Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic

FROM:

General Manager of Engineering Services

SUBJECT:

Modification of the Right-In-Right-Out Diverter at 7th & Heather

 

RECOMMENDATION

POLICY

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to review the right-in-right-out diverter on 7th Avenue at Heather Street and recommend that it be reconstructed.

BACKGROUND

In 1984, a right-in-right-out diverter was installed on 7th Avenue at Heather Street at the request of the local residents. The diverter restricts east/westbound through traffic on 7th Avenue at Heather Street. The diverter also restricts northbound to westbound left turns and eastbound to northbound left turns at the intersection.

In 1994, the Off-Broadway Bikeway was developed in consultation with residents and the Bicycle Network Subcommittee of the Bicycle Advisory Committee to Council. The route generally follows 7th and 8th Avenues from UBC to Science World. This route connects with the Adanac Bikeway via the Seaside Bike Route near Science World.

On April 7, 1994, the Off-Broadway Bikeway was approved and traffic calming devices including traffic circles, corner bulges, and diverters were built on the route to discourage vehicles from shortcutting along the bikeway and to increase the comfort and safety of cyclists using the route.

DISCUSSION

Since the development of the Off-Broadway Bikeway, staff has been monitoring all traffic calming devices along the route. From the investigations, it was found that the diverter on 7th Avenue at Heather Street should be modified in order to make it more effective. The current diverter is too small, in that motorists can travel around it relatively easily. It is proposed to increase the size of the diverter and to install corner bulges at the intersection to make the diverter more effective and to decrease the violation rate. Bike access lanes through the diverter are also proposed to reduce conflicts between bicycles and vehicles at the intersection. Figure 1 shows the proposed modifications.


Figure 1 - 7th Ave. & Heather St. Diverter Modification
On June 7, 1999, a letter was distributed to the affected residents and businesses to inform them of the proposed modifications. The residents and businesses were also directed to contact staff if they had any questions or comments (see Appendix A for the Letter). Of the residents and businesses that responded to the letter, it was determined that the majority support the proposal, as displayed Table 1.


Table 1 - 7th & Heather Diverter Survey Results

General comments from the residents and businesses include:

The modifications to the diverter include increasing its size, providing bike access lanes through the diverter, and adding corner bulges at the intersection. The benefit of increasing the size of the diverter is that it will be more difficult to violate and, as a result, it will reduce traffic volumes on the Bikeway. The bike access lanes through the diverter will help to reduce conflicts and congestion between cyclists and motorists at the intersection. Finally, the proposed corner bulges will increase sight lines for pedestrians crossing 7th Avenue and Heather Street, and reduce crossing distance for pedestrians at the intersection. The bulges will also improve access for vehicles turning right into and out of Heather Street by restricting parking within the corner clearance area.

CONCLUSION

The modification of the right-in-right-out diverter at the intersection of 7th Avenue and Heather Street is recommended based on the residents support and the overall benefits it would provide to cyclists and pedestrians.

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APPENDIX A

INFORMATION LETTER

June 7, 1999

Dear Neighbour:

Modification of the Right-In-Right-Out Diverter at 7th Avenue and Heather Street

The City of Vancouver is in the process of reviewing the traffic calming devices on the Heather Bikeway. As part of this project we are recommending that the existing right-in-right-out diverter at the intersection of 7th Avenue and Heather Street be modified in order to make this traffic calming device more effective. Modifications include:

· bike access lanes

This diverter restricts through traffic westbound and eastbound on 7th Avenue at Heather Street. Left turns into and out of 7th Avenue at Heather Street are restricted as well (see attached plan).

This letter seeks your opinion on the modification of the right-in-right-out diverter at the intersection of 7th Avenue and Heather Street. If you have any comments on this or other traffic calming measures in your neighbourhood, please call me by July 1, 1999. Your feedback on this project is valuable and will influence our decision to modify the existing right-in-right-out diverter on your street..

If you have any questions about this project, call me at 873-7693 or e-mail me at winston_chou@city.vancouver.bc.ca.

