TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MINUTES

 

Wednesday, 2015 October 07

 

An ‘Open’ meeting of the Transportation Committee was held in the Council Chamber, Main Floor, Burnaby City Hall, 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C. on Wednesday, 2015 October 07 at 6:00 PM.

 

 

1.

CALL TO ORDER

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRESENT:

Councillor D. Johnston, Chair

Councillor C. Jordan, Member

Ms. A. Keane, Citizen Representative

Mr. D. Reid, Citizen Representative

 

 

 

 

ABSENT:

Councillor S. Dhaliwal, Vice Chair

Mr. L. Paul, Citizen Representative

 

 

 

 

STAFF:

Ms. L. Garnett, Assistant Director, Long Range Planning

Mr. S. Ramsey, Manager - Transportation Planning

Ms. L. Libsekal, Transportation Planner

Mr. D. Louie, Assistant  Director Engineering - Traffic & Parking

Ms. E. Prior, Administrative Officer

 

The Chair called the Open meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.

 

2.

MINUTES

 

 

a)

Minutes of the Open Meeting of the Transportation Committee held on 2015 April 08

 

 

 

 

MOVED BY Councillor jordan 

SECONDED BY mr. reid

 

THAT the minutes of the 'Open' meeting of the Transportation Committee held on 2015 April 08 be adopted.

 

                                                                                                CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

 

 

3.

DELEGATION

 

 

MOVED BY Councillor jordan 

SECONDED BY mr. reid

 

THAT the delegation be heard.

 

                                                                                                CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

a)

Dan Freeman, Manager Transit Network Management, TransLink  and

Margaret Wittgens, Director of System Planning and Consultation, TransLink

Re:  Transit Network Consultation - 2016 Transit Network Changes

 

Mr. Dan Freeman and Ms. Margaret Wittgens, TransLink, appeared before the Committee to provide information on the Transit Network Consultation regarding the proposed 2016 transit network changes.  The public consultation will take place from October 13 to November 6, 2015.

 

The delegation advised that TransLink is conducting the Transit Network Consultation to inform and consult with community stakeholders regarding  refinements to  the transit network.  The service revisions are precipitated  by the Evergreen Line extension and changes to customer demands.  The proposed near-term changes to bus routes are being made to improve the transit network with existing resources.

 

Burnaby specific proposals are being made to:

·         49th –Champlain Heights (49/26) – to improve speed and maintain access;

·         Hastings B-Line (135) – to create a B-Line;

·         Metrotown – Edmonds – New Westminster (106) – to improve reliability;

·         Metrotown Station (49/116/129/130/144/430) – to align services with the upgraded station; and

·         Walnut Grove – Lougheed  (501/509) – to increase travel options on Highway 1

 

In conclusion, the delegation invited the Committee to view and provide feedback regarding the proposals to TransLink or on their website at translink.ca/tnc.

 

Arising from discussion, the Committee introduced the following motion:

 

MOVED BY Councillor jordan 

SECONDED BY mr. reid

 

THAT the comments of the delegation be REFERRED to staff.

 

                                                                                                CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

4.

CORRESPONDENCE

 

 

MOVED BY Councillor jordan 

SECONDED BY ms. Keane

 

THAT the correspondence be received.

 

                                                                                                CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

a)

Correspondence from John Thornton

Re:  Towards a Plan 'B' for Transit

 

 

Correspondence was received from Mr. John Thornton providing thoughts and suggestions regarding a ‘Plan B’ on the Transit Referendum.

 

b)

Correspondence from Colin Briggs

Re:  Parking on Clinton Street between Royal Oak and Roslyn Avenues

 

 

Correspondence was received from Mr. Colin Briggs requesting a change to the parking regulations on Clinton Street, between Royal Oak and Roslyn Avenues.

 

Staff advised that the road is slightly narrower in this section of Clinton Street compared to further east; however vehicles approaching in opposing directions are still able to by-pass each other by being courteous, i.e pulling into a free spot near the curb and allowing the opposing car to pass through before proceeding.

 

Staff further advised that the removal of parking on one side of the street would cause a hardship for residents that may not have off street parking as well as providing the potential for increased vehicular speeds through the community.

 

            Arising from discussion, the Committee introduced the following motion:

           

MOVED BY Councillor jordan 

SECONDED BY mR. REID

 

THAT staff respond to Mr. Briggs.

