Date: March 18, 2014 Page: 1 of 8 Media contacts: Michelle Hargrave, 250-979-4642 Lindsay Olsen, 604-982-4759 ICBC invests $1.175 million to help make Surrey, Delta and White Rock s roads safer in 2013 Roundabouts, new crosswalks and designated turning lanes are the types of road improvement projects ICBC invested in B.C. last year to help make roads safer for everyone, including pedestrians and cyclists. In 2013, ICBC invested approximately $1.175 million in 47 road improvement projects and safety studies to help make Surrey, Delta and White Rock s roads safer for everyone, including drivers and pedestrians. ICBC s road improvement program works in partnership with municipalities and our Ministry to help make our roads and highways safer, said Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. This program is a great example of successful partnerships as it brings together numerous stakeholders to help ensure safety remains a top priority when roads and highways are designed or upgraded in communities across the province. ICBC launched its road improvement program in 1990, and since then has invested approximately $120 million in road improvement projects and safety studies across B.C. In 2013, ICBC invested approximately $4.3 million in the Lower Mainland and $8 million in projects and safety audits across the province. Everyone benefits from road improvements from drivers to pedestrians because safer roads mean fewer crashes, which also translates into lower claim costs, said John Dickinson, ICBC s director of road safety. We ll continue to invest in road safety initiatives that help us keep rates as low as possible. All proposed road improvement projects are assessed based on their ability to make roads safer. The most recent evaluation of the program concluded that over a two year time period, overall, for every dollar invested, ICBC and its customers see a return rate of five times the investment. More importantly, the benefits of road improvements can continue well beyond two years. The evaluation found that following a project s implementation, there is on average, a 20 per cent reduction in severe crashes and a 12 per cent reduction in property damage crashes. ICBC also participates in engineering studies and assists communities in the planning of roadways and managing traffic. As road improvements are made, drivers may also need to adopt new driving behaviours, such as adjusting to traffic pattern changes and understanding the rules of the road. The majority of crashes are preventable and have more to do with driver error than road engineering. Drivers need to do their part by making smart driving decisions to prevent crashes. Over the last 24 years, ICBC s road improvement program has evolved significantly community investments and successful partnerships have led to award winning projects and the contributions have helped advance the knowledge of the road safety engineering industry in B.C. and across Canada. A look at the evolution of ICBC s road improvement program can be viewed here.
Page 2 Road improvement projects completed in Delta, Surrey and White Rock in 2013: Delta Location: 92 nd Avenue 114 th to 120 th Street o Project description: Corridor improvements including curb and gutter, sidewalk, lighting, bicycle lanes and new overhead illuminated crosswalks with side mounted flashing beacons at existing crosswalks Location: 116 th Street 82 nd Avenue to 92 nd Avenue o Project description: Coordinating traffic signal operation o ICBC contribution: $10,000 Location: 116 th Street 92 nd Avenue to 96 th Avenue o Project description: Corridor improvements including curb bulges at intersections, improved parking, new overhead illuminated crosswalk with side mounted flashing beacons and signal upgrades Location: Hutson Road River Road to 80 th Street o Project description: Upgrade existing two-lane road to a four-lane cross section with intersection widening and traffic signal upgrades. o ICBC contribution: $42,000 Location: Westminster Avenue Elliott Street to Linden Drive o Project description: Corridor enhancements including road widening on the south side of the road to facilitate a continuous sidewalk and separated parking lane, along with street lighting improvements. Location: 56 th Street 1 st Avenue to Timbervalley Road o Project description: Corridor improvements including road widening for the creation of defined bicycle lanes and installation of a sidewalk on the west side of the road
Page 3 Location: Intersections: Arthur Drive at Elliott Street and 48 th Avenue at Ladner Trunk Road o Project description: Road widening and reallocation of space for additional turning lanes and crosswalk improvements including pedestrian activated flashing lights and in-pavement flashers o ICBC contribution: $112,000 Location: 83 rd Avenue at 116 th Street o ICBC contribution: $9,000 Location: River Road at Ferry Road Location: 4 th Avenue at 52A Street o Project description: Installation of a new marked crosswalk with sidewalk connectivity o ICBC contribution: $7,000 Location: Bond Boulevard at Ryall Crescent o Project description: Installation of a new marked crosswalk with sidewalk connectivity o ICBC contribution: $4,000 Location: 110 th Street 82 nd Avenue to 84 th Avenue o Project description: Upgrade existing two-lane road with curb, gutters and parking pockets Location: 92 nd Avenue and 116 th Street o Project description: Construction of eastbound and westbound left-turn lanes and installation of uninterrupted power supply (UPS) system and pedestrian countdown timers o ICBC contribution: $17,000
Page 4 Location: 92 nd Avenue and 120 th Street o Project description: Installation of eastbound and westbound left-turn lanes and arrows o ICBC contribution: $68,000 Location: 75 th Avenue East of Chalmers Elementary School o Project description: Installation of new marked crosswalk with sidewalk connectivity Surrey Location: Highway 15, Pacific Inspection Station o Project description: Install automated vehicle identification at existing CVSE Inspection Station just north of US border to allow a significant truck bypass o Partner: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure o ICBC contribution: $8,200 Location: Highway 15 o Project description: Improved delineation o Partner: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure o ICBC contribution: $13,200 Location: Area wide o Project description: Roundabout implementation study phase two o ICBC contribution: $14,916 Location: Fraser Highway 168 th Street to 17300 block o Project description: Road widening and intersection improvements o ICBC contribution: $113,000 Location: King George Boulevard and 160 th Street o Project description: Installation of new traffic signal and left-turn lanes o ICBC contribution: $11,000 Location: 64 th Avenue and 142 nd Street o Project description: Upgrade of a pedestrian signal to a full traffic signal o ICBC contribution: $41,000
Page 5 Location: 64 th Avenue and 126 th Street o Project description: Upgrade of a pedestrian signal to a full traffic signal o ICBC contribution: $39,000 Location: 88 th Avenue and 162 nd Street o Project description: Upgrade of a pedestrian signal to a full traffic signal o ICBC contribution: $27,000 Location: King George Boulevard 3100 block to 3300 block o Project description: Road widening and intersection improvements o ICBC contribution: $84,000 Location: 86A Avenue and 144 th Street Location: 57 th Avenue and Panorama Drive Location: 58 th Avenue/Panorama Drive Location: 80 th Avenue and 133A Street Location: 10700 block and 150 th Street o ICBC contribution: $1,000
Page 6 Location: 16 th Avenue and 132 nd Street o Project description: Installation of a pedestrian signal o ICBC contribution: $4,000 Location: 18A Avenue and 148 th Street o Project description: Installation of a pedestrian signal o ICBC contribution: $6,000 Location: 17 th Avenue and 148 th Street o Project description: Installation of a pedestrian signal o ICBC contribution: $13,000 Location: At 25 intersections in Surrey o Project description: Installation of uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems at 25 intersections in Surrey o ICBC contribution: $62,500 Location: Along six corridors in Surrey o Project description: Traffic signal coordination o ICBC contribution: $44,000 Location: 192 nd Street 66 th Avenue to 74 th Avenue o Project description: Road widening and intersection improvements o ICBC contribution: $98,000 Location: University Drive and 103 rd Avenue o Project description: Installation of new traffic signal o ICBC contribution: $9,000 Location: 104 th Avenue/City Parkway 135 th Street o Project description: Installation of new traffic signal o ICBC contribution: $45,000 Location: King George Boulevard corridor o Project description: Intersection improvements at eight intersections o ICBC contribution: $53,000
Page 7 Location: 96 th Avenue corridor o Project description: Intersection improvements at eight intersections o ICBC contribution: $39,000 Location: At nine intersections in Surrey o Project description: Installation of left-turn signals o ICBC contribution: $47,000 White Rock Location: At Peach Arch Elementary School o Project description: Signage to eliminate unsafe u-turns along Roper Avenue, improved crosswalk and school zone signage, and flashing beacons at Roper Avenue and Kent Street intersection o ICBC contribution: $25,000 Location: At White Rock Elementary School o Project description: Installation of improved pedestrian crossing facilities along Roper Avenue and Fir Street, including curb extensions and parking restrictions o ICBC contribution: $20,000 Location: Pacific Avenue Balsam Street to Maple Street o Project description: Upgraded delineation and travel lane narrowing along the corridor, removal of on-street parking, installation of No Pedestrian Crossing signs at Moffat Lane, and a fence along the south side of the road Location: Victoria Avenue Fir Street to Finaly Street o Project description: Installation of speed humps Location: Martin Street and Roper Avenue o Project description: Installation of curb extensions and a marked pedestrian crossing o ICBC contribution: $8,000
Page 8 Location: At 12 intersections in White Rock o Project description: Installation of highly reflective Stop or Yield signs at 12 intersections in White Rock Road improvements projects that are underway and to be completed in 2014: Location: Ladner Trunk Road Highway 7, 17 to 64 Street o Project description: Corridor improvements o ICBC contribution: $20,500 Lower Mainland regional road improvement projects completed in 2013: Location: Seven locations in the Lower Mainland o Project description: Installation of uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems at seven locations in the Lower Mainland o Partner: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure o ICBC contribution: $17,500-30-