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Home My WebLink AboutA001 - Staff Report STAFF REPORT LINCOLN WAY FRONTAGE ROAD - PARKING PROHIBITIONS During the November 20th meeting, City Council directed staff to evaluate the proposed parking prohibition along the south side of the Lincoln Way frontage road extending from Hickory Drive to McDonald Drive. This parking prohibition was included among other prohibitions on seven of the City's frontage roads to enhance safety and movements. However, correspondence from Larry C. Westburg indicated that the prohibition would create parking problems in the area by solving a non-existent problem. He reports that currently there are double and triple parking in driveways on Hickory Drive that often block the sidewalk. Also, the prohibition would cause him difficulty since he utilizes the parking along the south side of the street when he performs his school guard duties at the Hickory Drive/Lincoln Way intersection. Another response was received from Jerry Litzel, 3408 Tripp Street, who owns apartments along the West Lincoln Way frontage from McDonald Drive to Hickory Drive. In his attached letter, he indicates that the situation should be left alone since the parking prohibitions are going to reduce available on-street parking along the street. During the past several weeks, staff performed a parking utilization study along the frontage road to determine the impacts of prohibiting parking along the south side. This evaluation indicated that there was an average of seven vehicles, and a high of nine vehicles, parked along both sides of the frontage road. This evaluation showed that the vehicles were primarily parked along the north side of the street, as opposed to parking along the south side. The average utilization along these two sides of the street were 5 and 2 parked vehicles, respectively. The evaluation also showed that there was available parking for eleven vehicles along the north side of the street, which is adequate to accommodate the existing parking along the frontage road. To address Mr. Westburg's concerns, there would be available parking along the north side of the frontage road next to Hickory Drive, even with the prohibition, to accommodate parking by residents along Hickory Drive. The evaluation showed that parking was more heavily utilized in the mid-block area, opposed to areas next to McDonald Drive and Hickory Drive. This street has a 27' width, and like other similar width streets, does not have adequate space for two-way traffic if vehicles are parked along both sides of the street. However, there are no curbs along the south side of this frontage road, which allows motorists to park along the right-of-way next to the street. This effectively allows sufficient space for two-way traffic in most cases other than when snow accumulations are present along the side of the street. However, when these conditions are present, it has caused problems along this frontage road in which case snow plows have not been able to clear snow. Also, trees have been damaged when motorists parked along this side of the Staff Report — Lincoln Way Frontage Road — Parking December 16, 1997 Page 2 street have elected to access Lincoln Way due to the drifts, other than utilize the frontage road. Parking along this section also causes maintenance problems in other periods since the right-of-way is frequently rutted in the parking area where motorists park on the grass shoulder. Grass mowing by City maintenance crews in the right-of- way is also hindered due to the presence of parked vehicles. After performing this evaluation, staff continues to believe that the proposed parking prohibitions are appropriate along the south side of the frontage road from Hickory Drive to McDonald Drive. If Council does not wish to pursue removal of the parking the entire length of the south side, a minimum of 50' from McDonald Drive and Hickory Drive should have the parking prohibited for visibility purposes at the intersections. Jerry Litzel 3408 Tripp St. Ames IA 50014 � d c-2 ) Larry C . Westburg 819 Arizona Ames , IA 50014-3606 /C9 (515) 292-0837 November 18 , 1997 :;. Ames City Council Members ` \� Ref . Frontage road parking. Honorable City Council members : During my five years as crossing guard at Lincoln and Beetle , I have observed parking patterns on Hickory Dr . , and the frontage road between Hickory and MacDonald. Banning parking on the South side of the frontage road creates a parking problem by solving a non-existent problem, without offering a alternate solution. Litzel Village tenants are already double and triple parking in driveways . Restricting parking to the North side of the frontage road can escalate the problem of vehicles blocking sidewalks on Hickory Dr . . The proposed restriction is another do nothing ordinance . That can create an enforcement problem, and affect me when during afternoon school crossing hours . Sincerely, Larry C . Westburg }� Copy: Police department cu 4z 00 M_ a z C) C ° C: C) LLI x c C:) 0 J(] PIDUO(]DA c cu � � Eon �� J(] u0sloo 0 C, Co 70 Ll cl C: 0) 0 Co 0 ZO17#/6 OJ7# 2.t Z 0 (D LOZ17#l 9ZO17# 0 C: Q- 0 0 cu 0 z 0 Cl AJO�DIH 00 0 CL 2 CU L-