CITY OF VANCOUVER

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON

TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC

APRIL 7, 1998

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Tuesday, April 7, 1998, at approximately 12:20 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 Don Bellamy Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario Councillor Alan Herbert Councillor Lynne Kennedy Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor Gordon Price
ABSENT:	Councillor Jennifer Clarke (Civic Business) Councillor George Puil Councillor Sam Sullivan (Leave of Absence)
CLERK TO THE COUNCIL:	Denise Salmon

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

SECONDED by Cllr. Herbert,

THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor Owen in the chair.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

cont'd

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Report of Standing Committee on

Transportation and Traffic

April 7, 1998

Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in the following clauses of the attached report:

Cl.1: Blenheim Street Traffic Calming Measures Follow-up

Cl.2: High Occupancy Vehicle Network for the Greater Vancouver Region

Blenheim Street Traffic

Calming Measures Follow-up

(Clause 1)

MOVED by Cllr. Chiavario,

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 1 of this report, be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

High Occupancy Vehicle Network for

the Greater Vancouver Region

(Clause 2)

MOVED by Cllr. Chiavario,

THAT the recommendation of the Committee, as contained in Clause 2 of this report, be approved.

- CARRIED

(Councillor Bellamy opposed.)

cont'd

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Chiavario,

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. Bellamy,

THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS

1. Leave of Absence - Councillor Sullivan File: 1254

MOVED by Cllr. Daniel Lee,

SECONDED by Cllr. Chiavario,

THAT Councillor Sullivan be granted Leave of Absence for today's meeting and the remainder of the week, April 7 - 9, 1998.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

cont'd

ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS (CONT'D)

2. Change of Meeting Rooms File: 1252

MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,

SECONDED by Cllr. Chiavario,

THAT any further meetings of Council scheduled for Committee Room No. 1 be moved to the Council Chamber, until the sound system repair is complete.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. Committee Room No. 1 File: 1252

MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,

SECONDED by Cllr. Price,

THAT, in light of problems encountered by a delegation earlier this day, wherein tools were unavailable for his presentation, the City Clerk, in consultation with Council, be requested to ensure markers, pens and necessary equipment, including a working sound system and lighting are in place for the next meeting of Council scheduled for Committee Room No. 1.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Council adjourned at 12:22 p.m.

* * * * *

REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL

ON TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC

APRIL 7, 1998

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Transportation and Traffic was held on Tuesday, April 7, 1998, at approximately 9:30 a.m. in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT:	Councillor Gordon Price, Chair Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Don Bellamy Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario Councillor Jennifer Clarke Councillor Alan Herbert Councillor Lynne Kennedy Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor George Puil
ABSENT:	Councillor Sam Sullivan (Leave of Absence)
CLERK TO THE COMMITTEE:	Denise Salmon

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic meeting of March 3, 1998, were adopted.

RECOMMENDATION

1. Blenheim Street Traffic Calming Measures Follow-up File: 5757

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated March 20, 1998 (on file), in which the General Manager of Engineering Services sought approval to make permanent all traffic measures installed in 1996 to calm traffic on Blenheim Street from 4th to 16th Avenue, except that the right-in/right-out diverter on Blenheim at 4th be removed.

cont'd

Clause 1 Cont'd

Paul Pinsker, Engineering Services, provided an overview of the report, with note the report also recommends:

·staff work with the local property owners petitioning for pavement improvement to develop a design that incorporates non-diversionary calming features;

·a directional dividing line painted on Blenheim from Broadway to 16th to improve safety and comfort for users;

·a "trucks prohibited" sign facing eastbound trucks on 10th Avenue approaching Alma; and

·a stop sign infill in the area bounded by 10th, Alma, 16th and Macdonald to improve safety.

Bert Loehner, resident

·spoke in support of the majority of recommendations before Council and thanked staff for their work and neighbourhood involvement on the project

·spoke against stop sign infill as it would increase both noise and air pollution, and suggested a trial of infill stop signs with the option for removal

·highlighted the 17% incease in neighbourhood traffic after installation of calming measures

·noted the need to manage existing traffic, provide transit to rival car use, and the need to review the "Clouds of Change" document

Perry McGinity

·expressed concern with the proposed directional dividing line to be painted on Blenheim Street from Broadway to 16th Avenue, specifically the line would give the impression of an arterial and increase vehicle speeds

·noted increased pollution would result from cars starting and stopping at infill stop signs

·Blenheim properties have no setback from the street, the two issues noted above would undo good work done on traffic calming the neighbourhood

Rene Vaderman

·thanked staff for their work on traffic calming measures

·expressed concern with the stop sign infill locations, and suggested the need foradditional stop sign infill to help control future increases in traffic, including 15th, 13th and 11th Avenues

·spoke in support of recommendations contained in the report

Diane Schmidt

·expressed concern with the traffic situation between Balaclava and Macdonald on 10th Avenue

·noted the need for further calming measures and enquired if a controlled intersection was envisioned for 10th Avenue at Carnarvon to assist children attending Bayview and General Gordon elementary schools

·requested enforcement of parking restrictions along 10th Avenue and Trutch, as numerous parked minivans block visibility

·highlighted the need to address the issue of westbound truck traffic on 10th Avenue

·thanked the City for responding to neighbourhood concerns

Mohammad Boroudjerdi

·requested removal of restrictive left turn (westbound on 10th) at Blenheim

·advised this traffic calming measure has resulted in additional traffic on 11th, 12th and the L-shaped lane south of Broadway, east of Waterloo

·noted removal of street parking on west side lane of 2500 Block Blenheim has resulted in traffic jams, and traffic shift to the L-shaped lane

·advised of the dangers of the extruding curve at 15th Avenue

Points raised during discussion included:

·stop signs have been shown to reduce accidents by 80%, and assist with mild traffic calming

·the extruding curve at 15th Avenue is in place to provide green space and shelter cars parked adjacent the apartment building

The following motion by Councillor Clarke was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

A. THAT the traffic measures installed in 1996 to calm traffic onBlenheim Street from 4th to 16th Avenues be made permanent, except that the temporary right-in/right-out diverter on Blenheim Street at 4th Avenue be removed.

B.THAT prior to the June 1998 Court of Revision, staff consult property owners of the 2000 block of Blenheim Street (between 4th and 5th Avenues) regarding curb extensions or other potential non-diversionary design features to incorporate as part of the local improvement petition already underway.

C.THAT a directional dividing line be painted on Blenheim Street from Broadway to 16th Avenue.

D. THAT extended corner clearances be signed at crosswalks on both sides of 10th Avenue from Dunbar Street to Mackenzie Street.

E. THAT a "Trucks Prohibited" sign be installed to deter eastbound trucks on 10th Avenue from crossing Alma Street.

F. THAT a "Stop" sign infill be installed within the area bounded by 10th Avenue, Alma Street, 16th Avenue, and Macdonald Street.

G.THAT the Police Department be requested to increase enforcement of the left turn prohibition on Blenheim Street at 10th Avenue and the speed limit along 10th Avenue between Alma Street and Macdonald Street.

H. THAT $28,000 be allocated from Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated Account 13/32/9801/999 - Local Area Plans to fund the traffic measures as recommended in items A and C through F above.

I. THAT the annual streets maintenance budget be increased by $400 to maintain the traffic circle on Blenheim Street at 6th Avenue and the traffic sign maintenance budget be increased by $2100 to maintain new signage, both without offset, starting in 1999.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY2. High Occupancy Vehicle Network for the

Greater Vancouver Region File: 5762-1

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated March 25, 1998 (on file), in which the General Manager of Engineering sought approval for the City to participate in a prioritization study of transit/HOV measures, with a report back to Council.

Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer - Transportation, introduced Bill Lambert, Director of Customer Service, BC Transit, and Lorne Holowchuk, BC Transportation Financing Authority, who provided Council with background information and responded to questions about the Provincial high occupancy vehicles (HOV) network strategy.

With the aid of overheads, Mr. Holowchuk highlighted the following:

·Context for HOV Implementation

·Greater Vancouver Highway Improvement Outlook

·Draft Report Composition

·Network Development Principles

·Investment Strategy (first 5 years/6-10 years)

·Cost Sharing/Program Delivery

·Next Steps

Mr. Lambert spoke on transit priority applications and process to deliver the proposed projects.

During ensuing discussion, the following points were noted:

·The term "HOV" refers to a combination of a number of applications, including bus lanes, transit priority signals, dedicated separate lanes for HOV vehicles (3+ or 2+ occupancy), exclusive bus lane applications and continuous travel lanes dedicated to these priority applications. Motorcycles, taxis and cyclists are also permitted in specific corridors.

·BCTFA is a Crown Corporation which funds capital projects of the Ministry of Transportation and Highways.

·The City would determine what is allowed in identified corridors within its boundaries, with Vancouver's focus likely bus lanes or other bus priority measures, including diesel and trolley; however corridor consistency is a consideration.

·The need for further detailed study of individual projects, by both Engineering Services and Planning Departments and opportunity for public input.

Liz Haan, Southwest Marine Drive Ratepayers Association

·expressed concern with the validity of projects contained in Appendix A of the Council report, with no public process nor detailed review carried out

·recommended a whole route, full service analysis for Vancouver's major transit corridors rather than the recommended prioritization study

·advised SW Marine Drive is not identified in the City's Transportation Plan as a major transit street, although the report notes a proposal for an a.m. peak period bus lane westbound on SW Marine

·urged the formation of a public advisory committee to deal with all aspects of service on Vancouver's major transit corridors

Robert King, SW Marine Drive Ratepayers Association

·noted the City's Transport 2021 document did not show 49th Avenue or SW Marine Drive as part of the City's medium Transportation network

·recommended further study of projects recommended in the Council report be carried out prior to final decision, including joint citizen participation with Planning and Engineering Services staff

Helena Lang

·was opposed to City participation in a prioritization study of projects set out in Appendix A of the Administrative Report

·suggested Project 87 - a.m. peak period bus lane westbound on SW Marine should not be included on the prioritization list, and advised the project would require widening of SW Marine

·noted any study of transit HOV measures should include an exhaustive public consultation process

* * *

(Councillors Clarke [civic business] and Puil left the meeting

during discussion of the above item and did not return.)

The following motion by Councillor Chiavario was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

THAT the Planning and Engineering Services Departments of the City work with the BC Transportation Financing Authority and BC Transit on the study of transit/HOV and related measures included in, but not limited to, the locations and specifics noted in Appendix A of the Administrative Report dated March 25, 1998, with a report back to Council containing recommendations and priorities; and

FURTHER THAT staff also report back to Council with an outline for the public consultation program to be used by Council in implementing recommendations and priorities.

- CARRIED

(Councillor Bellamy opposed.)

(Councillors Clarke and Puil not present for the vote.)

The Committee adjourned at 12:20 p.m.

* * * * *

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver