Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-98MARCH 23, 2010 10 -98 ORDINANCE FIRST READING (CARRIED LOST LAID OVER WITHDRAWN ) PURPOSE: APPROVAL OF LOADING ZONE CHANGES ON MINNESOTA STREET AND 11TH AVENUE AND PARKING REGULATIONS CHANGES ON HARRISON STREET, OSCEOLA STREET, 10TH AVENUE AND 11TH AVENUE INITIATED BY: TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT A GENERAL ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OSHKOSH AMENDING SECTIONS 27- 23(A-5) AND 27- 23(A -11) OF THE OSHKOSH MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO LOADING ZONES AND PARKING REGULATIONS ON DESIGNATED STREETS AND ALLEYS. The Common Council of the City of Oshkosh do ordain as follows: SECTION 1. That Section 27- 23(A -5) of the Oshkosh Municipal Code pertaining to loading zones is hereby amended as follows: A -5 LOADING ZONES Remove Therefrom 11th Avenue, north side, from Minnesota Street to 138 feet east of Minnesota Street, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on school days. Add Thereto Minnesota Street, east side, bus loading only, from 11th Avenue to 168 feet north of 11th Avenue, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on school days. Add Thereto 11th Avenue, north side, from 140 feet east of Minnesota Street to 270 feet east of Minnesota Street, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on school days. SECTION 2. That Section 27- 23(A -11) of the Oshkosh Municipal Code pertaining to parking regulations on designated streets and alleys is hereby amended as follows A-11 PARKING REGULATIONS ON DESIGNATED STREETS AND ALLEYS HARRISON STREET Add Thereto No parking, both sides, from 200 feet south of Packer Avenue to the CN railroad tracks. MARCH 23, 2010 10 -98 ORDINANCE FIRST READING CONT'D OSCEOLA STREET Remove Therefrom No parking, easterly side, from Algoma Blvd. to its southwesterly terminus. Remove Therefrom No parking, west side, from Pearl Avenue to its southwesterly terminus except for 2 -hour angle parking from 70 feet to 160 feet south of Pearl Avenue. Add Thereto No parking, both sides, from Pearl Avenue to its southwesterly terminus except for 2 -hour angle parking from 70 feet south of Pearl Avenue to 160 feet south of Pearl Avenue. Add Thereto No parking, east side, from Pearl Avenue to Algoma Boulevard. MISCELLANEOUS Add Thereto No parking, both sides, the school side of the circle drive (Algoma Boulevard) in front of the former Lincoln School. 10TH AVENUE Add Thereto No parking, south side, from Minnesota Street to 30 feet east of Minnesota Street. 11TH AVENUE Remove Therefrom No parking, north side, from Minnesota Street to 138 feet east between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on school days. Remove Therefrom No parking, stopping, standing, waiting, north side, from 138 feet east of Minnesota Street to 295 feet east of Minnesota Street. Add Thereto No parking, stopping, standing, waiting, north side, from Minnesota Street to 140 feet east of Minnesota Street between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on school days. MARCH 23, 2010 10 -98 ORDINANCE FIRST READING CONT'D SECTION 3. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage, publication and placement of the appropriate signage. SECTION 4. Publication Notice. Please take notice that the City of Oshkosh enacted ordinance #10 -XXX (A GENERAL ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OSHKOSH AMENDING SECTIONS 27- 23(A -5) AND 27- 23(A -11) OF THE OSHKOSH MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO LOADING ZONES AND PARKING REGULATIONS ON DESIGNATED STREETS AND ALLEYS) on April 13, 2010. The ordinance changes loading zone designations on Minnesota Street and 11th Avenue and parking regulations on Harrison Street, Osceola Street, 10th Avenue, 11 th Avenue and a spur off Algoma Boulevard near the former Lincoln School. The full text of the ordinance may be obtained at the Office of the City Clerk, 215 Church Avenue and through the City's website at www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us Clerk's phone 920/236-5011. OfHKOlH ON THE WATER MEMORANDUM TO: Mark A. Rohloff, City Manager FROM: Christopher Strong, Transportation Director DATE: March 17, 2010 RE: Explanation of Traffic Regulations Ordinance Changes SECTION 1 • SECTION 27- 23(A -5) LOADING ZONES A REQUEST FOR A BUS LOADING ZONE ON THE EAST SIDE OF MINNESOTA STREET FROM 11 AVENUE TO 168 FEET NORTH OF 11 AVENUE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7:30 A.M. AND 4:30 P.M. ON SCHOOL DAYS. (CURRENT CONDITION: UNRESTRICTED PARKING.) This is a school district request. At the December 2009 Traffic Review Advisory Board meeting, the Board recommended that a bus loading zone be established on the north side of 11 Avenue to help address some traffic congestion challenges during dismissal times from Jefferson Elementary School. In the months since then, congestion problems have worsened, which indicated that a broader solution was necessary. The requests would move the existing bus loading zone from 11 Avenue to Minnesota Street, and encourage 11 Avenue to be used more of a primary area for parents to pick up and drop off children. At 34 feet in width, 11 th Avenue is sufficiently wide as a local street to accommodate parking on both sides of the road. This request was also reviewed by the Police Department. It appears that this request should help to alleviate some of the congestion that occurs during school dismissal times. PASSED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD (5 -0). SECTION 2 • SECTION 27-23011) PARKING REGULATIONS A REQUEST FOR NO PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF HARRISON STREET FROM 200 FEET SOUTH OF PACKER AVENUE TO THE CN RAILROAD TRACKS. This is a Police Department request. The Police and Transportation Departments have received citizen complaints about on- street parking on Harrison Street near Oshkosh Corporation's north plant. The concern is that this on- street parking on the east side of the street can result in vehicles backing up when a lead vehicle wishes to turn left. Parking on the west side of the street can restrict sight distance for vehicles Page 2 of 3 Explanation of Traffic Ordinance Changes existing Oshkosh Corporation's north plant. The complaints have centered on the afternoon shift change (from 2 -3 PM) when there are high volumes of traffic entering and exiting the north plant parking lots. According to an Oshkosh Corporation representative who deals with traffic issues, there is ample parking in the company's off - street lots such that employees should not need on- street parking. As there are limited sidewalks on this section of Harrison Street, people parking on- street would be tempted to walk on the street to get to their vehicles, which raises the likelihood of conflicts with vehicular traffic. The request would eliminate parking on both sides of the street throughout the day, due to there being several shifts of employees working at the north plant. The 2005 Comprehensive Plan designates Harrison Street as a minor arterial. Under this designation, the plan recommends that on- street parking be removed as needed to accommodate additional lanes of moving traffic. Field observations confirm that on- street parking does hinder the movement of vehicles on this street at shift - change time, significantly increasing delay and introducing safety challenges. PASSED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD (5 -0). A REQUEST FOR NO PARKING ON THE EAST SIDE OF OSCEOLA STREET FROM PEARL AVENUE TO ITS SOUTHWESTERN TERMINUS. (CURRENT CONDITION: UNRESTRICTED PARKING.) This is a University request. In years past, this portion of Osceola Street provided parking and access to the Deltox facility. The closure of this facility and subsequent redevelopment by the University has changed the nature of traffic using this street. In August 2005, the Common Council approved the designation of several 2 -hour angled parking spaces to serve the UWO Recreation and Wellness Center. Since that time, there has been increased parking elsewhere on the street. The street is relatively narrow (less than 30 feet) which makes it difficult for vehicles to turn around when other vehicles have parked on the east side of the street. In addition, the presence of unrestricted parking on the east side of the street, so close to University - related land uses, makes it difficult for the University to manage its overall parking program effectively. In reviewing on- street requests on local streets, the Traffic Review Advisory Board has placed a good amount of weight on input received from nearby property owners. In this case, the adjacent property owners are the University and the City, and both parties agree that it is appropriate to prohibit this parking for safety, snow removal, and improved management of parking the campus area. PASSED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD (5 -0). A REQUEST FOR NO PARKING ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF 10 AVENUE FROM MINNESOTA STREET TO 30 FEET EAST OF MINNESOTA STREET. (CURRENT CONDITION: UNRESTRICTED PARKING.) This is a school district request. This request extends the statutory no parking zone (no parking 15 feet from a crosswalk) further to the east. This request was motivated by the school district's concern over sight distance at the Page 3 of 3 Explanation of Traffic Ordinance Changes intersection of 10 Avenue and Minnesota Street for northbound traffic on Minnesota Street. Based on my field observations, on- street parking too close to the intersection can make it difficult to see traffic on 10 Avenue, especially if that traffic exceeds the posted speed limit. According to my department's records, there were three crashes at this intersection between 2002 -08, which is not unusual for an intersection of local residential streets. Extending the no parking zone a little further to the east may be a proactive way to lessen the risk of crashes in the future. Extending it too far to the east could reduce on- street parking for school employees, which could increase some of the problems related to congestion previously discussed. PASSED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD (5 -0). A REQUEST FOR NO PARKING, STOPPING, STANDING OR WAITING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF 11 AVENUE FROM MINNESOTA STREET TO 140 FEET EAST OF MINNESOTA STREET BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7:30 A.M. AND 4:30 P.M. ON SCHOOL DAYS. (CURRENT CONDITION: BUS LOADING ZONE.) AND A REQUEST FOR A LOADING ZONE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF 11 AVENUE FROM 140 FEET EAST OF MINNESOTA STREET TO 270 FEET EAST OF MINNESOTA STREET BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7:30 A.M. AND 4:30 P.M. ON SCHOOL DAYS. (CURRENT CONDITION: NO PARKING, STOPPING, STANDING OR WAITING.) These are school district requests. At the December 2009 Traffic Review Advisory Board meeting, the Board recommended that a bus loading zone be established on the north side of 11 Avenue to help address some traffic congestion challenges during dismissal times from Jefferson Elementary School. In the months since then, congestion problems have worsened, which indicated that a broader solution was necessary. The requests would move the existing bus loading zone from 11 Avenue to Minnesota Street, and encourage 11 Avenue to be used more of a primary area for parents to pick up and drop off children. At 34 feet in width, 11 Avenue is sufficiently wide as a local street to accommodate parking on both sides of the road. These requests were also reviewed by the Police Department. It appears that these requests should help to alleviate some of the congestion that occurs during school dismissal times. I recommend approval of these requests. PASSED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD (5 -0).