WELCOME! We want to hear from you! CAMBIE BRIDGE INTERIM IMPROVEMENTS KEY OBJECTIVES:

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1 WELCOME! CAMBIE BRIDGE ITERIM IMPROVEMETS The City of Vancouver is planning to make interim improvements to Cambie Bridge to make it safer and more comfortable for people of all ages and abilities to walk and cycle. The City can create more space to comfortably accommodate people walking and cycling on Cambie Bridge while maintaining motor vehicle flow for buses, trucks, and private motor vehicles. KEY OBJECTIVES: Improve safety, comfort, and convenience for people of all ages and abilities cycling southbound across Cambie Bridge. Reduce conflicts between people walking and cycling on the shared-use path on the east side of Cambie Bridge. We want to hear from you! We have designed a number of interim improvements for Cambie Bridge. Please review the materials and provide your feedback. Your input will be used to help us refine the final designs for these spot improvements. Information presented here is online at

2 BACKGROUD TIMELIE PAST IMPROVEMETS The False Creek bridges are critical links in Vancouver s transportation network. They connect BC s two largest economic centres and high density residential neighbourhoods. The bridges need to accommodate large volumes of motor vehicles and create safe and comfortable connections for people walking and cycling. Over the last decade, walking and cycling volumes across Cambie Bridge have grown steadily. As such, the shared-use path on the east side of the bridge is often too busy for people walking and cycling, leading to increased conflicts. To address this, a new interim southbound protected bikeway is being proposed for the west side of Cambie Bridge Cambie Bridge built Cambie Bridge replaced by -lane Connaught Bridge, still referred to as the second Cambie Bridge Connaught Bridge replaced by 6-lane (third) Cambie Bridge Canada Line construction improves walking and cycling connections at south end of Cambie Bridge Transportation 00 identifies False Creek bridges as priority for walking and cycling improvements The Transportation 00 Plan, adopted in 0, identified Cambie Bridge as a candidate for new all-ages-and-abilities (AAA) improvements for walking and cycling. Further improvements for walking and cycling over Cambie Bridge will be considered in the future Cycling connection to Beatty St improved ew protected bike lanes constructed on Smithe St, elson St, and Beatty St to improve downtown cycling connections to Cambie Bridge This interim low cost solution will reduce conflicts and improve safety for people crossing the bridge on foot, in wheelchairs and by bike by reducing pressure on the east shared-use path. 08 Interim protected southbound bike lane proposed to be added to Cambie Bridge to complete cycling connection, reduce walking and cycling conflict on east sharedpath, and maintain southbound motor vehicle capacity

3 SUPPORTIG POLICY TRASPORTATIO 00: Approved in 0, Transportation 00 is a long-term strategic vision for the City to help guide transportation, land use decisions and public investments for the years ahead. The plan sets long-term targets and includes policies and actions to help us reach them. Transportation 00 identifies the False Creek crossings as significant gaps in the pedestrian network, and identifies the Cambie Bridge as a candidate for new all ages and abilities improvements for walking and cycling. TARGET: Make two-thirds of all trips on foot, bike, and transit by 00 TARGET: Achieve zero traffic-related fatalities KEY RELATED TRASPORTATIO 00 DIRECTIOS: W.: W.5: C.: C.: M.: G.: G.: Make streets safer for walking Address gaps in the pedestrian network Build cycling routes that feel comfortable for people of all ages and abilities Expand the cycling network to efficiently connect people to destinations Consider impacts to transit, commercial vehicles, and general traffic flow prior to reallocating road space Support truck movements on key regional routes Maintain an efficient network of designated truck routes OTHER SUPPORTIG POLICIES Greenest City Action Plan 00 Targets All Vancouver residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park, greenway or other green space Make the majority of trips (over 50%) by foot, bike, and public transit Reduce the average distance driven per resident by 0% from 007 levels Healthy City Strategy 05 Targets Increase the percentage of Vancouver residents aged 8 and older who meet the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines by 5% over 0 levels Every neighbourhood has a Walk Score of at least 70 (indicating that most errands can be done on foot)

