Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

RECOMMENDATION

POLICY

On July 19, 1995, Council Adopted the Vancouver Greenway Plan and designated the Ridgeway Greenway on 37th Avenue between Knight and Granville Streets as the City Greenway pilot project.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to review the traffic impacts arising from the Ridgeway Greenway road closure of 37th Avenue West of Fraser Street (at Mountain View Cemetery) and to recommend the installation of remedial measures.

BACKGROUND

On June 27, 1996, City Council approved a pilot project to develop the Ridgeway Greenway on 37th Avenue between Granville and Knight Streets. The purpose of the Greenway is to expand opportunities for urban recreation, to provide pedestrians and cyclists alternate ways to move through the city, and to enhance the experience of nature and city life.

The planning and design of the Ridgeway Greenway pilot project resulted from an extensive public consultation process. In general, the level of public participation and support for this project was high.

As part of the Ridgeway Greenway development, Council approved the closure of 37th Avenue at Mountain View Cemetery west of Fraser Street and requested that City staff report back on a traffic calming program for Prince Edward Street. Council also requested that staff include a review on the potential for timing the traffic lights at both Main and Fraser Streets to help improve or maximize the comfort level of those motorists exiting from Prince Edward Street at 41st Avenue.

DISCUSSION

Since the closure of 37th Avenue at Mountain View Cemetery, staff have investigated the effects on nearby streets. 37th Avenue was the only west/eastbound route which connected Fraser and Main Streets between 33rd and 41st Avenues. It was shown, in the investigation, that the closure of this route detoured the portion of the traffic on 37th Avenue to Prince Edward Street such that vehicles can exit the neighbourhood by 33rd and/or 41st Avenues. Furthermore, it was found that Prince Edward Street is used as a north/southbound short cut for motorists to connect 33rd and 41st Avenues.

In conjunction with interested neighbourhood residents, staff developed a traffic calming plan to address the concerns on Prince Edward Street. The plan, as shown in Figure 1, consists of installing traffic circles on Prince Edward Street at 36th and 40th Avenues. Traffic circles at other intersections in the city have shown the following benefits:

·reduced traffic accidents
·increased green space
·break up of the "visual corridor" to make the street appear shorter

A total of 2000 residents were surveyed to solicit their opinion of the traffic circle plan (see Appendix B for survey area). The results from the survey, as displayed on Table 1, show that the majority of residents support the traffic circles.


Table 1 - Traffic Circle Survey Results

Staff also investigated traffic signal timing in the area to ensure adequate gaps in traffic for motorists exiting from Prince Edward Street at 41st Avenue. The results from the investigation have shown that the existing signal timing provides enough gaps for motorists to exit Prince Edward Street safely and comfortably. In addition, a pedestrian signal warrant study conducted at Prince Edward Street and 33rd Avenue showed that there are adequate gaps for pedestrians to cross 33rd Avenue safely. Furthermore, in November 1998, a pedestrian controlled signal was installed at the intersection of St. George Street and 41st Avenue to assist students of John Oliver High School.

Figure 1 - Prince Edward Traffic Circles

CONCLUSION

The Prince Edward Street Traffic Calming Plan is supported by the neighbourhood and Council approval of the plan is recommended. It is also suggested that no action be taken to change the timing of the lights on Main and Fraser Streets at this time.

APPENDIX A

PRINCE EDWARD
TRAFFIC CIRCLE SURVEY

July 6, 1999


Dear Resident:

The City of Vancouver has been working with interested neighbourhood residents to address concerns related to traffic speed and volume on Prince Edward Street. City Council has requested that City staff work with residents to develop traffic measures to address their concerns.

The attached figure outlines the proposed work. In particular, traffic circles are being proposed for the two intersections of 36th Avenue and Prince Edward Street and 40th Avenue and Prince Edward Street. Traffic circles at other intersections in the city have shown the following benefits:

·may reduce traffic accidents by 80%
·adds green space to the road surface
·breaks up the "visual corridor" to make the street appear shorter

The enclosed survey seeks your opinion on the proposal to install a traffic circle at the intersection of 36th Avenue and Prince Edward Street and at the intersection of 40th Avenue and Prince Edward Street. Please complete the survey including any other comments you may have and return it by July 21, 1999. Your feedback on this project is valuable and neighbourhood responses will determine whether these measures are constructed.

If you have any questions about this project, please call Nancy Hill at 873-7305 or myself at 873-7693.

Yours truly,





Winston Chou, EIT
Neighbourhood Transportation Branch

APPENDIX B

PRINCE EDWARD
SURVEY AREA

SHADED REGION INDICATES SURVEY AREA


APPENDIX C

PRINCE EDWARD
SURVEY RESULTS AND COMMENTS

Summary of Survey Results up to August 17,.1999

TOTAL NUMBER OF SURVEYS SENT OUT: 2000
RESPONSE RATE: 476 (476/2000 = 24%)

PRINCE EDWARD ST. AND 36TH AVE TRAFFIC CIRCLE
Total Number of responses: 239
In favour of proposal: 146 (146/239 = 61%)
Opposed to proposal: 79 (79/239 = 33%)
Neutral: 14 (14/239 = 6%)


PRINCE EDWARD ST. AND 40TH AVE TRAFFIC CIRCLE
Total Number of responses: 237
In favour of proposal: 133 (133/237 = 56%)
Opposes of proposal: 83 (83/237 = 35%)
Neutral: 21 (21/237 = 9%)


Summary of Comments

·Any method of reducing traffic speed and adding "green space" is a positive measure.
·Even though there is a visible STOP sign on PE at 37th and 38th Avenues, we can't tell you how many horns we hear or "near" accidents by people driving right through intersection.
·The continual traffic and speed and disregard for traffic signs, means these are commuters using Prince Edward as a "quick" alternative to Main/Fraser.
·A traffic circle should be installed on E. 34th Ave and Prince Edward St., too. The Stop sign doesn't work. Some people fly through it. There are quite a few kids in the area.
·There is an old age home in the area and traffic circles would reduce the risks of accidents. Pedestrians would benefit from the proposed traffic circles and would deter speeding motorists.
·Do not like 37th Avenue closed to traffic to go to Fraser Street this was the only street between 33rd and 41st Avenues to go to Fraser Street. Trying to make a left from Prince Edward St. onto 41st Avenue in rush hour is risky. Have seen near accidents.
·I think that traffic circles are a good idea but we need more public education on right of way. There are more and more of these showing up in the city and many people interpret right of way differently.
·I'd also like to see a circle at 34th Ave. Traffic speeds along Prince Edward. Although stop signs have been installed, drivers still ignore them. There are many children living in this area something must be done.
·Two traffic circles are not enough. The area between 36th and 40th would become an even greater speedway. Something more than stop signs must be added. Installation of speed humps would improve the plan.

·I have yet to witness any dangerous driving on Prince Edward. This area is difficult enough to access now with the removal of the Fraser Street exit. This is a city neighbourhood. The traffic reflects that. It is not, nor would I want it to be a gated community.
·Stop signs are a better alternative to slow down the traffic.
·If 37th hadn't been closed we would not have the traffic along Prince Edward. Traffic is so bad at times along Prince Edward you can't get on 41st.
·The problem is not speed but congestion which is a result of your "grand plan" for 37th Ave and Mountain View Cemetery. All you have done as a result of closing 37th Ave for bikes and pedestrians is put further stress on Prince Edward St. and caused mini-traffic jam at 41st and Prince Edward and 33rd and Prince Edward.
·The closure of 37th Ave restricted us too much already, a one-way out to Fraser St would have been enough. For the (older citizens) all this road closures makes life harder.

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