HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdmin Order 58-00-23
Administrative Order No. 58-00-23
of the
Transportation Planning Engineer of the City of Eugene, Oregon
Installation of Islands on Taylor Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues
to discourage through truck traffic from penetrating the residential neighborhood
south of the industrial area of Taylor between 2nd Avenue and 3rd Place
The Transportation Planning Engineer of the ~ity of Eugene finds that:
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A. The Eugene Code (5.04~) provides that the City Manager or the manager's designee
shall exercise specific traffic duties by administrative action, in particular:
(h) Establish, maintain, remove, or alter all traffic control areas and
traffic control devices, including:
1. Traffic control signals, signs, and pavement markings.
2. Crosswalks, safety zones and traffic lanes.
3. Traffic diverters and similar traffic control devices.
4. Intersection channelization and areas where drivers of vehicles shall
not make right, left, or V-turns and the time when the prohibition applies.
5. Parking areas and time limitations, including the form of
permissible parking and any fees therefor.
6. Loading zones and stops for all vehicles.
B. The subject segment of Taylor Street is a two-lane two way roadway between ~d
Avenue on the north and 5th Avenue on the south. The roadway is a 44' wide
asphaltic concrete surface with curb and gutter and no sidewalks on either side.
C. The land use on both sides of Taylor Street north of3rd Avenue consists of light and
medium industrial (lumber yard, brake service, construction/excavation service).
South of 3rd Avenue there is single family Low to Medium Density Residential
development.
D. Residents in this western portion of the Whiteaker neighborhood, particularly on 4th
and 5th Avenue between Chambers and Polk Street have made many requests over the
years for actions to be taken to reduce the amount of through truck traffic on their
residential streets. .
E. The Whiteaker refinement plan adopted in 1994 included Policies to encourage the
reduction of through traffic on non-arterial streets, encourage through truck traffic to
use designated truck routes and facilities and discourage use of residential streets, and
to examine alternative ways to actively encourage and implement strategies for
preserving local streets for local traffic.
F. The intensification of the A&K site, with a point of ingress and egress on 3rd Avenue,
sparked neighborhood concerns about additional truck traffic in the residential area.
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G. Placement of islands in strategic locations in Taylor Street should discourage through
truck traffic, while allowing sufficient space for local trucks to obtain needed access
and circulation. The islands should also help reduce the speed of those trucks that
continue to use this portion of Taylor Street.
NOW, THEREFORE,
Based on the above findings, the findings contained in Exhibit A attached hereto and
incorporated herein by reference, the authority contained in section 5.040 of the Eugene
Code 1971, and the delegation order of the City Manager, the Transportation Planning
Engineer of the City of Eugene orders that:
1. Islands shall be constructed on Taylor Street to create a "chicane" traffic pattern
between 3rd Place and 4th Avenue. The center median island shall contain a treewell
with an appropriate street tree (as determined by the Urban Forester)
2. This order shall take effect on the date the islands, signs and tree are installed.
Dated this /7 Day of August, 2000
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Thomas Larsen, P .E., City Transportation Planning Engineer
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Administrative Order 58-00-23
Exhibit A
Findings for
Administrative Order No. 58-00-23
of the
Transportation Planning Engineer of the City of Eugene, Oregon
Installation of islands on Taylor Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues
Background
Prior to construction of the Chambers Connector in 1988, traffic between the River Road/Santa
Clara area and downtown Eugene was routed through the Whiteaker neighborhood. The
. Transportation Element of the Whiteaker Plan, revised in 1994, notes that "there is a high level of
interest in developing and implementing strategies to divert or prohibit all, or certain types of,
through vehicular traffic on neighborhood streets." City Policies listed in the plan include: 4.
Encourage reduction, of through traffic on non-arterial streets within the Whiteaker neighborhood; 6.
Encourage through truck traffic within the Whiteaker neighborhood to use designated truck routes
and facilities and discourage use of residential streets; and 8. Examine alternative ways to actively
encourage and implement strategies for preserving local streets for local traffic.
The A&K development, a food processing equipment manufacturer located on Chambers between
3rd and 4th Avenues began to 'intensify the use of their site last year and applied for vacation of two
segments of dedicated; unconstructed right-of-way. In the public involvement process which
consisted of two meetings with the residential and industrial neighbors, a plan was developed to
utilize the proceeds derived in the vacation pro~ess for traffic calming. Branch Engineering,
consultant forA&K designed the islands identified in this action as well as a sign plan. A previous
action to close Almaden Street at a point north of 4th Avenue and-placement of a truck charinelizer at
the intersection of 3rd Avenue with Taylor Street was the first phase of this work. This action is the
second and final phase of the project.
Criteria for Administrative Action
The administrative action of the Transportation Planning Engineer of the City of Eugene, Oregon,
installing islands on Taylor Street between 3rd and 4th Avenue to discourage through truck traffic
from entering the residential neighborhood is based on consideration of criteria (a) - (n) at EC 5.055.
Consideration of those criteria follows:
(a) Traffic engineering principles and traffic investigations
(l) Traffic engineering principles were considered in the following areas:
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~ Roadway Capacity;
~ Intersection Capacity;
~ Safety;
~ Signs, Signals, Markings;
~ Intersection Control;
~ Roadway Lighting;
~Access Control; and
~ Speed Zoning.
. Roadway Capacity can be somewhat diminished by placement of objects in the
street. However, this particular segment of roadway carries a low volume of
traffic, even during peak periods, and demand is well below the capacity of this
street segment.
. Intersection capacity: The placement of islands at a mid-block location will
have no effect on the capacity of the intersection of Taylor Street and 3rd Avenue.
