ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: June 25, 1999
Author/Local: N. Hood/7742
RTS No.00786

CC File No. 5757

Council: July 20, 1999

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Traffic Calming - Cambridge Street at Kootenay Street

RECOMMENDATION

A. A. THAT a traffic circle and corner bulges be constructed as detailed in this report at a total cost of $30,000 funded from Streets Basic Capital Unappropriated Account 30000326 (Traffic Calming).

B. THAT the annual streets maintenance budget be increased by $500, to be decreased by $400 if the traffic circle is adopted by residents, and the sign maintenance budget be increased by $100, both without offset, starting in 2000.

COUNCIL POLICY

On May 27th, 1997, Council approved the Vancouver Transportation Plan that emphasizes the need to protect residential neighbourhoods from non-local traffic.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to seek approval for traffic calming measures to discourage non-local truck traffic in the Vancouver Heights neighbourhood.

BACKGROUND

On July 28, 1998, Council approved the construction of two traffic circles on Skeena Street in Vancouver Heights to discourage truck traffic on that street ( See Appendix A). Since the construction of the traffic circles in the fall of 1998, truck traffic has declined on Skeena Street, but increased on Cambridge Street.

DISCUSSION

Cambridge Street, between Boundary Road and the Skeena Tunnel, has seen an increase in truck traffic from 1998 to 1999. The before and after counts are shown in the table below:

24 Hour Truck Volumes
Before and After

	Before (1998)	After (1999)	Change
Skeena	32	9	-23
Cambridge	7	17	10
Kootenay	2	4	2
Cassiar	6	3	-3

TOTAL

47

33

-14

The difference in truck volumes on Kootenay and Cassiar Streets shows typical daily variations and suggests a range of two to five trucks per day as normal for the neighbourhood. The difference on Skeena and Cambridge Streets is more directly related to shortcutting vehicles and the construction of two traffic circles on Skeena Street, in the fall of 1998.

The volume of truck traffic on Cambridge Street has more than doubled in one year and now accounts for fifty per cent of the truck traffic in the area. As well, four of the trucks were recorded between ten o'clock at night and six o'clock in the morning. Both the volume and time of day of the truck traffic are unacceptable for a residential neighbourhood.

The construction of corner bulges on Cambridge Street, east and west of Kootenay Street, would narrow the street from 12.5 metres to 8.5 metres. This would improve visibility between drivers and pedestrians and shorten the crossing distance for pedestrians. The construction of a traffic circle would deter trucks from shortcutting on Cambridge Street but would allow emergency vehicles and trucks making local deliveries to get to their destinations.

Although Cambridge Street is designated as a secondary arterial, its role in the arterial street network has been diminished since the construction of the Cassiar Connector and it now functions as a collector road. The proposed traffic calming measures should be effective in both deterring truck traffic and in establishing Cambridge Street as a local collector.

CONSULTATION

In June, 1999, staff delivered a letter to homes within a one block radius of the proposed traffic circle and corner bulges, which outlined the existing conditions at the intersection. Since the proposed measures are non-diversionary, no survey was attached but residents were invited to phone the Neighbourhood Transportation Branch with any questions or concerns. In total, 129 letters were delivered and ten responses were received. Seven respondents are in favour of the proposed changes and three are opposed. Two of the residents who are opposed would prefer a traffic circle at the intersection of Skeena and Cambridge Streets. Several residents expressed safety concerns about placing a traffic circle on a steep hill.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

Installation of a traffic circle at the intersection of Cambridge and Kootenay Streets would reduce truck traffic through the intersection. There should be a corresponding reduction in noise and air pollution caused by trucks and an improvement in the livability of the neighbourhood.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The estimated capital cost of the construction of corner bulges and a traffic circle at the intersection of Cambridge and Kootenay Streets is $30,000. Funds for construction of the measures are available from the Streets Basic Capital Account set aside for traffic calming.

CONCLUSION

The decrease in truck traffic on Skeena Street, since the construction of the traffic circles, indicates they are an effective means of discouraging non-local truck traffic. The installation of a traffic circle on Cambridge Street at Kootenay Street should have a similar effect on truck traffic there. The corner bulges will further improve conditions by shortening the distance for pedestrians crossing Cambridge Street and by adding green space at the intersection.

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APPENDIX A

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: June 16, 1998
Author/Local: N. Hood/7742
CC File No: 5757

TO:	Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Skeena Street Traffic Calming

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT two traffic circles be constructed on Skeena Street, one at Triumph Street and one at Oxford Street, at a total cost of $15,000, to be funded from the Streets Basic Capital Budget Unappropriated Account 13/32/9801/999 (traffic calming).

B. THAT the annual streets maintenance budget be increased by $1000, to be reduced by $400 for each traffic circle adopted by residents, and the sign maintenance budget be increased by $200, both without offset, starting in 1999.

COUNCIL POLICY

Council has a long standing policy of protecting residential neighbourhoods from intrusion of non-local traffic on local streets.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to seek approval and funding for the construction of two traffic circles to discourage non-local truck traffic on Skeena Street, in the Vancouver Heights neighbourhood.

