May 21, 2025 - Minutes

Date:

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Carol Day, Chair
Councillor Michael Wolfe
Councillor Chak Au (by teleconference)
Councillor Kash Heed

Mayor Malcolm Brodie

Absent:

Councillor Alexa Loo

Also Present:

Councillor Andy Hobbs

Councillor Bill McNulty

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:38 p.m.

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Public Works and Transportation Committee held on April 23, 2025, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

AGENDA ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That Francis Road Updates to the sidewalk between McCutcheon Place and Schaefer Gate be added as Item No. 2A;

(2)

That communication from a resident regarding YVR traffic concerns be added as Item 2B;

(3)

That speed safety Concerns on No. 3 Road, Lynas Lane and Minoru Blvd be added as Item 2C; and

(4)

That stop sign installation on Regent Street be added as Item 2D.

CARRIED

ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION

1.

No. 3 Road – Traffic Assessment

(File Ref. No. 10-6500-01) (REDMS No. 7948823)

Staff advised Committee of a correction in the report noting that the intersection of Granville Avenue and No. 3 Road is identified to be in the 11^th place in the City’s Top 20 Collision prone intersections.

In response to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) the staff report presents traffic speed and collision data for No. 3 Road (between Westminster Highway and Granville Avenue), and (ii) No. 3 Road is classified as a Major Thoroughfare as it balances efficient traffic flow with high pedestrian activity.

Discussion ensued with respect to (i) options to address congestion and safety concerns along No. 3 Road between Westminster Highway and Granville Avenue, (ii) prevention of incidents occurring at the outset, (iii) reduction of speed as a safety measure, (iv) addition of more pedestrian signage, and
(v) strategies to reduce congestion.

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “No. 3 Road – Traffic Assessment”, dated April 22, 2025 from the Director, Transportation be received for information.

DEFEATED

Opposed: Cllr. Day

Cllr. Heed

Cllr. Wolfe

2.

2025 Active Transportation Initiatives – Annual Update

(File Ref. No. 10-6500-01) (REDMS No. 7893470)

In response to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) the cycling network will extend from Lynas Lane to align with the Railway Greenway and Steveston Highway, with the Works Yard project enabling further westward expansion, (ii) an extensive citywide cycling network is planned; staff will recirculate a related memorandum, (iii) the cycling network timeline will depend on the Works Yard development and will be included in its Phase 1 detail design, (iv) the City’s cycling network includes 340 lane-kilometres of facilities and has been expanded near Steveston, and (v) staff will advise how many kilometres were added to the network with the addition of the Steveston Highway and No. 2 Road Multi-use Pathways (MUP).

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled “2025 Active Transportation Initiatives – Annual Update” dated April 22, 2025, from the Director, Transportation, be received for information.

CARRIED

2A.

Francis Road Updates to the sidewalk between McCutcheon Place and Schaefer Gate
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No.)

Discussion ensued with respect to public correspondence received regarding the narrowing of a sidewalk at Schaefer Gate at Francis Road, and the widening of a sidewalk on Francis Road between between McCutcheon Place and Schaefer Gate.  

In response to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) the sidewalk widening project has been delayed until the Gilbert Trunk Sewer Replacement project construction is complete, (ii) widening of the refuge for pedestrians and cyclists narrows Schaefer Gate from 4.4 to 3.4 metres lanes, which are still considered wide, and (iii) staff have responded to the correspondence received on the matter.

Council directed staff to provide a memorandum detailing what the dimensions of the proposed widened sections on either side of the Schaefer Gate intersection will be and compare them with the similar treatment at Lucas Road and No. 3 Road.

2B.

communication from a resident regarding YVR traffic concerns
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No.)

In response to queries from Committee, staff advised that the Grant McConachie Way and Templeton Road intersection is completely within YVR’s jurisdiction and (ii) staff will reach out to the resident to discuss his concerns and will speak to YVR to find a solution for the matter.

Councillor Andy Hobbs left the meeting (5:14 p.m.) and did not return.

2C.

Concerns with speed on No. 3 Road, Lynas Lane and Minoru boulevard
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No.)

Discussion ensued with respect to the option to reduce speed limits to
30 km/h along Lynas Lane, Minoru Blvd and No. 3 Road to address safety concerns.

In response to queries from Committee, staff advised that any changes to speed limits will be brought forward for Council consideration.

As a result of the discussion the following referral motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That staff be directed to review the north and south roads in the City Centre (roads bounded by Westminster Highway, Granville Avenue, Garden City Road and Gilbert Road) for potential alterations in speed and other measures dealing with congestion and safety, and report back; and

(2)

That staff bring forward a terms of reference for the City Centre traffic study and options to the June 2025 Public Works and Transportation Committee meeting.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with respect to (i) gaining more information with regard to the safety, congestion and speed concerns in this area, and (ii) widening the criteria of data and metrics for a more comprehensive look at the City Centre.

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

2D.

Stop sign installation on Regent Street
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No.)

Discussion ensued with respect to (i) installation of stop sign at 6^th Avenue and Regent Street, (ii) effectiveness of stop signs versus alternative traffic calming measures, and (iii) undertaking a community process to look at effective calming measures.

As a result of the discussion the following motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That staff consult with the neighbors along 6th Avenue regarding traffic calming measures; and

(2)

That staff install a stop sign at the intersection of Regent Street and 6th Avenue.

The question on the motion was not called as staff responded to queries, advising that (i) staff will aim to expedite the timeline for public consultation and will bring forward results to Committee in the Fall 2025, and (ii) staff are conducting a broader analysis of traffic control in the Steveston neighborhood to determine any operational changes.

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

3.

MANAGER’S REPORT

Staff advised that the City of Richmond was selected as the winner of the Public Sector Leadership Award for the 2025 Embodied Carbon Awards.  Staff will circulate a memorandum to Council with more information. 

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:42 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the meeting of the Public Works and Transportation Committee of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Carol Day
Chair

Raman Grewal
Legislative Services Associate