Information on the Davie/Pacific Boulevard issues

With thanks to Jeff Nacht who followed up with a traffic engineer with the City.
This is what Jeff found out. re  problems at the Davie and Pacific intersection.

The problems were created, in part by the City Council's decision to hire a "world renowned street designer" to propose the design for Pacific, which they consider a showcase street for Vancouver.  The designer specifically did not want turn lanes because he thought the look of the street without them was "cleaner".  The city council is very invested in this design.  He explained that they RARELY go to outside design firms for intersection or streetscape designs but spent a lot of money on this project because they considered it so important in the overall appearance of the downtown core.    They are aware that when the temporary turn lanes were in place, it helped with traffic flow and congestion.

The city engineers did a "study" of traffic flow at that intersection from which they concluded that if the westbound right hand lane were free of parked or stopping vehicles, those turning right to go North on Davie would leave the westbound traffic and free up congestion with as much benefit as a left hand turn lane going South toward Urban Fare.  However, the city's sign shop has been so busy with the Olympic signage, that they haven't posted the No Stopping/No Parking signs in the right hand Davie lane, so cars are using this to park, legally at the moment.

The result has been that the combination of left hand turners and right lane parkers have led to gridlock in the westbound direction.

3. He was even more concerned about traffic on Pacific (either direction) turning North up Davie.  He explained that the section of Davie south of Pacific (Urban Fare to the water) is "mature".  Nothing further will be built there.  However, the city has plans to allow the development of "several more residential towers" up Davie to the North, over the next several years which will increase traffic in this direction considerably.  This means that to the city engineers, a left hand turn lane for Eastbound traffic on Pacific is even more of a priority to them than the westbound mess.  Money is also an issue.  Each intersection change cost between 3 and 6 million dollars, based on the cost of adding all the left hand turn lanes on Knight street that were recently built.

Jeff also brought up the fact that cars are forever darting out of the Westbound left lane to avoid vehicles in front of them, awaiting a left hand turn, that ICBC will likely spend more to repair these vehicles after accidents caused by this behaviour, than the intersection left hand turn lane is worth.  He was also aware that ICBC would prefer a turn lane for this reason, but they are not "in his department" and can only make that request to City Council and the Provincial Government.

There is a POSSIBLE and quite likely solution which is connected to the new experimental street car line from Granville Island to the Olympic Village, believe it or not!  The city engineers have a long term plan in place to add a street car line to the downtown core as follows:
Granville Island to and through the Olympic Village on 1st Avenue.  They left a broad paved median along 1st avenue (with NO SERVICES) beneath it to accommodate the line, which is intended to go down the median strip.  It would then go around Science world, the re-enter traffic as it travels up Expo Blvd, turn back to Yaletown and meet up with Pacific at Smithe, travel down Pacific in the LEFT LANE WESTBOUND, to Drake Street, then turn North up Drake to Granville, turn North on Granville down to the waterfront, then back through Gastown to the Olympic Village, and return to Granville Island in a loop.

They are confident that the cost of returning the streetcars to Brussels is so high, that the City Council will opt for buying the cars and starting the rest of this project, if the Federal and Provincial Gov'ts agree to share the funding.
This explains Bob Price-Wright's question of why the sidewalk was placed down the median strip on Pacific.  It was left to allow for stops along Pacific for passengers to board the streetcar from the median, like they do in San Francisco for the cable cars.

THIS would solve the left turn lane for westbound Pacific traffic.  The engineers determined that : If the streetcar shares the Westbound left land on Pacific with car traffic, a left turn lane south toward Urban Fare would be essential to avoid holding up streetcar and auto traffic.

They expect a decision about going ahead with the Streetcar loop plans by City Council this year, some time soon after the Olympics are over.

City Council has the final say, and often over-rides what the City Engineering Dept. recommends.  We should all of us make our concerns and wishes known to City Council by sending them emails and letters in support of the turn lanes.

Ladies Dance Fit to Latin Beats is back

The first Ladies Dance Fit to Latin music was held in the gym on this past Saturday and the next session is planned for this coming Saturday.

Here three of our Very Fit Ladies are seen in mid-dance - sort of .


Join us on Saturday - let's chachacha, samba and jive away the effect of Christmas and New Year celebrations

10 am in the gym and the music is booming!

Calling all Poker Playing Men at KL

Here is an announcement from Gordon R.

MEN’S POKER

I have talked with Gord Alteman about organizing men’s poker and have taken on the responsibility. We have only had four guys showing interest but know, if need be, that we could get outside friends involved. Please get back to me at gcr@genconcapital.ca if you are interested and we will meet to determine the guidelines for the poker games i.e. where, when, limits, games, etc. To have seven players on any evening, we would probably need at least ten interested guys.

Gord Reid

The AGM and important announcement

The Kings Landing AGM was held last night. The Strata Council welcomes two new members, Jonathan Lai and Bob Prince-Wright, and thanks Terry Fay and Hamid Shams for their hard work over the past year.

The Council will be chaired by Deb Trehearne; Gord Alteman is Vice-president, Doug Martin is treasurer, Jonathan represents building maintenance, I (Gillian) represent social and communications and Gord Reid and Bob are members at large.

During the meeting, a consensus was reached regarding the use of our Amenity suites during the Olympic time period. The rooms may be rented as usual by KL owners for the use of family and friends only. There is no re-renting allowed. The rate will be 200 a night. The reservation may be a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 5 nights. Michael will take reservations starting tomorrow on a first come basis.

Please be considerate of your fellow owners and do not book the rooms "on spec".