HomeMy WebLinkAbout27. 21-536OCTOBER 26, 2021 21-536 RESOLUTION
(CARRIED___7-0____ LOST _______ LAID OVER _______ WITHDRAWN _______)
AS AMENDED
PURPOSE: PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF RELATING TO REVERSING
THE DIRECTION OF TRAFFIC FLOW ON THE ONE WAY PAIR
OF CENTRAL STREET AND KENTUCKY STREET FROM WEST
NEVADA AVENUE TO WEST NEW YORK AVENUE
INITIATED BY: TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT
WHEREAS, The Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) is constructing a new
middle school to replace the current Merrill Middle School and has conducted a traffic
analysis which recommends that traffic flow be reversed on the one way pair of Central
Street and Kentucky Street; and
WHEREAS, the Traffic and Parking Advisory Board reviewed this matter and
supported the request with an amendment to restrict left turns from Central Street onto
Custer Avenue at all hours; and
WHEREAS, the traffic engineer for OASD has evaluated this option and
determined that no left turn restriction should be necessary at this location; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to provide direction to staff to allow staff to prepare the
ordinance designating the streets as one way and potentially implementing a turn
restriction; and
WHEREAS, staff has identified three potential options for Council consideration
in connection with the reversal of the one way pairing of Central Street and Kentucky
Street:
Reverse the direction of traffic flow on the one way pair of Central Street and
Kentucky Street from West Nevada to West New York Avenue. Central would
be northerly travel only, Kentucky would be southerly travel only.
OCTOBER 26, 2021 21-536 RESOLUTION
CONT’D
1. No left turn restrictions from Central Street onto Custer Avenue
2. Permanent left turn restrictions from Central Street onto Custer Avenue
3. Left turn restrictions from Central Street Only before and after school –
0700-0900 and 15—1700 (times to be verified)
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of Oshkosh
that the proper City officials are hereby directed to proceed with preparation of an
ordinance as follows:
Reverse the direction of traffic flow on the one way pair of Central Street and
Kentucky Street from West Nevada to West New York Avenue (Central would
be northerly travel only, Kentucky would be southerly travel only) with the
following option:
1. No left turn restrictions from Central Street onto Custer Avenue
2. Permanent left turn restrictions from Central Street onto Custer Avenue
3. Left turn restrictions from Central Street Only before and after school –
0700-0900 and 15—1700 (times to be verified)
(Ordinance must be amended to choose one of the three options listed above in relation
to the proposed turn restriction.)
Bold & Italics Indicates Amendment
City Hall, 215 Church Avenue P.O. Box 1130 Oshkosh, WI 54903-1130 http://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council
FROM: Jim Collins, Transportation Director
DATE: October 22, 2021
RE: Provide Direction to Staff Relating To Reversing the Direction of Traffic Flow on
the One Way Pair of Central Street and Kentucky Street from West Nevada
Avenue to West New York Avenue
BACKGROUND
The Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) is constructing a new middle school over the next
couple of years to replace the current Merrill Middle School. They have hired an architect
and worked on a preferred school design and layout. The city required OASD to hire an
engineering firm to perform a traffic impact analysis to evaluate and make recommendations
for vehicular, bike and pedestrian traffic flow into, out of and around the proposed site as
well as evaluate parking.
ANALYSIS
The traffic impact analysis identified the need to reverse the traffic flow of Central Street and
Kentucky Street to allow for the safest and most effective use of the site. The analysis showed
no degradation in level of service (ease of traffic flow) on the surrounding road network by
making this change. The traffic and parking advisory board voted to support this change (4-
1). All property owners in the surrounding area were notified of the traffic and parking
advisory board meeting and topic. No comments or public input was received. The chair of
the traffic and parking advisory board made an amendment to restrict left turns from Central
Street onto Custer Avenue which was accepted and passed. The concern was that parents
would use Custer as a short cut to drop students off and potentially create a bottleneck at the
intersection of Custer and Kentucky as there is also an exit from a small (10 stall) school
parking lot facing Central Street. The chair thought that the left turn restriction should be
permanent to make enforcement easier. Subsequently, we asked the traffic engineering firm
to evaluate the need for a left turn restriction at this location. The traffic engineer has
determined that a left turn restriction is not needed and could later be implemented if
conditions warrant it.
Therefore; we are requesting council direct staff to prepare an ordinance for consideration at
the next council meeting with one of the following scenarios:
Reverse the direction of traffic flow on the one way pair of Central Street and
Kentucky Street from West Nevada to West New York Avenue. Central would be
northerly travel only, Kentucky would be southerly travel only
1. No left turn restrictions from Central Street onto Custer Avenue
2. Permanent left turn restrictions from Central Street onto Customer Avenue
3. Left turn restrictions from Central Street Only before and after school – 0700-0900
and 15—1700 (times to be verified)
FISCAL IMPACT
OASD has agreed to pay for any costs associated with this change. The costs will consist of
signage.
RECOMMENDATION
I recommend option 1. A left turn restriction can be reconsidered in the future if conditions
warrant it.
Respectfully Submitted, Approved:
Jim Collins, Transportation Director John Fitzpatrick,
Assistant City Manager / Director of
Administrative Services