Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Standing Committee of Council on Transportation and Traffic

FROM:

General Manager of Engineering Services

SUBJECT:

Franklin and Semlin Area Traffic Calming Plan

 

RECOMMENDATION

COUNCIL POLICY

The Vancouver Transportation Plan emphasizes the need to mitigate the effects of traffic in local neighbourhood areas and indicates that the city’s traffic calming program will give priority to streets and neighbourhoods where traffic impacts are the most serious.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to review the temporary traffic calming measures in the Franklin and Semlin Area and to recommend permanent installations of these measures.

BACKGROUND

In 1994, residents became concerned about late-night traffic circulating the 2000 block of Triumph Street and Pandora Street. Staff investigated and found a unique circulation pattern, generated by prostitution activities in the area. A stop-sign infill program was implemented for the area between Semlin and Garden, from Triumph to Franklin. A special Police task force was also organized in 1994 and took steps to restrict the prostitution activities within the residential area. The late night traffic circulation was reduced, especially along the 2000 block of Triumph Street.

However, by 1995, another unique cruising pattern developed using Franklin Street from Clark Drive to Nanaimo Street. Staff worked closely with neighbourhood representatives to address the traffic issues. A signage plan was developed with local resident and Police input in August and installed in September, 1995. The temporary signs were intended to restrict circulating traffic related to prostitution activities from the residential area east of Victoria Drive. Late-night volumes were reduced after the sign installations. Police also stepped up their enforcement activities in the area at that time, which resulted in over 200 violation tickets.

While traffic volumes collected before and after the installation of the signs indicated some reduction in traffic cruising within the neighbourhood, there were still concerns about the limited effect of the temporary signs. Staff met with neighbourhood representatives and developed some more restrictive, full time traffic calming measures. An Open House was held on January 29, 1996, to seek input from local residents regarding the installation of temporary traffic calming measures. Over sixty people attended the Open House and the majority were in favour of the existing temporary signs and the proposed temporary traffic calming measures.

On May 16, 1996, Council approved the installation of temporary diagonal diverters on Semlin Drive at Pandora and Franklin Streets and the partial closure to eastbound traffic on Triumph Street, east of Semlin Drive (see Figure 1).

DISCUSSION

The temporary traffic calming measures installed in the Franklin and Semlin area are effective in restricting all eastbound traffic from crossing Semlin Drive to the residential area, as shown in Figure 1. For example, eastbound traffic on Pandora Street must turn northbound onto Semlin Drive to Dundas Street. “Do Not Enter” signs have also been installed at the west end of the lanes between Triumph and Pandora Streets, and between Franklin and Hastings Streets, to further restrict eastbound traffic using these lanes.

Traffic volume counts were taken prior to and after the installation of the temporary measures. The results from the investigation show that eastbound and westbound traffic on Triumph, Pandora, and Franklin Streets east of Semlin Drive have decreased significantly since the implementation of the Traffic Calming Plan (see Tables 1 and 2 for details).

Traffic Volumes between 8:00pm to 6:00am

Table 1 - Eastbound Traffic on Triumph, Pandora, and Franklin Streets east of Semlin Drive

Traffic Volumes between 8:00pm to 6:00am

Table 2 - Westbound Traffic on Triumph, Pandora, and Franklin Streets east of Semlin Drive

On June 17, 1999, the affected residents were surveyed to solicit their opinion on making the temporary measures permanent (see Appendix A for Survey). The results from the survey, as in Table 3, show that the majority of the residents support the traffic measures in the Franklin and Semlin Area.


Table 3 - Traffic Calming Survey Results

General comments from the residents and businesses surveyed include:

·The residents east of Semlin around the Pandora Park seem more protected.
·The temporary measure is the only thing that has brought sanity back to my street.
·We need a larger presence of the police to drive prostitution away from this area.

The recommended traffic calming plan in the Franklin and Semlin area appears to meet the comfort and safety needs of the local residents while considering the impacts to local businesses.

CONCLUSION

The Franklin and Semlin Area Traffic Calming Plan is supported by the neighbourhood residents and Council approval of the permanent installation is recommended.

