TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MINUTES

 

Wednesday, 2016 November 09

 

An Open meeting of the Transportation Committee was held in the Clerk's Committee Room, Burnaby City Hall, 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C. on Wednesday, 2016 November 09 at 6:00 p.m.

 

1.

CALL TO ORDER

 

 

PRESENT:

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABSENT:

Councillor D. Johnston, Chair

Councillor S. Dhaliwal, Vice Chair

Councillor C. Jordan, Member

Mr. L. Paul, Citizen Representative

Mr. D. Reid, Citizen Representative

Mr. M. Zanotto, Citizen Representative

 

Ms. A. Keane, Citizen Representative

 

 

STAFF:

Mr. M. Dalsanto, Supervisor, Traffic Engineering

Mr. S. Ramsey, Manager, Transportation Planning

Ms. L. Libsekal, Transportation Planner

Ms. E. Prior, Administrative Officer

Ms. N. Vracar, Administrative Officer

 

 

The Chair called the Open meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

 

2.

MINUTES

 

 

a)

Minutes of the Transportation Committee

Open meeting held on 2016 June 08_____

 

 

MOVED BY Councillor Dhaliwal

SECONDED BY councillor jordan

 

THAT the minutes of the Open Transportation Committee meeting held on 2016 June 08 be adopted. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOVED BY Councillor Dhaliwal

SECONDED BY councillor jordan

 

THAT the minutes be AMENDED on page 03, item 3 c) to read as follows: The City will give consideration to the installation of raised bike crossings as appropriate.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

MOVED BY Councillor Dhaliwal

SECONDED BY councillor jordan

 

THAT the minutes of the Open Transportation Committee meeting held on 2016 June 08 be adopted as AMENDED.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

3.

DELEGATION

 

 

MOVED BY Councillor dhaliwal

SECONDED BY Councillor jordan

 

THAT the delegation be heard.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

a)

Ripe Rides

Re: Ripe Rides Business Model

Speakers: Mr. Nitesh Mistry, Director of Business Operations

                  Mr. Ricky Goraya, Director of Transportation and Services

 

Mr. Nitesh Mistry, Director of Business Operations, Ripe Rides, and Mr. Ricky Goraya, Co-Founder and Director of Transportation and Services, Ripe Rides appeared before the Committee to provide information on Ripe Rides business model. 

 

Mr. Mistry explained that Ripe Rides provides personal on-demand luxury sedan transportation service in Metro Vancouver.  It allows users to track a vehicle via mobile application and also offers credit card transactions.  The company is provincially and municipally regulated.  It is commercially insured with $10 million liability per vehicle.  Ripe Rides utilizes professional drivers, who are paid employees and possess class 4 licenses, TaxiHost Pro certifications, chauffer’s permits, criminal record checks and clean driver abstracts. 

 

The company received special 20 authorization vehicle for hire licenses in April 2015 and started operating in December 2015.

 

Mr. Mistry advised that Ripe Rides will soon make an application to the Provincial Transportation Board for 150 taxi licenses. If approved, service would operate as digital dispatch and drivers would be able to pick up and drop off passengers anywhere in Metro Vancouver at taxi rates.

 

The Committee thanked the delegation for their presentation.

 

4.

CORRESPONDENCE

 

 

MOVED BY COUNCILLOR johnston

SECONDED BY mR. PAUL

 

THAT the correspondence be received.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

a)

Memorandum from the City Clerk

Re: Accessibility 2024 Two Year Progress Update

 

 

A memorandum was received from the City Clerk advising that Council, at the Open Council meeting held on 2016 July 11, forwarded correspondence from the Accessibility Secretariat Team, Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation, regarding Accessibility 2024 Two Year Progress Update to the Social Planning Committee and Transportation Committee for consideration.  The report provides an overview of actions implemented to date to make British Columbia a more accessible place for people with disabilities to live, work, and play. 

 

b)

Correspondence from Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and Ministry Responsible for TransLink

Re: Ride Sourcing in BC Stakeholder Engagement Summary

 

 

Correspondence was received from the Honourable Peter Fassbender, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and Minister Responsible for TransLink regarding the Ride Sourcing in BC Stakeholder Engagement Summary.  The report provides an overview of the current vehicle-for-hire industry in B.C. and the regulatory framework in which it operates, methodology of the consultations undertaken since spring 2016, and feedback from the stakeholders who participated in the consultations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

c)

Correspondence from HUB Burnaby

Re: Bicycle Facility Types for Burnaby's Cycle Network

 

 

Correspondence was received from Ms. Cathy Griffin, Acting Chair, HUB Burnaby, regarding bicycle facility types for Burnaby's cycle network.  HUB Burnaby is in support of cycle tracks alongside arterial roads, off-street cycle only paths, and local street bikeways that include motorised-traffic calming.

 

Staff advised that the City builds the three types of biking facilities supported by HUB Burnaby in addition to some other types of facilities.  Staff noted that the City has been building cycle track facilities throughout town centres.  In locations between the town centres the City has been utilizing urban trails since the 1990s. 

 

Arising from discussion, the Committee introduced the following motion:

 

MOVED BY COUNCILLOR DHALIWAL

SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR JORDAN

 

THAT the correspondence be REFFERED to staff for information.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

d)

Correspondence from Transport Canada

Re: Rail Safety Improvement Program Awareness

 

 

Correspondence was received from Mr. Martin McKay, Acting Director, Transit and West Projects, Transport Canada, regarding the Rail Safety Improvement Program.  Through the program Government of Canada will provide funding, in the form of grants and contributions, to improve rail safety and reduce injuries and fatalities related to rail transportation.  Proposals for projects to be considered for funding in fiscal year 2017-2018 are now being accepted.

 

Staff advised that they have inventoried the City’s railway crossings and are tracking information such as volumes of vehicles at crossings.  Crossings that may need improvements have been identified.  If there are any major projects in proximity of crossings, staff will apply for funding.

 

Staff noted that the North Fraser Way at Marine Way railroad crossing would be earmarked for update if the additional south-bound lane related to nearby development is built.   Crossing at Cariboo Road would need to be improved under the new Federal Government regulations if Cariboo Road is widened to four lanes or if improvements are made to the pedestrian crossing. 

 

 

 

 

e)

Memorandum from the City Clerk

Re: Final Environmental Sustainability Strategy (ESS) and Final Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP)____

 

 

 

A memorandum was received from the City Clerk, advising that Council, at the Open Council meeting held on 2016 November 07, received and adopted the Final Environmental Sustainability Strategy (ESS) and Final Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP) report.  

 

The report marks the completion of one of the City’s most extensive, inclusive and creative public consultation efforts to date, which has engaged thousands of individual citizens and many businesses and stakeholder groups over a multi-year process.  The ESS provides a broad context and framework for sustainability, while the CEEP is a more detailed plan focused on reducing community greenhouse gas emissions, and energy use, in order to address climate change, improve local air quality, save money, and improve livability and health.

 

5.

NEW BUSINESS

 

 

 

Moreno Zanotto

 

Mr. Zanotto inquired whether rail barriers at the railroad crossing at Gilmore Avenue could be replaced with automatic booms in order to reduce travel delays for cyclists and discourage unsafe cycling behaviour.

 

Staff advised that rail barriers at the crossing are owned and operated by the rail company and the rail company would have to install booms.  Staff also advised that they have flagged this crossing for potential improvements.

 

Mr. Zanotto proposed that the City secures the coned-off southbound lane on the Gilmore Highway #1 Overpass for cyclists to use on an interim basis until the overpass is replaced or Gilmore Way Urban Trail is built. 

 

The Committee advised that the City first needs to find out the plans for overpass.

 

Mr. Zanotto advised that eastbound vehicles travelling on Lougheed Highway at Gilmore Avenue are using the bike lane to turn right and requested the City to install stanchions along the painted line to ensure that vehicles are executing right turns in their travelling lane.

 

Mr. Zanotto also noted that northbound vehicles travelling on Willingdon Avenue at Canada Way are using the HOV lane to access the highway which is causing long queues for buses and transit delays.  Mr. Zanotto advised that a “right turn only except HOV” sign needs to be installed in the area.

 

 

Staff advised that Willingdon Avenue and Canada Way is a provincial intersection and that they will consult with the provincial counterparts regarding installation of the sign. 

 

Councillor Jordan

 

Councillor Jordan inquired if the staff have heard back from the Provincial Government regarding the Gilmore Highway #1 Overpass replacement project.

 

Staff advised the Provincial Government has not yet responded.

 

Lloyd Paul

 

Mr. Paul advised that pedestrian walkway from Metropolis Mall to Metrotown SkyTrain station will be closed as of November 16 and expressed concern over accessibility issues and on-street traffic congestion. 

 

The Committee requested that staff contact TransLink and provide information regarding the Metrotown SkyTrain station upgrade and the replacement of pedestrian walkway to the Committee through an electronic memorandum. 

 

Staff undertook to follow-up.

 

Mr. Paul inquired whether TransLink plans to bring back bus route #129 to the Metrotown.

 

Staff advised that TransLink has informed the City that the route will remain at Patterson Station.   

 

Councillor Dhaliwal

 

Councillor Dhaliwal brought up concerns over backed-up westbound traffic on Deer Lake Parkway at Royal Oak Avenue. 

 

Staff advised that it is possible to “scoop out” the median on Deer Lake Parkway so that vehicles turning left on Royal Oak Avenue are not in the through lane. 

 

Councillor Dhaliwal expressed concerns over increased traffic that might be passing through Burnaby following construction of the new Pattullo Bridge. 

 

Staff advised that the new Pattullo Bridge will have the same capacity as the current bridge and ramps will redirect traffic to Columbia Street and McBride Boulevard. 

 

Staff also noted that the Provincial Government is beginning the process to update the Brunette Avenue interchange which will make it easier for traffic to get on and off the Highway #1.

 

6.

INQUIRIES

 

 

There were no inquiries brought before the Committee at this time.

 

7.

ADJOURNMENT

 

 

MOVED BY councillor jordan

SECONDED by Mr. reid

 

THAT this Open Committee meeting do now adjourn.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

The Open meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

________________________

________________________

Nikolina Vracar

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER                  

Councillor Dan Johnston

CHAIR