ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: February 27, 1998

Author/Local:M. Zaborniak/7336

CC File No. 5753

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	General Manager, Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Granville and Broadway School Board Site - Proposed Roadway Changes

---

RECOMMENDATION

A.THAT 10th Avenue between Fir and Granville be widened to 11.5m to accommodate transit and facilitate access to the School Board site.

B.THAT left-turn bays be installed on Fir Street at Broadway (northbound) and 10th Avenue (southbound), as shown on drawing YA 128-1.

C.THAT the Broadway express bus turnaround be relocated to 10th Avenue.

COUNCIL POLICY

City Council approves changes to street widths and designs.

The Development Permit Board has required that development on this site contribute to improvement of adjoining streets and sidewalks.

PURPOSE

To recommend improvements to the transit facilities, vehicle access, and sidewalk areas to serve and enhance the redevelopment of the School Board site at Fir and Broadway.

BACKGROUND

The Vancouver School Board site encompasses a full city block, bounded by 10th Avenue, Broadway, Fir Street, and Granville Street. The site is currently undergoing major redevelopment which will significantly increase density at the site to include increased office, commercial, and residential space.

When the redevelopment was first proposed in 1990, a number of residents were concerned with the traffic impacts of the proposal, which are listed below:

i) volume of traffic will greatly impact residents.

ii) access to parking and loading off 10th Avenue will be highly disruptive.

To address the traffic impacts, it was proposed to provide left-turn bays on Fir Avenue to facilitate direct access and egress from the new development to keep traffic on the arterial streets as much as possible. It was also proposed to increase the width of 10th Avenue which will reduce conflicts and provide space for additional parking on the south side of 10th Avenue, in front of residences.

BC Transit has also requested that 10th Avenue be widened to better accommodate bus services. Since 10th Avenue is currently only 8.2m it is difficult for buses to enter the block and the articulated buses have been forced to reroute to 12th Avenue. BC Transit would also like to have a bus lay-over on 10th Avenue, with dual trolley lines so that buses can by-pass one another.

This redevelopment is at a central, prominent location at the intersection of two major transit corridors. In 1999, the Vancouver-Richmond Rapid Bus proposes to begin full service on Granville. Broadway is a major cross-town bus route that includes the 99-B line express service. Study of a Light Rapid Transit (LRT) on Broadway has started, terminating at Granville Street.

The site is part of a lively pedestrian and retail district, with multi-family zoning nearby. Along with a residential tower, and office and retail space, the development will include green space (where the existing School Board Offices sit now) as well as a north/south pedestrian link from Broadway to 10th.

The transit and pedestrian issues, along with resident concerns, were discussed as part of the development review. The developer agreed to contribute funding as well as strips of property on Granville Street, Fir Street, Broadway, and 10th Avenue, to address all issues.

DISCUSSION

The developer, as a condition of the Development Permit Board, has contributed a portion of the property to the City to improve the surrounding streets and sidewalks. However, Council approval of the street design is required. The following is an outline of street changes which have been proposed (see also Figure 1):

Granville Street -A 3m sidewalk widening to a total width of 6.3m is provided on the west side of Granville from Broadway to 10th Avenue, for a length of 82m. This provides for additional sidewalk space for increased pedestrian activity associated with the new development and for a future station for the Vancouver/ Richmond Rapid Bus.

Broadway -A similar 3m building setback is also provided on the south side of Broadway, from Granville Street to the mid-block to the west, giving a total sidewalk width of about 6m. This can be used to provide pedestrian space for an LRT station.

The Development Permit Board requirements included a turn bay on Broadway at Fir Street. However, this proposal is being deferred because of the improved transit facilities that are anticipated for both Granville and Broadway. Council is not being asked to make a decision on specific design elements along these streets at this time.

10th Avenue -This street has long been used as a transit turnaround, and has trolley wires to accommodate these movements. This function will become more important as transit service increases. However, the width of this street is presently 8.2m for most of its length, which requires that parking be restricted on the south side. The Broadway express bus was unable to manoeuvre in this width, requiring a detour to 12th Avenue. This adds four blocks of travel for the turning buses, with impacts on additional areas. It was requested by BC Transit that 10th Avenue be increased to 11.5m to accommodate a transit lay-over, a dual trolley line, and reinstatement of the Broadway express bus turnaround. This will also allow for the reinstatement of some parking on the south side of 10th Avenue, which will benefit residents of several apartment buildings. New sidewalks and street trees on both sides of 10th will be included in the project. A 0.5m sidewalk widening on the north side will provide extra sidewalk in front of the retail strip on the eastern quarter of the block.

Fir Street/10th Avenue Intersection -

The 13-storey residential building and 9-storey retail/office building will only have access from 10th Avenue. Therefore, a southbound turn lane is proposed on Fir at 10th Avenue, to provide improved access to the new developments in the block. This is expected to reduce shortcutting traffic by providing direct access to the new development. The design provides for a 3m sidewalk on the west side of Fir, and a sidewalk ranging from 3.3m to 4.3m on the east side of Fir, from Broadway to 10th. These widths will accommodate street trees.

Fir Street and Broadway Intersection -

There is an existing southbound bay on Fir at Broadway. A complementary bay is proposed for the northbound direction on Fir. This was proposed at the development review stage to provide egress from the new development. This additional bay will improve visibility of opposing left-turners, which is expected to increase safety for transit and other vehicles. The bay will allow the removal of the afternoon northbound left-turn prohibition, which will encourage traffic to stay on the arterial streets.

Street trees will be added to all four streets surrounding the development, which will improve the street appearance and become an amenity for pedestrians.

Project notification boards have been installed on Fir Street and on 10th Avenue to inform residents of the proposed changes. One resident phoned and was concerned about the potential for diesel buses using the transit lay-over on 10th Avenue. This lay-over will be primarily for trolley buses and the only diesel buses would be a few of the 99 B-Line buses. Since most of the B-lines travel to UBC, relatively few will turn at 10th Avenue.

In conclusion, the street changes have been previously discussed as part of the development review and approval, and subsequently the proposal was displayed at the site to generate public input. As part of development process, the developer has contributed property strips and funding for the sidewalk and street changes. The proposed changes will improve pedestrian, transit, and vehicular facilities beside and around the site, ultimately benefitting the residents, employees and visitors in the area.

FUNDING

The cost estimates for the project are as follows:

Left-turn bays on Fir St. 10th Avenue, Widening and sidewalks. Street trees surrounding the project Total

$418,000 $315,000 $17,000 $750,000

Apart from the property strips, the developer has contributed $300,000 toward this work so the total anticipated cost to the City is $450,000, and these funds have been provided as part of the 1998 Streets Basic Capital Budget. The costs to install transit facilities for rapid bus service on Granville and the LRT on Broadway are separate, and not known at this time. They will be reported back at a future time.

* * * *

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver