George Massey Tunnel Expansion Plan Study
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Report to MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND HIGHWAYS i On GEORGE MASSEY TUNNEL EXPANSION PLANNING STUDY TTaffic Impact Taffic Operations Parking ransit Tansportation rucking Planning Modelling 4 March 26, 1991 Ministry of Transportation and Highways South Coast Regional District 7818 Sixth Street Burnaby, B.C. V3N 4N8; Attention:: Ms. Maria Swan, P.Eng. Senior Transportation Planning Engineer Dear Sir: RE: Expansion of George Massey Tunnel - Preliminary Planning Studv In accordance with your instructions, we have now carried out the preliminary planning study of the future expansion of the George Massey Tunnel on Highway 99. The attached report presents an overview of the study together with the resultant conclusions and recommendations. Thank you for the opportunity to work on this project on behalf of the Ministry. I trust that this report enables your staff to continue with the next steps necessary to bring these recommendations to fruition. 145gmasy\gmt.rpt 520 - 1112 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6E 2S1 Tel: (604) 688-8826 Fax: 688-9562 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................... 1 1.1 Background to Study ....................................... 1 1.2 Scope of Study ........................................... 2 1.3 History and Role of the George Massey Tunnel ...................... 2 2.0 EXISTING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM .......................... 5 2.1 Regional Road Network ..................................... 5 2.2 Current Traffic Volumes on Fraser River Crossings .................... 8 2.3 Historic Growth in Traffic Volumes .............................. 12 2.4 Growth in Capacity Across the South Arm ......................... 21 2.5 Physical Constraints on Highway 99 .............................. 22 2.6 Projected Growth in Ferry Traffic ............................... 22 2.7 Role of Transit ........................................... 23 3.0 GROWTH IN TRAVEL DEMAND ................................ 24 3.1 Projected Population Trends .................................. 24 3.2 Employment Growth Trends .................................. 26 3.3 Projected Travel Demand .................................... 26 3.4 Deficiencies with Modelling Process ............................. 29 3.5 Comparison of Traffic Volume Growth Rates .............': .......... 31 4.0 ALTERNATIVE ADDITIONAL CROSSINGS ........................ 35 4.1 Developing Alternative Crossing ................................ 35 4.2 Alternative A: Do Nothing ................................... 35 4.3 Alternative B: Third Tube in the Tunnel .......................... 37 4.4 Alternative C: Third and Fourth Tubes in the Tunnel .................. 39 4.5 Alternative D: No . 5 Road Bridge .............................. 39 4.6 Alternative E: 72nd Street .No . 8 Road Freeway ..................... 40 5.0 ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE CROSSINGS ........................ 44 5.1 Use of EMME/2 to Establish Future Volumes ....................... 44 5.2 Projected Traffic Volumes on Alternative Networks .................... 44 5.3 Impact on Alex Fraser Bridge ................................. 46 5.4 Travel Patterns of Tunnel Users ................................ 47 5.5 Impact of Ferry Traffic ..................................... 47 5.6 Analysis of Network Statistics for Alternatives ....................... 50 5.7 Cost of Construction ....................................... 51 5.8 Cost-Benefit Evaluation of Alternative Crossings ...................... 52 5.9 Possible Modifications to Alternatives Analyzed ...................... 53 5.10 Impact of Blundell Interchange on Steveston Interchange ................ 56 .... ........ .... _- ........ .-...... 5.11 Phasing of the 72nd StreetINo. 8 Road Freeway ...................... 56 6.0 RECOMMENDED PROGRAM FOR UPGRADING THE SOUTH ARM ....... 59 6.1 Selecting the Preferred Long Term Alternative ....................... 59 6.2 Selecting Short Term Improvements .............................. 59 6.3 Developing a Phasing Plan ................................... 62 6.4 Timing for Implementation ................................... 64 6.5 Highway 99 Interchanges with Third Tube ......................... 67 6.6 Highway 99 Lane Configuration with Third Tube ..................... 73 6.7 Proposed Highway 17 .Highway 99 Connector ...................... 73 6.8 Proposed Functional Plan .................................... 73 7.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ....................... 82 APPENDIX 1 .2001 Vehicle Assignments to the Alternative Networks APPENDIX I1 .2001 Projected Interchange Ramp Volumes for Third Tube Alternative EXHIBITS 1.1 George Massey Tunnel in a Regional Context .......................... 4 2.1 Greater Vancouver's River Crossings ................................ 6 2.2 Regional Road Network ........................................ 7 2.3 River Crossing Volumes in the Morning Peak Hours ...................... 9 2.4 Variation in Hourly Volumes At River Crossings ........................ 10 2.5 Historic Traffic Volumes in the George Massey Tunnel and Alex Fraser Bridge 1979-89 13 2.6 Historic Traffic Volumes in the Pattullo and Port Mann Bridges 1979-1989 ........ 14 2.7 Historic Traffic Volumes on the Oak Street and Knight Street Bridges 1979-1989 .... 15 2.8 Growth in Traffic Volumes on the North and South Arms ................... 16 2.9 Comparison of Actud Volumes vs Capacity Across the South Arm 1970-1989 ...... 18 3.1 Population Increase and Distribution in Greater Vancouver .................. 25 3.2 Employment Increase and Distribution in Greater Vancouver ................. 27 3.3 Comparison of Historic and EMME/%Projected Traffic Volumes by River Arm ..... 32 3.4 Comprsn. of Historic and EMME/2 Volumes for George Massey & Alex Fraser ..... 33 4.1 Greater Vancouver's Recommended 200 1 Road Network .................... 36 4.2 Alternative B .Third Tube in Tunnel ................................ 38 4.3 Alternative D .New No . 5 Road Bridge .............................. 41 4.4 Alternative E .72 Street/No . 8 Road Freeway .......................... 43 5.1 Projected Travel Patterns of Tunnel Users ............................. 48 5.2 Possible No . 5 Road Bridge Connection to Highway 99 .................... 55 6.1 Long Term Plan for Increased Capacity Over South Arm ................... 60 6.2 Short Term Plan for Increased Capacity Over South Arm ................... 65 6.3 Projected Relationship of South Arm Capacity to Demand 1979-2001 ............ 66 6.4 Proposed Conceptual Plan of Upgraded Highway 17 Interchange ............... 68 6.5 Proposed Conceptual Plan of Upgraded Steveston Interchange ................ 69 6.6 Piroposed Conceptual Plan of New Blundell Road Interchange ................. 70 6.7 Proposed Conceptual Plan of Reversible Lanes in Tunnel ................... 74 6.8 Proposed Conceptual Plan of Highway 99 Blundell to Richmond Freeway ......... 75 6.9 Proposed Conceptual Plan of New Highway 17-Highway 99 Connector ........... 76 6.10 Proposed Conceptual Plan of Highway 17 Interchange with New Connector in Place . 77 6.11 F.unctional Plan of Upgraded Highway 99 .Steveston Interchange to Tunnel ...... 79 6.12 F.unctional Plan of Upgraded Highway 99 - Tunnel to Ladner Interchange ......... 80 TABLES 2.1 Fraser River Crossings ......................................... 5 2.2 1989 Peak Hour Traffic Volumes on Fraser River Crossings ................. 11 2.3 Historic Peak Hour Crossing Volumes of the Fraser River ................... 12 2.4 Annual Growth Rates in Fraser River Crossing Volumes .................... 19 2.5 Annual Growth Resulting from Opening of Alex Fraser Bridge ................ 20 2.6 Capacity of South Arm Crossings .................................. 22 3.1 Population Projections by Municipality ............................... 24 3.2 Employment Projections by Municipality .............................. 26 3.3 Projected 2001 Travel Demand Across South Arm .Morning Peak Hour .......... 28 3.4 Projected 2001 Tunnel Demand Across South Arm .Afternoon Peak Hour ........ 29 3.5 EMME\2 Projected 2001 Crossing Volumes on “Do Nothing“ Network .......... 30 5.1 Projected 2001 Volumes For Crossing Alternatives ....................... 45 5.2 Impact of Alternatives on Alex Fraser Bridge Volumes ..................... 47 5.3 Summary of 2001 EMME/2 Network Statistics .......................... 49 5.4 Unit Construction Cost ......................................... 50 5.5 Construction Cost Estimates for Crossing Alternatives ..................... 51 5.6 Cost Effectiveness of Crossing Alternatives ............................ 52 5.7 Comparison of “Low-Speed“ and “High Speed” No . 5 Road Bridge Alternatives ..... 54 5.8 Evaluation of Phasing Options of 72 Street/No. 8 Road Freeway Alternative ....... 58 6.1 Comparison Summary of Alternative Crossings ......................... 63 6.2 Future Capacity of South Arm Crossing .............................. 64 1 1.O INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background to Study Greater Vancouver is divided by a number of bodies of water, one of which is the Fraser River. When this river reaches Queensborough in New Westminster, it divides into two segments, these being the North and South Arms with the main flow being along the latter. For the purpose of this study the South Arm will be taken to include the main flow east of Queensborough. The George Massey Tunnel which passes beneath the South Arm is one of only four crossings of the main flow of the river with the others being the Alex Fraser Bridge (also across the South Arm), and the Pattullo and Port