HomeMy WebLinkAbout21. 15-436 SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 15-436 ORDINANCE
FIRST READING
(CARRIED LOST LAID OVER WITHDRAWN )
PURPOSE: APPROVAL OF PARKING REGULATION CHANGES ON KNAPP
STREET AND WISCONSIN STREET
INITIATED BY: TRAFFIC REVIEW ADVISORY BOARD
A GENERAL ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OSHKOSH AMENDING SECTION 27A-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 27A-11 of the Oshkosh Municipal Code pertaining to
parking regulations on designated streets and alleys is hereby amended as follows-
A-1 1 PARKING REGULATIONS ON DESIGNATED STREETS AND ALLEYS
KNAPP STREET
Add Thereto: No parking, west side, from 4t" Avenue to 28 feet south of 4t"
Avenue.
WISCONSIN STREET
Add Thereto: No parking, west side, from Murdock Avenue to 135' south.
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 #15-XXX (A GENERAL ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OSHKOSH
AMENDING SECTION 27A-11 OF THE OSHKOSH MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO
PARKING REGULATIONS ON DESIGNATED STREETS AND ALLEYS) on October 13,
2015. The ordinance changes parking regulations on Knapp Street and Wisconsin
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.
CITY HALL
215 Church Avenue
P.O.Box 1130
Oshkosh,Wisconsin
54903-1130 City of Oshkosh
O.IHKOJH
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council
FROM: Jim Collins, Director of Transportation
DATE: September 18, 2015
RE: Ordinance 15-436 Approve parking restrictions on Knapp Street & Wisconsin
Street and Ordinance 15-437 Approval of left turn regulations at Main Street &
Merritt Avenue.
BACKGROUND
The first ordinance is to prohibit on street parking on Knapp Street (west side from 4th Ave. to 28
feet south) and Wisconsin Avenue (west side from Murdock Ave. to 135 feet south). The second
ordinance prohibits left turns from Merritt Avenue onto North Main Street. The Traffic Review
Advisory Board (TRAB) reviewed these ordinances and recommends approval, Ordinances 15-
436 (7-0) and ordinance 15-437 (6-1).
ANALYSIS
Knapp Street —This parking restriction is requested due to a sight distance issue at the
intersection. Restricting parking for 28 feet will allow for a better line of sight and only impact
parking availability for one vehicle. There is ample on street parking available in the area.
Wisconsin Avenue —This parking restriction is necessary with the new lane reconfiguration on
Murdock Avenue. Currently parking is only restricted on the east side of Wisconsin Street from
Murdock Avenue to 135' south. With the new intersection layout, there is now an 11-foot
northbound through/right lane, a 10-foot northbound left turn lane and a 14-foot southbound
through lane. This does not allow room for on street parking.
Merritt Avenue and North Main Street - Left turns were prohibited at this intersection for many,
many years. The Common Council passed the removal of the left turn restriction on February
12, 2012. The analysis at that time showed that the left turn prohibition was found to be
unnecessary and was regularly disobeyed.
The TRAB discussed this issue again in May of 2014 at the request of a citizen and decided that
it was too soon to go back and reinstate the prohibition. At that time, staff counted 21% of traffic
at this intersection was turning left and did not observe many cycle failures. The only issue that
was observed was when a train went through which resulted in a backup at the intersection.
This past year the corner of Merritt and Main has been busier with the opening of Ski's Meat
Market and other businesses in this area. We put a temporary no left turn restriction in during
the construction of Mt. Vernon Street. We did not receive any complaints but did receive a few
calls requesting that this restriction be reinstated. Field studies have observed excessive traffic
delays throughout the day, especially when a leading vehicle wants to turn left. There is also a
sign distance issue at this intersection due to angles of the road and the proximity of the
buildings. The traffic signals on Main Street are coordinated so we do not have much of an
opportunity to adjust these. Therefore, the logical solution is to again prohibit left turns from
Merritt onto Main.
There has not been a significant accident history at this intersection under either condition.
FISCAL IMPACT
The only fiscal impact of these ordinances is the cost of signage, which would come out of the
sign department-operating budget.
RECOMMENDATION
Section 27A-11 of the Municipal Code regulates on street parking and section 27A-1 prohibits left
turns at select intersections. I recommend that the Common Council approve these ordinances.
Respectfully Submitted, Approved:
Jim Collins Mark A. Rohloff
Director of Transportation City Manager