CITY OF VANCOUVER

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC

DECEMBER 2, 1997

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Tuesday, December 2, 1997, at approximately 12:15 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

Councillor Sam Sullivan

ABSENT: Councillor Jennifer Clarke (Civic Business)

Councillor George Puil (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

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Report of Standing Committee on

Transportation and Traffic

December 2, 1997

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

Cl.1: Lions Gate Project

Cl.2: Improved Port Access At Victoria Drive

Cl.3: Revisions to Granville Mall By-law No. 4792

MOVED by Cllr. Price,

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 1-3 of this report, be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

SECONDED by Cllr. Chiavario,

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

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS

1. Granville Mall Incident File: 3701

The Mayor related the details of an incident involving the discharge of a Police firearm on Granville Mall which resulted in the death of the suspect.

The Council adjourned at 12:17 p.m.

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REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL

ON TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC

DECEMBER 2, 1997

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Transportation and Traffic was held on Tuesday, December 2, 1997, 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 Alan Herbert

Councillor Lynne Kennedy

Councillor Daniel Lee

Councillor Don Lee

Councillor Sam Sullivan

ABSENT: Councillor Jennifer Clarke (Civic Business)

Councillor George Puil (Leave of Absence)

CLERK TO THE

COMMITTEE: Denise Salmon

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic meetings of October 28, and November 4, 1997, were adopted.

Introduction of Students

The Chair welcomed the following students participating in the School Board's Student Partners Program: Daljit Dhaliwal and Anju Singh from John Oliver Secondary and Gabrielle Tardif from Lord Byng.

RECOMMENDATION

1. Lions Gate Project File: 5752-2

The Committee had before it, as background, the previously circulated memorandum dated October 27, 1997 (on file), in which the General Manager of Engineering Services informed Council of progress on the Lion's Gate Bridge project, and reviewed opportunities for further input. Also before Council was an extract from the November 6, 1997, minutes of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment, on this matter.

Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, Transportation, provided Council with background on the Lions Gate Bridge. He then acknowledged those in attendance from the BC Transportation Financing Authority (BCTFA), including Doug Hibbins, Senior Vice-President, Project Development and Financing; Tim Stevens, Director Project Development and Administration; John Doyle, Manager of Communications; Ian McLeod, Director of Communications; Bob Kennedy, Communications Advisor and First Nations Relations; and Richard Fife, Director of Funding and Governance. The Chair also acknowledged Commissioner Duncan Wilson, Park Board.

Doug Hibbins and Ian MacLeod provided Council with an overview of progress to date, with note the Request for Proposals would set out design criteria, and take into consideration traffic flows through Stanley Park, latent demand from cyclists and pedestrians, as well as heritage and urban design issues. The goal being to minimize future traffic impacts within the downtown area and improve transit travel times, level of service and reliability. It was also noted final decision on the Bridge must be made in the context of work underway on Transportation Governance.

Richard Fife, with the aid of overheads, provided Council with details on the BCTFA's Lions Gate Project in relation to the Governance Agreement, with note the authority model was chosen, as it provides a higher level of accountability and control.

Tim Stevens then provided a brief update on the call for expressions, with note five had been received by the October 21st deadline, and three proponents would be announced shortly. BCTFA representatives also relayed the Provincial Government's strong preference for a four lane crossing, as this would provide significant advantages, including safety improvements for bridge users, and reduction of transit cycle times. However, a three-lane rehabilitation project was still a possibility, depending on costs.

Cont'd

Clause 1 Cont'd

Council members discussed the following:

·400·intended policy on tolls·400

·400·proposed opportunities for adjacent resident input into the project·400

·400·involvement of the Burrard, Musqueam, Squamish and Sto:lo First Nations ·400

·400·the need to consider alternatives for crossing the First Narrows·400

·400·Lions Gate traffic impacts on adjacent neighbourhoods, i.e. West End, Coal Harbour, Alberni Street, Downtown South, and Concord Pacific·400

·400·concern four lanes would be used in a three/one configuration, similar to Massey Tunnel, with resultant downtown peninsula grid problems·400

·400·confirmation Alberni Street would not be used as a traffic corridor from the Bridge·400

·400·existing Bridge should be refurbished, any other scheme should include discussion of a third crossing, incorporating light rail and transit·400

·400·recognition of CityPlan's goal of no increased capacity·400

In response to questions from Council, BCTFA representatives advised as follows:

·400·no plan currently exists for a dedicated transit and HOV lane on the Bridge, improved queue jumpers will be used by buses·400

·400·fourth lane in off-peak direction will significantly improve traffic flow on municipal streets and congestion on Taylor Way·400

·400·expansion to four lanes would most likely result in loss of existing suspension bridge, and replacement with cable-stay bridge similar to Alec Fraser Bridge·400

·400·a refurbished three lane bridge would incorporate cantilevers for cyclist and pedestrian use·400

·400·anticipated toll booths location is the North Shore·400

·400·BCTFA is currently working with design consultants toward a scheme acceptable to the Park Board involving the Georgia Street entrance and Devonian Harbour Park·400

·400·no increased capacity is anticipated during peak periods with a two and two lane configuration; a three and one configuration is not presently under consideration by the Province·400

·400·the design scheme must result in reduction of surface park traffic, with no net detrimental impact to park environment·400

·400·tolls could be structured to achieve TDM objectives, with variable pricing at peak and non-peak hours·400

·400·no plans are envisaged to move traffic to Alberni Street, apart from possible commuter cyclists·400

Cont'd

Clause 1 Cont'd

·400·life of a refurbished vs. new bridge would range from at least 30 to perhaps 50 years, dependent upon how successfully the area adheres to its growth strategy plan, changing commuter attitudes, and future work locations·400

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

RECOMMENDED

A.THAT Council establish a joint Engineering and Planning Steering Committee to identify and address the concerns which will arise from the selection of either the 3-lane or one of the several 4-lane Lions Gate Bridge options.

