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HomeMy WebLinkAbout32. 12-910 OYHKOlH ON THE WATER MEMORANDUM TO: Mark A. Rohloff, City Manager FROM: Christopher Strong, Transportation Director DATE: February 22, 2012 RE: Explanation of Traffic Regulations Ordinance Changes SECTION 1: SECTION 27- 231A -5) — LOADING ZONES A REQUEST FOR A BUS LOADING ZONE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF LINWOOD AVENUE FROM 210 FEET WEST OF MAIN STREET TO 460 FEET WEST OF MAIN STREET. (CURRENT CONDITION: NO PARKING FROM 210 FEET WEST OF MAIN STREET TO 389 FEET WEST OF MAIN STREET; NO PARKING, STOPPING, STANDING OR WAITING FROM 389 FEET WEST OF MAIN STREET TO 460 FEET WEST OF MAIN STREET.) This is a School District request. The Oshkosh Area School District is proposing to construct a new elementary school building at 112 W Viola Avenue, the current location of Oaklawn Elementary School. As a part of the site plan, the school district is proposing to create a new bus loading zone on the north side of the school property, on the south side of Linwood Avenue. As can be seen on the attached site plan, the school district proposes to accommodate the proposed bus loading zone by expanding the street's pavement area beyond its normal street width. This would divert buses out of the main flow of traffic on this local street, and will provide a better definition of parking areas for parents coming to pick up children. As a design alternative, the pavement might not be widened, and instead signage alone may be used to demarcate this area. On- street parking availability is a challenge around many Oshkosh schools. This request would be a positive step toward addressing some of the parking challenges that may emerge in the event that this new school building is built. PASSED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD (5 -0) SECTION 2: SECTION 27- 230 -1) PARKING REGULATIONS See explanation in Section 1. Page 2 of 6 Explanation of Traffic Ordinance Changes SECTION 3: SECTION 27- 230 -1) PARKING REGULATIONS A REQUEST FOR 2 -HOUR PARKING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF 12 AVENUE FROM 145 FEET WEST OF OREGON STREET TO 20 FEET WEST OF OREGON STREET, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:00 A.M. AND 6:00 P.M. (CURRENT CONDITION: 2- HOUR ANGLE PARKING, WITH ONE SPACE DESIGNATED FOR HANDICAPPED PARKING.) This is a Department of Public Works request. This year, 12 Avenue is slated for reconstruction between Ohio Street and Oregon Street. On the north side of 12 Avenue near Oregon Street, there are currently 10 angle parking spaces, of which the easternmost one is designated for handicapped parking. This handicapped space, designated in 1994, may not meet current standards for the Americans with Disabilities Act. Two issues that bear on this request are: 1) whether angled parking is appropriate in this location, and 2) whether one or more of the on- street parking spaces should be designed to accommodate accessible parking. With respect to the first issue, the recommended street design cannot accommodate angle parking without additional assessments from the adjacent properties. These property owners will receive notice about this meeting, and can provide input as to whether they wish to pay these assessments. Even if the property owners wished to pay additional assessments, the street design will function better if the angle parking be converted to parallel on- street parking. With respect to the second issue, a revised version of the accessibility guidelines for the public right -of -way was issued last fall. These guidelines are in draft form, and are considered by some to be a best or standard practice for providing minimum accessibility requirements. The guidelines are codified in 36 CFR Part 1190 ( "Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right -of- Way "). The relevant section states as follows: R214 On- Street Parking Spaces. Where on- street parking is provided on the block perimeter and the parking is marked or metered, accessible parking spaces complying with R309 shall be provided in accordance with Table R214. Where parking pay stations are provided and the parking is not marked, each 6.1 m (20.0 ft) of block perimeter where parking is permitted shall be counted as one parking space. If the area becomes parallel parking, the spaces would not be marked. There is currently no metered or paid parking in this area. Therefore, accessible parking spaces would not need to be provided. If an accessible space were to be provided, then the following sections may come into play: R309.2.1 Wide Sidewalks. Where the width