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BACKGROUND

Prior to the construction of the Cassiar Connector, the Vancouver Heights neighbourhood had a severe traffic shortcutting problem. Since the completion of the Connector in 1990, motor vehicle traffic volumes have fallen to levels typical of a single family residential neighbourhood. As well, traffic on Cambridge, a secondary arterial connecting Boundary Road with the Skeena Tunnel, has been reduced by 70% from 9,800 vehicles per day in 1989 to 2,900 vehicles per day in 1998.

Although there remains division in the community about the role of the Skeena Tunnel, the issue of excessive non-local truck traffic on Skeena Street can be resolved with local calming measures that can also provide a number of other benefits to the neighbourhood. Changes to the operation of the tunnel are not necessary and are not recommended.

On June 10, 1998, the Vancouver Regional Transit Commission approved a recommendation of B.C. Transit to not extend an existing bus route through the Vancouver Heights neighbourhood. Thus, the two proposed traffic circles on Skeena Street are not located on a proposed bus route and are compatible with the role of Skeena in the Vancouver Heights neighbourhood.

DISCUSSION

Skeena, north of Hastings, is an improved local residential street varying in width from 8.5 to 11 metres. The adjacent parallel local residential streets are Cassiar, improved at a width of 8.5 metres, and Kootenay, which is unimproved. Also in the neighbourhood is Cambridge, a designated secondary arterial with a width of 12.2 metres.

Skeena Street is a direct route from Hastings Street to the Bridgeway industrial area, north of the Skeena Tunnel. Although there is an existing sign prohibiting trucks at the southbound entrance to the tunnel and signs on Hastings directing drivers to Bridgeway, traffic counts done on neighbourhood streets confirm residents' complaints of trucks shortcutting on Skeena between Hastings and the Skeena Tunnel. Overall motor vehicle traffic volumes are typical of a single family residential neighbourhood, but the volume of truck traffic on Skeena is unusually high. There are twice as many trucks using Skeena as the other three streets combined. As well, 47% of the trucks using Skeena do so in the late evening and early morning hours when it is highly unlikely that local deliveries are being made.

24 Hour Truck Volumes

	8am - 6pm	6pm -12am	12am - 8am	TOTAL
Skeena	17	13	2	32
Cassiar	4	2	0	6
Kootenay	1	0	1	2
Cambridge	3	4	0	7

To discourage non-local truck traffic from using Skeena Street, it is proposed that two traffic circles be installed on Skeena: one at Triumph and one at Oxford. An area plan showing the proposed circles is attached as Appendix "A". Traffic circles are an existing traffic calming tool that have been in use throughout the City for over two decades to slow motor vehicle traffic on local streets, improve intersection safety and add greenspace to neighbourhoods. The design of modern traffic circles forces large vehicles to drive over the mountable portion of the circle, further reducing vehicle speeds and causing minor discomfort to the driver. Vehicles travelling along Skeena between Hastings and Cambridge would now have to negotiate two stop signs and two traffic circles, which, in combination with the existing truck prohibition at the north end of the tunnel, should make Skeena a much less desirable shortcut route for non-local trucks.

CONSULTATION

In February, 1998, staff delivered a letter to homes within a one block radius of the proposed traffic circles, outlining the existing conditions on Skeena Street and the proposed actions to be taken by the City. Because of the severe nature of the problem and the need for a simple and timely solution, residents were advised it was only necessary to contact the City if they had questions or concerns with the proposed solution. Although Franklin Elementary School is not immediately adjacent the proposed traffic circles, the Principal and the Community School Committee were each sent letters. In total, 122 letters were delivered and nine responses were received. Five respondents indicated complete support for the proposed traffic circles and four expressed qualified support.

Those residents that qualified their support are concerned that trucks will divert onto other neighbourhood streets or that the traffic circle at Skeena and Oxford Streets will preclude bus service being introduced into the neighbourhood. Follow up truck counts will be done three months after the construction of the traffic circles, pending approval and, if trucks have diverted elsewhere, similar measures will be considered there to discourage truck traffic. The issue of bus service was reviewed by B.C. Transit earlier this year and the Vancouver Regional Transit Commission approved the recommendation not to extend bus service along local streets in the Vancouver Heights Neighbourhood.

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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

Installation of the traffic circles on Skeena Street will reduce the volume of truck traffic on Skeena Street. There should be a corresponding reduction in noise and air pollution caused by trucks and an improvement in the livability of the neighbourhood.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The estimated capital cost for the proposed traffic circles is $15,000 to be funded from the Streets Basic Capital Budget Unappropriated Account 13/32/9801/999 (traffic calming). The annual streets maintenance budget requires an increase of $1000, to be reduced by $400 for each circle adopted by residents, and the annual sign maintenance budget requires an increase of $100, both without offset.

CONCLUSION

Although a local street, Skeena serves as a direct shortcut route for non-local trucks between Hastings Street and the Bridgeway industrial area. Both the volume and the time of day of the truck traffic are unacceptable for a local residential street and warrant action by the City. The installation of two traffic circles on Skeena will improve safety at the intersections and should discourage trucks from using Skeena. Other neighbourhood streets are indirect routes to the Skeena Tunnel, making them less attractive as truck shortcut routes, and are unlikely to see an increase in truck volumes as a result of the proposed traffic circles. However, follow up counts will be done three months after completion of the traffic circles to ensure that trucks have not diverted onto other neighbourhood streets.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver