ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: June 16, 1998
Author/Local: N. Hood/7742
CC File No: 5757

TO:	Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Skeena Street Traffic Calming

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT two traffic circles be constructed on Skeena Street, one at Triumph Street and one at Oxford Street, at a total cost of $15,000, to be funded from the Streets Basic Capital Budget Unappropriated Account 13/32/9801/999 (traffic calming).

B. THAT the annual streets maintenance budget be increased by $1000, to be reduced by $400 for each traffic circle adopted by residents, and the sign maintenance budget be increased by $200, both without offset, starting in 1999.

COUNCIL POLICY

Council has a long standing policy of protecting residential neighbourhoods from intrusion of non-local traffic on local streets.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to seek approval and funding for the construction of two traffic circles to discourage non-local truck traffic on Skeena Street, in the Vancouver Heights neighbourhood.

BACKGROUND

Prior to the construction of the Cassiar Connector, the Vancouver Heights neighbourhood had a severe traffic shortcutting problem. Since the completion of the Connector in 1990, motor vehicle traffic volumes have fallen to levels typical of a single family residential
neighbourhood. As well, traffic on Cambridge, a secondary arterial connecting Boundary Road with the Skeena Tunnel, has been reduced by 70% from 9,800 vehicles per day in 1989 to 2,900 vehicles per day in 1998.

Although there remains division in the community about the role of the Skeena Tunnel, the issue of excessive non-local truck traffic on Skeena Street can be resolved with local calming measures that can also provide a number of other benefits to the neighbourhood. Changes to the operation of the tunnel are not necessary and are not recommended.

On June 10, 1998, the Vancouver Regional Transit Commission approved a recommendation of B.C. Transit to not extend an existing bus route through the Vancouver Heights neighbourhood. Thus, the two proposed traffic circles on Skeena Street are not located on a proposed bus route and are compatible with the role of Skeena in the Vancouver Heights neighbourhood.

DISCUSSION

Skeena, north of Hastings, is an improved local residential street varying in width from 8.5 to 11 metres. The adjacent parallel local residential streets are Cassiar, improved at a width of 8.5 metres, and Kootenay, which is unimproved. Also in the neighbourhood is Cambridge, a designated secondary arterial with a width of 12.2 metres.

Skeena Street is a direct route from Hastings Street to the Bridgeway industrial area, north of the Skeena Tunnel. Although there is an existing sign prohibiting trucks at the southbound entrance to the tunnel and signs on Hastings directing drivers to Bridgeway, traffic counts done on neighbourhood streets confirm residents' complaints of trucks shortcutting on Skeena between Hastings and the Skeena Tunnel. Overall motor vehicle traffic volumes are typical of a single family residential neighbourhood, but the volume of truck traffic on Skeena is unusually high. There are twice as many trucks using Skeena as the other three streets combined. As well, 47% of the trucks using Skeena do so in the late evening and early morning hours when it is highly unlikely that local deliveries are being made.

24 Hour Truck Volumes

	8am - 6pm	6pm -12am	12am - 8am	TOTAL
Skeena	17	13	2	32
Cassiar	4	2	0	6
Kootenay	1	0	1	2
Cambridge	3	4	0	7

To discourage non-local truck traffic from using Skeena Street, it is proposed that two traffic circles be installed on Skeena: one at Triumph and one at Oxford. An area plan showing the proposed circles is attached as Appendix "A". Traffic circles are an existing traffic calming tool that have been in use throughout the City for over two decades to slow motor vehicle traffic on local streets, improve intersection safety and add greenspace to neighbourhoods. The design of modern traffic circles forces large vehicles to drive over the mountable portion of the circle, further reducing vehicle speeds and causing minor discomfort to the driver. Vehicles travelling along Skeena between Hastings and Cambridge would now have to negotiate two stop signs and two traffic circles, which, in combination with the existing truck prohibition at the north end of the tunnel, should make Skeena a much less desirable shortcut route for non-local trucks.

CONSULTATION

In February, 1998, staff delivered a letter to homes within a one block radius of the proposed traffic circles, outlining the existing conditions on Skeena Street and the proposed actions to be taken by the City. Because of the severe nature of the problem and the need for a simple and timely solution, residents were advised it was only necessary to contact the City if they had questions or concerns with the proposed solution. Although Franklin Elementary School is not immediately adjacent the proposed traffic circles, the Principal and the Community School Committee were each sent letters. In total, 122 letters were delivered and nine responses were received. Five respondents indicated complete support for the proposed traffic circles and four expressed qualified support.

Those residents that qualified their support are concerned that trucks will divert onto other neighbourhood streets or that the traffic circle at Skeena and Oxford Streets will preclude bus service being introduced into the neighbourhood. Follow up truck counts will be done three months after the construction of the traffic circles, pending approval and, if trucks have diverted elsewhere, similar measures will be considered there to discourage truck traffic. The issue of bus service was reviewed by B.C. Transit earlier this year and the VancouverRegional Transit Commission approved the recommendation not to extend bus service along local streets in the Vancouver Heights Neighbourhood.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

Installation of the traffic circles on Skeena Street will reduce the volume of truck traffic on Skeena Street. There should be a corresponding reduction in noise and air pollution caused by trucks and an improvement in the livability of the neighbourhood.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The estimated capital cost for the proposed traffic circles is $15,000 to be funded from the Streets Basic Capital Budget Unappropriated Account 13/32/9801/999 (traffic calming). The annual streets maintenance budget requires an increase of $1000, to be reduced by $400 for each circle adopted by residents, and the annual sign maintenance budget requires an increase of $100, both without offset.

CONCLUSION

Although a local street, Skeena serves as a direct shortcut route for non-local trucks between Hastings Street and the Bridgeway industrial area. Both the volume and the time of day of the truck traffic are unacceptable for a local residential street and warrant action by the City. The installation of two traffic circles on Skeena will improve safety at the intersections and should discourage trucks from using Skeena. Other neighbourhood streets are indirect routes to the Skeena Tunnel, making them less attractive as truck shortcut routes, and are unlikely to see an increase in truck volumes as a result of the proposed traffic circles. However, follow up counts will be done three months after completion of the traffic circles to ensure that trucks have not diverted onto other neighbourhood streets.

NOTE FROM CLERK: ELECTRONIC COPY OF APPENDIX A NOT AVAILABLE; ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver