Public Works & Transporation Committee Meeting Minutes - January 3, 2001

Date:

Wednesday, January 3^rd, 2001

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Lyn Greenhill, Chair
Councillor Ken Johnston, Vice-Chair
Mayor Greg Halsey-Brandt
Councillor Derek Dang
Councillor Kiichi Kumagai

Also Present:

Councillor Linda Barnes

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee held on Wednesday, December 6^th, 2000, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

PARKING RESTRICTION ON GILBERT ROAD, BETWEEN GRANVILLE AVENUE AND WESTMINSTER HIGHWAY - FOLLOW-UP REPORT
(Report: Dec. 4/00, File No.: 6455-01) (REDMS No. 205295)

Senior Transportation Engineer Victor Wei reviewed the staff report with Committee members.

Discussion then ensued, during which questions were raised about the arrangements made for the use of the City’s two parking lots, the first located adjacent to the Gateway Theatre and the second at Alderbridge Way and Westminster Highway, by theatre patrons. Concerns were expressed about (i) how season ticket holders would obtain free parking at this particular site, (ii) whether the vehicle ‘dashboard’ tickets could be transferable, and (iii) the potential loss of revenue to the City.

Questions were also raised about the list of alternative parking locations (Richmond Inn, medical centre, Richmond Hospital and the Richmond School District), and whether the owners of these private parking lots had been contacted and their permission obtained.

It was moved and seconded

That staff proceed with the introduction of a "24-Hour No Parking" regulation on Gilbert Road between Granville Avenue and Westminster Highway (as previously endorsed by Council on November 8, 1999).

CARRIED

CITY OF RICHMOND/ICBC ROAD SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM - 2000/2001 RECOMMENDED PROJECTS AND FUTURE PROJECTS
(Report: Nov. 23/00, File No.: 6450-09) (REDMS No. 183767)

Mr. Wei reviewed the report with Committee members.

Mr. Alex Lee, Road Safety and ICBC Loss Prevention Coordinator, accompanied by Gail McLeod, Claim Centre Manager for the ICBC South Richmond Claim Centre, expressed his appreciation for the recognition being extended to ICBC for the Road Safety Program in Richmond. He stated that the organization was looking forward to continuing its partnership with the City.

Mr. Wei then provided information on projects to which ICBC had provided a financial contribution of approximately $250,000, which included the upgrade of the No. 2 Road/Blundell Road intersection. He noted that as a result of the improvements, the intersection had dropped from the top 5 most dangerous intersections to the 30^th. He also provided information on both proposed signal and intersection widening improvement projects, for which ICBC had a total potential contribution of $240,000, and joint projects which were to be considered as part of the City’s capital programs.

The Chair, in commenting on the report, expressed her appreciation to the delegation for the financial contributions made by ICBC, especially with the improvements to the No. 2 Road/Blundell Road intersection.

Discussion then ensued among Committee members and staff on the proposed improvements, and in response the following information was provided:

the Minoru Boulevard/Blundell Road pedestrian signal installation would be provided with a timer to allow vehicle over-rides

the proposed Bridgeport Road/Sweden Way signal upgrade was intended to provide a northbound, right turn lane for traffic entering Bridgeport Road from Sweden Way

staff were of the view that the full signal installation at No. 1 Road and Moncton Street was required because of pedestrian safety issues (concern was expressed however that problems could arise with speeding motorists)

prior to the installation of traffic signals at the Garden City Road/Odlin Road intersection, staff would complete a traffic survey to ensure that the volume of traffic warranted full signalization of the intersection

a survey would also be undertaken prior to proceeding with the installation of a pedestrian signal on Westminster Highway, between No. 3 Road and Minoru Boulevard to determine that there was sufficient spacing available to ensure that traffic back-ups did not occur

with respect to the existing Westminster Highway access to the Royal Canadian Legion property, staff would be reviewing the feasibility of closing that access at the time redevelopment occurred on the north side of Westminster Highway.

During the discussion, the delegation was asked to provide information to staff for distribution to Council prior to the January 8^th, 2001 Council Meeting on the benefits of the ICBC/Richmond partnership and the Road Safety Program, such as the reduction in accidents at the No. 2 Road/Blundell Road intersection as a result of the improvements made to that intersection.

Also during the discussion, Mayor Halsey-Brandt voiced concern about the lack of a sidewalk along the east side of No. 3 Road, in front of the Lansdowne Shopping Centre, from the new intersection, north to Alderbridge Way. He suggested that there should be sufficient room to accommodate an asphalt sidewalk, although it would not be of the standard width. Information was provided by Mr. Wei on the steps which had been taken to address this problem (walkways from the intersection corners into the shopping centre parking lot), during which he advised that the existing berm and trees made it difficult to construct a sidewalk in that area. He indicated however that staff would review the situation in further detail.

It was moved and seconded

That the on-going partnership and significant financial support from ICBC to enhance traffic safety in Richmond through the Road Safety Improvement Program be formally recognized and acknowledged by Council.

That the various traffic safety improvement projects, (as described in the report dated November 23, 2000 from the Manager, Transportation), be endorsed in principle and that these projects be considered as part of the Capital Budget process.

CARRIED

2000 LOCAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT CHARGES BYLAW NO. 7189
(Report: Nov. 29/00, File No.: 8060-20-7189) (REDMS No. 237366, 223384)

It was moved and seconded

That Local Improvement Project Charges Bylaw No. 7189 be forwarded to Council for introduction and first, second and third readings.

Prior to the question being called, the Chair expressed concern about the amount of ‘jargon’ contained in the proposed bylaw. In response, the Director, Engineering, Jeff Day, advised that staff would be updating the current "Local Improvement Program" information brochure to reflect the new charges, as well as preparing information sheets on the steps to be followed.

Mr. Day also indicated, in response to a request from Councillor Kumagai, that information would be provided to the Committee on estimated costs once a Local Improvement Program application had been received.

The question on the motion was then called, and it was CARRIED.

MANAGER’S REPORT

The General Manager, Urban Development, David McLellan, referred to correspondence (dated December 21, 2000, from Glen Leicester, Manager, Implementation Planning, TransLink), regarding Richmond/Airport Transit Improvements (a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk’s Office). He then reported to the Committee, concerns which he had with regard to the provision of transit services, including (a) the delay in the implementation of the full B-line service to April 9^th, 2001; (b) adjustments to low productivity services elsewhere to ensure that the B-line project was cost neutral; and (c) a reduction in the frequency of peak hour and evening services along the B-line.

Considerable discussion ensued among Committee members and staff on these and related issues, such as the Airport Shuttle Service; the confusing configuration of the left turn signals installed as part of the B-line; the proposal to operate the B-line service on a full 20 hour a day operation until 1:15 a.m. each night; and the lack of protection provided to transit users by the new bus shelters on the B-line route.

As a result of the discussion, it was agreed that Mr. McLellan would invite Mr. Leicester to attend the next meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee to address these concerns in greater detail.

The Manager, Engineering Design & Construction, Steve Ono, advised that staff were proposing to hold their annual open house on proposed road, sewer and engineering capital budget projects, on February 15^th, 2001 between the hours of 4:00 and 7:00 p.m.

A brief discussion then ensued on the appropriateness of holding the open house at that time given that the Committee and Council had not yet reviewed the proposed budget. Advice was given however that staff were proposing to hold workshops during the month of January on the proposed 2001 operating and capital budgets.

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:44 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Wednesday, January 3^rd, 2001.

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Councillor Lyn Greenhill
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant