ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: July 14, 1998

Author/Local: N. Hood/7742

CC File No. 5553

TO:		Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
FROM:		General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:		Proposed Mosaic Bikeway

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT the Mosaic Bikeway be constructed as detailed in this report at a total cost of $436,700, with $408,000 funded from the from Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated Account 12/31/6903/999 (Bicycle Network) and $28,700 of funds be approved as an increase to the 1998 Streets Basic Capital Budget, with the source of funding to be debenture borrowing approved as part of the 1997-1999 Capital Plan.

B. THAT the annual signal maintenance budget be increased by $4,000, the annual streets maintenance budget be increased by $3,500, to be reduced by $400 for each traffic circle adopted by residents, and the sign maintenance budget be increased by $2,000, all without offset, for the maintenance of two new cyclist/pedestrian signals, seven new traffic circles and approximately 63 new bicycle route and traffic control signs along the new bike route, starting in 1999.

CONSIDERATION

C. THAT construction of the Mosaic Bikeway be postponed to allow for an application for cost-shared funding under the 1999/2000 Cycling Network Program.

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The General Manager of Engineering Services RECOMMENDS approval of A and B and forwards C for CONSIDERATION, noting that C would delay the provision of a public service supported by local residents by as much as one year and would not guarantee funding approval at the end of the delay.
COUNCIL POLICY

On May 27, 1997, Council approved the Vancouver Transportation Plan that emphasized the need to provide more comfortable cycling and walking environments.

On May 14, 1992, Council approved a City-wide bicycle route network with priority given to local street integration.

The Vancouver Comprehensive Bicycle Plan (1988) and the Clouds of Change Report (1990) established the City's policy of promoting and encouraging cycling as a transportation alternative.

SUMMARY

In consultation with the Bicycle Network Subcommittee of the Bicycle Advisory Committee to Council, a proposal for the Mosaic Bikeway was developed. The Mosaic Bikeway will formalize an already popular north/south link between the Adanac Bikeway and the B.C. Parkway, as well as providing access to Britannia and Trout Lake Community Centres. See Appendix A.

It is proposed that some intersections be modified for additional comfort and safety for cyclists and that cyclists be given appropriate priority along the route. Traffic calming devices such as traffic circles are recommended to discourage vehicle short-cutting and speeding. Pavement improvements are also recommended to improve the riding surface. Measures are proposed at arterial street crossings to enhance safe bike crossings and a signage system similar to the existing bikeways will be adopted.

Neighbouring residents were surveyed for their opinion of the proposed bicycle route improvements. Approximately 90% of residents who responded are in favour of the route. The Mosaic Bikeway proposal received the highest acceptance rate by residents of any bikeway proposal to date.

Based on feedback from the Bicycle Advisory Committee and resident surveys, staff recommend that the proposed Mosaic Bikeway detailed in this report be approved.

The total cost of the Mosaic Bikeway is estimated to be $436,700 and funding of $408,000 is available from Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated Account 12/31/6903/999 (Bicycle Network). Therefore $28,700 of funding is needed as an increase to the 1998 Streets Basic Capital Budget, with the source of funding to be debenture borrowing approved as part of the 1997-1999 Capital Plan.
PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to obtain approval for the implementation of the Mosaic Bikeway.

BACKGROUND

In consultation with local residents and the Bicycle Network Subcommittee of the Bicycle Advisory Committee to Council, a proposal for the Mosaic Bikeway was developed.

Preliminary design work began on the Mosaic Bikeway in the Fall of 1997. In December, 1997, an application for Provincial funding through the Cycling Network Program was made for the Mosaic Bikeway. However, a recent requirement of the Cycling Network Program called for each project to be "shelf ready". As this project was not "shelf ready"in December 1997, the application for funding was rejected. "Shelf ready", as defined by the Cycling Network Program, is having all public consultation, geometric designs and Council approval completed prior to submitting the project for funding. However, to be eligible for funding, project construction cannot already be underway prior to Cycling Network Program approval.

DISCUSSION

(a) Route Alignment and Improvements

The general route alignment and details proposed are shown in Appendix A.

The route will be direct and user friendly with the following details:

(i) Traffic circles would be installed at the following locations:

· McLean at Napier
· Woodland at Charles
· Woodland at Grant
· Woodland at Graveley
· Woodland at East 3rd
· Woodland at East 8^th
· Woodland at East 13^th

(ii) The crossing of Venables at McLean and the crossing of Commercial at East 14th would be made easier with new cyclist/pedestrian activated signals. In addition, three existing signals would be upgraded with cyclist actuation.
(iii) The crossing of Grandview Highway North at Woodland and at McLean would be made easier with a new pedestrian/cyclist median. A median was chosen instead of a pedestrian/cyclist signal because of the added benefits of additional greenspace, reduced vehicle speeds and the elimination of passing on the right. Staff at Grandview Elementary School and the daycare, on the north west corner of the intersection, were consulted about the decision to recommend a median instead of a signal and are in agreement with that decision.

(iv) In addition to the above measures, all intersections along the route are controlled by stop signs.

(v) Miscellaneous pavement upgrades recommended along the route include repairing uneven pavement, bumps and large cracks.

(vi) A sidewalk on the westside of McLean from Venables to Adanac is recommended to provide better pedestrian access to the new signal.

Several suggestions were received to have the route pass directly beside Mosaic Creek Park. However, since that section area of McLean Drive is developed with both industrial and residential properties, Woodland Drive is the preferred route. Other factors taken into consideration were the grade of the streets and improved recognition of a required turn in the route, northbound on Woodland at William, where there is a T-intersection. However, signs will be installed at appropriate locations along the route, directing people to the park.

(b) Neighbourhood Compatibility
Input from affected residents, schools and businesses was gathered through a survey, letters, phone calls and email. A copy of the survey is shown in Appendix B and the survey delivery areas for the route are shown in Appendix C. Of those who responded, 90% of residents living within two blocks of the route are in favour of the Mosaic Bikeway, and only 6% are opposed. Compared with many recent bikeways, the Mosaic Bikeway proposal was very well received by residents. A summary of survey results is found in Appendix D.

Resident support for the various traffic calming measures along the route ranged from a low of 72% for corner bulges to a high of 91% for the pedestrian/cyclist signal at McLean/Venables.

As with all bikeways, the route will be monitored after the initial installation and, if needed, residents will again be surveyed as to the effectiveness of the bike route and its impact on the neighbourhood. Adjustments will be made if this route does not meet either the needs of cyclists or the neighbourhood.

(c) Implementation

It is recommended that route improvements begin immediately with completion by Spring of 1999. Alternatively, construction can be delayed to allow for an application for cost-shared funding under the 1999/2000 Cycling Network Program. This would delay construction start until next spring with completion by the end of 1999, but does not guarantee funding approval.

(d) Maintenance

Elements of the proposed Mosaic Bikeway could be considered for maintenance levels above those of a normal street. However, due to current budget constraints it is recommended that the bicycle route receive the same level of service as would a normal street, at no additional cost. This may require refusing some public requests for extraordinary maintenance levels.

Each of the two new cyclist activated signals will incur an additional annual maintenance cost of $2,000; therefore, an increase of $4,000 is recommended to the annual signal maintenance budget. Similarly, each of the seven new traffic circles will incur an additional annual maintenance cost of $500 and a corresponding increase of $3,500 is recommended to the annual streets maintenance budget, to be reduced by $400 per circle for each circle residents agree to adopt. In addition, 35 new bicycle route signs and 28 signs on each of the seven new traffic circles will incur an annual maintenance cost of about $2,000. Therefore, a corresponding increase of $2,000 is recommended to the annual sign maintenance budget.

