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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdmin Order 58-99-08 Administrative Order No. 58-99-08 of the Traffic Engineer of the City of Eugene, Oregon Closure of Almaden Street north of 4th Avenue and Placement of Truck Channelizer at 3rd Avenue and Taylor Street The Traffic Engineer of the City of Eugene finds that: A. The Eugene Code provides that the City Manager or the manager's designee shall exercise specific traffic duties by administrative action, including: · Closing a street to vehicular or pedestrian traffic; and · Providing for and regulating access to and from any street. · Designate truck routes and post streets where trucks are prohibited. B. Almaden Street is a two lane, two way road between 3rd Avenue and the 5th Avenue diverter. The northern portion between 3rd and 4th has an unimproved, gravel surface that has recently been graded by the adjacent developer while the southern portion between 4th and 5th Avenues has an improved asphaltic concrete surface with curbs and gutters. C. The land use on the west side of Almaden Street north of 4th Avenue consists of light industrial re-development, while on the east side of the street there is one residence at the comer of Almaden and 4th, with vacant lots and additional light industrial uses up to 3rd Avenue. D. Residents in this western portion of the Whiteaker neighborhood, particularly on 4th and 5th A venues have made several requests over the years that actions be taken to reduce the amount of cut-through truck traffic on their residential streets. E. Truck traffic to and from the A&K Development site is to use designated truck routes which include Chambers Street, 2nd Avenue, and Blair Boulevard. 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 Traffic Engineer of the City of Eugene orders that: 1. Almaden Street shall be closed to through traffic at a point approximately 100 feet north of the centerline of 4th Avenue. 2. Parking shall be prohibited on both sides of Almaden Street within fifty feet of the closure to provide for a vehicle turn-around area. 3. Pedestrian and bicycle access shall be provided through the barricade. 4. Right turns from 3rd Avenue to Taylor Street shall be prohibited for trucks and all trucks eastbound on 3rd Avenue shall be directed to 2nd Avenue. 5. This order shall take effect on the date the signs, barricades and channelizer are installed. Dated this 12Th Day of May, 1999 Administrative Order 58-99-08 Exhibit A Findings for Administrative Order No. 58-99-08 of the Traffic Engineer of the City of Eugene, Oregon Closure of Almaden Street north of 4th Avenue and Placement of Truck Channelizer at 3rd and Taylor St. Background A&K Development has been redeveloping their site located between Chambers Street and Almaden Street south of 3rd Avenue. The recent request from A &K for the vacation of a portion of a platted but unconstructed east-west alley and street sparked some controversy from the adjacent residential neighborhood. Their concerns center around perceived changes in the volume, type, and speed of traffic as a result of the development, along with the potential for heavy amounts of truck traffic which could cut through their neighborhood and would detract from the quality of life they feel their residential area should enjoy. The development pattern and street network of the area contribute to these concerns, and has been aggravated by the intensification of the industrial land uses adjacent to a residential area. This issue has arisen in other parts of Eugene such as Stewart Road between Bailey Hill and Bertelsen and in the Willow Creek Road/Renne Drive area. Completion of the Chambers connector to River Road with grade separation over the railroad substantially lowered the volume of traffic cutting through the Whiteaker neighborhood and residents want to avoid any recurrence of that pattern. Criteria for Administrative Action The administrative action of the Traffic Engineer of the City of Eugene, Oregon, closing Almaden Street to through traffic approximately 100 feet north of the centerline of 4th Avenue and prohibiting trucks from turning right from 3rd Avenue to Taylor Street is based on consideration of criteria (a)- (n) at EC 5.055. Consideration of those criteria follows: (a) Traffic engineering principals and traffic investigations (1) Traffic engineering principles were considered in the following areas: ~ Roadway Capacity; ~ Intersection Capacity; ~ Safety; ~ Signs, Signals, Markings; ~ Intersection Control; ~ Roadway Lighting; ~ Access Control; and ~ Speed Zoning. . Roadway Capacity is diminished by all closures. However, this particular segment of roadway has not been utilized for neighborhood circulation for many years. The unimproved gravel surface has not been maintained by the City and has served the adjacent industrial uses much more directly than the nearby residential. The street segment does not connect to Chambers or 2nd Avenue, and carries internal traffic only. The turn prohibition from 3rd to Taylor does not affect the capacity of either street and targets large trucks only. . Intersection capacity: The closure will have minor effects on the capacity of the intersection of Almaden and 4th Avenue by removing most northbound and southbound movements and converting them to westbound to southbound left turns and northbound to eastbound right turns. Likewise, the intersection of 3rd and Taylor will reduce one movement for large vehicles only. Observed volumes through both intersections are low and there will be no change in the LOS. . Safety: All potential safety impacts, both positive and negative, are minor. There have been no reported accidents on Almaden Street between 3rd and 4th Avenue or the intersection of3rd and Taylor in the five year period from January 1, 1993 through December 31, 1997. The probability of accidents will decrease with this closure from reductions in traffic volume and a likely reduction in vehicle speeds. Closing a street can have negative safety impacts, including: 1) an increase in emergency vehicle response time; 2) the barricade could be hit by a motorist; and 3) the increased traffic at other intersections could increase the probability of accidents at those intersections if capacity is significantly affected. In the case of the Almaden Street closure, and restriction of one movement at 3rd and Taylor, the anticipated effects on safety are slight, as 1) the closure and turn prohibition were reviewed and approved by the Fire Marshall; and 2) the barricade and all associated signing and marking, is in compliance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Device (MUTCD) standards. . Signs, Signals, Markings: This project will be adding several signs notifying motorists of new regulatory controls and warnings including No Right Turn for Trucks at 3rd and Taylor, End and Object marking signs at the barricade on Almaden. . Intersection Controls: This project will make no changes to existing controls. . Roadway Lighting: This project proposes no changes in roadway lighting. . Access Control: No direct driveway or approach changes are a part of this action, however all access (except for emergency services) between the A&K Development site and 4th Avenue is being eliminated. (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 standards. (d) The city's adopted transportation-related plans and policies. The Eugene Local Street Plan, August of 1996, contains planning principles that define and describe local streets These include: . Principle 4 on page 5 states that "Local streets should be interconnected to reduce travel distance, promote the use of alternative modes, provide for efficient provision of utilities and emergency services, and provide for more even dispersal of traffic. " While on the surface this appears to be contradictory to the actions in this order, the street being disconnected from the neighborhood has not been utilized for neighborhood circulation in its graveled, unimproved state. The lack of smooth surface and sidewalks also limits any alternative mode usage, andd . Principle 1 on page 5 more appropriately defines the condition this order seeks to obtain by separating the industrial traffic from the residential neighborhood streets, allowing these particular "Local streets help determine the form and character of neighborhoods; street design should be considered a part of neighborhood design. " The City also has several adopted transportation-related Policies and Implementation Strategies developed in the Whiteaker Refinement Plan updated in August of 1994. . Policy 4 on page 57 states that the City should "Encourage reduction of through traffic on non-arterial streets within the Whiteaker neighborhood" The installation of a barrier on a local street and prohibition of turns from one local street to another both comply with this policy. . Policy 5 on page 57 states that the City should "Maintain and improve the operation of the street system to facilitate circulation within the neighborhood" The installation of a barrier on the border between industrial and residential land uses will improve the operation of the street system for residents by reducing the likelihood that trucks would use Almaden and this portion of 4th and 5th Avenues. The provision for bicycle/pedestrian passage through the barrier will enhance circulation for those modes. Prohibiting the right turn for trucks from 3rd to Taylor will have the same positive result for 4th and 5th. These restrictions on trucks will have a small detrimental effect on truck circulation, since their routes will be more constrained and some out-of-direction travel may become necessary to comply with the routing. . Policy 6 on page 57 states that the City should "Encourage through truck traffic within the Whiteaker neighborhood to use designated truck routes and facilities and discourage use of residential streets. " As noted above, the installation of a barrier on this street segment will direct truck traffic to the designated truck routes and away from the residential street segments. The installation of the channelizer at 3rd and Taylor along with signing to direct truck traffic away from the residential area is a direct implementation of this policy. . Policy 7 on pages 57 and 58 states that the City should "Improve traffic safety for the various modes of transportation either by implementing measures to separate different modes or to make shared travel lanes more functional, compatible, and safer. " The strategic location of the barrier and the channelizer will serve to separate modes by allowing passage of some while prohibiting others, the safety of the street segments south of the barrier and channelizer should improve with the drop in volume and elimination of truck traffic. . Policy 8 on page 58 states that the City should "Examine alternative ways to actively encourage and implement strategies for preserving local streets for local traffic. " The placement of this barrier and the channelizer provide for the use of local streets by local trucks north of the closure and turn restriction, and local residential traffic south of both devices. (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. . This closure should have no effect on the use of the public way by the public, as motorists have optional paved routes to streets at either end of the closure and pedestrians and bicyclists will have passage through the barrier. The intersection of3rd and Taylor will have one movement removed for large vehicles, but removal of those conflicts will make the use of Taylor south of3rd more efficient for all other modes. (g) The use of abutting property. . The land use on the west side of Almaden Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues consists of light industrial uses while the use north of the barrier on the east side of Almaden consists of light industrial storage and south of the barrier is residential. The southwest quadrant of the 3rd and Taylor intersection is occupied by a single family residence. All other uses adjacent to this location are light industrial. Residents feel that the closure and turn prohibition will have a positive effect on the use of their abutting property. Although some access will be restricted, they feel that the reduced traffic volumes and elimination of trucks will improve the livability of the street and thus have a positive effect on the use of the abutting property . (h) The intensity of use of the street by vehicles and pedestrians. . Intensity of use of Almaden Street is discussed in section (a). As discussed there, the closure may reduce the intensity of use of the street by vehicles, but may shift the type of vehicle using the segment from mixed autos and trucks to mostly trucks. This change should not result in any inconvenience to users of the Street. Trucks will be restricted on Taylor south of the channelizer, but the existing mix of traffic should not be altered in that area. . The use of both streets by pedestrians or bicyclists will not be affected. Provisions will be made to provide pedestrian and bicycle access through the barricade on Almaden. (i) The physical condition and characteristics of the street and abutting property. . Almaden Street is a two-way, two lane street. The portion between 3rd and 4th Avenue, approximately 400 feet long, is an unimproved, approximately 20 foot wide roadway with a recently graded crushed gravel surface. 3rd Avenue between Almaden and Taylor is also a two-way, two lane street, approximately 20 feet wide with a recently graded crushed gravel surface. . The abutting property on the east side of Almaden Street consists of residential property on the south side of the closure. The parcels on the east side of the street north of the closure is undeveloped and currently utilized for industrial storage. The abutting property on the west side of the street consists of 1-2 zoned property (Light-Medium Industrial) owned by A&K Development. . The abutting property on the south side of 3rd at Taylor consists of residential property, while the north side of the intersection is industrial. (j) Emergencies. . Emergency vehicle service could be affected by the closure and restriction, but Police and Fire department personnel have reviewed and approved the closure and channelizer designs, which provide for emergency vehicle access. (k) The public health, safety, and welfare. . The public health, safety and welfare won't be affected by this project. (I) Special events of community interest including parades and public gatherings. . Special events won't 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, as these vehicles will have to turn around if they enter the closed segment of roadway. (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 for a distance of 50 feet on both sides of the closure, on both sides of the street. This is necessary to provide room for motorists to turn around and will also increase the visibility of the barricade. . Demand for on-street parking is low to non-existent, due to the low density of the residential and industrial development, and 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 close the street. Summary and Conclusion The potential for cut-through truck traffic associated with the development and intensification of the A&K site and lack of control of the truck traffic generation of subsequent owners of the site are the primary motivating factors behind the closure and turn prohibition. The conclusion of this report is that the closure and channelizer have only a small negative impact on circulation in the west end of the Whiteaker neighborhood, particularly for truck traffic, but they have a significant positive impact for the people who live in the residential area south and east of Almaden and 3rd Avenue. The Eugene Code requires that a road closure 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 (g), (h) and (i) and, a determination that the considerations support the closure of Almaden Street.