HomeMy WebLinkAboutBike & Ped Staff Memo_Nov_15_2012
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEMS NOVEMBER 2012 NEW BUSINESS 1. RECOMMENDATION FOR CHANGING BICYCLE REGISTRATION PROGRAM This is a Police Department request. At
its July meeting, the Committee discussed a request from the Oshkosh Police Department to indefinitely suspend bicycle registration fees. The purpose of this suspension would be to allow
the department to register a higher number of bicycles, making it easier for owners to recover their lost or stolen bicycles and hopefully helping to deter bicycle theft. This would
help to reduce some Police Department costs in terms of managing the inventory of recovered bicycles. In response to concerns raised by Committee members, the Police Department submitted
a revised proposal to the Committee for consideration at its September meeting, which would raise bicycle registration fees from $3.00 to $5.00. Under this proposal, a person registering
their bicycle would receive both a registration sticker and a bicycle lock. It was believed that a broader distribution of bicycle locks should help reduce bicycle theft. The Committee
did not support raising the fee to $5.00. However, the Committee did recommend support for the use of money from the Bike Fund to encourage bicycle registration and welcomed a cost proposal
from the Police Department in this regard. OPD has developed a new proposal that would provide a “holiday” for bicycle fee registrations. Using $1,500 in grant funding from the Safe
Routes to School grant, OPD would purchase 300 cable-style bicycle locks. The first 300 registrants would have the opportunity to have the registration fee waived, and would also be
able to receive a bicycle lock at no cost. If a registrant does not wish to receive a lock, they could simply register their bike for free. Additional free registrations, after the 300
locks were distributed, would be welcome for the duration of the “holiday”. In order to encourage registrations, OPD has indicated that they intend to reach out to children through school-based
events, as well as other community outreach activities. As structured, the proposal could result in lost revenue to the Bike Fund through the duration of the “holiday”. The lost revenue
would occur if someone who planned to register their bike anyway was now able to do so without paying a fee. Given that OPD’s intent is to register bicycles that likely would not be
registered anyway, the actual lost revenue may be minimal. Eventually, as bicycle registration becomes more common in the community, OPD could increase enforcement of this ordinance,
which eventually could bring greater revenue into the Bike Fund. Given that the Bike Fund currently has a healthy financial balance, that this “holiday” may not result in any meaningful
revenue loss to the Bike Fund, that this can help reduce operations costs
AGENDA ITEMS 2 NOVEMBER 2012 for other parts of the City, and that this can have larger benefits in deterring bicycle theft, staff recommends approval of this request. For the Committee’s
reference, Table 1 provides a summary of Bicycle Fund revenues and expenditures from 1998 to mid-July 2012. No expenditures have occurred since. Table 1: Bike Fund Revenues and Expenditures,
1998 to 2012 YearBalance at Beginning of YearRevenuesExpendituresBalance at End of Year199814,761.03$ 1,986.00$ -$ 16,747.03$ 199916,747.03$ 1,684.00$ -$ 18,431.03$ 200018,431.03$ 2,694.00$
1,240.43$ 19,884.60$ 200119,884.60$ 965.00$ 4,673.38$ 16,176.22$ 200216,176.22$ 1,198.00$ 2,436.88$ 14,937.34$ 200314,937.34$ 935.00$ 89.00$ 15,783.34$ 200415,783.34$ 654.00$ -$ 16,437.34$
200516,437.34$ 568.00$ -$ 17,005.34$ 200617,005.34$ 599.00$ -$ 17,604.34$ 200717,604.34$ 558.00$ 4,440.00$ 13,722.34$ 200813,722.34$ 378.00$ -$ 14,100.34$ 200914,100.34$ 507.00$ -$ 14,607.34$
201014,607.34$ 675.00$ -$ 15,282.34$ 201115,282.34$ 798.00$ -$ 16,080.34$ 2012 (as of 7/12/2012)16,080.34$ 264.00$ 2. REQUEST FOR BICYCLE LANES ON OSBORN AVENUE FROM KOELLER STREET TO
KNAPP STREET This is a Transportation Department request, which will also be presented to the Traffic Review Advisory Board at its November 13 meeting. The following text is from the
staff memo to the Traffic Review Advisory Board: At its August meeting, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee recommended that this section of Osborn Avenue be designated as
a bicycle route using “sharrows”. Sharrows are pavement markings which are used to remind motorists that bicycles can use the road, and can also help to channelize bicycles to a certain
part of the road. (Please see Figure 1 for an example pavement marking.) They can be useful in locations where it is not feasible to add a separate Figure 1: “Sharrow” Marking
AGENDA ITEMS 3 NOVEMBER 2012 bicycle lane. As staff reviewed this recommendation, it appeared that Osborn Avenue could be a good candidate for a striped bicycle lane instead. The roadway
is currently 36’ wide, with one lane in each direction, and parking is prohibited. With 12’ driving lanes, a 6’ bicycle lane could be created in each direction with minimal difficulty.
