ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: March 31, 1998
Author/Local: S.Edwards/7913

CC File No: 5757

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Proposed Corner Bulge for Pedestrian Crossing - West Boulevard @ 42nd Avenue

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council approve street changes as described in the attached report, to improve pedestrian movements at the intersection of West Boulevard and 42nd Avenue and that funding of $8,000 be allocated from "Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated Account #13/32/9801/999 - Local Area and Other Improvements".

COUNCIL POLICY

Council's priorities for transportation are pedestrians, cycling, transit, goods movement and the automobile.

In May 1997, Council approved the Transportation Plan which emphasized the need for improved pedestrian facilities.

DISCUSSION

The issue of pedestrian safety at West Boulevard and 42nd Avenue and at 43rd Avenue has been a topic of discussion for some time. A number of options and alternatives have been proposed with several having been implemented. The concerns forwarded to date can be summarized as follows:

- need for improved visibility of pedestrians
- lack of driver courtesy
- need for a crosswalk or a traffic signal to aid pedestrians crossing West Boulevard

In earlier correspondence the community had requested pedestrian improvements be made at either the intersection of 42nd Avenue or at 43rd Avenue. In March of 1995 staff met with neighbourhood representatives to discuss their concerns. Following this meeting improvements including altering the signal timing at 41st Avenue at West Boulevard and East Boulevard (80 metres north of 42nd Avenue) were implemented. This improvement to pedestrian crossing conditions in the area was viewed quite favourably as a temporary step.

In June of 1996, the Kerrisdale Neighbourhood Integrated Service Team and the Kerrisdale Community Centre forwarded a further concern regarding pedestrian safety at West Boulevard and 42nd Avenue and asked that the area be reviewed again. Engineering staff reviewed the area and updated data related to pedestrian and vehicle movements, interactions and demand. During field observations staff noted that pedestrian demand across West Boulevard can be attributed to a few main sources, primarily the Community Centre, the free parking facilities on 42nd Avenue, and the easy access across the rail tracks to London Drugs and the surrounding Kerrisdale shopping area. To address these pedestrian safety concerns a number of alternatives have been reviewed.

Three main suggestions have been followed up on:

1. Installation of a marked crosswalk at 42nd Avenue in conjunction with other intersection geometry changes.

This is the current proposal and is backed by the NIST, Kerrisdale Community Centre, and Engineering. In order to improve the existing conditions for pedestrians crossing from 42nd Ave & West Boulevard across the CPR right-of-way to East Boulevard a corner bulge and a marked crosswalk are being proposed. A crosswalk in isolation would not improve safety. Additional measures of reducing the existing driveway entrance on the east side of West Boulevard and adding a corner bulge to the southwest corner are also proposed. This bulge would not affect any existing parking on West Boulevard as the proposed bulge would occupy the road space currently signed as a marked corner clearance.

2. Installation of a traffic signal at 42nd Avenue

Due to the short distance to 41st Avenue, the existing vehicle congestion at42nd Avenue and relatively low pedestrian accident history (one in the past five years) a signal is not recommended at this time.

3 Installation of a crosswalk and/or traffic signal at West Boulevard and 43rd Avenue

The pedestrian volumes are not as high at 43rd Avenue as 42nd Avenue and a signal may not serve as many pedestrians at 43rd Avenue. One pedestrian accident has been recorded in the past five years. Neighbourhood access to B.C. Transit facilities would be improved and pedestrian-vehicle conflicts would be minimized as the congestion experienced south of 41st Avenue rarely extends to 43rd Avenue. In the past year community representatives have stated that a pedestrian actuated signal at 43rd Avenue would not address the needs of the community. Therefore, this solution is not being pursued.

B.C. Transit has been contacted regarding this issue and has no concerns regarding Proposal 1. The existing Transit bus stops for northbound and southbound routes are located one block to the south at 43rd Avenue on West Boulevard.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Funding of $8,000 for this project is available from "Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated Account No. 13/32/9801/999 - Local Area and Other Improvements". Ongoing maintenance costs associated with the road markings and signs are to be incorporated within existing budgets.

CONCLUSION

This solution not only addresses the concerns of the neighbourhood but also allows the implementation of new and innovative transportation solutions in addressing concerns related to pedestrian crossing environments. This solution has a much lower overall cost than other suggestions such as installing a new traffic signal. Therefore, it is recommended that a marked and signed pedestrian crosswalk be installed in conjunction with a corner bulge and other modifications to signage and the adjacent driveway as shown in Figure 1 and discussed in this report.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver