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Home My WebLink About19. 14-265 MAY 27, 2014 JUNE 10, 2014 14-247 14-265 ORDINANCE FIRST READING SECOND READING (CARRIED______ LOST___0-7___ LAID OVER_______ WITHDRAWN_______) PURPOSE: APPROVAL OF LEFT TURN REGULATIONS AT MAIN STREET AND MERRITT AVENUE. INITIATED BY: TRAFFIC REVIEW ADVISORY BOARD A GENERAL ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OSHKOSH AMENDING SECTION 27A- 23(A-1) OF THE OSHKOSH MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO PROHIBITED LEFT TURNS. The Common Council of the City of Oshkosh do ordain as follows: SECTION 1. That Section 27A-23(A-1) of the Oshkosh Municipal Code pertaining to prohibited left turns hereby amended as follows: A-1 PROHIBITED LEFT TURNS Add Thereto: (b) Merritt Avenue onto North Main Street SECTION 2. Publication Notice. Please take notice that the City of Oshkosh enacted ordinance #14-265 (A GENERAL ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OSHKOSH AMENDING SECTION 27-23(A-1) OF THE OSHKOSH MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO PROHIBITED LEFT TURNS on June 10, 2014. The ordinance prohibits left turns from Merritt Avenue onto North Main Street. 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. 0 O.fHKO1H ON THE WATER MEMORANDUM TO: Mark A. Rohloff, City Manager FROM: Jim Collins, Transportation Director DATE: May 21, 2014 RE: Explanation of Traffic Regulations Ordinance Changes SECTION 1: SECTION 27A- 23(A -1) PROHIBITED LEFT TURNS A REQUEST TO PROHIBIT WESTBOUND TO SOUTHBOUND LEFT TURNS AT MERRIT AVENUE AND MAIN STREET. (CURRENT CONDITION: LEFT TURNS ALLOWED) This is a request from a citizen. The removal of the left turn restriction was passed by the Traffic Review Board in January 2012 and the Common Council passed it on February 12, 2012. The analysis at that time shows that the left turn prohibition was found to be unnecessary and was regularly disobeyed. We did an analysis a vehicle count of 1,850 during a 12 hour period. There were 387 or 21% that turned left. We also analyzed the peak traffic times for cycle failures. There were not any cycle failures found. In 2013 there was only one crash with a vehicle turning left from Merritt Avenue onto Main Street. This crash was weather related with a driver sliding through the signal on Merritt Avenue and making contact with a vehicle completing the left turn on a green light. There is a potential sight distance issue at this intersection but the accident history doesn't seem to support this. PASSED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD (4 -3) (0 OfHKOIH ON THE WATER MEMORANDUM TO: Mark A. Rohloff, City Manager FROM: Jim Collins, Transportation Director DATE: May 21, 2014 RE: Items Defeated by the Traffic Review Board at their May 13, 2014 Meeting A REQUEST TO CHANGE THE NO PARKING RESTRICTION ON THE WEST SIDE OF BOWEN STREET BETWEEN STERLING AVENUE AND IRVING AVENUE FROM THE WEST SIDE TO THE EAST SIDE OF BOWEN STREET. (CURRENT CONDITION: NO PARKING WEST SIDE AND UNRESTRICTED PARKING ON THE EAST SIDE.) This is a request from a citizen. The citizen making this request is questioning why the allowed parking switches from the west side to the east side of Bowen Street. There is no parking on the west side from Sterling Avenue to Irving Avenue and no parking on the east side from Irving Avenue to Bay Shore Drive. Traffic has to shift as the parking shifts. I am not aware of the reason for this shift. It is possible this was done as a traffic calming measure. There have been 5 crashes at the intersection of Bowen Street and Irving Avenue (where the parking shift starts) in the last 3 years. Two of them involved collisions with parked vehicles. This request would create the need for some street painting but seems to make sense. Excerpt from the Traffic Review Advisory Board meeting minutes: Ms. Bev Johnson, 722 Bowen Street, was opposed to this request. Presently, she is able to park in front of her home. Because she has osteoporosis, she has a difficulty walking and this change would create a hardship for her. She felt the street was wide enough to allow parking on both sides of the street especially after S p.m. Mr. Collins did not think the road was wide enough for parking on both sides. Mr. Schuster noted that the street narrows from Sterling Avenue north. Mr. Andrew Fisher, 828 Bowen Street, was opposed to this request. He questioned the reason for this request. Mr. Collins explained that a citizen had called and felt it was a hazard by having the parking shift from one side of the street to the other. Mr. Fisher felt that the shifting