 

                                                CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

c)

Memorandum from Deputy City Clerk

Re:  Marine Drive at Nelson Avenue

Traffic Safety Report  Referred to Transportation Committee by Council

 

 

A memorandum was received from the Deputy City Clerk advising that Council, at the Open Council meeting held on 2015 May 11, received the  Marine Drive at Nelson Avenue report and referred the report to the Transportation Committee.

 

The report was originally received by the Traffic Safety Committee recommending the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Marine Drive and Nelson Avenue.

 

Arising from discussion, the Committee introduced the following motion:

 

MOVED BY Councillor jordan 

SECONDED BY MS. KEANE

 

THAT the report be REFERRED back to staff for further review.

                                                                                                                                                            CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

d)

Memorandum from the Administrative Officer

Re: Burnaby Mountain Parkway Cycling Safety Improvements and Joe Sakic Way Urban Trail

 

 

A memorandum was received from the Administrative Officer advising that Council, at the Open Council meeting held on 2015 June 15, received and adopted the  Burnaby Mountain Parkway Cycling Safety Improvements and Joe Sakic Way Urban Trail report.

 

The report was originally received and adopted at the Financial Management Committee seeking funding approval for safety improvements on Burnaby Mountain Parkway and construction of a section of the Urban Trail on Joe Sakic Way.  As per recommendation no. 2, the report was forwarded to the Transportation Committee for information.

 

e)

Memorandum from Administrative Officer  Re:  Social Sustainability Strategy - Phase 1 Report on Actions

 

 

A memorandum was received from the Administrative Officer advising that Council, at the Open Council meeting held on 2015 October 05, received and adopted the  Social Sustainability Strategy – Phase 1 Report on Actions.

 

 

 

 

The report was originally received and adopted at the Social Planning Committee meeting held on 2015 September 28 providing Council with a progress report on the Phase 1 implementation of the Burnaby Social Sustainability Strategy.

 

Staff undertook to send Committee members the web link to the complete report when it becomes available.

 

5.

NEW BUSINESS

 

 

            Councillor Johnston

 

Councillor Johnston requested the status of bicycle activated light at Humphries Avenue (Morley Street) and Imperial Street.

 

Staff advised that a review had been conducted at this location and a pedestrian/bicycle signal was not warranted.

 

Councillor Johnston queried the feasibility of reducing the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on Willingdon Avenue to achieve consistency. Councillor Johnston noted on some portions of Willingdon Avenue HOV is achieved with two passengers while on other portions the number of passengers required is six.

 

            Staff undertook to investigate.

 

            Ms. Amber Keane

 

Ms. Keane queried the feasibility of a left turn lane, from Royal Oak Avenue onto Kingsway.  Due to the left turn restrictions, vehicles are travelling through Kingsway and turning left at Grimmer Street and Lane Street when travelling southbound and turning left into the lane behind the 7-11 convenience store or Irving Street to circumvent the restriction northbound. Ms. Keane has received feedback from businesses in the area advising of constant honking and accidents due to traffic back-ups on Royal Oak Avenue as motorists wait to turn left onto the side streets.

 

Staff advised that due to a lack of adequate road allowance the City is unable to create left turn bays without compromising traffic flow.

 

6.

INQUIRIES

 

 

Councillor Jordan

 

Councillor Jordan has observed motorists stopping at red lights prior to the intersection thereby not activating loop detectors.   Councillor Jordan questioned

 

 

 

if further education were possible to inform motorists of the need to be on the signal trigger points in order to activate intersection lights.

 

Staff advised that education would be difficult; however, some intersections employ both the loop detectors as well as video cameras which would activate a left turn signal despite the vehicle not being on the signal trigger. 

 

Councillor Jordan also queried the timing of the left turn signals at Canada Way and Willingdon.  The left turn signal southbound is much longer than northbound.

 

Staff advised that the Province is responsible for the timing of these lights and favor southerly movement of traffic away from the entrance/exits to Highway #1.

 

Councillor Johnston advised the Committee that a representative from Burnaby HUB has been appointed to the Traffic Safety Committee to represent the interests of cyclists and the Bicycle Advisory Group has been phased out.

 

7.

ADJOURNMENT

 

 

MOVED BY Councillor jordan

SECONDED BY Mr. reid

 

THAT this Open Committee meeting do now adjourn.

 

The Open meeting adjourned at 7:27 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

________________________

________________________

Eva Prior

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER                  

Councillor Dan Johnston

CHAIR