(e) Route Names

The Mosaic name was suggested to lessen confusion between the route alignment and street names and to use a name associated with a recent park development in the Grandview Woodland neighbourhood that was designed and built with community volunteers. The public art aspect of this bikeway proposal seeks to continue that community involvement by including mosaic panels in traffic circles and other new concrete work along the route. Other route names considered were:

· Grandview Bikeway
· Woodland Bikeway

After discussions with the Bicycle Network Subcommittee and after receiving surveys from the public, it is recommended that the route be named the Mosaic Bikeway.

(f) Route Signage

The signage will be similar to what has been successful along the Adanac, Off-Broadway, Ontario, Heather, Lakewood and S.W. Marine Drive Bikeways. All are based on the use of clear, internationally recognized standard symbols with a minimum of wording. The route markers will be placed at one block intervals, alternating directionally.

As well, replacement street name signs that include a bicycle logo and new bicycle pavement markings, recently installed on Heather Street between Broadway and Sixteenth Avenue, will be installed along the length of the new route.

The Mosaic Bikeway will be added to the next version of our popular Cycling in Vancouver Map. Information and maps describing Vancouver's cycling program are also available on the Internet through the City's home page.

(g) Public Art

The Mosaic Bikeway is the first bikeway to propose community based public art as one of the features. The mosaic theme builds on the community spirit and involvement that created Mosaic Creek Park, located one block off the route at the corner of Charles Street and McLean Drive. A similar process of community involvement will be used for the mosaics on the bikeway. Mosaic panels will be set in new concrete work, such as traffic circles and medians, along the entire bikeway.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Funding is available for the Mosaic Bikeway from the Nanton Avenue and Kent Avenue Bikeway accounts, which will not be constructed in this capital budget, as previously anticipated. The Nanton Avenue Bicycle Route was not constructed as per the Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic decision, February 5, 1997, Item 5, Recommendation C, "THAT the Nanton Avenue Bicycle Route not be constructed at this time, due to neighbourhood opposition". In addition, the Kent Avenue Bikeway will not be completed during this capital budget due to right-of-way issues.

It is possible to delay this project and apply for Cycling Network Program funding in 1999. If approved, this would provide $200,000 of the total $436,700. However this option is not recommended for the following reasons:

· uncertainty with respect to future approval of funding for this project under the Cycling Network Program, and
· the visible delay to the public in project completion, particularly given the high level of public support for this project.

Estimated Capital Costs:

Cyclist/Pedestrian Signals	McLean and Venables	$64,000
	Commercial and 14th Ave.	$75,000
Cyclist Actuation	Woodland and Broadway	$12,000
	Woodland and 1st Ave.	$10,500
	Knight and 15th Ave.	$5,200
Traffic Circles	McLean and Napier St.	$27,500
	Woodland and Charles St.	$7,500
	Woodland and Grant St.	$6,600
	Woodland and Graveley St.	$6,500
	Woodland and 3rd Ave.	$16,600
	Woodland and 8th Ave.	$7,200
	Woodland and 13th Ave.	$6,000
Intersection Modifications	Grandview Hwy. and Woodland	$55,000
Corner Bulges	McLean and Parker St.	$14,000
	McLean and William St.	$8,000
	Woodland and William St.	$20,000
	Woodland and First Ave.	$12,500
	Victoria and Fourteenth Ave.	$20,000
Pavement Repairs	Miscellaneous pavement repairs	$32,000
Signage	Standard bicycle route signage	$3,500
	Overhead bikeway signs at signals	$10,000
	Bikeway street name blades	$4,000
Stencils	Bicycle Stencils along route	$5,100
Public Consultation	Advertisements, mail-outs, etc.	$5,000
Public Art (mosaics)	Coordinators and materials	$3,000
	Total	$436,700

Funding Sources:
New funding requested from:
Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated Account	12/31/6903/999	$408,000
In Advance of the 1999 Bicycle Capital Budgets		$28,700
	Total	$436,700

NOTE FROM CLERK: ELECTRONIC COPIES OF APPENDIX A-D NOT AVAILABLE -ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver