ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: January 4, 1999
Author/Local: Lon LaClaire/6440
RTS No. 476

CC File No. 5553

TO:	Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services Director of Community Planning
SUBJECT:	Declaration of the Trans Canada Trail Route in Vancouver

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council approve the alignment of the Trans Canada Trail as outlined in this report.

POLICY

· The Vancouver Comprehensive Bicycle Plan (1988) and the Clouds of Change Report (1990) established the City's policy of promoting and encouraging cycling as a transportation alternative.

· On May 27, 1997, Council approved the Vancouver Transportation Plan which emphasizes the need to provide more comfortable cycling and walking environments in a network of bikeways and greenways.

· On January 6, 1998, Council approved the development of the Trans Canada Trail, in principle, along the general corridor outlined in this report.

· On July 18, 1995, Council adopted the Vancouver Greenways Plan, comprising 14 routes.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to approve the alignment of the Trans Canada Trail in the City of Vancouver as shown in Appendix A.

BACKGROUND

The Trans Canada Trail Foundation, a nonprofit registered charitable organization, was founded in 1992, during the 125th anniversary of Canadian Confederation. The Foundation's goal is to connect Canada's three Oceans by a shared-use trail that would be off-road as much as possible by the year 2000. In urban areas, such as Vancouver, the trail would primarily accommodate pedestrians and cyclists, using existing and planned greenways and bikeways.

The British Columbia portion of the Trans Canada Trail is being coordinated by Trails BC, a nonprofit society formed in 1994. The abandoned Kettle Valley Railway, acquired by the government of BC, will form a significant portion of the trail through this province. As the trail winds through the Lower Mainland, it will link up historic sites such as Fort Langley and Stanley Park. The maps in Appendix B show the general route across British Columbia and the rest of Canada.

On January 6 1998, Vancouver City Council unanimously supported a report committing in principle to the development of the Vancouver portion of the Trans Canada Trail. Funds were approved for preliminary design and consultation.

Open houses were held at the False Creek Community Centre on April 22, 1998 and at Templeton Secondary School on April 27, 1998. Invitations were placed in local Vancouver community newspapers and delivered directly to 3600 Eastside homes along the proposed new Bikeways that would become part of the Trans Canada Trail. As noted in the companion report, area residents have indicated strong support for this project.

On October 6 1998, another open house was held in the Wall Street Neighbourhood specifically to discuss their traffic calming project currently underway and the proposed Trans Canada Trail.

On October 12, 1998, a Trans Canada Trail pavilion was officially opened on Granville Island. The pavilion was built by Granville Island administration and the location at Alder Bay was supported by City and Park Board staff.

DISCUSSION

Public reaction to this project has been very positive both in Vancouver and the region. The joint bikeways/greenways project management team is encouraging neighbourhood participation and private sponsorship and co-ordinating with neighbouring municipalities. The map in Appendix A shows the routing through Vancouver.

The alignment follows existing or planned bikeways and greenways wherever possible. Starting at the Burnaby boundary, the route would cross under the Trans Canada Highway at the Second Narrows Bridge and parallel the CP Rail tracks to Wall Street; west along Wall Street to Lakewood, then south along Lakewood to Adanac; west along the Adanac Bikeway to Hawks Avenue; north on Hawks to Keefer Street; west along Keefer to Columbia Street; south on Columbia and Quebec to Science World; along False Creek South to Granville Island; over the Burrard Street Bridge; along Sunset Beach and English Bay to Stanley Park; around (and through) Stanley Park to Coal Harbour and then east along Coal Harbour past Canada Place to the SeaBus Terminal. From this point it will continue on the SeaBus to North Vancouver. The Park Board is scheduled to consider those portions of the route leading through Vancouver parks at the regular Board Meeting of January 25, 1999.

While no significant changes are expected where the route follows the existing Adanac Bikeway and the Seaside Bikeway and Greenway, this project provides opportunities to further enhance these existing and proposed routes, to be coordinated through Greenways. Due to the high national profile of the Trans Canada Trail, participation from volunteer and not-for-profit organizations is expected. For example, a First Nations E-Team (federally funded environmental program for youths) has already helped in preliminary trail development under the Second Narrows Bridge. In another example, Templeton School is collaborating with neighbourhood artists and students to celebrate the Trans Canada Trail through the school grounds. In the short term, the City would develop new bikeways in two locations as discussed below.

New Bikeway Through Chinatown and Strathcona
A detour off the Adanac Bikeway, through Chinatown and Strathcona is designed to direct tourists and recreational cyclists to the significant points of interest in this area, including linear parks, heritage homes in Strathcona, Chinatown, the Chinese Cultural Centre, the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden, and Andy Livingston Park. See APPENDIX A.

These streets, Keefer Street from Columbia Street to Hawks Avenue and Hawks Avenue from Union to Keefer, are already pedestrian friendly streets. Therefore no changes to street design or traffic patterns are proposed for it to be designated as part of the Trans Canada Trail. Letters were delivered to residents and businesses along these streets regarding the proposed alignment. Feed back so far is generally positive and the Chinatown Heritage Area Planning Committee have expressed their endorsement for this project.

The Burrardview and Lakewood Bikeways
A major task for this project is the creation of a new bikeway along Wall Street and Bridgeway, called the Burrardview Bikeway (working name only) and the northern extension of the existing Lakewood Bikeway north through Oxford Park to Wall Street. The selected route for the Burrardview Bikeway would use the existing right-of-way below the SecondNarrows Bridge to connect into Burnaby's trail system. Here a crossing would need to be built over the CN Rail tunnel portal.

The section of the proposed route along Wall Street is identified as a future bikeway and greenway; the traffic calming measures proposed significantly contribute to the development of this greenway. Development of the Burrardview Bikeway and the extension of the Lakewood Bikeway is the subject of a companion report (refer to RTS No. 00398). Initial development is underway and has proceeded with full public consultation, similar to other Bikeways. Applications to the Provincial Cycling Network Program were submitted for the new section of the Lakewood Bikeway and part of the new Burrardview Bikeway (Lakewood to Kaslo) in November 1998. Later this year staff will report back on the eastern portion of the Burrardview Bikeway (Kaslo to Burnaby border), currently at the design stage.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Trails BC has offered to pay up to 10% of the cost of the Trail (a higher percentage would be considered at specific sites). Additional cost sharing will be pursued through the Provincial Cycling Network Program and the Federal Infrastructure Works Program. Marketing and organizational support is being offered by Trails BC and the Trans Canada Trail Foundation. Additionally, this project has the potential to attract significant financial support from the private sector. Trails BC and City staff will work together to pursue this type of private sector participation. Staff will report back on any additional financial arrangements that may be required to implement this project, including the eastern portion of the Burrardview Bikeway and the required signage.

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

The goal is to complete the Trail by Spring, 2000. If the proposed alignment through Vancouver is supported, signage identifying the route would be installed in time for the official opening in September, 2000.

NOTE FROM CLERK: APPENDICES A-B NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE. ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver