter Hasbach, speaker, (petition filed)
noted a number of neighbourhood residents had signed his petition
indicating they were not contacted regarding the street closure on
37th Avenue at Mount View Cemetery, west of Fraser, and their
opposition to such a closure
expressed his concern with vehicle line-ups at Prince Edward
waiting to cross 41st Avenue, and the dangerous traffic situation
at that intersection (Engineering staff agreed to monitor the
Prince Edward and 41st Avenue intersection for problems, in
addition to the neighbourhood's lanes)
In response to questions from Council, Engineering staff indicated
a partial closure of the portion of street on 37th Avenue at Mountain
View Cemetery west of Fraser was feasible.
The following motion by Councillor Puil was put and lost:
THAT the previously closed portion of 37th Avenue (west of Fraser
at Mountain View Cemetery) be opened.
- LOST (tie vote)
(Councillors Chiavario, Herbert, Price and the Mayor opposed.)
The following motion by Councillor Chiavario was put and carried.
The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
THAT the previously closed portion of 37th Avenue (west of Fraser
at Mountain View Cemetery) be made a one-way street eastbound.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Price opposed.)
3. Keefer Triangle Improvements File: 5757
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated June 20,
1997, (on file) in which the General Manager of Engineering Services, in
consultation with the Director of Central Area Planning, sought design
approval and funding consideration for a portion of Keefer Street in
Chinatown to create an urban square while restoring vehicular access in
proximity to properties fronting on the north side of the street, east
of Columbia Street.
Presented for consideration was the option of including a two-tree
median on Columbia Street, at an additional cost of $60,000. The
General Manager of Engineering Services recommended no median be
included on Columbia Street, as there are traffic concerns, but more
importantly, the street would be the likely route for the Downtown
Heritage Railway within five years.
Paul Pinsker, Parking, Engineering Services, provided an overview
of the report, and Jeannette Hlavach, Heritage Planner, discussed the
progress of the square's design. She further suggested the proposed
Columbia Street median would link and bridge the gap between the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden and the plaza, in an area which will become a much more
central part of Chinatown. Ms. Hlavach noted the Chinatown Merchants
Association's concern with the number of plaza trees arose late in the
process.
David Mah and Lewis Villegis, Consultants, provided background on
the project and noted the treed median on Columbia would act as a
gateway and traffic calming device. It was also noted the two proposed
rows of trees were critical to link the garden and create a unique plaza
space. Mr. Villegis offered Chinatown is in a state of decline and
Keefer Plaza is an opportunity to revitalize the area. With the aid of
overheads, the Consultants provided a future view of the area's
potential.
Council members discussed the following:
the possibility of incorporating green space into the hard paved
surface of the plaza
potential parking enforcement problems with tour buses backing up
at the lay-by provided, as well as the potential problems with
idling buses (Engineering staff advised the lay-by was for
short-term passenger loading and unloading; staff have met with
tour bus groups to encourage self-policing)
proposed vision for the plaza kiosk, and a request the design be
brought back to Council for approval
the need to have commemorative monuments and works of public art
adhere to the City's guidelines
responsibility for the proposed fountain; would it be connected to
the City's water system (Engineering staff indicated a joint
venture between Chinatown and the City was anticipated, with a
report back for Council approval)
type of trees envisaged for the site, and potential for view
blockage
status of the Heritage Railway (Engineering staff advised a report
would soon be before Council to request approval to proceed with a
consultant study)
the absolute need for Engineering Services approval, in response to
a suggested recommendation from the Chinatown Merchants Association
to allow trees to be moved, deleted or added as necessary on the
plaza, without further application to the City
potential for use of the portion of Andy Livingstone Park, fronting
on Dr. SunYat-Sen Park
Colin Sihoe, Chair, Chinatown Historic Area Planning Committee,
advised:
of CHAPC's agreement, in principle, with the consultant's proposal
- with trees and the median, subject to traffic flow not being
impeded
the treed background would provide a pedestrian friendly atmosphere
for plaza activities, as well as provide a visual and activity
centre for Chinatown
Michael Ng, Director, Chinatown Merchants Association, advised:
on the need to eliminate the south row of plaza trees, or failing
that, agreement to the Association's proposal to permit moving,
deletion or addition of trees at their discretion
the Consultant's future view of the plaza fails to recognize extent
of private land holdings in the area
with the number of proposed trees, little space will remain for
design of the fountain, kiosk (currently visualized as a Chinese
pagoda type design) and statue; in addition to the space required
for planned activities and festivals
a competition is planned to promote awareness of the project,
including naming the plaza, and design contest for statues and
fountain
of concerns with potential view blockage and lack of walking area
should both rows of trees be planted
The following motion by Councillor Don Lee was put and carried.
The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED,
A. THAT the improvements of the Keefer Triangle, as described in
the Administrative Report dated June 20, 1997, and as
generally illustrated in Figure 1, be approved;
FURTHER THAT staff report back on tree placement.
B. THAT the improvements not include a median on Columbia Street.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
4. Transit Delay on Robson Between Howe and Hornby File: 5554
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated June 17,
1997, (on file) in which the General Manager of Engineering recommended
traffic control changes to improve transit movements on Robson Street
between Howe and Hornby Streets.
Elizabeth Ballard, Traffic Management Engineer, provided Council
with an overview of the report, and with the aid of overheads indicated
the proposed changes to traffic patterns on Robson between Howe and
Hornby.
Vera Wynn-Williams, Robson Street Business Association, noted:
staff's proposed recommendations would shift the congestion problem
to another area
the extensive detour required to turn onto Robson, and the negative
impact this would have on tourists, and the area's retailers
suggested a turn signal similar to the one presently in use at
Smithe and Hornby to address the traffic problem directly, without
impacting the Robson Street merchants
Dave Currie, BC Transit Transportation Engineer, advised:
of delays currently experienced by transit vehicles, due to the
right turning vehicle queue
of his support for the report's recommendations
BC Transit will increase West End service in September, as part of
the new downtown trolley routes; delays need resolution now to to
reduce travel time for transit, as well as improve its reliability
Dave Harlow, Independent Canadian Transit Union, noted:
a reliable bus system, not hampered by traffic delays, would bring
more people into the Robson shopping area
a reliable system would eliminate the need for diesels for
rerouting purposes
currently many vehicles travelling along Robson are through
traffic, and do not stop to shop
tour buses are often too wide to turn onto Robson and often jam the
intersection
of his support for the staff recommendations
the 800 Block Robson was originally designed as a transit way
Phil Yacht, Robson Street property owner, advised:
a personal survey carried out the afternoon of July 7th, indicated
no buses were delayed more than one cycle
traffic congestion is caused by pedestrians who disobey pedestrian
signals, and subsequently prevent motorists from turning,
eliminating right turns will move congestion to Georgia or Smithe
a right turn traffic light at Duthies Books (Hornby at Robson)
would address the problem of pedestrians ignoring the no walk sign
the Robson Street BIA supports heavy, slow moving traffic, with
parking allowed on both sides of Robson Street 24-hours a day
support for trolleys and the elimination of bus diesel fumes which
impact the area's sidewalk cafes
access to Robson Street should not be restricted
Shaugn Schwartz, Transit Users Group, noted:
Robson between Howe and Hornby should be returned to a bus mall,
which would help maintain Vancouver's electric trolleys
his support for banning turns onto Robson from Howe and Hornby
the 800 Block Robson was opened to car traffic in 1982 to improve
retail continuity on Robson Street; Robson is now a commercial
success
Council has indicated priority be given to pedestrians and transit,
and the space should be returned to them
Brian Williamson, area resident, advised:
of his strong support for the recommendations contained in staff's
report
a 12-month trail period should be considered
the Robson Street business interests may find it easier to get to
Robson, once traffic patterns adjust to the right turn restrictions
Members of Council noted:
pedestrians ignore the pedestrian signals, resulting in little time
for cars to turn
eliminating a half block of parking on Hornby leading up to
intersection would ease the traffic situation
problems will shift to Georgia and Howe if right turns are
prohibited
motorists cause congestion by failing to turn immediately on green
arrows
BC Transit has responded to the call for increased bus service in
the downtown peninsula, and staff's recommendations should improve
this service
the need for report back from staff, in 12 months, on the
effectiveness of the report's recommendations, with specific
reference to the status of BC Transit trolley buses
the need for BC Transit's commitment that full-time trolley service
will be restored on Robson Street
The following motion by Mayor Owen was put and carried. The
Committee,
therefore,
RECOMMENDED
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.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Puil opposed.)
The following motion by Councillor Puil was put and carried. The
Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
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.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The following motion by Councillor Chiavario was put and carried.
The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
D. THAT BC Transit be requested to return trolleys to Robson
Street now that the City has resolved the delay problem as
previously requested by Transit.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The following motion by Councillor Price was put and carried. The
Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
E. THAT staff report back on 24-hour street parking on Robson
Street and the possibility of bus and corner bulges.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Puil opposed.)
The Committee adjourned at 12:50 p.m.
* * * * *