Transportation Plan
Progress Report
for 2000

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Background

3.3 Road Network

3.4 Transit

3.5 Cycling

3.6 Neighbourhoods

3.7 Downtown

3.8 Goods Movement

3.9 Funding

3.10 Monitoring

Background

Overview of 1997 Transportation Plan

The City of Vancouver Transportation Plan, approved by Council in 1997, is organized into three main sections:

• Chapter 1 - Transportation Issues
• Chapter 2 - Fundamentals of the Plan
• Chapter 3 - Principles, Policies and Priorities

The Plan's introduction notes that basic directions for transportation in the City, leading up to development of the Transportation Plan, were set by CityPlan, the GVRD Livable Region Strategic Plan (1995) and the GVRD Regional Transportation Plan (Transport 2021, 1993). The introduction of Vancouver's plan also states that the changes to the system will be gradual and be needed as growth in transportation demand requires. Key elements of the Transportation Plan are:

1. Sharing the Road Network
2. Calmer Traffic in Neighbourhoods
3. Better Transportation Balance Downtown
4. Targets for Transportation
5. Priorities for Implementation
6. Paying for Transportation

The Transportation Plan Policies contained in Chapter 3. are supported by tables showing Major Initiatives that are needed to implement these policies. In December 1997, staff reported to the Standing Committee on Traffic and Transportation on action items scheduled for completion within three years. These were summarized in a Project Schedule, which was Appendix A. of the report. Among the report recommendations that were approved, was integrating this Project Schedule into the work programs of Engineering and Planning.

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1998 Transportation Related Reports to City Council

Various reports on implementing the Transportation Plan were reviewed by the Traffic and Transportation Committee and Council in 1998. These included:

• review of the Vancouver portion of the Trans Canada Trail,
• Sunrise Bicycle Route, Mosaic Bikeway and Bicycle Network upgrades,
• review of regional transportation funding and governance,
• a speed hump pilot project for traffic calming,
• demonstration streetcar line for False Creek South,
• Mount Pleasant Traffic Plan, Blenheim Street Traffic Calming Measures, Skeena Street Traffic Calming,
• and the Clinton Park Neighbourhood Traffic Plan,
• amendment of the Street and Traffic Bylaw to require cyclists to wear safety helmets,
• study of high occupancy vehicle networks in the region,
• review of the functioning of Granville Mall,
• planning for Rapid Bus service to Richmond,
• creation of new park and open space at the Granville Bridge loops, and related improvements to the existing pedestrian tunnel,
• possible changes to the Vehicles for Hire Bylaw that would permit shared-ride van services,
• traffic review of East First Avenue,
• development of the Ridgeway Greenway/Bikeway westerly extension,
• intersection safety cameras,
• review of priorities and resource needs related to Rapid Transit expansion, and
• review of issues regarding the designation of a regional Major Roads Network.

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1999 Transportation Related Reports to City Council

1999 Transportation Plan implementation reports included:

• pedestrian and street improvements at 41^st Avenue and West Boulevard,
• support for bike lanes on University Boulevard (UBC),
• creation of new Citizen Advisory Committees on express bus service on Cambie Street and the review of the design of Rapid Bus shelters,
• creation of a Bus Impacts Task Force,
• Wall Street Area Traffic Plan, priorities and process for Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Plans, Kits Point Traffic, Napier Street and Semlin Drive chicane, raised School Crosswalk on Laurel at 24^th, North-East Kitsilano Traffic Calming Plan and Traffic Calming on Cambridge Street at Kootenay Street, (continued...)
• Burrardview Bikeway, Lakewood Bikeway Extension, a Bicycle Network Review, and Ontario Bikeway traffic calming,
• redefinition of the boundaries of the Downtown Truck Area to exclude Yaletown,
• designation of the Vancouver portion of the Trans Canada Trail,
• establishment of co-management principles between municipalities and TransLink for the Major Roads Network,
• review of Phase 1 of the Rapid Transit (Skytrain) extension project,
• review of technical reports on technology and alignment options for future extension of Rapid Transit west of Vancouver Community College,
• future extensions of the Downtown Streetcar,
• Ridgeway Greenway East Extension and the Fraser River Trail Greenway at McCleery Golf Course,
• report back on high occupancy vehicle measures,
• review of the draft TransLink Strategic Transportation Plan and proposed TransLink Vancouver Area Transit Plan (2001),
• relocation of Powell Street for construction of the Port Road,
• pedestrian improvements on Carolina Street at Eighth Avenue, corner bulges for pedestrian crossing of Victoria Drive, and enhancement of pedestrian facilities at Richards Street and Pacific Boulevard,
• review of design for pedestrian, cycling and transit improvements on Pender Street between Hamilton and Carrall Streets,
• initiation of a Building Line Review Pilot Study,
• endorsement of the Transportation Association of Canada's paper titled "A New Vision for Urban Transportation",
• approval of new programs for monitoring the Transportation Plan and carrying out comprehensive arterial plans for priority corridors identified in the Kensington-Cedar Cottage and Dunbar Community Visions,
• recommendation to TransLink that Grandview Highway North, from Grandview Highway to Clark Drive, and Commercial Drive, from Broadway to Grandview Highway North, be removed from the City of Vancouver truck route network,
• changes in licensing that would allow a future city-wide, shared-ride van service, and
• approval of the process to carry out a Downtown Transportation Plan.

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2000 Transportation Related Reports to City Council

2000 Transportation Plan reports included:

• traffic calming adjacent to schools, the Franklin and Semlin Area Traffic Calming Plan, and the annual Speed Hump Installation Program,
• Stanley Park Causeway improvements,
• Rapid Transit Phases 1 and 2, and planning for Richmond Rapid Transit,
• Seaside Bikeway modifications along West First Ave.,
• Portside Bikeway/Greenway, Grandview Highway North - Greenway/Bikeway Traffic Plan, and accommodating bicycles on Pender Street from Cardero to Cambie,
• enhancement of pedestrian facilities at Nanaimo Street and Broadway ,
• the TransLink Regional Program Plan for 2000 and Regional Strategic Transportation Plan,
• pedestrian safety,
• Ontario Greenway Route approval, and Greenways & Bikeways staffing,
• update on Transportation Plan Major Initiatives,
• contract award to conduct the Vancouver Transit Priority Study,
• Sidewalk Task Force,
• accident reduction strategy for SW Marine Drive and Cambie Street,
• Bus Impact Task Force recommendations,
• False Creek Pedestrian and Cyclist Crossings,
• Downtown Historic Railway extension to Science World, and
• Arbutus Corridor Official Development Plan,
• TransLink submission to the Canada Transportation Act Review Panel on urban railway corridors, and
• transportation element of the Broadway/Commercial Precinct Public Enhancement Plan.

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