of the parking from one side of the street to other does not create a hazard because there is traffic light at Irving Avenue, which helps to slow motorists down. ITEMS DEFEATED 2 MAY 2014 Ms. Miyoko Fisher, 828 Bowen Street, questioned what the cost would be to make this change. She said the Board needs determine if the cost is worthy of the change. Mr. Collins said the cost would involve moving signs and repainting the street. He noted that this may have been done as a traffic calming measure. Mr. Schuster saw no reason to make a change. Mr. Scieszinski agreed with Mr. Schuster. Mr. Herman felt it was done years ago as a traffic calming measure possibly because of the church on the corner. DEFEATED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD (1 -6) A REQUEST FOR A STOP SIGN AT THE INTERSECTION OF RAHR AVENUE AND LANE STREET. (CURRENT CONDITION: PEDESTRIAN CROSSING) This is a citizen request. The citizen making the request is stating that she has noticed several incidents where traffic driving northbound on Lane Street does not slow to a safe speed for pedestrians using the sidewalk on the south side of Rahr Avenue. She states that since Babbitz Avenue and Lane Street were reconstructed traffic seems to be more reckless and that there are many families with young children in the neighborhood. Requests for stop signs are evaluated based on whether they satisfy one of more of the following warrants: 1. Three or more right angle accidents in a twelve month period, or five or more right angle accidents in a 2 -year period. 2. 3,000 or more vehicles per day entering the intersection. 3. A severe sight distance problem. There have been no accidents at this intersection in the last 2 years. Traffic counts are approximately 37 per day. Sight distance is a potential issue at this intersection. However; this is a T- intersection where vehicles approach a sidewalk before the cross street. Vehicles approaching this intersection are generally traveling at low speeds due to the T- intersection and sidewalk approaching. DEFEATED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD (0 -7) ITEMS DEFEATED 3 MAY 2014 A REQUEST FOR NO PARKING ON THE EAST SIDE OF BROAD STREET FROM TENNESSEE AVENUE TO NEW YORK (CURRENT CONDITION: NO PARKING ON THE WEST SIDE) This is a citizen request. Removal of parking on the West side of the street was approved by the Traffic Review Board and Common Council in June /July 2013. The citizen making this request expressed concern over safety when vehicles are parked on the street. A review of crash data has not revealed any specific safety problems in this area. According to the Streets Division, the presence of on- street parking has not been any problems with snow removal or street maintenance in this area. Table 1 lists our guidelines for parking regulations on local streets. Based on these guidelines, Broad Street was a candidate for a parking restriction, as it has a 24 foot paved width. However, this section of Broad Street is unusual, as there are no driveways on the west side of the street. Having driveways on only one side of the street makes it easier to accommodate parking on both sides of the street. Table 1: Parking Restriction Guidelines on Local Streets 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 Removing parking from the east side of the street would result in no parking on this stretch of the street which is inconsistent with our guidelines for parking restrictions on local streets. Second, as on- street parking can help to calm traffic, the absence of on- street parking may encourage faster travel. Excerpt from the Traffic Review Advisory Board meeting minutes: Ms. Patti Diener, 1316 Broad Street, was in favor of this request. She noted the Options Treatment Programs business is located at 502 K New York Avenue, whose customers cause this area to be congested. Vehicles are parked on both sides of the street and motorists are dropping off and picking up people in this area. She is concerned with safety. In the winter, with snow piled up and vehicles parked on both sides of the street, motorists are unable to get through. ITEMS DEFEATED 4 MAY 2014 Mr. Herman said a review of crash data has not revealed any specific safety problems in this area. Mr. Schuster drives through this area twice a day and has seen no problems and no safety concerns. Mr. Schuster noted that according to the Street Department, the presence of on- street parking has not been problematic with snow removal in this area. Ms. Diener said she would talk with Mr. Patek in Public Works about this issue. DEFEATED BY TRAFFIC REVIEW BOARD (0 -7)