The timelines for the proposed short-term, medium-term, and long-term improvements to the corridor be accelerated.

Transcription

1 A Avenue Langley, BC V1M 4A9 e bcta@bctrucking.cm t f tll free bctrucking.cm 16 th Avenue Crridr Imprvements BCTA Survey Results & Recmmendatins September 15, 2015 ABOUT BCTA The BC Trucking Assciatin (BCTA) is the recgnized vice f the cmmercial rad transprtatin industry in British Clumbia. Funded in 1913, BCTA is a prvince-wide, nn-partisan, nn-prfit industry assciatin frmed t advance the interests f mtr carriers in BC. BACKGROUND Further t the Online Open Huse - 16 th Avenue Crridr Study (the Study) and accmpanying survey distributed by TransLink and the ther study partners; BCTA cnducted a similar survey f its members in the Lwer Mainland. The survey was sent t 277 cmpanies yielding 34 respnses (and a respnse rate f 12 percent). A detailed summary f the survey results is attached in Appendix A. The ntice t participate in the survey is included in Appendix B. As nted in the Study, the 16 th Avenue Crridr is part f TransLink s Majr Rad Netwrk (MRN) and is a designated truck rute with significant truck traffic. Accrding t the Study, trucks accunt fr 13 t 16 percent f the traffic alng the crridr, while typically trucks nly make up 5 t 10 percent f traffic vlume n an average arterial rad. BCTA RECOMMENDATIONS AND SURVEY RESULTS Based n the results frm the survey, BCTA recmmends that: The timelines fr the prpsed shrt-term, medium-term, and lng-term imprvements t the crridr be accelerated. The entire crridr be 4-laned, but withut median barriers (see explanatin belw), particularly between Highway 99 and Lefeuvre. TransLink, individual municipalities, and the Ministry f Transprtatin and Infrastructure (MTI) crdinate the permit apprval prcess fr this particular crridr, and mre generally, establish an integrated municipal-prvincial permit system in the regin (i.e., a ne-stp-shp fr permits). This is critical because the crridr wuld serve as a majr versize-verweight (OS-OW) vehicle rute (particularly fr ver-height vehicles) as it spans multiple municipalities and cnnects with several prvincial highways in a rural setting. Currently, the primary East-West ver-height crridr in the regin, while suitable, requires that carriers travel thrugh a mre urban envirnment using Highway 10, the Langley Bypass, Highway 1A (Fraser Highway), Highway 13 (264 Street), and 8 th Avenue (Vye Rad) t Highway 11. A fully upgraded 16 th Avenue crridr wuld serve as an alternate, mre efficient, and safer rute fr the mvement f OS-OW vehicles.

2 September 15, 2015 Page 2 f 3 Pririty and Timing f the Prpsed 16 th Avenue Crridr Imprvements Respndents were asked t rank the imprtance f the package f prpsed imprvements t the 16 th Avenue Crridr against three ther majr transprtatin infrastructure prjects in the Lwer Mainland the Pattull Bridge Replacement Prject, Nrth Fraser Perimeter Rad, and Gerge Massey Tunnel Replacement Prject, n a scale f ne (mst imprtant) t fur (least imprtant). Over 50 percent f respndents ranked the 16 th Avenue Crridr as the first r secnd mstimprtant imprvement prject amng the fur infrastructure imprvement prjects listed in the survey. Overall, imprvements t the 16 th Avenue Crridr scred third-highest, ahead f the Nrth Fraser Perimeter Rad, and als nearly tied with the Pattull Bridge Replacement Prject fr secnd place (see Appendix A fr rankings f all prjects). In terms f timing, 70 percent f respndents wuld like t see the shrt-term imprvements cmpleted sner than within the next 5 years, 74 percent wuld like t see the medium-term imprvements cmpleted sner than within the next 6 t 15 years, and 64 percent wuld like t see the lnger-term imprvements cmpleted sner than 15 r mre years frm nw. Reasns fr an accelerated timeline included increasing traffic vlume, traffic peratins issues, safety issues, and the ptential fr increased csts if the imprvements are delayed. Shrt-term imprvements There was verall supprt fr the prpsed scpe f the shrt-term imprvements, including imprved driveway alignment, lighting, and brush clearing t imprve safety. Hwever, there were cncerns regarding the ability f trucks t get back n the rad if pull-uts are added fr passing because f the high amunt f traffic n the crridr. As well, current high traffic vlume was cited as the main reasn the shrt-term imprvements are insufficient. Medium-term imprvements The medium-term imprvement f 4-laning 16 th Avenue with a median west f 176 th Street was identified as a cncern because f the hindrance median barriers pse t mving huses and ther versized lads. Additinally, there was supprt fr 4-laning the entire crridr, at least frm Highway 99 t Lefeuvre, nt just west f 176 th Street. There was mre supprt fr the King Rad/Peardnville Rad ptin rather than the Marshall Rad Extensin. Lnger-term imprvements A number f cmments encuraged 4-laning f the crridr sner than the 15 r mre year timeframe because f the high vlume f traffic alng this crridr. Additinally, there was a preference fr tw-way left-turn lanes t be installed alng the crridr rather than median barriers, which can hinder the mvement f versize vehicles.

