HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-504 attachTO:
MEMORANDUM
Richard Wollangk, City Manager
Q/HKO/H
ON THE WATER
FROM:
Mark Huddleston, Transportation Director
DATE:
November 19, 2003
RE:
Item Defeated by the Traffic Review Board at their November 11, 2003 Meeting
REQUEST FOR PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF SOUTH MAIN STREET FROM 6TM AVENUE
TO 9TM AVENUE. [CURRENT CONDITION: NO PARKING].
This is a request from a Council Member.
The City of Oshkosh recently added parking on the west side of North Main Street between
Algoma Boulevard and Pearl Avenue. This action was taken based on the recommendation
contained in the Downtown Action Plan that was prepared by LDR International. It should
be noted that recommendations for additional parking south of Pearl Avenue and the
implementation of a one-way traffic system on Otter Avenue and Ceape Avenue were
rejected. There was a general consensus that the main access routes to and from the CBD
need to focus on traffic movement. A traffic study by HNTB Corporation supported the
Traffic Review Board's decision.
The addition of parking on North Main Street between Algoma Boulevard and Pearl Avenue
has prompted this request for parking on South Main Street.
The prevailing wisdom among urban planners is that a somewhat congested street is an
indication of a healthy business environment. The new objective is to reduce speeds of
vehicular traffic to a level that is compatible with pedestrian traffic. This shouldn't apply to
access routes into the CBD. I have long felt that the failure to remove parking on 9th Avenue
caused significant problems for maintaining a healthy downtown. The addition of parking
on South Main Street will only add to the perception that it is difficult to reach the downtown
area.
The City of Oshkosh Comprehensive Plan lists South Main Street as a principle arterial. A
principle arterial carries over 10,000 vehicles per day and provides links to major activity
centers. This type of roadway would normally have four lanes for traffic with turning lanes.
The traffic counts for North Main Street and South Main Street are shown below:
Page 2
NORTH MAIN STREET AND SOUTH MAIN STREET
TRAFFIC COMPARISON
OCTOBER 2003
Street Segment Direction
Average Daily Traffic
North Main High to Pearl Southbound 5,025
North Main High to Pearl Northbound 6,181
11,206
South Main 6th to 9th Southbound 7,121
South Main 6th to 9th Northbound 7,686
14,807
The traffic on South Main Street is 32% higher than North Main Street. The traffic counts
clearly show the need for a four-lane roadway providing access to the Central Business
District. The traffic on North Main Street exceeds 900 vehicles per hour for only one (1)
hour per day, while the traffic on South Main Street exceeds 900 vehicles per hour for seven
(7) hours.
I believe the importance of good access to the Central Business District has been
overlooked in the past and the City should not allow parking on any principle arterial leading
to the Central Business District.
DEFEATED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD (0-6)