Likewise, the intersection Taylor and 4th Avenue will have no reduction in
intersection capacity as a result of the placement of mid-block islands.
. Safety: The impact on Safety, whether positive or negative, is minor. The
number and pattern of reported crashes in this vicinity is unremarkable and typify
unsignalized, cross type intersections.
Installing islands in a street can have perceived negative safety impacts,
including: 1) an increase in emergency vehicle response time; and 2) the islands
could be hit by a motorist.
In the case of the Taylor Street islands, the anticipated effects on safety are slight,
as 1) the islands were reviewed and approved by the Fire Marshall; and
2) the islands and all associated signing and marking, are in compliance with the
Manual on Uniform Traffic C.ontrol Device (MUTCD) and Am'erican Association
of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) standards.
. Signs; Signals, Marking~: This project adds several signs notifying motorists of
the islands including Keep Right and Object Marker signs, No Through Trucks
Regulatory signs
. Intersection Controls: This project will make no changes to existing controls.
+ Roadway Lighting: This project proposes no changes in roadway lighting. The
islands shall be clearly marked with retroreflective devices.
+ Access Control: No direct driveway or approach changes are a part of this action,
+ Speed Zoning: No changes inspeed zoning are a part of this action.
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(b) Standards, limitations, and rules promulgated by the Oregon Transportation
Commission or the Oregon Public Utility Commission or their successors.
. No applicable standards, limitations, or rules apply.
(c) Other recognized traffic control standards.
. Signing and markings comply with Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
(MUTCD) standards.
(d) The city's adopted transportation-related plans and policies. '
As noted in the aforementioned Background, this action is in compliance with the
Transportation Policies in the Whiteaker Plan, adopted in 1994..
(e) Existing state and local laws regulating use of public ways.
. Provisions of the Oregon Vehicle Code will continue to apply after the changes
have been made.
(f) The efficient use of the public way by the public.
. These islands should have no effect on the use of the public way by the public, as
motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists will continue to have passage through the
channelized area.
(g) The use of abutting property.
. The land use to the north of the channelizing islands to be placed on Taylor Street
is light/medium industrial, while south of the islands land use is low to medium
density residential.
Residents to the south feel that the channelization will have a positive effect on
the livability of their neighborhood. They feel that the speed and volume of
traffic and the likelihood of an errant truck entering the residential portions of
Taylor Street will be reduced by this action.
(h) The intensity of use of the street by vehicles and pedestrians.
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. Intensity of use of Taylor Street may be slightly reduced as a result of this action.
The intent of this action is for motorists, particularly trucks, to take note of the
narrowed effect of the islands and to seek wider, more open streets.
. 'The use of the street by pedestrians or bicyclists will not be affected. Provisions
will be made to provide pedestrian and bicycle access around the islands and
through the chicane on Taylor Street.
(i) The physical condition and characteristics of the street and abutting property.
+ Taylor Street is a 44 foot wide two-way, two lane street between ~d Avenue and
5th Avenue.
+ The abutting property on both sides of Taylor Street in the vicinity of the islands
consists of residenti~l use. Although a minor amount of on-street parking is lost
by placement of the> islands, there are adequate off-street parking opportunities at
the residences located in this area. .
(j) Emergencies.
+ Emergency vehicle service cou~d be affected by the islands and chicane, but
Police and Fire department personnel have reviewed and approved the
channelization.
(k) The public health, safety, and welfare.
. The public health, safety and welfare will 'not be affected by this project.
(I) Special events of community interest including parades and public gatherings.
+ Special events 'will not be affected by this project.
(m) Construction within or adjacent to the street.
+ Impacts on construction within or adjacent to the street will be minor. Ingress or
egress at construction sites by large vehicles may be more difficult, but is not
eliminated.
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(n) When establishing conditions upon the use of parking in the public way and
city.:.owned parking facilities:
1. Applicable and appropriate time limits;
2. the vehicle type and purpose;
3. The relative, seasonal and special event demands for parking
spaces within the areas of the requested parking;
4. The other public uses for the property;
5. The location and physical characteristics of the parking area or
facility;
6. The demand for operating revenues, the costs of operations and
enforcement;
7. The use of parking regulations' to promote city adopted goals and
policies;
8. Abuse by applicants of any parking-related permits;
9. The impact on nearby commercial uses;
10. The ease of enforcing the provisions of this chapter; and
11. The availability of other parking spaces.
. Parking is prohibited at all times along both sides of the islands, on both sides of
the street. This is necessary to provide room for motorists to pass through the
channelization. '
. Demand for on-street parking is low to non-existent, due to the proximity of
adjacent occupied residential uses, the availability, of off-street parking. Due to
the lack of demand for on-street parking, the parking prohibition is not a relevant
factor in considering whether to place the islands.
Summary and Conclusion
The discouragement of through truck traffic associated with the development and intensification of
the A&K site is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Whiteaker neighborhood refinement
plan. This order will be carried out in a two-stage manner, placing temporary, flexible devices to
outline the proposed island/chicane treatment to produce the best design (one that discourages
through truck movement while permitting local trucks to use the street) prior to pouring permanent
concrete islands.
The conclusion of this report is that the channelization has a negligible impact on circulation in the
western portion of the Whiteaker neighborhood, particularly for those residents and businesses on
Taylor Street. The Eugene Code requires that placement of traffic control devices be based on
consideration of each of the factors at EC 5.055. Consideration of the criteria at EC 5.055 results in
positive findings under criteria (d), (g), (h) and (i) and, a determination that the considerations of all
other criteria support the placement of islands and channelization of Taylor Street.
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