3 September 15, 2015 Page 3 f 3 Oversize-Overweight (OS-OW) Vehicles Overall, 24 f the 34 respndents (71 percent) indicated a fully upgraded crridr wuld be extremely imprtant, imprtant, r smewhat imprtant fr the mvement f OS-OW vehicles t, frm, and within the Lwer Mainland regin. Of the 17 carriers that transprt OS-OW lads, 16 respndents (94 percent) indicated a fully upgraded crridr wuld be extremely imprtant, imprtant, r smewhat imprtant fr the mvement f OS-OW vehicles. Due t its mre rural setting, an imprved 16 th Avenue crridr wuld be a safer and mre efficient rute fr transprting OS-OW lads, particularly thrugh the Twnship f Langley and City f Langley, as Fraser Highway is becming increasingly cngested.

4 A-1

5 A-2

6 A-3

7 A-4

8 RE: 16 TH AVENUE CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS Dear <First Name>: BCTA is cnducting a shrt survey f BCTA members abut prpsed near and lng-term imprvements t 16th Avenue between Highway 99 in Suth Surrey and Marshall Rad in Abbtsfrd. Please take a few minutes t cmplete this shrt 7-questin survey by Mnday, August 31, 2015: Backgrund TransLink, the Twnship f Langley, the City f Surrey, the City f Abbtsfrd, ICBC and the Ministry f Transprtatin and Infrastructure (MTI) cnducted a preliminary study that utlines ptential imprvemets t the 16th Avenue Crridr in the Lwer Mainland (i.e., the 29 km segment f 16th Avenue between Highway 99 in Suth Surrey and Marshall Rad in Abbtsfrd). Yu can dwnlad a detailed presentatin utlining the study s results and prpsed imprvements by fllwing the link. A summary is prvided belw. dr%20study.pdf?timestamp= Current Situatin: The study acknwledges the imprtance f the 16th Avenue Crridr, which is ne f a limited number f cntinuus east-west rutes cnnecting the City f Surrey, the Twnship f Langley, and the City f Abbtsfrd. 16th Avenue als cnnects Highways 99, 15, and 13, and three brder crssings between Canada and the United States (Peace Arch, Pacific Highway, and Aldergrve). 1. It is part f TransLink s Majr Rad Netwrk (MRN) and a designated truck rute with significant truck traffic trucks accunt fr 13 t 16 percent f the traffic alng the crridr (typically, trucks make up 5 t 10 percent f traffic vlume n an average arterial rad). 2. Tday, 16th Avenue is primarily a straight, 2-lane rural radway with a psted speed limit f 60 km/h, and limited passing pprtunities. 3. Since it passes thrugh the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), it is frequently used by slw-mving farm vehicles. 4. The study suggests that speeding cupled with a number f ther factrs such as the high number f intersectins, limited passing pprtunities, direct access t/frm farm and residential prperties, relatively high prprtin f truck traffic, and presence f slw-mving farm vehicles cntribute t delays, cngestin, and safety-related cncerns. Prpsed Crridr Imprvement Plans: Shrt-term (within the next 5 years) Cnstruct slw-mving vehicle pulluts (x8) t imprve passing pprtunities. Cnstruct RCMP pulluts (x4) fr speed enfrcement purpses.

9 Brush clearing at the 240th Street intersectin, which has been identified as a high cllisin area, t imprve sight lines and visibility. Prvide additinal warning signs and lighting. Establish a plicy t reduce the number f driveways alng the crridr ver time. Prvide mre intersectin and driveway warning signs and imprve pavement markings and lighting. Cnslidate and realign adjacent driveways between 200 and 208 Street t reduce turn mvement cnflicts. Prvide additinal wildlife fencing t reduce the number f animal-related cllisins in the crridr. Medium-term (6 t 15 years) Assumes that the King Rad Cnnectr between Bradner Rad and Peardnville Rad/Marshall Rad will be cnstructed in Abbtsfrd in the next 5 t 10 years. 4-lane 16 th Avenue west f 176th with a median barrier. Cnstruct tw-way-left-turn-lanes (TWLTL) between 184 th and 200 th Street, and 240 th and 248 th Street t separate left turning traffic frm thrugh traffic. Upgrade and signalize five intersectins - 208th, 232nd, 272nd, Lefeuvre Rad, and Bradner Rad. Cntinue with the plicy t reduce the number f driveways alng the crridr. Prvide additinal wildlife fencing. Lnger-term (15 years plus) Fur-lane the entire crridr, with a centre median barrier west f 176 th Street, and a twway-left-turn-lane (TWLTL) in the median east f 176 th street (i.e., n median barrier) t preserve driveway access t farms and residential prperties. 70 km/h hur psted speed limit Intersectin upgrades and signalizatin at 224th and 240th Street. Cntinue with the plicy t reduce the number f driveways alng the crridr. Thank yu fr yur assistance.