of the adjacent sidewalk or available right -of- Page 3 of 6 Explanation of Traffic Ordinance Changes way exceeds 4.3 m (14.0 ft), an access aisle 1. S m (S. Oft) wide minimum shall be provided at street level the full length of the parking space and shall connect to a pedestrian access route. The access aisle shall comply with R302.7 and shall not encroach on the vehicular travel lane. (Please see Figure 1.) R309.2.2 Narrow Sidewalks. An access aisle is not required where the width of the adjacent sidewalk or the available right -of -way is less than or equal to 4.3 m (14.0 ft). When an access aisle is not provided, the parking spaces shall be located at the end of the block face. (Please see Figure 2.) R309.3 Perpendicular or Angled Parking Spaces. Where perpendicular or angled parking is provided, an access aisle 2.4 m (8.0 ft) wide minimum shall be provided at street level the full length of the parking space and shall connect to a pedestrian access route. The access aisle shall comply with R302.7 and shall be marked so as to discourage parking in the access aisle. Two parking spaces are permitted to share a common access aisle. (Please see Figure 3.) Page 4 of 6 Explanation of Traffic Ordinance Changes ilk Figure 3: Accessible Parking Space, Perpendicular /Angled Parking The right -of -way is 60 feet. With a planned street width of 36 feet in this area, this would leave 12 Page 5 of 6 Explanation of Traffic Ordinance Changes feet on the northern side of the road available for sidewalk, which classifies as a "narrow sidewalk" condition. In this case, the corner would need to be depressed in order to create an accessible curb cut. However, following the geometry depicted in Figure 2 would be impossible given that the building on the northwest quadrant of the intersection is flush with the back of the sidewalk on both 12 Avenue and Oregon Street. The sidewalk could be widened if the centerline of the roadway was shifted slightly to the south. However, this would create a skewed intersection for 12 Avenue across Oregon Street. This discussion indicates how difficult it will be, under the draft guidelines for pedestrian access in the public right -of -way, to provide accessible on- street parking in older parts of the City, where right -of -way is limited and building setbacks are small. The request agrees with the draft guidelines, and appears to be the best solution at this time. PASSED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD (5 -0) SECTION 4: SECTION 27- 230 -1) PARKING REGULATIONS A REQUEST FOR UNRESTRICTED PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF RATH LANE. (CURRENT CONDITION: NO PARKING, EAST SIDE, FROM OSHKOSH AVENUE TO ITS NORTHERN TERMINUS.) This is a Transportation Department request. The reconstruction of US 41 resulted in the relocation and re- creation of Rath Lane, which provides access to properties near the future roundabout intersection of STH 21 and US 41. Instead of a north -south alignment, Rath Lane now has an east -west alignment. The new street width is 36 feet, which is ample for parking on both sides. Allowing on- street parking here can serve pedestrians and bicyclists who wish to use the new pedestrian trail and fishing access on the Lake Butte des Morts bridge. All vehicular traffic on this street will be local, so permitting parking should not introduce any safety hazards. PASSED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD (5 -0) A REQUEST FOR NO PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF KOELLER STREET FROM OSHKOSH AVENUE TO RATH LANE. (CURRENT CONDITION: UNRESTRICTED PARKING.) This is a Transportation Department request. The reconstruction of US 41 resulted in Koeller Street being extended north of Oshkosh Avenue to intersect with the relocated Rath Lane. This Koeller Street will be connected with Koeller Street south of Oshkosh Avenue as a result of this year's construction activities. Page 6 of 6 Explanation of Traffic Ordinance Changes The street width is 36 feet, which for a local street would be adequate to allow parking on both sides of the street. However, there does not seem to be a compelling need for on- street parking here, given that there is no driveway or private sidewalk access from this section of Koeller Street to adjacent properties. Parking is currently prohibited on the remainder of Koeller Street from Oshkosh Avenue to STH 44. Moreover, this area is relatively close to the future multi -lane roundabout, so parked cars may create potential conflicts with traffic exiting or entering the roundabout. PASSED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD (5 -0)