The drawback with adding bicycle lanes or sharrows on this street is that it is a relatively low volume street (1,500 vehicles per day), under which these types of improvements typically
are not necessary. However, designating a bicycle lane may help to direct novice bicyclists toward a street which is more compatible with their skill level. It can also help to expand
the City’s formal bicycle route network. The City’s 2011 Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation Plan identifies this section of Osborn Avenue as a high-priority route, for which a signed
and striped bicycle lane is recommended. This request is coming before the Traffic Review Advisory Board because it would involve an ordinance change related to bicycle lanes. If the
board approves this recommendation, it will go back to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee for their concurrence. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS REQUEST. OLD BUSINESS 3.
DISCUSSION OF 2013 PAVING PROJECTS The Committee started to discuss proposed 2013 street reconstruction projects at its September meeting. Since that time, the City Manager has transmitted
a draft 2013 Capital Improvement Program to the Common Council for their consideration. The candidate projects presented in the Committee’s September meeting agenda are largely the same
as those included in the draft CIP, with one exception that the North Main Street reconstruction project has been delayed to 2014. The Committee discussed two of the four streets included
in the 2013 CIP at its last meeting. The other two are presented here for Committee input. a. 10th Avenue Reconstruction Limits: Oregon Street to 700’ East of South Main Street Proposed
Limits of Bicycle Route: Michigan Street to South Main Street (note: designated as a priority facility improvement) Proposed Bicycle Route Type: Sign and/or Shareway The Pedestrian and
Bicycle Circulation Plan includes three east-west routes between Michigan Street and South Main Street in a very short distance: 6th Avenue, 10th Avenue and 12th Avenue. The 10th Avenue
section is included because it provides access to two schools: Jefferson Elementary School and Grace Lutheran School. The right-of-way and paved widths are shown in Table 2. Traffic
must stop at Iowa Street, Oregon Street and Nebraska Street.
AGENDA ITEMS 4 NOVEMBER 2012 Table 2: Geometric/Parking Characteristics of 10th Avenue Bicycle Route Start Point Ending Point Right-of-Way Paved Width Parking Availability Michigan Street
Oregon Street 60’ 40’ Some restrictions Oregon Street Main Street 60’ 32’/36’ Some restrictions It is unclear how necessary it will be to have this section marked as a designated bicycle
route. It may be appropriate to wait on designating this until after bicycle accommodations have been addressed on the adjacent 5th/6th Avenue and Osborn/12th Avenue corridors. b. West
New York Avenue Reconstruction Limits: Spruce Street to Fox River Proposed Limits of Bicycle Route: Fox River to Menominee Park (note: designated as a priority facility improvement)
Proposed Bicycle Route Type: Sign and/or Sharrow This section of roadway provides the opportunity to connect to the Wiouwash Trail, so it would make an attractive candidate for a designated
bicycle route. The proposed street width of the reconstructed segment varies from 32’ to 36’ based on the zoning of the adjacent land use; please see Table 3. Since parking is generally
permitted on the south side of the street, there is inadequate space for a signed and striped bicycle lane. This is designated as a minor collector in the City’s 2005 Comprehensive Plan,
which means it is characterized by a higher level of traffic. Similar to what the Committee recommended with Irving Avenue, it may make sense to consider adding a centerline and sharrows.
