ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: December 17, 1998
Author/Local: S. Edwards/7913
RTS No. 00207
CC File No. 5762-1

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Insurance Corporation of British Columbia - Funding for Road Safety Improvements

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) be thanked for its ongoing support of safety improvements in the city of Vancouver.

B. THAT Council accept 1998 contributions from ICBC Road Safety Improvement Program for various safety improvement projects as specified in this report, and that the Director of Legal Services be authorized to enter into agreements relating thereto, provided they are drawn to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services and the General Manager of Engineering Services.

COUNCIL POLICY

Council has approved similar programs and funding contributions from the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia since 1994 as part of their Road Safety Improvements Program.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to seek Council approval to accept a contribution from ICBC for Road Safety improvements within the City of Vancouver.

BACKGROUND

Since 1994, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia has participated in joint reviews with staff of traffic safety along several corridors in the City of Vancouver. As a result of these reviews, ICBC has contributed over $800,000 from its loss prevention program for safety improvements in the City, through a variety of projects.

This funding has been used to provide an improved level of service on projects that Council had approved, and has resulted in substantial reduction in accidents.

DISCUSSION

1998 Road Safety Improvement Contribution

ICBC continues to work with staff and consultants to identify and review high accident locations in the City. As a result of these studies, ICBC has agreed to provide funding towards three separate Road Safety Initiatives (see Appendix A).

i) Signal Improvements - Tertiary Head Installations

Signal visibility improvements such as this have been successful at many high accident locations throughout the City.

As part of the Annual Traffic Signal Program, funding has been allocated towards the addition of Tertiary Heads. As part of the 1997 and 1998 Annual Traffic Signal Programs, funding of $85,000 and $90,000 respectively has been approved for tertiary head upgrades. ICBC has agreed to contribute up to $300,000 towards similar work.
These funds, together with a City contribution, will allow the City to upgrade a total of 31 intersections. Please refer to Appendix A for a complete list of the locations to be included in this program. These locations were identified by ICBC through ongoing intersection safety reviews.

The ICBC funding of these improvements to reduce traffic accidents and associated losses in the City of Vancouver is to our mutual benefit. ICBC already realizes a reduction in its claims payout, directly linked to improvements installed along the Clark/Knight Street corridor, while residents of Vancouver experience reduced exposure to damage, injury and inconvenience. It will also help reduce the number of Police and Fire calls to serious accidents.

ii) Left-Turn Bay Construction

The addition of left-turn bays at an intersection can dramatically reduce the number of angle type accidents at an intersection. Two left-turn bays and related traffic signal improvements have been approved by Council and are being constructed this year. These two projects are Burrard Street from Cornwall to 4th Avenue and 57th Avenue at Knight Street. Due to the improvements in safety that are associated with this type of intersection improvements, ICBC has agreed to partially fund these projects. Funding of $300,000 has been provided for these two projects.

iii) Signal Improvements - Additional Left-Turn Phasing

Similar to the addition of left-turn bays, a significant safety improvement can be realized through the addition of left-turn phasing at locations that already have left-turn bays. Several locations have been identified (see Appendix A) that would benefit from the addition of Left-Turn Phasing. ICBC is willing to provide funding up to $360,000 towards this work.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There will be minimal impact to existing capital budgets due to the work outlined in this report. The funding provided by ICBC either upgrades existing installations (as outlined in item iii) or complements funding already allocated in existing capital budgets, thus allowing additional work to be completed. Impacts on the operating budget for these improvements are minimal, and no increase will be required for the 1999 operating budget for any additional work.

APPENDIX A

Road Safety Improvements

1) Tertiary Heads $300,000

Addition of a third traffic signal head usually located on the right side of the intersection. The primary head (located over the roadway) is also upgraded to increase the size of the three colour lenses. Thirty-one locations are to be upgraded in this manner. City funds have been previously approved as part of the Annual Traffic Signal Program to match the ICBC funds provided. The list of the locations is as follows:

1	Nanaimo Street	&	1st Avenue
2.	Granville Street	&	King Edward Avenue
3.	Granville Street	&	49th Avenue
4.	Granville Street	&	41st Avenue
5.	Macdonald Street	&	4th Avenue
6.	4th Avenue	&	Burrard Street
7.	Nanaimo Street	&	Kingsway
8.	41st Avenue	&	Cambie
9.	Nanaimo Street	&	12th Avenue
10.	Nanaimo Street	&	Hastings Street
11.	Renfrew Street	&	Hastings Street
12.	Renfrew Street	&	1st Avenue
13.	Main Street	&	Broadway
14.	Broadway	&	Cambie Street
15.	Oak Street	&	Broadway
16.	Granville Street	&	Broadway
17.	Fir Street	&	Broadway
18.	Broadway	&	Burrard
19.	12th Avenue	&	Granville
20.	Main Street	&	12th Avenue
21.	Clark Drive	&	12th Avenue
22.	Commercial	&	12th Avenue
23.	Renfrew Street	&	Grandview
24.	Rupert Street	&	Broadway
25.	Renfrew Street	&	Broadway
26.	Nanaimo Street	&	Broadway
27.	Oak Street	&	12th Avenue
28.	King Edward	&	Oak Street
29.	Fraser Street	&	King Edward Avenue
30.	Blanca Street	&	10th Avenue
31.	Commercial	&	1st Avenue

Appendix A - Page 2

2) Left-Turn Bay Construction $300,000

The left-turn bay projects which ICBC has agreed to provide partial funding for have already been approved by City Council. These projects include:

1) Burrard Street - Cornwall to 4th Avenue.

New left-turn bay and related signal improvements.

2) 57th Avenue @ Knight Street - New left-turn bays on 57th Avenue.

3) Signal Upgrades - Additional Left-Turn Phasing $360,000

A number of high accident locations have been identified in which the addition of left-turn arrows would improve the existing conditions. Left-turn arrows improve safety turning vehicles and can also assist transit vehicles or reinforce designated truck routes. The following locations have been 100% funded for upgrades by ICBC.

1) Fraser & 41st Avenue
2) Renfrew & Grandview
3) Victoria & Kingsway
4) Victoria & 41st Avenue
5) Victoria & 1st Avenue

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver