Town of View Royal Council Report - 2951 CRAIGOWAN ROAD (CHRISTIE POINT) TRANSPORTATION UPDATE

2951 CRAIGOWAN ROAD (CHRISTIE POINT) TRANSPORTATION UPDATE

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council receive this report for information.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S COMMENTS

I concur with the recommendation.

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES’ COMMENTS

I concur with the recommendation.

PURPOSE OF REPORT

The purpose of this report is to present an update to the transportation analysis component of the Christie Point property at 2951 Craigowan Road.

BACKGROUND

The applicant submitted a Transportation Impact Assessment by Bunt & Associates as part of the rezoning application. Staff engaged Opus International Consultants to review the Bunt & Associates report for the benefit of a second opinion. The process involved several iterations; attached is the Opus opinion on the impact as well as the proposed solutions from Bunt.

PROJECT INFORMATION

The traffic volumes on Shoreline Drive will increase enough for the current designation of a local road (approx. 1,000 trips per day) to be changed to a minor collector designation (greater than 1,500 vehicles per day). Several transportation issues are addressed in the Bunt report as a result of the increased traffic. It should be noted that parking will not be addressed in this report.

Pedestrians:

• Pedestrian requirements leading from the development to Island Highway were reviewed by Bunt and Opus. Both traffic consultants agreed that a second sidewalk along Shoreline Drive east side was not required as pedestrian volumes did not require the additional sidewalk, and it was felt that mode share choice would not increase if the second sidewalk was added. However, the developer has agreed to extend the sidewalk approximately 90 metres on the west side of Shoreline Drive, from the existing sidewalk just north of the school to the development.
• Staff requested pedestrian street lighting on the west side from the development to Island Highway and the developer has agreed to install the lighting to Town of View Royal’s specifications and standards along the west side of Shoreline Drive from the development to the Island Highway.
• Both Opus and Bunt recommend that a crosswalk be installed across the Island Highway at Shoreline Drive, on the west leg of the intersection. The crosswalk will promote pedestrian crossing and will activate during the left turn movement of vehicles leaving Shoreline Drive, turning left onto the Island Highway. The addition of the crosswalk will also help to distribute pedestrian activity away from the Admirals/Island Highway intersection to assist in the performance of the intersection.
• Advanced warning signals for the pedestrian crosswalk will be installed for the east bound vehicles travelling along the Island Highway.

Cycling:

• Staff requested that the existing gravel path connecting Shoreline Drive to the Island Highway running behind Shoreline School be upgraded to the same standard as the E&N Rail Trail. The upgraded multiuse trail will connect directly onto the Island Highway, crossing both the boulevard and the sidewalk. The connection will allow cyclists to travel a short distance on the Island Highway before connecting to the E&N Rail Trail. The developer has agreed to do this.
• Bike lanes will be established in both directions on Shoreline Drive. Currently there is only a designated bike lane on the west side. The minimum width is suggested by Bunt to be 1.2 metres, while Opus is recommending a minimum width of 1.5 metres. Staff concurs with the Opus recommendation as the Town standards are at a minimum 1.6 metres. In addition, both Opus and Staff believe that bike lanes need to be installed on both sides of Shoreline Drive regardless of width constraints. The right of way currently has the width to allow for the dual bike lanes, although additional paving will likely have to occur on the east side of Shoreline drive to allow for the extra bike lane. This is contrary to Bunt’s perspective, on behalf of the Realstar Developments. Staff believes that bike lanes on both sides of Shoreline will help promote alternative mode choice.

Transit:

• Staff has had initial discussions with BC Transit concerning bus stop locations as well as the possibility that a stop be included on the Christie Point site. Initial thoughts by Transit were that a stop on the site would not work for logistical reasons. Once actual unit demographics have been determined, a follow up conversation with Transit will occur to confirm bus stop requirements.

Vehicles:

Opus agrees with the Bunt conclusions that the increase in traffic from the Christie Point redevelopment (projected by Bunt to be 1.8% at the intersection of Island Highway/Craigflower Road/Admirals Road) will be negligible and a “relatively modest net impact will occur from a traffic capacity perspective compared to the current conditions…as existing traffic is causing the significant delays along the network in the afternoon peak hour.”

• There is concern with the grade of Shoreline Drive and the increase in traffic that outside of school hours traffic may tend to speed. As part on an initial traffic calming measure Bunt is recommending a narrow lane width for Shoreline of 3.2 metres. Staff concurs with Bunt’s recommendation.
• A traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of Shoreline Drive and Island Highway. As part of the installation, an advanced signal indicator (see attached graphic on page 2 of Opus report) will be installed to alert vehicles travelling in the eastbound direction. The light will be co-ordinated with the Admirals Road and Island Highway intersection so that the timing between the two intersections can be optimized.
• The Island Highway west bound lane will be constructed to a two lane cross section from the intersection at Shoreline Drive for a length of 120 metres, in addition, an approximate taper of 85 metres will be constructed. The result of the dual lanes will require the relocation of the existing bus stop approximately 180 metres west of the intersection.

The initial Opus report states that if the Christie Point redevelopment were to happen without improvements to the Shoreline/Island Highway intersection, the existing network would go from a current ‘fail’ to further failing regarding southbound traffic from Shoreline Drive to Island Highway, as drivers were only able to turn if westbound vehicles stopped to allow the turn.

Transportation Demand Management

Opus agrees with the incentives proposed by Bunt to reduce vehicle use and promote sustainable transportation alternatives. The traffic demand management initiatives will take two forms:

1. The provision of alternate transportation infrastructure (pedestrian and bicycle)
2. The reduction of vehicular traffic through ride-sharing, car-pooling and other initiatives

The proposed improvements to Shoreline Drive (bike lanes, sidewalk, lighting), to the Island Highway/Shoreline Drive (controlled intersection with a pedestrian crossing), and to the pathway through Shoreline school (to a regional pathway standard) will enhance alternate transportation choices for Christie Point residents, for Shoreline Drive residents, and for Shoreline School students and staff.

Benefits include:

• Better access to the E&N regional pathway for pedestrian and cyclists
• Better access to public transit for east and west-bound passengers along Island Highway
• Better access to potential future Admirals Road transit routes
• Better pedestrian and cyclist linkages to Admirals Road commercial areas
• Safer crossing of Shoreline Drive and Island Highway for pedestrians

CONCLUSION

It is apparent from reading both the OCP Transportation Policies and Objectives and the Transportation Master Plan principles that a shift to alternative, sustainable transportation is desired by the Town. There is also the notion of increasing access to services and creating safe routes to schools and parks. The proposed improvements to the transportation infrastructure as discussed within this report speak directly to these policy statements, and provide a clear improvement over current conditions. The proposal will improve alternate transportation choices and safety for cyclists and pedestrians regardless of any increased vehicle traffic generated by the proposed development.

Both the Bunt and the Opus reports agree that the problem with traffic volume in the current network is existing traffic. The traffic is regional and as such is more of an arterial traffic flow, serving through-traffic from and to other municipalities. It was with intention that the Town of View Royal has enhanced the Island Highway previously to emphasize alternate mode choice and to draw commuters to the intended traffic corridor of the Trans-Canada Highway.

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT Council receive this report for information.

SUBMITTED BY: J. Rosenberg, Director of Engineering Services

REVIEWED BY: K. Anema, Chief Administrative Officer