Yours truly,

Winston Chou, EIT
Neighbourhood Transportation Branch

APPENDIX B

DISTRIBUTION AREA

APPENDIX C

COMMENTS

7TH AVENUE & HEATHER STREET RIGHT-IN-RIGHT-OUT DIVERTER

Summary of Responses up to July 29, 1999

Total number of letters sent out: 1400

Total number of responses: 37 (37/1400 = 3% response rate)
In favour of proposal: 22 (22/37 = 59%)
Opposed of proposal: 15 (15/37 = 41%)

Summary of Comments

· A Right-In-Right Out Diverter should also be placed at the intersection of 7th and Ash Street. This would have the effect of diverting westbound traffic along 7th Ave at the Ash Street intersection. Since there are new traffic signals at the intersection of 6th and Ash and traffic signals at Broadway and Ash, the flow of traffic should be directed to north-south corridor.

· We received your letter with great pleasure. We often use the 7th bikeway and living nearby, we cross that intersection several times a day. This diverter, located on 7th Ave and Heather street is greatly needed. In its actual form, it is not only inefficient but dangerous. Drivers are doing all sort of dangerous and illegal maneuvering to continue on 7th Ave.

· Thank you for consulting us on this diverter. The one currently there is not very effective as traffic continues to come straight through the intersection on 7th. This sometimes is a 'surprise' to people going northbound on Heather and has nearly resulted in accidents. I would like to see the diverter widened as you have proposed.

· I live in a building on 7th and Laurel. I pass by that intersection all the time and notice that the current diverter is not doing what was intended. There are vehicles constantly driving around it - what makes it more dangerous of course, is that these drivers know they are doing something wrong and drivefaster so they are not noticed.

· A suggestion I do have is to look at the intersection of 7th and Laurel. There are two problems. The first one is there is no 4-way stop or stop sign, therefore, vehicles pick up speed after willow (driving west) and speed to Oak street. Also, the stop sign for vehicles driving south on Laurel (going towards W. Broadway) is not very noticeable. There are frequent "near-misses" here. Vehicles coming up or down Laurel just don't stop mainly because the sign is out of sight and another thing that doesn't help is there are always cars parked right up to the corner (I have never seen a ticket yet!) . I think special attention should be brought to this intersection because the land-bridge leading to the sea wall is located there. There is always joggers, walkers, bikers, strollers etc. crossing the street.

· I suggest you also consider effective (i.e. large) speed bumps or other measures to slow traffic in the alley between 7th and 6th streets for the Heather-Willow block. At the moment this alley is used as a short cut by those people who do know about the current diverter - it tends to be very busy during rush hours and people use it at quite high speeds; much too high in my opinion as there are several exits from underground parking along this alley and it is difficult to see if there is a car coming out of these exits until too late. Pedestrians and cyclists also use this alley and I have witnessed several near misses from speeding short-cutters (although I haven't seen an actual collision yet).

· We agree with the proposed modification. I'd guess about 30% of traffic still goes around the current diverter (illegally). I'm a cyclist who uses the 7th Ave. corridor to UBC from Willow at 7th and appreciate the traffic calming measures. And, as pedestrians who walks past Heather and 7th every few days, I had to avoid cars which try to zip through the current diverter, westward along 7th.

· Go ahead, the current diverter isn't effective enough. Come up with an alternative route for westbound traffic on 2nd/6th to get onto Cambie southbound. Currently they are routed past Cambie and up onto the bike-route - this causes much congestion, fear and loathing at the bike signals at 7th and Cambie. And it's bloody silly anyway, isn't it? Traffic-calm 8th Ave. also (on which I live). This'll pre-empt complaints about increased traffic from 8th Ave. residents and create a positive attitude overall. And the traffic along 8th is horrendous anyway. Add "LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY" to the bottom of the "Bike Route" signs. Do this on all bike-routes. Drivers stillfeel they are the dominant user - make them feel unwelcome.

· You guys are doing good work! I hope your work and all the expense isn't in vain. These bikeways will never be popular unless they reach the critical point at which only slow-moving local cars are present. Then these bikeways will rival the popularity of the Sea wall. And imagine what a great city it would be if all residential roads were that way!

