Issue: Striving For Safe Streets
Opinion: We must adequately strive for safe street design in Abbotsford, an evolving case.
1) Humans make errors.
2) Government is responsible for making the street design to minimize the impact of those errors.
3) Street design should reflect safety, allowing these errors to happen.
With a goal of Vision Zero, these three points are the guiding sustainable safety design principles of The Netherlands, a leader in quality of life and economic development through efficient and effective transportation systems for the movement of people, goods and services.
What is safe street design?
To answer what safe street design is, a (delightful) eight-minute video highlighting evidence-based design from The Netherlands and The United States explains it well:
https://youtu.be/jCeSeUBmXwE
Transportation and Transit Master Plan (TTMP): Goals
Our City's TTMP, adopted in 2018, outlines seven goals:
1. Make walking, biking and transit delightful
2. Move people and goods in a way that is safe, accessible and equitable and
that supports the City's economy
3. Ensure all modes provide connections to important destinations and areas of
future growth and development
4. Ensure that the transportation system supports land use decisions
5. Design streets to be complete destinations that support walking, biking and
social interactions
6. Ensure that the transportation system is well-maintained
7. Plan and prepare for changes to the transportation system from emerging
technologies
Transportation and Transit Master Plan (TTMP): Mode Priorities
π§π¦½πΆ>π²>π>π>π
Vulnerable road users, transit and goods or services movement are to take priority over single occupancy use cars.
Transportation and Transit Master Plan (TTMP): Mode Shift
The TTMP's mode shift target is vague and underwhelming: Increase sustainable transportation. However, the Official Community Plan (OCP) has a mode share target of 25% of trips made by walking, cycling and transit by the time the population reaches 200,000. The Transit Future Plan, published in 2013, has a mode shift goal of 8% by 2036 with 15-minute bus intervals. [View the plans]
We need leadership at City Hall who will work towards the OCP's mode shift goal (e.g., the % of total trips by walking, biking and public transit). However, we first need to know our current travel mode percentages.
On September 2, 2022, a freedom of information request (FOI), file 0580-20/2022-203, reported no data exists at City Hall regarding current transportation mode shares, nor does the Engineering & Regional Utilities department have any documented goals regarding mode shift.
Transportation planning is not quantifying vehicle trips. It begins with the transportation of people followed by person trips, then mode choice.
In my view, the Engineering & Regional Utilities (ERU) department does not follow our guiding principles or adopted policy outlined in the TTMP.
Based on my experience, raised safety issues in street design through Let's Talk Abbotsford or other methods are (commonly) received with pushback from ERU representatives, arguing for the convenience of some road users over the safety of others. Instances include the Vye and Riverside Road railway underpass project and, more recently, the Marshall Road rehabilitation concept drafts.
A freedom of information request (FOI), file 580-20/2022-204, dated September 2, 2022, revealed the ERU department does not keep records of significant traffic injuries and deaths, a key metric for evidence-based Vision Zero street design.
My FOI request: "Any records from 2018 to the present maintained by the Engineering & Regional Utilities [ERU] department regarding statistics for traffic accident fatalities and deaths on the City of Abbotsford roads."
The City of Abbotsford's response regarding the FOI request: "We are unable to provide you with records responsive to your request as they do not exist. After a thorough search of City records, we are unable to provide any records related to traffic fatality injuries and deaths."
How can we improve road safety without definitive data or goals?
An attitude of ignoring street design best practices for the convenience of some road users over the safety of others, including children, should not be accepted.
A 13-year study of 12 cities found with protected active transportation infrastructure, there was a dramatic decline in fatalities for all road users - including people in cars. No improvements were noted with painted bike lanes, and sharrows were found to decrease safety. The findings are outlined in a 2019 article by Aaron Short of StreetsBlog USA, "Separated Bike Lanes Means Safer Streets, Study Says."
Safe transportation is of everyone's interest. Let us never apologize for prioritizing road safety for all users over the convenience of some.
In my outlook, the Marshall Road rehabilitation project and other recent municipal transportation initiatives do not follow the Transportation and Transit Master Plan (TTMP): To prioritize vulnerable road users, transit and cargo or services over the least efficient transportation mode, single occupancy use vehicles.
The first of seven goals within the plan is:
1. Make walking, biking and transit delightful
To fulfill my curiosity as a figurative exercise, using Chrome's "find" tool, here is the citation ratio of keywords, plus "mobility" and "car" from the digital TTMP document compared with the Marshall Road Project Scope digital file for the Marshall Road rehabilitation project with budgeted consultation services of $180k, according to freedom of information (FOI) file 0580-20/2022-206 dated August 31, 2022:
Anecdotal Dismissive Culture Towards Safe Street Design: City Hall
In my view, the Engineering & Regional Utilities (ERU) department does not follow our guiding principles or adopted policy outlined in the TTMP.
Based on my experience, raised safety issues in street design through Let's Talk Abbotsford or other methods are (commonly) received with pushback from ERU representatives, arguing for the convenience of some road users over the safety of others. Instances include the Vye and Riverside Road railway underpass project and, more recently, the Marshall Road rehabilitation concept drafts.
A freedom of information request (FOI), file 580-20/2022-204, dated September 2, 2022, revealed the ERU department does not keep records of significant traffic injuries and deaths, a key metric for evidence-based Vision Zero street design.
My FOI request: "Any records from 2018 to the present maintained by the Engineering & Regional Utilities [ERU] department regarding statistics for traffic accident fatalities and deaths on the City of Abbotsford roads."
The City of Abbotsford's response regarding the FOI request: "We are unable to provide you with records responsive to your request as they do not exist. After a thorough search of City records, we are unable to provide any records related to traffic fatality injuries and deaths."
How can we improve road safety without definitive data or goals?
An attitude of ignoring street design best practices for the convenience of some road users over the safety of others, including children, should not be accepted.
A 13-year study of 12 cities found with protected active transportation infrastructure, there was a dramatic decline in fatalities for all road users - including people in cars. No improvements were noted with painted bike lanes, and sharrows were found to decrease safety. The findings are outlined in a 2019 article by Aaron Short of StreetsBlog USA, "Separated Bike Lanes Means Safer Streets, Study Says."
Safe transportation is of everyone's interest. Let us never apologize for prioritizing road safety for all users over the convenience of some.
Example: Street Design, Mode Shift and Induced Demand - Marshal Road
In my outlook, the Marshall Road rehabilitation project and other recent municipal transportation initiatives do not follow the Transportation and Transit Master Plan (TTMP): To prioritize vulnerable road users, transit and cargo or services over the least efficient transportation mode, single occupancy use vehicles.
The first of seven goals within the plan is:
1. Make walking, biking and transit delightful
To fulfill my curiosity as a figurative exercise, using Chrome's "find" tool, here is the citation ratio of keywords, plus "mobility" and "car" from the digital TTMP document compared with the Marshall Road Project Scope digital file for the Marshall Road rehabilitation project with budgeted consultation services of $180k, according to freedom of information (FOI) file 0580-20/2022-206 dated August 31, 2022:
Although the Official Community Plan (OCP) is cited in the Marshall Road project scope document's literature review, when I did a search for "Vision Zero," "calming," "shift," "mode," and "goal" in the online document, I was unable to find any references to those words.
Another Marshall Road project review phase on Let's Talk Abbotsford is planned with more detailed drawings.
Example: Maclure Road
Maclure, adjacent to significant parks, trails and schools, is among our most dangerous roads for crashes and fatalities. Advocacy ignored by the City includes immediate, low-cost fix options:
- Lowering the speed limit from 60 km/h to 50 km/h (achieved in November 2022)
- Programing-controlled intersections with leading pedestrian intervals
Example: Cooper Farm - Street Design, Mode Shift and Induced Demand
During the final reading of the Cooper Farm project proposal on July 25, 2022, the Council heard from a traffic engineer and discussed traffic implementations before approving the project. However, reviewing the video footage and online documents, I did not note a reference to mode shift, safety or the movement of people, goods and services.
The materials, including recorded videos with time marks, can be viewed on the Cooper Farm Helpful Links page.
Example: Montrose Transit Exchange Design, Prioritized for Cars
The proposed Montrose transit-exchange design consists of a plan where passengers of all ages and abilities must mitigate four lanes of prioritized car traffic, with no mid-block crossings and advanced crossing signals (presumably), to make connections while exposed to the elements. There is no intersection traffic calming measures, like a roundabout.
Here is an in-depth overview: Montrose Transit Exchange Design
Example: Liquor Establishment Business Licencing
Why does the City require parking minimums in strip plazas, malls and other commercial buildings where liquor-licenced businesses are tenanted, but not practical street safety solutions to earn a business licence for a liquor establishment, like:
- Neighbourhood walkability,
- Proximity to transit stops,
- Business hours in alignment with transit operations,
- Displaying of transit information and sale of tickets,
- Bicycle parking minimums or
- Convenient taxi pull-up curb stands with an extended sidewalk or driveway awnings?
These requirements are valid in the hospitality sector. Bed and Breakfast hosts, for example, in many municipalities throughout British Columbia are required to meet specific needs to garner a business licence, including:
- Guest room floor space minimum square metres,
- Fire extinguishers at the start of hallways to guest bedrooms,
- Interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide alarms,
- Host and guest parking minimums and
- Fire escape plans in each guest room.
Example: Anecdotal Abbotsford Police Dismissive Culture Towards Street Safety
I have a relative who lives in Abbotsford's urban centre, where street racing and noise from raucous vehicles are prolific.
In the summer of 2022, I reported on a relative's behalf to Abby PD's non-emergency text line, specifically regarding ongoing street racing, requesting more enforcement in the area.
The digital dispatcher was kind and understanding but seemed unable to assist, providing a solution of phoning 911. Calling 911 regarding street racing has a multitude of issues, including:
- Occupying the time of operators and phone lines for specific, urgent emergencies
- I would be unable to provide a 911 operator with any helpful information. The speed racing vehicles go too fast to get a licence plate or description. A person does not typically sit at their window searching for street racers. The cars are no longer visible when one approaches a window after hearing street racers.
The last few messages in my text thread with the Appy PD digital dispatcher gave me pause.
Among the sentences included: "[It] takes a lot of 911 calls and a lot of police files before the higher-ups get the picture!"
How are first-person accounts of street racing not enough for "the higher-ups?" Or, our municipal elected officials, police board and the City's Engineering & Regional Utilities (ERU) department? Roads are the municipal government's responsibility.
The text exchange prompted me to begin a literature review of street safety in Abbotsford.
Immediate: What can I do right now?
On APC's Understanding Municipal Fundamentals page, watch the (enjoyable) videos-essays and review other content materials. Learn from municipal elected official mentors outlined, particularly Mayors Bauters and Wu, regarding transportation and urban planning.
Further medium term actions steps we (as a City) should do:
Opinion letter to the 2022 election School Trustee Candidates - Issue: Safe and Delightful Transportation to and from School
Literature Review: Street Safety
Vision Zero overview - Vision Zero Network | Bike Fraser Valley
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Keywords: Opinion, Abbotsford, street, road, safety, vision, zero, traffic, fatalities, injuries, death, economic, tourism, product, development
Among the sentences included: "[It] takes a lot of 911 calls and a lot of police files before the higher-ups get the picture!"
How are first-person accounts of street racing not enough for "the higher-ups?" Or, our municipal elected officials, police board and the City's Engineering & Regional Utilities (ERU) department? Roads are the municipal government's responsibility.
The text exchange prompted me to begin a literature review of street safety in Abbotsford.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Immediate: What can I do right now?
On APC's Understanding Municipal Fundamentals page, watch the (enjoyable) videos-essays and review other content materials. Learn from municipal elected official mentors outlined, particularly Mayors Bauters and Wu, regarding transportation and urban planning.
Further medium term actions steps we (as a City) should do:
- Update the City's Transportation and Transit Master Plan (TTMP) (2018), Transit Future Plan (2013) and Official Community Plan OCP (2016) to be in alignment.
- Staff and elected officials to review and reaffirm understanding of the mode shift goals and concept of the City's TTMP with annual knowledge tests
- Engage with the Dutch Cycling Embassy (DCE) for guidance on street design best practices
- A field trip for our municipal engineers and community leadership to Amsterdam, a global leader in Vision Zero and tourism product development through urban and transportation planning, perhaps facilitated through the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Abbotsford Society with DCE as a knowledge exchange mission.
Related:
Opinion letter to the 2022 election School Trustee Candidates - Issue: Safe and Delightful Transportation to and from School
Literature Review: Street Safety
Vision Zero overview - Vision Zero Network | Bike Fraser Valley
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Keywords: Opinion, Abbotsford, street, road, safety, vision, zero, traffic, fatalities, injuries, death, economic, tourism, product, development