HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdmin Order 58-18-01ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 58-18-01
of the
Traffic Engineer of the City of Eugene
REMOVING ON -STREET PARKING ON CAPITAL DRIVE BETWEEN
SPRING BOULEVARD AND CRESTA DE RUTA STREET
The Traffic Engineer of the City of Eugene finds that:
A. Under the provisions of Chapter IV, Section 16 of the Eugene Charter of 2002, the
City Manager is designated as the administrative head of the City, and is specifically authorized
to enforce all ordinances of the City. In addition, EC 5.040 authorizes the City Manager or the
Manager's designee to take administrative action establishing parking area time limitations,
including the form of permissible parking, and imposing conditions upon which the streets and
other public property may be used for parking. EC 5.055 sets forth the criteria the City Manager
or the City Manager's designee should consider when taking administrative action authorized by
EC 5.040.
B. On September 24, 2009, the City Manager issued Administrative Order No. 58-09-
14 granting the Traffic Engineer of the Public Works Department the authority to exercise all of
the duties and responsibilities specifically defined as those of the City Manager in Section 5.040
and 5.050 of the Eugene Code, 1971. In addition, Administrative Rule R-5.045 assigns additional
responsibilities to the Traffic Engineer.
C. By Administrative Order No. 58-17-08, the City Manager appointed me as the
City's Traffic Engineer and delegated to me authority to exercise all duties and responsibilities
granted to the City Manager by EC 5.040 and 5.050.
D. In making the decision to remove parking on Capital Drive between Spring
Boulevard and Cresta De Ruta Street, I have considered all of the applicable criteria set forth in
EC 5.055. Based on the applicable criteria set forth in EC 5.055, the following findings support
my decision to remove parking from this section of Capital Drive:
1) By Resolution 4608, the City Council adopted the Design Standards and Guidelines for
Eugene Streets, Sidewalks, Bikeways and Access Ways which includes travel lanes as
standard features of local streets. Parking is an optional feature on local streets. By
Ordinance No. 20181, the City Council adopted the Street Classification Map that
designated Capital Drive between Spring Boulevard and Cresta De Ruta Street as a
local street.
Administrative Order -- Page I of 4
2) Capital Drive is a local street with a posted speed of 25 mph. The street serves two-
way traffic with parking currently allowed on the south side of the street. Parking was
previously removed from the north side of the street through signage and yellow curb
markings. Capital Drive functions as a "queuing street," in that, when cars are parked
on the street and two opposing vehicles meet, one vehicle must yield by pulling into a
vacant portion of the adjacent parking lane. The curb to curb width of Capital Drive is
approximately 18 -feet; 3 -feet narrower than current City standard for a low-volume
residential street with parking on one side of the street. On -street parking is optional on
local streets.
3) From 2007 to 2015, there were zero crashes reported on this section of Capital Drive.
4) Parking studies conducted by the City in June and July 2017 show an average parking
volume of 3 vehicles parking in approximately 86 parking spaces along the south side
of Capital Drive between Spring Boulevard and Cresta De Ruta Street. According to
the results of the parking study, removal of on -street parking on Capital Drive will have
a minimal impact on current parking practices.
5) Eugene Springfield Fire has requested removal of on -street parking on Capital Drive
between Spring Boulevard and Cresta De Ruta Street to facilitate faster emergency
response times for fire and medical emergencies. Currently, Eugene Springfield Fire
has difficulty navigating Capital Drive when vehicles are parked on the street due to
the curvature of the street and sub -standard street width of 18 -feet. Fire apparatus are
often approximately I 0 -feet in width from mirror to mirror. When a vehicle is parked
on that section of Capital Drive it requires the fire apparatus to slow to avoid striking a
parked vehicle and, in some cases, the fire apparatus may not be able to pass around
the parked vehicle. In addition, Eugene Springfield Fire has stated that removal of on -
street parking would help to facilitate a large scale evacuation, such as might take place
during a wildfire event. Eugene Springfield Fire has identified Capital Drive between
Spring Boulevard and Cresta De Ruta Street as a primary escape route in case of a
nearby wildfire.
