HomeMy WebLinkAboutA006 - Council Action Form dated July 22, 1997 Item #
c;4 a.J-L
Date: July 22, 1997
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: HYLAND AVENUE PARKING PROHIBITIONS
BACKGROUND:
With the Hyland Avenue construction project nearing completion, project schedules call
for completing the pavement markings in early August. This includes marking
centerlines, lane lines, and bike lanes as appropriate. The project area can be divided
into three sections to address the parking questions. The sections are as follows (note
attached drawing):
1) Ross Road to Sheldon/Oakland (north section)
2) Sheldon/Oakland to West Street (middle section)
3) West Street to Lincoln Way (south section)
The answers dealing with the on-street parking in these sections will have an impact on
the pavement marking work since bike lanes should not be marked if parking is allowed.
The project plan and the parking along the north section of the street has been
discussed numerous times by Council. Area residents and members of the Unitarian
Fellowship expressed concerns over the loss of parking along the north section of
Hyland Avenue. Currently the regulations prohibit parking on the west side at all times
and from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday on the east side from Ross
Road to north of Pammel Drive. The Unitarian Fellowship members have expressed a
desire to have parking allowed in an area 300' north and south of the church along the
east side.
This project was partially funded by an ISTEA grant of $72,000 for the on-street bike
lanes. If parking exists over the bike lane, potential hazards exist because bicyclists
and motorists expect that the bike lane will not be occupied. In addition to the hazards,
the Iowa DOT, who administers the ISTEA grant, has indicated to the City that the
project agreement does not allow parking along the bike lanes since it would not be
maintained in a manner acceptable to the DOT. Please note the attached December 6,
1996 letter from Harry Budd of the Iowa DOT. The potential for allowing parking puts
the $72,000 grant in jeopardy.
On July 8, 1997 Council directed staff to obtain a written response to the possibility of
allowing parking on the bike lanes for a very limited time frame on Sundays. The letters
requesting that possibility and the response from the DOT are also attached. Based
on this response, it will not be possible to allow Sunday morning parking on the
east side of Hyland Avenue and retain eligibility for the ISTEA grant funding.
CAF - Hyland Avenue Parking
July 22, 1997
Page 2
Based on the hazards that would be generated and the loss of the $72,000 funding,
staff feels that it is best to prohibit parking on both sides and allow full use of the bike
lanes at all times.
The middle section, West Street to Sheldon/Oakland, currently has no parking on both
sides of the street and staff is recommending that the regulations be maintained as is.
The street would be set up to have two through lanes, two bike lanes, and a continuous
left-turn lane as noted on the attached figure.
The south section, West Street to Lincoln Way, currently has parking prohibited on the
west side and 20 metered spaces on the east side. The Ames/ISU Bicycle Committee
and staff have recommended changing the designated bike route in this area. It
currently lies on West Street from Hyland Avenue to Sheldon Avenue and on Sheldon
Avenue from West Street to Lincoln Way. The proposed changes would be to
designate the bike route along Hyland Avenue so it is a direct link to Lincoln Way. The
Committee and staff believe that the direct connection best serves the bicyclists.
Two options exist for the bike lanes on this section of Hyland Avenue. They are
detailed on the attached figure. The difference between the two options relates to
parking.
The Bike Committee recommends leaving the parking and having the bike lane placed
adjacent to the parked vehicles as shown in Design Option 2. Staff recommends not
having the parking next to the bike lane because of safety concerns for accidents
caused by conflicts between vehicles maneuvering into and out of parking spaces,
opening vehicle doors, and poor sight distance at driveways. Staff's recommendation is
shown as Design Option 1 .
The 20 metered spaces are utilized for commuter parking and are used less than 50%
of the time. The area residents are not affected by the removal of the metered spaces
since they do not utilize them.
ALTERNATIVES:
1 . Prohibit parking along the east side of Hyland Avenue from Ross Road to
Sheldon Avenue/Oakland Street and from West Street to Lincoln Way. These changes,
along with the current regulations, would designate bike lanes along Hyland Avenue
from Ontario Street to Lincoln Way.
CAF - Hyland Avenue Parking
July 22, 1997
Page 3
2. Same as No. 1 , however, allow parking along the east side on Sundays from
7:00 a.m. to noon in an area 300' north and south of the Unitarian Fellowship. This
action would close the bike lane when parking is allowed. With this alternative the DOT
has indicated that the bike lanes would not be eligible for ISTEA funding.
3. Do nothing which would leave the parking regulations as they are thus blocking
the bike lane. This alternative would also make the project ineligible for ISTEA funding.
No bike lanes would be striped under this alternative.
MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
It is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt alternative
number one, thereby directing the City Attorney to draft an ordinance prohibiting
parking along the east side of Hyland Avenue from Ross Road to Sheldon Avenue/
Oakland Street and from West Street to Lincoln Way. This measure would designate
bicycle lanes along Hyland Avenue from Ontario Street to Lincoln Way.
Because the contractor will be completing his work prior to the completion of the
ordinance process, it will be staff's intent to mark the lanes in accordance with the
direction given by Council to the City Attorney. Enforcement of the parking regulations
would not be undertaken until the ordinance process is completed.
COUNCIL ACTION:
Hyland Parking Prohibition
N Ontario to Lincoln Way
Ontario St T'
I I
Ross Rd v I I
o I I o
JI IJ
U I I U
TI I T
pj I I U]
F12' 12'-�
I g,L- yl 6,
Fes--- 37'(b-b)�
Forest Hills
Dr ilea r CreeK
o i i o
J I I J
Pammel Dr
U
ml Im
11't 11'-.1,
I .544-- -45.5
�s----45'(b-b)w
I I
Oakland St Sh Design Option 1
of IJ
e J
? �I
u
N ml Im
Q I<-11' 11'
.54— -'I5.5
C
tLT -45'(b-b)—�
2
West St
Union Dr
v I I d
AAtt r 4 J I i J
tY/ Y
Q,. Design Option 2 TI I T a
C % .2 I.2
01, I I
-v Existing Off-Street I I s'
Bicycle Route k 12' 12'-4
-� (To Be Deleted s'L— s'
from Master Plan)
Lincoln Way L--45'(b-b)—�
Bic cle Route Proposed On-Street
Existing Y Bicycle Route
rye
Iowa Department of Transportation
800 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50010 515-239-139 1
FAX: 515-239-1982
December 6, 1996 Ref. No.
Mr. Steve Schainker
City Manager
City Hall , 515 Clark Street
Ames, IA 50010
Dear Steve:
It has come to our attention that the Ames City Council has approved the
inclusion of parking along the newly constructed Hyland Avenue between
Pammel Drive and 13th Street. The city's proposal would include motor
vehicle parking on top of the bicycle lanes.
This project, as you know, was approved for the usage of federal
Transportation Enhancement funding for the construction of bicycle lanes
in this area. Federal regulations restrict the usage of transportation
enhancement funds to ten specific activities. Facilities for bicyclists
is included as an eligible funding activity. Widening streets to
accommodate parking areas for motor vehicles is not.
The agreement which was executed between the city and the Iowa DOT for
the usage of the transportation enhancement funds includes a statement
that the city of Ames "shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, the
completed improvement in a manner acceptable to the department and the
FHWA" . We do not consider parking on top of a bicycle lane acceptable
maintenance.
The AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, which is the
document to which federally funded bicycle projects
all ad ,
states that in situations such as this where parking ei s ral l owed, ere the
combination lane (for bicycle usage and parking) should be a minimum of
12 feet wide. The Hyland Avenue project was originally proposed to
include a 12 foot wide combination lane for parking and bicycle travel ,
but the city later reduced the lane to 6.5 feet without eliminating the
dual usage. The city did not request a design exception to the 12 foot
wide combination lane. DOT staff are not in agreement with the city's
decision to reduce the width of the combination lane and allow parking
and bicycle usage together in a. 6.5 foot curb lane.
Page 2
December 6, 1996
I am concerned that federal funding participation in this project may be
jeopardized. We will be happy to meet with you to discuss these issues
further. Please contact me if you wish to do so.
Sincerely,
HarrL'S:%dd, Director
Office of Project Planning
NJB
cc: Larry Jesse, Office of Local Systems, Iowa DOT
Scott Dockstader, Central Iowa Transportation Center, Iowa DOT
Mike Clayton, Central Iowa Transportation Center, Iowa DOT
Bob Butin, Central Iowa Transportation Center, Iowa DOT
Mike Schweyen, Federal Highway Administration
i
Page 2
December 6, 1996
I am concerned that federal funding participation in this project may be
jeopardized. We will be happy to meet with you to discuss these issues
further. Please contact me if you wish to do so.
Sincerely,
Harry S. dd, Director
Office of Project Planning
NJB
cc: Larry Jesse, Office of Local Systems, Iowa DOT
Scott Dockstader, Central Iowa Transportation Center, Iowa DOT
Mike Clayton, Central Iowa Transportation Center, Iowa DOT
Bob Butin, Central Iowa Transportation Center, Iowa DOT
Mike Schweyen, Federal Highway Administration