4 EXISTIG CODITIOS Cambie Bridge is an important link between key residential and commercial destinations on the north and south sides of False Creek. As more people choose to walk, bike, or roll over Cambie Bridge, the shared-pathway on the east side of the bridge gets busier and opportunities for conflicts increase. At peak periods the shared-pathway is over capacity with people walking, cycling, skateboarding, skating, and using mobility devices. By reallocating one southbound lane to people on bikes we can use the excess capacity to create a bridge that is safer and more comfortable to walk and cycle on without slowing down how quickly southbound motor vehicles exit the bridge. WALKIG AD CYCLIG VOLUMES Sources: Automated bike counter on the east side shared-path, estimates based on 06 and 07 manual walking and cycling counts. June Bike Counts on Cambie Bridge The monthly volume of people cycling on Cambie Bridge in June has also increased since 00. Recent upgrades to the downtown Typical Summer Daily Walk & Bike Volumes bike network near Cambie Bridge have made the bridge more useful for people on bicycles. The majority of people walking and cycling on Cambie Bridge use the shared-path on the east side of the bridge. People cycling have begun to outnumber those walking on the shared path, and conflicts are increasing as volumes grow. WALKIG AD CYCLIG IJURIES OT IVOLVIG MOTOR VEHICLES Source: VGH Bike, East Path Walk, East Path Walk, Other Bike, Other OTES: total daily summer walking and biking is approximately 6000, Other includes walking and cycling on west sidewalk, and cycling on roadway Minor Walking/Cycling Injuries per Kilometer Seawall Cambie Bridge *06-7 data is January 06 to July 07 * People walking or riding bikes are more vulnerable to injury than people in motor vehicles. When injuries occur, and people seek treatment at VGH, we hear about it from our health partners. For every injury requiring treatment there are more near misses and minor injuries that we do not hear about. The same number of people incur minor injuries (per kilometre) on Cambie Bridge as the Seawall, but recently injuries on the bridge have increased while injuries on the Seawall remain constant.

5 EXISTIG CODITIOS The number of motor vehicles travelling south on Cambie Bridge is showing an overall decreasing trend, while conflict and injuries on the shared-path are increasing. The capacity of the bridge to carry motor vehicle traffic is constrained by the intersections at either end - particularly the intersection at 7th Avenue, which is at capacity at peak times. Because the mid-span of the bridge isn t limited by traffic signals, the current three southbound lanes have significantly more capacity to carry vehicles than the intersections at either end. MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC (SOUTH BOUD) Source: Downtown screenline counts (6am - 0pm manual counts on a single day) from 996 to 00 (factored to match automated counts), automated counter data from Jan 00 to Oct 07 Weekday Southbound Motor Vehicle Volumes * * *009 Canada Line constuction, 00 Olympics Motor vehicle volumes on the Cambie Bridge are lower today than 0 years ago, with a low around because of Canada Line construction and the 00 Olympics, and an increase before stabilizing within the last few years. Southbound traffic only backs up onto the bridge when the traffic signals along Cambie Street, such as at West 7th Avenue and Broadway, cannot move cars off the bridge as quickly as they arrive, Ultimately, Cambie Street controls the motor vehicle capacity of the bridge. DESIGIG FOR ALL AGES AD ABILITIES The City of Vancouver has a vision to make cycling safe, convenient, comfortable and fun for all-ages-and-abilities (AAA) including families with children, seniors, and new riders. Protected bike lanes are required on busy streets to provide a design for all-ages-and-abilities. LESS COMFORTABLE MORE COMFORTABLE MAJOR STREET SHARED USE LAE MAJOR STREET PAITED BIKE LAE MAJOR STREET PAIT BUFFERED BIKE LAE LOCAL STREET BIKEWAY PROTECTED BIKE LAE O A MAJOR STREET OFF-STREET PATHWAY USUITABLE FOR AAA FACILITY SUITABLE FOR AAA FACILITY

