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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdmin Order 58-02-30 Administrative Order N o. 58-02-~ 30 of the Traffic Engineer of the City of Eugene, Oregon Designation of Charnelton Street between Broadway and 11 th Avenue, And 10th Avenue between Lincoln Street and Olive Street as Two-Way Traffic Streets The Traffic Engineer of the City of Eugene finds that: A. Section 5.040 of the Eugene Code, 1971 (EC) provides that the City Manager or the manager's designee shall exercise specific traffic duties by administrative action, including: . · Designate the direction of traffic flow; · Establish, maintain, remove, or alter all traffic control areas and traffic control devices including: I. 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. · Cause a continual check to be made of traffic movement, congestion and accidents on the streets of the city and after appropriate study take appropriate action as provided in this code. Authority to administer the provisions of that section was delegated to the Traffic Engineer by Administrative Order No. 58-91-06 of the City Manager on July 12, 1991. B. Charnelton Street between Broadway and 11th Avenue is a two lane roadway with metered on-street parking on both sides, currently designated for one-way southbound operation. 10th Avenue between Lincoln Street and Olive Street is a two lane roadway with metered on-street parking intermittently on both sides. Both streets are fully improved to City standards with asphaltic concrete surfaces, curbs, gutters and sidewalks on both sides. C. The land use on the west side of Charnelton Street between Broadway and loth Avenue consists of the Broadway Place parking structure and commercial businesses on the ground floor. Prom loth to 11 th Avenues, on the west side, the entire block is occupied by the St. Mary Catholic Church. The east side of Charnelton between Broadway and I oth Avenue is occupied by commercial business establishments. South of lOth on the east side of the street the new City Library occupies the north half, with a small apartment complex and Doc's Pad bar and grill on the south half of the block. D. The single point of ingress/egress to the underground parking at the new library is on Chamelton Street, just north of the east/west alley. Due to the minimal number of spaces provided at that location, the Broadway/Chamelton parking structure is intended to supplement the parking supply. E. The one-way street network between Broadway and 11 th Avenue from Lincoln to Olive presents some difficulties for traffic circulation, especially in view of several one-way or truncated alleys in the vicinity. 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 referenced above, the Traffic Engineer of the City of Eugene orders that: 1. Chamelton Street is re-designated from one-way southbound to two-way traffic between Broadway and 11 th Avenue, with metered on-street parking on both sides of the street. 2. A striped on-street bicycle lane shall be maintained on the west side of Chamelton Street between Broadway and 11 th Avenue for southbound bicycle traffic only. 3. W. 10th Avenue is re-designated from one-way eastbound to two-way traffic between Lincoln Street and Olive Street. Metered on-street parking shall be provided on the south side of the street wherever it can be facilitated. 4. A striped on-street bicycle lane shall be provided on the south side of 1 oth Avenue between Lincoln Street and Olive Street for eastbound bicycle traffic only, in accordance with the bicycle master plan contained in TransPlan. 5. W. 10th Avenue Alley between Chamelton and Olive Streets is designated as one-way eastbound for all traffic. 6. As noted in the Findings attached as Exhibit A, these actions are undertaken to facilitate access to and from the new Library. Based on its projected unofficial opening of December 26, 2002, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, and this order shall take effect on the date the signs, striping, parking and traffic signal changes are installed and the one-way operation becomes two-way. The actions necessary to effect these changes may commence immediately. rv- Dated.. t. h. is ~y O.fDecember, 2002 ~:L Thomas C. Larsen, P.E., City Traffic Engineer :0 Administrative Order 58-02-)l Exhibit A Findings for ':l) Administrative Order No. 58-02-](' of the Traffic Engineer of the City of Eugene, Oregon Designation of CharneUon Street between Broadway and 11 th Avenue, And 10th Avenue between Lincoln Street and Olive Street Taylor St. as two-way traffic streets Background The City council enacted an ordinance regarding the Eugene Library project on June I, 1998, that amended the Downtown Renewal Plan to designate the properties on either side of the north-south alley between West 1 oth Avenue and West 11 th Avenue, Olive Street and Charnelton Street for the location of a new public library. On September 27, 1999 the council called for a public hearing to consider the vacation of the north-south alley right-of-way located on the north half of the block described above to combine the north half of the city block into one development site for the construction of the library. The hearing was held at 7:30 p.m. on October 25, in the Council Chambers and the alley was vacated by ordinance. Prior to the hearing, concern was raised that the vacation would have an impact on goods and products delivered by semi-truck and trailer combination vehicles to The Kiva (125 W. II th) and Doc's Pad (165 W. 11 th). Auto, van, and small truck deliveries using the south half of the alley would be able to utilize the east-west alley between Olive and Charnelton, but radii at the junction would restrict use by oversize trucks. Public Works Transportation developed a project to re-stripe West II th between Olive Street and Charnelton Street which provides on-street parking along the north side of West 11 t\ including an area designated for commercial vehicles only, affording sufficient space for semis and combination trucks. As a result, no public testimony was received at the hearing and the alley was vacated. In the early phases of the building design, it was determined that the one-way nature of the street network on three sides of the Library site would be an impediment to library patrons, particularly those coming from points south, southwest, and northeast of the site. Library, Recreation & Cultural Services (LRCS) staff requested Public Works Transportation to evaluate the feasibility of converting street segments near the new Library from one-way to two-way operation. Criteria for Administrative Action The administrative action of the Traffic Engineer of the City of Eugene, Oregon, designating Charnelton Street between Broadway and 11 th Avenue, and 1 oth Avenue between Lincoln Street and Olive Street as two-way traffic streets 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 generally reduced by converting from one-way to two-way . operation, due to the introduction of additional conflicting movements at intersections. However, these particular segments of roadway are somewhat underutilized with the subject section of Charnelton carrying approximately 3,000 ADT (average daily traffic) and the two blocks of 10th carry approximately 2,000 ADT. These volumes are well below the capacity of a two lane street. . Intersection capacity: The re-designation will have minor effects on the capacity of the intersections of Charnelton and 10th A venue and Olive at 10th A venue. These intersections are signalized and during peak periods may not be capable of serving all movements within the 60 second signal cycle that serves the entire downtown area. . Safety: All potential safety impacts, both positive and negative, are minor. There have been no reported crashes at Charnelton and Broadway in the three year period between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2000. There were 2 reported crashes at Charnelton and 1 oth Avenue and 15 reported crashes at Charnelton and 11 th Avenue during the same three year period. There were 7 crashes at 10th and Lincoln and 9 crashes at 10th and Olive during the same period. None of these sites reached a crash rate in excess of 1.00 which is the typical threshold considered to indicate a safety concern (11 th and Charnelton is 0.81). Converting a street from one-way to two-way operation can have negative safety impacts since it increases the number of conflict p~ints by introducing additional movements. However, reducing the need for motorists to circle around one or more blocks to reach a destination can partially mitigate these impacts. . Signs, Signals, Markings: This action will be removing, replacing or altering several signs including the removal of one-way signs, removal and installation of differing regulatory controls and warnings including lane use signs, left turn yield to oncoming traffic signs, and Speed 20 signs. Signals will be altered to add the new signal heads for the added traffic flow direction. Markings will be changed from white one-way denotations to yellow two-way striping and parking tees, meters and signs will be reoriented to align with the two-way configuration. . Intersection Controls: This action will make minor changes to existing controls, including conversion of Broadway/Chamelton from three-way (all-way) stop control to four-way (all-way) stop control. . Roadway Lighting: This action proposes no changes in roadway lighting. However, as a part of the City Library project, some changes to roadway lighting are being done. . Access Control: No direct driveway or approach changes are a part of this action. (b) Standards, limitations, and rules promulgated by the Oregon Transportation Commission or the Oregon Public Utility Commission or their successors. . The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) has been adopted by the Oregon Transportation Commission as the standard for all roadways in Oregon. . No standards, limitations or rules promulgated by the Oregon Transportation Commission or Oregon Public Utility Commission conflict with this proposed action. (c) Other recognized traffic control standards. . All signing, signals and markings will 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, including: . Principle 4 on page 5 states that "Local streets should be interconnected to reduce travel distance, promote the use ofaJternative modes, provide for efficient provision of utilities and emergency services, and provide for more even dispersal of traffic. " While the street network affected by the actions in this order are interconnected, their one-way operation can increase travel distance, be detrimental to efficient provision of emergency services, and disperse traffic demand unevenly, all of which are contrary to this planning principle. Two-way streets serve to increase connecti vi ty. . Principle 1 on page 5 more appropriately defines the condition this order seeks to obtain by simplifying the ingress and egress, drop off, and parking activities that will result from the relocation of the City Library. This will ensure that "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 Suggested Implementation Strategies developed in the Central Area Transportation Study (CATS) adopted in April of 1993 as the Central Eugene Parking and Traffic Circulation Plan. These include: . Policy 14.0 on page 41 states that the City should "Maintain or improve the operation of the street system for pedestrians, bicycles, transit, and automobiles. " One of the Suggested Strategies to implement the Proposed Policy on page 41 of the study states that we should "IdentifY one-way streets that should be converted to two-way operation." Although neither of these street segments were recommended for conversion, the new library was not a consideration at the time and the segments analyzed were both longer than those contained in this action. The Downtown Vision, on page 11 under Key Next Steps, contains the goal that we: . "Re-establish two way traffic in the downtown core wherever possible. " (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. No laws conflict with the proposed action. (f) The efficient use of the public way by the public. . The proposed re-designations will have a positive effect on the use of the public way by the public, as motorists will have optional routes and more direct access to and from destinations within the converted area. (g) The use of abutting property. . The land uses on either side of both streets will not be affected by this action. (h) The intensity of use of the street by vehicles and pedestrians. . Intensity of use ofCharnelton Street and loth Avenue is discussed in section (a). As noted, the re-designation may actually reduce the intensity of use of the street by vehicles, since motorists will not have to drive around the block or blocks to reach their destination. The proposed changes should not affect pedestrian travel, but the downtown library is expected to result in an increase in pedestrian activity in the area. There are currently two L TD bus lines on I oth Avenue providing 30 minute service and five L TD lines that utilize Charnelton, three of which provide 30 minute service, two that operate only during peak periods. The proposed change would have no effect on this usage. . On-street bicycle lanes will be added to loth A venue between Lincoln and Olive Streets which may increase the intensity of use of the street by bicycles. (i) The physical condition and characteristics of the street and abutting property. . No detrimental impacts to either street or any abutting properties are anticipated. Generally, commercial uses prefer two-way streets to one-way. G) Emergencies. . Emergency vehicle service will be positively affected by the re-designation, since deployment and re-deployment will be more efficient. (k) The public health, safety, and welfare. . The public health, safety and welfare will not be affected by this action. (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, as these vehicles may have more restrictive turning radii with two-way traffic. (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 characteri~tics 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 regulated by meters and signs on one or both sides of each street and will continue to be after the action. Summary and Conclusion Access to and from the new City Library and to and from structured parking serving the new facility will be improved by converting these street segments from one-way to two-way operation. The re- designation will also have a positive effect on other adjacent land uses, both commercial and institutional. The conclusion of these findings is that the conversion will have positive impacts on circulation in the immediate vicinity of the library, and will have a significant positive impact for the motorists approaching the site from areas south and southwest of the new library. The Eugene Code requires that a designation of the direction of traffic flow 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 which support the action to convert the subject sections of Charnel ton Street and 10th Avenue.