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OCTOBER 11, 2011 OCTOBER 25, 2011 11-466 11-489 ORDINANCE
FIRST READING SECOND READING
(CARRIED__7-0__ LOST_______ LAID OVER_______ WITHDRAWN_______)
PURPOSE: APPROVAL OF PARKING REGULATION CHANGES ON SMITH
AVENUE
INITIATED BY: TRAFFIC REVIEW ADVISORY BOARD
A GENERAL ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OSHKOSH AMENDING SECTION 27-
23(A-11) OF THE OSHKOSH MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO 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-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
SMITH AVENUE
Remove Therefrom: No parking, south side, from 200 feet east of Jackson
Street to 277 feet west of Jackson Street.
Add Thereto: No parking, south side, from 140 feet east of Jackson
Street to 277 feet west of Jackson Street.
SECTION 2. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its
passage, publication and placement of the appropriate signage.
SECTION 3. Publication Notice. Please take notice that the City of Oshkosh
enacted ordinance #11-489 (A GENERAL ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OSHKOSH
AMENDING SECTION 27-23(A-11) OF THE OSHKOSH MUNICIPAL CODE
PERTAINING TO PARKING REGULATIONS ON DESIGNATED STREETS AND
ALLEYS) on October 25, 2011. The ordinance changes on-street parking regulations
on Smith Avenue.
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.
OJHKOJH
ON THE WATER
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mark A. Rohloff, City Manager
FROM: Christopher Strong, Transportation Director
DATE: September 27, 2011
RE: Explanation of Traffic Regulations Ordinance Changes
SECTION 1: SECTION 27-23(A-11) —PARKING REGULATIONS
A REQUEST TO ALLOW PARKING ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SMITH AVENUE
FROM 140 FEET EAST OF JACKSON STREET TO 200 FEET EAST OF JACKSON
STREET. (CURRENT CONDITION: NO PARKING.)
This is a citizen request.
The citizen making this request was interested in seeing on-street parking available in front of her
property. The current parking restriction was put into effect in September 1991, when the City
entered into an agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to install a traffic
signal at the intersection of Jackson Street and Smith Avenue. One condition of this agreement is
that on-street parking be prohibited on both sides of Smith Avenue, for at least 200 feet on each
approach to the intersection.
In communicating with WisDOT staff, it sounds like it is possible for this condition of the
agreement to be changed, if an analysis shows that this restriction may not be necessary. The
primary purpose of the parking restriction near the intersection is to provide adequate lane
capacity to meet intersection travel demand. Therefore, if it can be demonstrated that adequate
capacity exists near the intersection, then I think it can be argued that the length of the current
parking restriction is more than necessary.
First, the existing geometry for the eastern approach is more than adequate to allow for
restoration of this area of parking. The eastern approach to the intersection is marked for two
lanes: a shared left-through lane and a dedicated right turn lane. Together, these two lanes occupy
approximately half of the 40-foot width of pavement. This leaves approximately 20 feet of
pavement width to accommodate traffic coming from the other intersection approaches (e.g.
southbound left, northbound right and eastbound through) to go eastbound. Only one lane is
provided for each of these other movements. I have noted in some field observations that some
eastbound through traffic will mistakenly use the dedicated right turn lane. This may create a
situation where two eastbound vehicles are vying for position on Smith Avenue east of the
intersection. If this request is approved, that means there will still be a minimum of 140 feet east
Page 2 of 2 Explanation of Traffic Ordinance Changes
of the intersection for the vehicles to merge, instead of the current 200 feet. This still provides
several car lengths of space for the vehicles to merge, which should be adequate for this unusual
circumstance.
Second, there are no significant problems with intersection queuing for westbound traffic on the
eastern approach. If there were significant problems with queuing, it could potentially be
necessary to provide more lane capacity for westbound traffic, which might mean that parking
would need to be restricted on the south side of the street. Traffic volume data collected in 2008
were used with the current intersection geometry to determine the length of queues during the
typical afternoon peak period. The 95th percentile queue length for the eastern approach (i.e.
westbound traffic) is estimated to be approximately 100 feet. In other words, the queue for
westbound traffic during the peak hour will be less than 100 feet, 95 percent of the time. The 50th
percentile queue is around 50 feet. Consequently, it would be statistically quite unlikely for a
queue to stretch out over 140 feet, where it might potentially interfere with parked cars on the
south side of the street.
In summary, it does not appear that reducing this on-street parking area would have any
detrimental effect on the signal's operation for the foreseeable future.
PASSED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD (7-0)
•
405C Of4T/4, Division of Transportation Scott Walker,Governor
` System Development Mark Gottlieb,P.E.,Secretary
`I ,1 Northeast Regional Olftco Internet web site: tnnv.dot.wisconsin,cov
t 4fp 944 Vanderperren Way
OF"of, Green Bay,WI 54304 Telephone: (920)492.5543
Facsimile(FAX): (920)492-5640
E-mail: ner.dtsd c(ildol,wLgov
September 12, 2011
•
Mr. Mark Rohloff, City Manager
City of Oshkosh
P.O. Box 1130
Oshkosh, WI 54903-1130
Dear Mr. Rohloff;
The Department of Transportation has reviewed your request to reduce the parking
restrictions by 60 feet on the eastbound exit of Smith Ave. from Hwy 76. Based on the
City's study and review we are willing to allow the change to the traffic signal
agreement. However, should this change result in problems affecting Hwy 76 traffic we
will ask that the parking restriction be reinstated as originally shown in the October,
1991 agreement. Please consider this letter along with your submittal as an attachment
to the original Connecting Highway Traffic Signal Agreement as approval. No additional
documents will be required or provided.
If you have any questions please contact Bob Schuurmans at 920-492-5710.
Sincerely,
'1., , .t . �i `��
Brian S. Brock, P.E.
Systems Planning and Operations Manager
Cc: Mr, Chris Strong, Director of Transportation