ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: April 27, 1999
Author/Local: S. Edwards/7913
RTS No. 00690
CC File No. 5762-1

Council: June 1, 1999

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Insurance Corporation of British Columbia - 1999 Funding for Road Safety Improvements

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT Council accept 1999 contributions from ICBC Road Safety Improvement Program for various safety improvement projects as specified in this report, and that the Director of Legal Services and/or the General Manager of Engineering Services be authorized to enter into agreements relating thereto, provided they are drawn to their satisfaction.

B. THAT the Mayor write the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, thanking ICBC for its ongoing support of safety improvements in the City of Vancouver.

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.

Council policy currently limits individual award execution by Departments Heads at $300,000.

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 $1,500,000 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 safety on projects that Council had approved, and has resulted in substantial reduction in accidents.

DISCUSSION

1999 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 four separate Road Safety Initiatives (see Appendix A).

i) Signal Improvements - Tertiary Head Installations

Standard signals have two heads, or sets of lights. Sometimes the view of these can be blocked, for example, when following a large bus or truck. Adding a third head improves the visibility of the signal. Signal visibility improvements such as this have been successful at many high accident locations throughout the City.

Funding of $100,000 has been requested as part of the 1999 Annual Traffic Signal Program for tertiary signal head installations, with locations being identified by staff and ICBC through ongoing intersection safety reviews. ICBC is willing to provide funding of up to $150,000 towards a City program of improving traffic signal visibility.

ii) Corridor Reviews - 41st Avenue, 33rd Avenue, Granville Street

Since 1994, ICBC has co-operated in reviews of a number of corridors in the City of Vancouver, beginning with Clark-Knight. In 1998 three corridors were studied, Granville Street, 41st Avenue, and 33rd Avenue. A number of improvements are being recommended, which can range from additional signal heads or signal phasing to turning restrictions, or additional signage. ICBC is prepared to provide funding totalling $175,000 for the three corridors studied.

iii) Left-Turn Bay Construction and related Improvements

The addition of left-turn bays at an intersection can dramatically reduce the number of accidents at an intersection. Two left-turn bays have been approved by Council and are expected to be constructed this year. These two projects are Clark Drive at 1st Avenue, approved March 14, 1996, and Knight at 41st Avenue, approved March 25, 1997. Redesign of the intersection of Cambie Street and Southwest Marine Drive is also being considered, and a design report will be forwarded to Council later this Spring. Due to the improvements in safety that are associated with this type of intersection improvement, ICBC has agreed to partially fund these projects, in the order of $450,000.

iii) Traffic Calming

ICBC has agreed to provide funding to go towards the following projects:
- Stop sign infills $25,000
- Traffic Calming Initiatives $50,000

Funding of these types of projects is of a trial nature as the ongoing benefits will be assessed by ICBC prior to further allocation of funds in future years. Additional information on these projects is included in Appendix A.

Council has previously established guidelines for the level of expenditure that can be authorized by staff, within existing budgets. However, there is no policy to govern what contributions staff can accept from outside agencies like ICBC. Therefore, Council authority is being sought to accept these contributions.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There will be savings to existing capital budgets due to the work outlined in this report. The funding provided by ICBC either upgrades existing installations, thus allowing additional work to be completed, or complements funding already allocated in existing capital budgets, thus reducing City expenditure. 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.

TRANSPORTATION PLAN

Council approved the Transportation Plan on May 27, 1997, which provides that measures to improve safety are required, but should be designed to as not to increase capacity (policy R6), and that traffic should be calmed in neighbourhoods (policy NP3). These measures help to implement these policies.

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Appendix A
Page 1 of 2

i) Tertiary Heads $150,000

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 to be upgraded is being determined at this time but does included locations along 41st Avenue, 33rd Avenue, Granville Street and a number of individually identified intersections.

ii) Corridor Studies - Granville Street, 41st Avenue, 33rd Avenue $175,000

Similar to many other corridor studies and related improvements which have been completed within the City, these three corridors also have a number of recommended improvements. These improvements include; signage changes, signal timing changes, installation of additional signal heads and other improvements related to vehicle and pedestrian movements along these corridors.

iii) Left-Turn Bay Construction $450,000

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) Clark Drive at 1st Avenue - new left-turn bay and related signal improvements approved by Vancouver Traffic Commission March 14, 1996.

2) Knight Street at 41st Avenue - new left-turn bay approved by Council March 25, 1997, as part of the Knight Street Corridor improvements.

A third location will be reported to Council later this spring, Cambie at Southwest Marine Drive. If approved by Council, ICBC would be willing to contribute funding towards this project also.

APPENDIX A
Page 2 of 2

iv) Traffic Calming $75,000

ICBC has agreed to provide funding to go towards the following projects:

- Stop Sign Infills $25,000

Neighbourhoods identified by staff as having accident types which could be reduced through the addition of stop signs to better identify right-of-way. Many such neighbourhoods have some intersections presently controlled and would benefit from having the remainder of the area stop sign infilled.

- Traffic Calming Initiatives $50,000

The South Kerrisdale Traffic Calming Plan was approved by Council May 27, 1998. As part of a trial program ICBC is willing to contribute up to $50,000 towards the installation of a stop sign infill and related traffic calming measures in the area.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver