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Home My WebLink About10-175MAY 25, 2010 10 -175 ORDINANCE FIRST READING (CARRIED LOST LAID OVER WITHDRAWN ) PURPOSE: APPROVAL OF LOADING ZONE CHANGE ON 23RD AVENUE, PARKING REGULATIONS CHANGES ON MADISON STREET AND OAK STREET, AND TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO DESIGNATIONS OF THROUGH STREETS AND YIELD RIGHT OF WAY INTERSECTIONS INITIATED BY: TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT A GENERAL ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OSHKOSH AMENDING SECTIONS 27- 23(A-5), 23(A -8), 23(A -10) AND 27- 23(A -11) OF THE OSHKOSH MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO LOADING ZONES, THROUGH STREETS DESIGNATED, YIELD RIGHT OF WAY INTERSECTIONS DESIGNATED, 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 23 Avenue, south side, from 190 feet west of Oregon Street to 250 feet west of Oregon Street. Add Thereto 23 Avenue, south side, from 155 feet west of Oregon Street to 215 feet west of Oregon Street. SECTION 2. That Section 27- 23(A -6) of the Oshkosh Municipal Code pertaining to designated four way stop intersections is hereby amended as follows: A -6 FOUR WAY STOP INTERSECTIONS DESIGNATED Remove Therefrom Southland Avenue and Eagle Street. Add Thereto Southland Avenue at its eastern intersection with North Eagle Street. SECTION 3. That Section 27- 23(A -8) of the Oshkosh Municipal Code pertaining to designated through streets is hereby amended as follows A-8 THROUGH STREETS DESIGNATED MAY 25, 2010 10 -175 ORDINANCE FIRST READING CONT'D Remove Therefrom West 5 Avenue at its intersection with Dakota Street, Eagle Street, Idaho Street, Mason Street and Reichow Street. Add Thereto Scott Avenue at its intersection with McKinley Street. Add Thereto West Lincoln Avenue at its intersection with Division Street. Add Thereto Southland Avenue at its western intersection with North Eagle Street. Add Thereto West 5 Avenue at its intersection with Michigan Street, Dakota Street, Idaho Street, Mason Street, Eagle Street and Reichow Street. SECTION 4. That Section 27- 23(A -10) of the Oshkosh Municipal Code pertaining to designated yield right of way intersections is hereby amended as follows A-10 YIELD RIGHT OF WAY INTERSECTIONS DESIGNATED Remove Therefrom Adams Avenue yields to Bauman Street, Lark Street and Hawk Street. Remove Therefrom Dove Street yields to Van Buren Avenue, Adams Avenue, Pierce Avenue, Taft Avenue, Porter Avenue and Southland Avenue. Remove Therefrom North Eagle Street yields to Southland Avenue (Northbound traffic only). Remove Therefrom West Lincoln Avenue yields to Franklin Street. Remove Therefrom West Park Avenue yields to Franklin Street. Remove Therefrom Reichow Street yields to West 5 Avenue. Remove Therefrom Southland Avenue yields to southbound traffic on North Eagle St. Add Thereto Adams Avenue yields to Bauman Street, Josslyn Street, Lark Street and Hawk Street. MAY 25, 2010 10 -175 ORDINANCE FIRST READING CONT'D Add Thereto Dove Street yields to Van Buren Avenue, Adams Avenue, Pierce Avenue, Taft Avenue, Rush Avenue, Porter Avenue and Southland Avenue. Add Thereto West Parkway Avenue yields to Franklin Street. Add Thereto School Avenue yields to Bay Street. SECTION 5. 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 MADISON STREET Add Thereto No parking, east side, from Merritt Avenue to 60 feet north of Merritt Avenue. OAK STREET Add Thereto No parking, both sides, from 25 feet south of Bent Avenue to 25 feet north of Bent Avenue. SECTION 6. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage, publication and placement of the appropriate signage. SECTION 7. 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), 23(A -8), 23(A -10) AND 23(A -11) OF THE OSHKOSH MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO LOADING ZONES, THROUGH STREETS DESIGNATED, YIELD RIGHT OF WAY INTERSECTIONS DESIGNATED, AND PARKING REGULATIONS ON DESIGNATED STREETS AND ALLEYS) on June 8, 2010. The ordinance changes a loading zone on 23 Avenue, parking regulations on Madison Street and Oak Street, and makes technical corrections to designated through streets and yield right of way intersections. 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. OYHKO.fH ON THE WATER MEMORANDUM TO: Mark A. Rohloff, City Manager FROM: Christopher Strong, Transportation Director DATE: May 18, 2010 RE: Explanation of Traffic Regulations Ordinance Changes SECTION 1: SECTION 27- 23(A -5) — LOADING ZONES A REQUEST TO RELOCATE THE LOADING ZONE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF 23 AVENUE 35 FEET TO THE EAST. (CURRENT LOADING ZONE LOCATION: FROM 190 FEET WEST OF OREGON STREET TO 250 FEET WEST OF OREGON STREET.) This is a business request. There is currently a loading zone on the south side of 23 Avenue which serves Oshkosh Corporation offices. At its current location, the loading zone straddles a sidewalk, making it difficult for the sidewalk to be accessed when the loading zone is occupied. This request would shift the loading zone to the east, closer to Oregon Street, in order to keep the sidewalk open. This request should have no effect on the overall parking supply on this street. PASSED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD (7 -0). SECTION 2• SECTION 27- 23(A -6) —FOUR WAY STOP INTERSECTION This is a technical correction. SECTION 3: SECTION 27- 23(A -8) — THROUGH STREETS These are technical corrections. SECTION 4• SECTION 27- 230-10) — YIELD RIGHT OF WAY INTERSECTIONS These are technical corrections. Page 2 of 3 Explanation of Traffic Ordinance Changes SECTION 5: SECTION 27- 23(A -11) - PARKING REGULATIONS A REQUEST FOR NO PARKING ON THE EAST SIDE OF MADISON STREET FROM MERRITT AVENUE TO 60 FEET NORTH OF MERRITT AVENUE. (CURRENT CONDITION: UNRESTRICTED PARKING.) This is a citizen request. The citizen making this request describes traveling westbound on Merritt Avenue, making a right turn onto Madison Street, and being surprised by vehicles parked on the east side of the street, close to the intersection. This request would create a new no parking area on the east side of the street, from an existing sign post south to Merritt Avenue. This section of Madison Street is 26 feet wide. Parking is currently prohibited on the west side of the street. Our past practice for establishing parking restrictions on local streets is as follows: Street Width Parking Restrictions Less than 17 feet Both Sides (All cases) 17 to 24 feet One Side (All cases) 25 to 33 feet Valid Petition 34 feet and over None These guidelines seek to balance the availability of on- street parking with the need to move traffic safely on a local street. Using these guidelines, a parking restriction on the east side of the street could be considered. This request is fairly small in scope, so it should not have a significant impact on parking availability. There was an accident in March 2009 on this street involving a car which was parked in this area, which suggests there could be a safety benefit with this request. PASSED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD (7 -0). A REQUEST FOR NO PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF OAK STREET FROM 25 FEET NORTH OF BENT AVENUE TO 25 FEET SOUTH OF BENT AVENUE. (CURRENT CONDITION: UNRESTRICTED PARKING.) This is a citizen request. This request relates to parking near an intersection that is close to Emmeline Cook school. Parents picking up children from school often park near this intersection, which can restrict sight distance. The citizen was concerned the limited sight distance could result in an accident at this intersection, specifically with cars on Oak Street (which has no traffic control device) hitting pedestrians who might cross at Bent Avenue. The citizen was initially interested in converting this yield - controlled intersection to an all -way stop intersection. Based on a review of traffic count data and crash history, the intersection does not meet warrants for an all -way stop. On a field visit during just prior to students being dismissed from school, I did observe how encroaching parking could restrict sight distance at the intersection, and potentially create a safety problem. Page 3 of 3 Explanation of Traffic Ordinance Changes The request is fairly narrow in scope. It would restrict parking an additional 10 feet on either side of Oak Street, both north and south of the intersection. This would make it easier for vehicles on Oak Street to be able to see and stop for pedestrians attempting to cross at Bent Avenue. By keeping the restriction narrow, this will hopefully minimize any impacts on property owners who may rely on this on- street parking. PASSED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD (7 -0). MEMORANDUM 0 OHKOH ON THE WATER TO: Mark A. Rohloff, City Manager FROM: Christopher Strong, Transportation Director DATE: May 19, 2010 RE: Items Defeated by the Traffic Review Board at their May 11, 2010 Meeting A REQUEST FOR YIELD SIGNS TO BE INSTALLED AT THE INTERSECTION OF FAIRFAX STREET AND REBECCA RUN. (CURRENT CONDITION: UNCONTROLLED INTERSECTION.) This is a citizen request. This uncontrolled intersection is in a newer residential development in the west side of the City. The citizen making the request was concerned that vehicles were approaching this intersection at too high of speeds, which consequently increased the likelihood of crashes. Having some traffic control at the intersection was felt to be helpful in preventing crashes. Our warrants for placement of yield signs include all of the following: • Three or more right angle accidents in a twelve month period • Traffic volumes in excess of 1,500 vehicles per day • Inadequate sight distance There were two reported accidents at this intersection from 2002 to 2009: one in December 2008, which involved drivers who live outside the neighborhood; and one in January 2009, which occurred during slushy road conditions. Both were right -angle crashes. Field measurements confirmed that stopping sight distances are adequate in all approach directions, provided that vehicles are traveling at legal speeds. We recently collected traffic volume data at this intersection. I expect to have this information available at the meeting. However, even if traffic volumes exceed 1,500 vehicles per day, the other two criteria required to satisfy this warrant are not met. In this neighborhood, yield signs were approved at the intersection of Pheasant Creek Drive and Rebecca Run in November 2003, even though the intersection did not meet any of the warrants listed earlier. The Board recommended installation of these signs in anticipation of growth in traffic volumes as development continued in this area, as a way to prevent future accidents. There were no reported accidents at the intersection of Pheasant Creek Drive and Rebecca Run from 2002 to 2009. While the yield signs may have contributed to the positive safety experience at this intersection, this can be neither proved nor disproved. In the case of this intersection, there is an additional six years of traffic experience and growth. To date, the intersection has not had an unusually adverse accident experience. Yield signs can help drivers to better understand the right -of -way requirements at intersections, and are appropriate in certain situations. I am concerned about the installation of yield signs at this intersection for a couple of reasons. First, for traffic which must yield, the signs may introduce unnecessary delay, since in most occasions there will not be any cross - street traffic. Page 2 of 2 May 19, 2010 Second, installation of yield signs might encourage traffic traveling in the intersecting direction to not slow down near the intersection, which can increase the severity of any crashes that may occur. Finally, installation of unwarranted yield signs can lessen the respect that warranted yield signs in the City might receive, which could lower driver compliance with this signage in general. DEFEATED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD (0 -7)