A representative from the Park Board should be invited to sit on the Steering Committee.

Among the issues for the Steering Committee to address:

a)established Council policy that changes to the road network does not increase road capacity and that new space is not created for single occupancy vehicles (SOVs);

b)option consequences on bus transit and pent-up automobile demand on the North Shore be studied;

c)consideration for the newly adopted Blueways policy;

d)mitigation of Lions Gate traffic impacts on both established and new, emerging downtown neighbourhoods (West End, Coal Harbour, Alberni Street, Downtown South, and Concord Pacific) be considered as well;

e)traffic and transit demands on the carrying capacity of the existing downtown street grid as it is expected to accommodate 30,000 additional residents in the emerging neighbourhoods and the traffic generated by the various Lions Gate options;

Cont'd

Clause 1 Cont'd

f)design issues related to the Stanley Park Causeway and the Georgia Street portal - including Georgia Street - (including impacts on Lost

Lagoon and the Devonian Harbour Park);

g)heritage issues regarding the future of the necklace of lights should a cable-stay bridge replace the suspension span; and

h)location of the toll booths.

B.THAT Council be given the opportunity to review the Provincial Government's Request for Proposals (RFPs) prior to their scheduled release in March 1998, to ensure that they address the City's concerns.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2.Improved Port Access At Victoria Drive File: 5761

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated October 17, 1997 (on file), in which the General Manager of Engineering Services recommended construction of an eastbound left-turn bay on Powell at Victoria as a replacement for Rogers Street, which is scheduled to be closed early next year.

Mark Zaborniak, Strategic Transportation Planning, Engineering Services, reviewed the main points of the report with the Committee. In response to questions from Council, Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, Transportation, advised a report back on the street closure would be prepared. It was also noted the street closure would be coordinated with construction of the left turn bay.

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

RECOMMENDED

THAT an eastbound left-turn bay from Powell to Victoria be installed (YD652) in conjunction with reconstruction of a section of Powell Street at an estimated cost of $315,000, with funding provided from Streets Basic Capital Accounts 12/31/2823/999 and 12/31/9831/999.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3.Revisions to Granville Mall By-law No. 4792 File: 113

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated November 14, 1997 (on file), in which the General Manager of Engineering Services recommended fees be established for Granville Mall permits and that the Granville Mall By-law be revised, as detailed in Appendix A contained in foregoing report, to clarify and strengthen restrictions on non-transit vehicles on the Mall and to discourage unnecessary trips to the Mall by those vehicles.

Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer, Transportation, reviewed the main points of the report with the Committee, and noted the difficulty BC Transit currently experiences with trucks incorrectly parked on the Mall. In response to questions from Council he advised increased enforcement is now possible due to civilian Parking Enforcement staff assuming the Police ticketing role. Mr. Adam agreed to follow up on providing signage to indicate taxi stands, as the By-law currently prohibits taxis from cruising or stopping for those persons flagging them on the Mall.

The following speakers were in favour of the proposed Granville Mall By-law revisions:

·400·Dave Currie, BC Transit·400

·400·Ian Fisher, Transport 2000 BC (brief filed)·400

·400·Dave Harlow, ICTU·400

·400·Bob Cole, Theatre Row Business Association·400

The speakers' points are summarized as follows:

·400·praise for staff who provided the opportunity for input into the by-law revisions·400

·400·need for improved signage, including bus zones, restricted loading zone, and identification of loading areas·400

·400·transit priority for buses on the mall in both directions must be maintained·400

·400·the need for minor adjustment to polls and street furniture to allow for additional manoeuvring room for buses·400

·400·BC Transit would not support moving buses off the Mall onto Seymour; Granville Mall is the spine of Vancouver's trolley system·400

·400·ideally, all commercial vehicles should be prohibited from the Mall during peak periods·400

·400·a high level of consistent enforcement of all moving and stopping violations is key to Mall's success·400

Cont'd

Clause 3 Cont'd

·400·proposed by-law revisions will address pedestrian safety issues, created by taxis and trucks passing buses at high speeds on the Mall·400

·400·with more trucks using Granville for deliveries, and the influx of cruising taxis, ·400

the proposed measures hopefully will provide a safer environment for pedestrians and a better working street

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

RECOMMENDED

A.THAT the Granville Mall By-law No. 4792 be revised to establish fees for permits issued to commercial vehicles at the rate of $200 for an annual permit and $25 for a one to fourteen day permit.

B.THAT the Director of Legal Services, in consultation with the General Manager of Engineering Services, be requested to report back on the ramifications of implementing a 30 kilometre an hour zone.

C.THAT the Granville Mall By-law No. 4792 be revised to regulate loading activities on the Mall, as shown in Appendix A of the Administrative Report dated November 14, 1997.

D.THAT the Director of Legal Services be requested to prepare the necessary by-law amendments to the Granville Mall By-law No. 4792.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Committee adjourned at 12:15 p.m.

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(c) 1997 City of Vancouver