6 CAMBIE ST BRIDGE OVERVIEW. vd Bl ic cif Pa h 6t W e. Av l al aw Se 6 al aw Se Sm ith e St. Cambie Bridge Cambie St. l 5. St el y so n tt ea B St. CHAGES TO SOUTHBOUD LAE ORTH ED MID-SPA SOUTH ED ELSO ST AT BEATTY ST CAMBIE ST SOUTH OF BRIDGE EXIT OFF-RAMP EASTBOUD W 6TH AVE Lanes marked in red will be removed without changing southbound exit capacity. orthbound traffic will not be impacted. 5 6 TO W 6TH AVE

7 CAMBIE BRIDGE: BEATTY ST & ELSO ST IMPROVEMETS Beatty St What is Different? Why? To highlight the westbound bicycle connection from the Beatty St protected bike lane to the new southbound protected bike lane Extend eastbound protected bike lane on elson St. to continue southbound on the bridge To provide an all ages and abilities cycling connection across the Cambie Bridge Use concrete barriers similar to the Dunsmuir Viaduct To decrease construction time and allow flexibility during bridge maintenance Monitor functioning of interim improvements in the area and make minor changes if warranted To adapt to changing conditions, for example, to improve the bus boarding island on elson St What Will ot Change? Intersection operations or the number of lanes available to motor vehicles at the elson/beatty intersection elson St To Cambie Bridge Add green paint and elephants feet to the west bicycle crossing Why? The intersection at elson/beatty effectively separates people walking and cycling from motor vehicles, buses, and trucks

8 CAMBIE BRIDGE: MIDSPA IMPROVEMETS Example of concrete barriers on Dunsmuir Viaduct What is Different? Reallocate southbound curb lane to a southbound protected bike lane Use concrete barriers similar to the Dunsmuir Viaduct To provide an all ages and abilities (AAA) southbound cycling connection across Cambie Bridge To decrease construction time and allow flexibility during bridge maintenance Realign bus trolley wires eastward To allow transit buses to operate in the two southbound general traffic lanes Reduce bicycle volumes on the east side shared-path by providing an alternative connection To improve comfort, increase capacity, and reduce crowding due to high walking and cycling volumes Cambie Bridge (Facing orth) Why?

9 CAMBIE BRIDGE: W 6 AVE COECTIO IMPROVEMETS nd W e Av TH Cambie St th e Av 6 What is Different? W What Will ot Change? o change to intersection operations or the number of lanes available to motor vehicles in this section Why? The intersections here function well and effectively separate people walking and cycling from motor vehicles, buses, and trucks Why? Extend southbound protected bike lane to the westbound off-ramp To avoid conflicts with motor vehicle traffic and provide an all ages and abilities (AAA) cycling connection to the off-broadway Bikeway on W 5th Ave and the Seaside Greenway (Seawall) arrow the protected bike lane to single file To allow space for a protected bike lane on the relatively narrow off-ramp, while encouraging slower speeds toward the end of the bridge Use flexible rather than concrete barriers, such as a rubberized fence or plastic posts To minimize the amount of space required and accommodate large trucks and emergency services on the off-ramp Modify barriers near the end of the ramp to connect the bike lane onto the wide west sidewalk To make use of existing space and avoid the sharpest corner of the off-ramp Monitor interim improvements and make potential additional minor changes if warranted To adapt to changing conditions, for example, separate walking and cycling on the wide shared sidewalk in front of the Canada Line station and past the bus stops.

10 EXT STEPS COSTRUCTIO OF ITERIM Construction is anticipated in early 08. IMPROVEMETS FUTURE IMPROVEMETS Future improvements to further improve walking and cycling over Cambie Bridge will be considered over the coming years. SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK I PERSO OLIE Complete a feedback form at an Open House View the display boards and complete a feedback form online at PLEASE SUBMIT COMMETS BY DECEMBER 9, 07 BY BY PHOE Send feedback or questions to cambiebridge@vancouver.ca Call -- to provide feedback or questions