· There is too much non-local traffic on 7th Ave during the day. Laurel and 7th is a bad intersection. Drivers have low visibility because of all the parked cars and corner bulges. The hedges at the north-west corner of Laurel and 7th limits visibility for drivers as well.

· Since the installation of the diverter the lane behind 7th and 8th avenue are being used for shortcutting. If the diverter is to be modified the City should also install speed humps in the lane.

· Would like to have paint markings for parking on 7th Ave and Heather street. This will make more efficient use of street side parking in the neighbourhood. Please do not take away anymore parking, it is already too congested here.

· Request a Ped. signal at Oak and 7th. The uphill slope makes it difficult to cross Oak Street at 7th Ave. Drivers often speed on Oak Street and visibility is low in this area. Since 7th is a bike route a signal should be installed here.

· There is a large number of commercial traffic going up and down Heather Street. More diverters are needed to discourage non-local and commercial traffic. Traffic circles could be used to help calm the neighbourhood. Furthermore, there is a great deal of traffic on the alleys now.

· I would like to see a Four Way Stop sign system at the corner of Willow and West 8th. Currently Stop signs only on West 8th. Often I drive Eastward and make a stop on West 8th. Unfortunately cars are parked on Willow right up to West 8th, so I have to nudge my car little by little to ensure Willow is clear before I proceed.

· Other intersection where Four Way Stop signs should be implemented is at Laurel and West 8th. If I am heading Eastward on West 8th and stop at the Stop sign at Laurel, it is almost impossible to see any cars coming south on Laurel, because it is so steep. Normally, if cars were observing the speedlimit, then there is no problems, but sometimes it does not happen.

· Our area does suffer from a lot of traffic, but I don't believe its because people are taking short cuts. Most people are just trying to find parking so they can shop, visit friends or just get home. Lack of parking lots for the office crowd and shoppers are to be blamed combined with plethora of permit only parking and metered parking would be the 2nd cause for all the extended driving around. Traffic is sometimes caused by other issues. Case in point, the new traffic light at Ash and 6th Ave. This is causing a real increase in traffic congestion, especially at peak commuter times. People now gravitate to this intersection trying to make left turns on the light change like never before. I believe it was put in to accommodate bicycles, one of which I have yet to see make use of this light. Mostly its used by cars as they disgorging from the local office buildings creating grid lock on Ash in the morning and around 5pm. This was not the case before the light. This is nothing compared to what happens on 6th Ave. The 6th Ave exit south bound off the Cambie bridge is now back up on a regular basis. These cars now hit a double light zone right off the bridge, Ash and then Heather. Cars east and west bound on 6th now face triple light zone Heather, Ash and Cambie. Its my opinion that the new light at Ash and 6th. is a step backward, which has brought more congestion to the area with no noticeable benefits. I assume it was put in for the pedestrians and cyclists. I believe they were already using the established lights at Cambie (less than a block away) and Heather (one block away), so the benefit to them is marginal. I suggest and hope the light will be removed.

· Thank you for your letter regarding the proposed modification to the traffic diverter. I have lived in the 800 block West 7th for about 8 years now, and do not find the through traffic to be abnormally high. However, I do recognize that there are those who would prefer even less traffic on 7th Avenue, as it is a residential street and a designated bicycle corridor.

· Stop signs or a traffic circle would work better at this intersection. Non-resident traffic is a real problem here. It would be better to just slow people down rather than diverting them somewhere else.

· This move will reduce traffic on West 7th because more cars will find it slower and more difficult to drive through. As a result they will probably use West 8th. Unfortunately I live on the corner of West 8th and Laurel and find volume of traffic quite heavy at times. In addition, often cars here speed and sometimes do not observe the Stop signs very carefully. If youare going to put more diverters in then I think you should put some on West 8th too, so that it will make it more safer to cross the streets.

· Other intersections where four way stop signs should be implemented is at Laurel and West 8th. If I am heading Eastward on West 8th and stop at the stop sign at Laurel, it is almost impossible to see any cars coming south on Laurel, because it is so steep.

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