CITY OF VANCOUVER
VANCOUVER TRAFFIC COMMISSION
October 19, 1995
A Regular Meeting of the Vancouver Traffic Commission was held on
Thursday, October 19, 1995 at approximately 7:30 p.m. in Committee Room
No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: Councillor Bellamy
Councillor Chiavario
Councillor Clarke
Councillor Sullivan
MANAGER'S Dave Rudberg, General Manager,
REPRESENTATIVE: Engineering Services
CLERK: Marnie Cross
Power to Act
On January 11, 1994, the Council, by the required majority, granted
this Commission Power to Act on all unanimous decisions. The decision
of the Commission contained herein was unanimous and, therefore, stands
approved.
Adoption of Minutes
The minutes of the Vancouver Traffic Commission meeting of
September 14, 1995 were adopted as circulated.
1. Left Turn Prohibition on Anderson Street
at Lamey's Mill Road
The Commission considered an Administrative Report dated October 3,
1995 (on file) in which the Engineering Department advised a left turn
prohibition will be installed for southbound to eastbound turns at
Anderson Street and Lamey's Mill Road, noon to 7:00 p.m. Traffic
conditions will continue to be monitored.
The following motion by Councillor Chiavario was put and CARRIED.
The Commission therefore
RESOLVED
THAT the Administrative Report dated October 3, 1995 be received
for information.
2. Safety Improvements for the Commuter Rail
Project "West Coast Express"
The Commission considered an Administrative Report dated September
28, 1995 (on file) in which the General Manager, Engineering Services,
recommended commuter rail-related safety improvements at the Victoria
Drive crossing, and the part-time closure of the Rogers Street crossing
of the CP Rail tracks. The issue of continuity of Stewart/Commissioner
Street in the vicinity of the Rogers crossing will be referred to the
Transportation Plan process for further study, in consultation with the
Port of Vancouver and CP Rail.
As well as the two crossings administered by the City of Vancouver,
the private crossing at Dunlevy will be improved by West Coast Express.
Messrs. Mark Griggs, Port of Vancouver and Don Heron, CP Rail,
responded to questions of Commission members.
The following motions by Councillor Chiavario were put and CARRIED.
The Commission therefore
RESOLVED
A. THAT safety improvements be made to the Victoria Drive
crossing of the CP Rail tracks, with all costs to be funded by
West Coast Express (B.C. Transit).
B. THAT the closure of Rogers Street at the CP Rail crossing be
approved on a part time basis during morning and afternoon
rush periods, and the eastbound use of the Port Roadway
adjacent to BC Sugar, with all costs to be funded by West
Coast Express.
C. THAT the issue of continuity of Stewart/Commissioner Street in
the vicinity of the Rogers crossing, in order to reduce
trucking activity on City streets, be referred to the
Transportation Plan process for further study, and the Port of
Vancouver and CP Rail be requested to participate in this
study.
3. Traffic Circle - 43rd and Collingwood
As all members of Council had received correspondence with respect
to a neighbourhood request of August, 1994 for the installation of a
traffic circle at the above intersection, Commission members requested
the General Manager, Engineering Services to provide information for the
meeting.
Clause 3 Continued
A memorandum dated October 17, 1995 from Ian Adam, Assistant City
Engineer, Transportation, (on file) was circulated at the meeting. Mr.
Adam advised it would appear the most appropriate form of traffic
control of the intersection would be a traffic circle. Council's
January 12, 1995 procedure gives full control of the process to the
property owners, who would pay for the improvements through the local
improvement process. Mr. Adam advised he had arranged for the
appropriate forms to be expedited to the property owners. If the forms
are returned in sufficient time the request could be forwarded through
the Court of Revision in either February or June, 1996, allowing
construction shortly thereafter.
Mr. Neil McLagan advised that the community had requested stop
signs at the intersection on a number of occasions commencing three and
a half years ago. Each request was refused. He was advised by an
Engineering Department representative to petition for a traffic circle
to obtain support. The petition was provided to the Engineering
Department in August, 1994.
Members of the Commission felt if there was still sufficient
support in the neighbourhood for the traffic circle, the request could
be 'grandfathered' under the old policy, whereby if the support was
present, installation would be at City cost. As no notification had
been undertaken in the neighbourhood prior to this meeting, the
Commission deferred further consideration until the November 9, 1995
meeting. It was agreed the Clerk, in concert with the Engineering
Department would provide as much notification for the next meeting as
possible.
The following motion by Councillor Clarke was put and CARRIED. The
Commission
RESOLVED
THAT the following motions be deferred to the November 9, 1995
Commission meeting:
A. THAT a temporary traffic signal be installed at the
intersection of 43rd Avenue and Collingwood Street, at City
cost, to be monitored and reported back six months after
installation to determine if the traffic circle should be made
permanent.
B. THAT the installation costs, not to exceed $6,500, and annual
maintenance costs of $ 50.00, be funded from an increase in
the Streets Capital Budget.
Clause 3 Continued
C. THAT adjacent residents agree to provide landscaping and
subsequent upkeep of the traffic circle, subject to a
satisfactory agreement with the General Manager, Engineering
Services.
4. Other Business
(a) General Gordon School
In a memo dated October 17, 1995 to the Chair, Mr. Ian Adam,
Assistant City Engineer, Transportation, advised the school principal
has been contacted re student drop off arrangements. Parents will be
encouraged to use the signed Bayswater Street frontage. If signage
changes are required, this will be done promptly through the established
liaison process.
(b) Eton Street Bus Route
Councillor Chiavario noted this bus now goes up Boundary to the
Kootenay Loop and some members of the community are concerned with the
steep hill encountered in order to get to the bus stops.
Apparently Ms. Joy McPhail, MLA, has sent a letter to Mrs. Betty
Greenwell, area resident, indicating if the City requests the change, it
will be accommodated.
Mr. Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, Transportation, was
requested to send a letter to Mrs. Greenwell with copies to Ms. McPhail
and Councillor Kwan.
(c) Transit Zone Passes
Councillor Chiavario noted there is much confusion with the new
zone passes.
The Commission requested B.C. Transit be invited to a future
meeting to discuss the issue.
Clause 4 Continued
(d) Southwest Marine Drive Traffic
Councillor Clarke advised she met with approximately 98 members of
the Southwest Marine Drive Ratepayers Association who expressed concern
with the lack of notification to residents regarding the major roadway
improvements suggested by the Engineering Department in September.
Councillor Clarke noted the residents have concerns regarding many
of the traffic issues noted in the report.
Members of the public are demanding a more consultative process in
traffic issues, and a wider notification and distribution of reports.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:30 p.m.
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