6) Two petitions were received with a total of 31 signatures from residents living on and
in the area of, Capital Drive. The petitions state that "Street parking has recently
increased significantly in the 2600 block creating hazardous conditions for motorists,
bicyclists, pedestrians, and emergency responders." The petitions request City Parking
Services to investigate and, "address this hazard to prevent future accidents."
7) Removal of parking on. Capital Drive between Spring Boulevard and Cresta De Ruta
Street is consistent with Goal 4., System Wide Policies 2.and Roadway and Parking
Administrative Order -- Page 2 of 4
Policies 1., 4. and 6. in the Eugene 2035 Transportation System Plan, adopted by City
Council on June 26, 2017.
Goals
Goal 4: Address the transportation needs and safety of all travelers, including people
of all ages, abilities, races, ethnicities, and incomes. Through transportation
investments, respond to the needs of system users, be context sensitive, and distribute
the benefits and impacts of transportation decisions fairly throughout the City.
System -Wide Policies
2. Consider safety first when making transportation decisions. Strive for zero
transportation -related fatalities and severe injuries by reducing the number and severity
of crashes through design, operations, maintenance, education, and enforcement. In
furtherance of the City Council's adopted Vision Zero goal (Resolution No. 5143),
prioritize safety improvements for people who walk, bike and use mobility devices
because no loss of life or serious injury on our streets is acceptable.
Roadway and Parking Policies
1. ["Complete Streets Policy"] Design, construct, maintain, and operate all streets to
provide comprehensive and integrated transportation networks that serve people of all
ages and abilities, promote commerce, and support the comprehensive land use plan's
vision for growth and. development in a responsible and efficient manner. A "complete
street" allows safe travel for automobiles and emergency responders, bicycles, walking,
transit, and freight. In addition to fulfilling a street's basic transportation functions and
providing access to properties, streets and sidewalks should be designed to be
attractive, safe, accessible, sustainable, and healthy components of the City's
environment.
4. Facilitate prompt emergency responses. Ensure that fire and emergency response
routes remain passable by design.
6. Continually optimize the efficiency of the transportation system through
transportation system management (TSM) improvements, connectivity improvements,
multimodal improvements, parking management and supply, and Transportation
Demand Management (TDM) strategies, in combination with the projects identified in
this TSP.
Administrative Order -- Page 3 of 4
8) Removal of parking on Capital Drive between Spring Boulevard and Cresta De Ruta
Street will support faster emergency response times for Eugene Springfield Fire and is
consistent with Objective 24 and High Priority Action 24.1 of the City of Eugene
Community Climate and Energy Action Plan which City Council directed to be
developed on October 8, 2008.
Objective 24: Reduce exposure of human populations to climate -related disasters. The
frequency of forest fires and flooding are expected to increase in the upper Willamette
Valley as a result of higher summertime temperatures and changes in precipitation
patterns. Existing local emergency plans contain provisions for managing the impacts
of both these emergencies at their present scale and frequency; however, Eugene must
develop expanded strategies to reduce the negative impacts of increased flooding and
wildfires.
High Priority Actions:
24.1. Reduce risk of home fires due to wildfires in and around the urban area.
9) Removing parking on Capital Drive between Spring Boulevard and Cresta De Ruta
Street to improve fire and emergency medical access and response times is consistent
with Eugene 2035 Transportation System Plan Goals and Policies and Climate and
Energy Action Plan Objectives and Actions, therefore, it is in the best interest of the
public.
On the basis of these findings, I order that on -street parking be removed on Capital
Drive between Spring Boulevard and Cresta De Ruta Street. This administrative order supersedes
any previous actions allowing or prohibiting parking on Capital Drive between Spring Boulevard
and. Cresta De Ruta Street.
Dated and effective this X" day of February, 2018.
Matthew J. Rodrigues _
Traffic Engineer
Administrative Order -- Page 4 of 4