HomeMy WebLinkAboutA005 - Letter dated February 17, 1994 from Carolyn Wetzel to Council Member Wirth jr
Sharon Wirth
803 Burnett
Ames, Iowa 50010-6245 17 February 1994
Dear Councilperson Wirth,
As you are aware, the City of Ames Public Works Department is proposing to change the
parking restrictions along loth Street, between Duff Ave and Burnett Ave, from one-side only to
alternate-side parking. This item of business will be discussed at the February 22, 1994, City
Council meeting.
I understand that the impetus for changing the parking restriction is to facilitate street
maintenance, especially snow removal, by ensuring that cars will be cleared from each roadside
at 24-hour intervals. This is in itself a good idea; however, this proposal will not adequately
solve the street maintenance issue and alternate-side parking will create several potential
problems that I am concerned about:
1. loth Street is only 26 feet wide, so with cars parked on both sides of the street(as would be
allowed between 5 .m. and 8 a.m.
P , the change over time) there may be as little as 12-14 feet
of space to drive through. Most of the other streets in the area are 31 feet wide. We have all
experienced the congestion and "dodge-'em" maneuvers through single-lane passageways that
result during the change-over times for alternate-side parking along those streets. The loth
Street passageway will be 5 feet narrower than those streets,a whole car-width!
2. Emergency vehicles (fire trucks, etc.) are 8 feet wide,plus they require several feet on each
side for driving clearance. Potential congestion on loth Street between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. could
slow the response time of emergency vehicles attending calls on our street.
3. Other trucks that routinely come down our street during the change-over hours (for instance,
Chitty Garbage trucks, approximately 10 feet wide) will effectively block all traffic flow.
4. As cars are forced to pass each other in a more crowded space, the potential for collisions
with parked cars and with each other may increase during change-over hours.
5. While snow removal is a problem only several times per year, during only one season, the
parking changes will affect us every day,all year round.
Although the stated reason for changing the parking is for street maintenance, only a
three block stretch of loth Street has been chosen for the change (at least as shown in the letter
from traffic engineer Scott Logan). I do not understand how the proposal, at it stands, is really
going to be an improvement; in fact, the problems that may arise from a parking change are far
worse than a little extra snow piled up around a few cars for a few weeks each year. Why not
leave well enough alone?
I would appreciate it if you would consider my concerns in your decision about this
proposal, and please share them with other members of the City Council. I will be unable to
attend the 22 February meeting myself.
T k you,
1
v
Carolyn Wetzel
315 loth Street
232-7724