Table 3: Geometric/Parking Characteristics of New York Avenue Bicycle Route Start Point Ending Point Right-of-Way Paved Width Parking Availability Wiouwash Trail High Avenue 60’ 32-36’
(current 36’) Prohibited on north side; generally permitted on south side High Avenue Algoma Boulevard 60’ 32-36’ (current 33’) Algoma Boulevard Elmwood Avenue 60’ 32-36’ (current 40’)
Elmwood Avenue Jackson Street 53’ 32-36’ (current 34’) Jackson Street Bowen Street 60’ 36’ Bowen Street Hazel Street 60’ 39’ Few restrictions STAFF STATEMENTS 4. INVENTORY OF FORMAL
BICYCLE FACILITIES Table 4 lists those City streets which have been formally designated as bicycle facilities, or for which special treatment is forthcoming. This is provided simply
to update the Committee.
AGENDA ITEMS 5 NOVEMBER 2012 Table 4: Inventory of Formal Bicycle Facilities (Existing and Committed) Street Limits Length Facility Type Status Algoma Blvd. Wisconsin to Woodland 0.55
mi Bike lane (s. side) Not compliant with plan Elmwood Ave. Irving to Vine 0.47 mi Bike lane (both sides) Installed in 2011 High Ave. Congress to Jackson 1.35 mi Bike lane (s. side)
Installed in 2011 Irving Ave. Elmwood to Hazel 1.25 mi Sharrow Implement in 2013 Main St. Irving to Smith 1.39 mi Sharrow Starting in 2013 Osborn Ave. Knapp to Koeller 1.07 mi Sharrow
/Bike lane Implement in 2013 5. JACKSON STREET/OREGON STREET BRIDGE UPDATE At last meeting, Committee members were interested in knowing the timeline for future reconstruction of the
Jackson Street/Oregon Street Bridge. The bridge received a thorough inspection about a year ago to help determine whether it would be better to rehabilitate the bridge or to plan on
accelerating reconstruction. The bridge was built in 1956, and is not experiencing any unusual difficulties difficulties with wear. In March, City staff met with staff from the Wisconsin
Department of Transportation (WisDOT), Winnebago County and a consultant to discuss concerns with the existing bridge, such as pedestrian and bicycle accommodations on the bridge, and
connecting these accommodations to the north shore Riverwalk. WisDOT and their consultant will use this input to help shape their future maintenance and reconstruction decisions for
the bridge. A report on their recommendations is expected within the next couple of months. 6. UPDATE ON STUDY OF PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AT ROUNDABOUTS The Common Council designated $100,000
in the 2012 Capital Improvement Program toward a pilot project targeting pedestrian safety at roundabouts, specifically the multi-lane roundabout at Jackson Street and Murdock Avenue.
The Council recently awarded a bid for the purchase of rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB) to be installed at this intersection. RRFBs are user-actuated amber LEDs that supplement
warning signs at unsignalized intersections or mid-block crosswalks. They use an irregular flash pattern that is similar to emergency flashers on police vehicles. Studies have shown
that RRFBs result in a higher driver yielding rate than conventional flashing beacons. City crews are seeking to install these before winter. Next year, the Federal Highway Administration
will conduct an evaluation of yielding behavior at this intersection with the RRFBs. The results of this evaluation will be very helpful in determining whether the City should invest
in similar installations at other roundabouts.
AGENDA ITEMS 6 NOVEMBER 2012 7. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS The following have been identified as potential agenda items for future meetings (in no particular order): • A discussion of bicycle
lane accommodations on Algoma Boulevard • A discussion of the criteria the City uses for marking crosswalks (at intersections and mid-block) • A discussion of methods for encouraging
or rewarding bicyclists and pedestrians • A discussion of prioritizing recommendations from the Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation Plan • A discussion on instituting an on-line bicycle
registration system, perhaps patterned after the system used at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. • Discussion of use of bike fund • Discussion of 2014 paving projects • Jackson Street
Sidewalk update