Figure 1 - Franklin and Semlin Area Traffic Calming

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APPENDIX A
SURVEY


June 17, 1999

Dear Neighbour:

Follow-Up Traffic Calming Survey - Pandora and Semlin Area

In 1994, residents became concerned about late night traffic circulating the 2000 block of Triumph Street and Pandora Street. City Staff investigated and found a circulation pattern, generated by the prostitution activities in the area. Since then, a stop-sign infill program was implemented for the area between Semlin and Garden, from Triumph to Franklin. Furthermore, a temporary signage plan was installed in September of 1995 to restrict late night traffic circulation in the residential area of Victoria Drive. These signs were in effect between 8 pm and 6 am. Although these signs helped to reduce non-local traffic cruising within the neighbourhood, residents were concerned about the limited effect of temporary signs. As a result, in 1996 more restrictive traffic calming measures for full time application were installed on a trial basis. These measures included: (See attached map)

Traffic volume counts were made prior to and after the installation of these measures in 1995 and 1997. The results from the traffic volume counts show that the overall traffic between Triumph Street and Franklin Street near Semlin Drive has decreased significantly.

The measures have been in place on a trial period and now we must decide if they should be made permanent. The enclosed survey seeks your opinion on the closure to eastbound traffic at Triumph Street and Semlin Drive, and the diagonal diverters on Pandora Street and Franklin Street at Semlin Drive being made into permanent traffic calming measures. The cost for these permanent measures is funded from the City’s capital budget and will not increase your taxes.

Please complete the enclosed opinion survey including any comments and suggestions you might have regarding traffic calming in your area and return it by July 1, 1999. If you have any questions about this project, call me at 873-7693. Your feedback on this project is valuable and will influence our decision to make the traffic calming measures permanent.

Yours truly,

Winston Chou, EIT
Neighbourhood Transportation Branch

APPENDIX B
SURVEY AREA

APPENDIX C
SURVEY RESULTS AND COMMENTS

Summary of Survey Results up to July 29, 1999

Total number of surveys sent out: 1400

Total number of responses: 169 (169/1400 = 12%)
In favour of proposal: 138 (138/169 = 82%)
Opposed of proposal: 26 (26/169 = 15%)
Neutral: 5 (5/169 = 3%)

Summary of Comments

·Although we are only in this area in the daytime, we have noticed a slowing of traffic. The families and children east of Semlin (particularly around the Pandora Park) seem more protected. Personally, the diverters are a nuisance if we want to go east from our office - but we can manage.

·This temporary measure is the only thing that has brought some sanity back to my street. Otherwise we would still have to be out there at midnight picketing the johns and prostitutes.

·As far as I am concerned, there is still a lot of traffic using these streets to pick up hookers in the area. If the traffic calming measures are implemented, it might cut down on these cars circling the area. These cars also use the back lanes to travel up and down looking for hookers.

·Put in more along Triumph and Pandora between Semlin and Nanaimo. Particularly at Triumph and Garden. Traffic barely slows down at the stop sign.

·I fully support a permanent solution, and having lived on Triumph since September, 1995, I have been very grateful for the temporary measure - the difference has been significant and must be permanent!

·Prostitution and racing cars still exist. More partial closures, diagonal diverter and islands needed. I have just moved here from Victoria. Anything to clean up the area would be appreciated. Thanks.

·We need a larger presence of the police to drive prostitution away from this area which negatively effects our business and the ability to sub-lease our premises.

·The “do not enter: signs at the alleys between Triumph and Pandora and Franklin and Hastings don’t work too well as many vehicles continue to enter these alleys from Semlin.

·You should also block the corner of Triumph Street and Lake wood Street for one way traffic only. I’ve seen a lot of cars passing through the wrong way. Make some bumper in the back alley to slow the traffic.

·I would like to see some garbage receptacles in this neighbourhood. The police should be arresting these johns that come into this neighbourhood.

·The Police could have a greater presence in the area. I believe police complacency has added to the problem. It is the City police department who allows them to work on the neighbourhood.

·The diverters have been a nightmare for us and our customers. The traffic in the alleys has increased dramatically as they are now the through ‘streets’.

·As a business operator in the area, all these diverters have done is move the traffic north to Triumph and Pandora St., our operation now has to use residential streets in order to access our Semlin Drive entrance.

·From business point of view, we cannot agree to these traffic restrictions. They have created a lot of inconveniences to our customers and employees. We want to stay neutral in this survey, hoping there is a better solution of reducing the prostitution activities without affecting us.

·Please remove the barriers immediately. The City created a sewer for the local prostitutes, pimps and johns to gather in the lane behind our building. They are relieving themselves on our back door. The condoms, the needles are all in our back lane.

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