Public Works & Transporation Committee Meeting Minutes - January 9, 2002

Date:

Wednesday, January 9^th, 2002

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Lyn Greenhill, Chair
Councillor Kiichi Kumagai, Vice-Chair
Councillor Linda Barnes
Councillor Rob Howard
Mayor Malcolm Brodie (for Item 3)

Absent:

Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt

Also Present:

Councillor Bill McNulty (4:10 p.m.)

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m., and advised that Item 3 on the Agenda would be dealt with prior to Item 2.

MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Public Works & Transportation Committee held on Wednesday, December 5^th, 2001 and on Tuesday, December 11^th, 2001, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

URBAN DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

3.

#98B LINE LOCAL AREA TRANSIT SERVICE AND CITY CENTRE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS
(Report: Dec. 11/01, File No.: 6520-02-01) (REDMS No. 571647)

The Manager, Transportation Planning, Victor Wei, reviewed his report with Committee members, during which he highlighted some of the concerns raised by the public at the December 11^th, 2001 information meeting and some of the improvements being proposed by City and TransLink staff.

Discussion ensued among Committee members and staff on the proposed improvements, during which the following information and comments were provided:

another meeting should be held to obtain the comments of the public once the improvements approved by TransLink had been implemented for a minimum of three months; the suggestion was made that a decision be made at this meeting to hold a public meeting in July of 2002, and that even if the proposed improvements were not all implemented, the meeting could be used to review the City's improvements and to apply pressure to TransLink to improve transit in the City

issues relating to the existing traffic light system were being examined; advice was given that some of these issues could be addressed through the installation of special equipment which would shade the bus directional signs from the motorists

regarding the provision of U-turns at Sea Island Way and No. 3 Road, while jurisdiction was an issue, a possible alternative to resolve the situation could be the fast tracking of the extension of Corvette Way southward, parallel to No. 3 Road, to create a back way which could be connected into the north loop road system; subject to the recommendations in the report now being considered being approved, the proposal could be included in the 2003 capital works program.

During the discussion, questions were raised about the feasibility of staff providing an on-going report to the Committee on the status of the implementation of the improvements. As a result, it was agreed that staff would prepare a memo for submission to the Committee, under "Managers Reports", on the status of the transit situation.

Councillor Kiichi Kumagai, the City's representative on the Board of TransLink, noted that the proposed staff recommendations had not yet been approved by the Board. He also spoke about the governance review currently underway and which would be completed in March or April of this year. Cllr. Kumagai spoke about the hurdles which had to be overcome before these improvements could be implemented, and stated that more important was the fact that the TransLink Board had to approve the proposed staff recommendations before the City could determine how staff would undertake implementation of the proposed improvements.

The Director, Transportation, Gordon Chan, in response to the concerns expressed by Committee members, suggested that following presentation of the recommendations to the TransLink Board in February, that staff prepare a report to the Committee to (i) advise of the improvements approved by the TransLink Board; (ii) propose recommendations on transit and road improvements; and (iii) advise how the measures would be implemented. This proposed action was agreed to by the Chair.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the following transit service improvements proposed by TransLink to address concerns with the #98 B-Line and other Richmond transit services, be endorsed for possible implementation as part of TransLinks 2002 Program Plan:

(a)

implement new peak period express routes to provide direct service from southwest and southeast Richmond respectively to downtown Vancouver via Garden City Road, the Sexsmith Park and Ride lot and Oak Street;

(b)

revise downtown Vancouver routing of Richmond peak period express services to avoid congested areas and shorten overall travel times;

(c)

work with the City of Vancouver to increase enforcement of parking regulations and HOV lane use and implement transit priority measures for the downtown area and the southbound approach to the Arthur Laing Bridge;

(d)

work with the City of Richmond and the City of Vancouver to complete the installation of transit priority measures and the optimization of traffic signals along the #98 B-Line route;

(e)

refine the schedule of the #98 B-Line service to ensure that local services operating through Richmond City Centre are timed to minimize wait times for transferring passengers;

(f)

extend the operation of the #98 B-Line service along No. 3 Road to Steveston Highway and on Steveston Highway to Shell Road during peak periods;

(g)

monitor service utilization of the #98 B-Line and introduce additional buses as required to ensure that adequate capacity is provided to meet demand;

(h)

continue to monitor bus operations at the #98 B-Line Anderson Road terminus to ensure that operators adhere to policies regarding idling and stopping procedures;

(i)

review the routing and stopping procedure of the Richmond-UBC service (#480) to identify potential improvements;

(j)

improve the Richmond HandyDART service and, in particular, extend the evening hours of operation;

(k)

introduce new community shuttle (mini-bus) services for the City Centre circulator; and

(l)

provide improved service to the Crestwood industrial area during peak periods, particularly on No. 6 Road north of Bridgeport Road.

(2)

That staff undertake the following activities to enhance traffic flow efficiencies, pedestrian movements and overall traffic safety for all road users in the City Centre:

(a)

pursue implementation of the various short-term and long-term road and traffic improvements (described in the staff report dated December 11^th, 2001, from the Director, Transportation);

(b)

ensure that any road and traffic improvements initiated are consistent with the principles and policies established in the City's Official Community Plan and the City Centre Transportation Plan; and

(c)

report to Council on the progress of the implementation of the various measures.

(3)

That Recommendation 1 (of the report dated December 11^th, 2001 from the Director, Transportation) be conveyed to the TransLink Board of Directors.

The question on the motion was not called, as the following amendment was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the main motion be amended by adding the following as Part (4), "That the Public Works & Transportation Committee hold a public meeting in July, 2002, to provide the public with the opportunity to comment on the results of the improvements implemented to address the concerns relating to the #98B Line and the provision of local transit service in Richmond."

Prior to the question on the motion being called, the Chair thanked staff for their hard work in dealing with this issue. She also advised that she had written a letter to TransLink expressing her appreciation to TransLink and the Coast Mountain Bus Company staff for their prompt response to deal with the City's concerns.

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

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

(Mayor Brodie left the meeting 4:28 p.m., and did not return.)

ENGINEERING & PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

2.

DOWNTOWN CLEAN-UP PROJECT
(Report: Nov. 29/01, File No.: 4400-01) (REDMS No. 576339)

The Director, Engineering, Robert Gonzalez, reviewed the report with the Committee. In response to questions, he advised that:

a number of inquiries had been received from business property owners asking what they could do to improve the frontage of their properties; the proposed clean-up project would provide the opportunity to the City to offer a design enhancement service

the project was intended to be co-operative in nature; however, bylaw infractions, such as unsightly premises or overgrown shrubbery, etc., onto sidewalks, would be dealt with in the normal manner

City staff would not be policing; the intent was to enter into partnerships with businesses, what ever form that partnership may take, which would result in improvements being made to the property in question.

During the discussion, although Committee members generally supported the concept, concern was expressed that the City could be seen to be implementing even more regulations. Questions were also raised as to the impact, if any, which this project could have on the City's bylaw enforcement officers.

Discussion continued on this particular issue, during which further information on the process which would be followed was provided. Staff stressed that any proposed improvements would be undertaken in a proactive and co-operative approach. Reference was made to the three most travelled areas within the City Centre which staff felt should create a positive impression for visitors entering the City Centre, and advice was given that staff would be approaching the owners of those gateway locations properties about possible partnerships. It was noted that if an owner chose not to participate, staff would not impose any suggested improvements on that individual. Staff were cautioned during the discussion to ensure that businesses approached by the City were informed that they were not obligated to participate in the program.

Reference was made to possible financial impacts as a result of a specific project being proposed, and advice was given that staff would be submitting a report to Council if funding was required from the City. Advice was given that funding could be required as part of a development project or through a capital project proposed by the Transportation Department.

During the discussion, advice was given that staff would be reporting to the Committee periodically on the status of the project. Staff were also directed to provide a copy of the report to the Richmond Chamber of Commerce for its information.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Downtown Clean-up Project be endorsed.

(2)

That staff continue to develop and implement the Downtown Clean-up Project Initiatives.

CARRIED

3.

MANAGERS REPORT

(1)

The Acting Director, Public Works, Dave Semple, advised that staff would be reporting to the Committee on (i) water turbidity, and (ii) the flooding which recently occurred in the Aintree area. During the brief discussion which ensued, Cllr. Kumagai commented that the report on water turbidity should note that when the filtration system, proposed as a future project by the GVRD, turbidity after a rainstorm would not be a problem.

(2)

Concerns were expressed about the apparent increase in graffiti in the City, and Mr. Semple advised that the City's graffiti committee would be reactivated to examine options to deal with the situation, and that discussions would be held with BC Hydro and Telus on this matter.

The Chair questioned whether City staff were working with Airport representatives to improve the signage on the new bridge, westbound into Vancouver, and the sign for the south terminal when leaving the main terminal, which needed the word "Richmond" added to it. A brief discussion ensued during which advice was given that improvements were being made to the westbound sign over the new bridge. Mr. Wei further advised that he would bring the concerns about the second sign to the attention of the Airport.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:55 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 9^th, 2002.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Lyn Greenhill
Chair

Fran J. Ashton
Executive Assistant