HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated November 13, 2001 T
Item # 35
Date: November 13, 2001
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: ESTABLISHING "EMERGENCY SNOW ROUTE" DESIGNATIONS
ALONG ASH AVENUE AND LYNN AVENUE FOR THE NEW CYRIDE BUS ROUTE.
BACKGROUND:
A new CyRide bus route has been established this past October along Knapp Street,
Ash Avenue, and Lynn Avenue as part of the "ISU Circulatory" gold route. It serves the
needs of ISU students and staff residing in this campus area who need alternate
transportation to ISU classes. CyRide busses circulate along this route every 20
minutes during daytime periods (7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) on weekdays only. It is a "free"
service for students and has been very popular.
With this new bus route, "Emergency Snow Route" designations need to be established
along Ash Avenue (Lincoln Way to Knapp Street) and Lynn Avenue (Lincoln Way to
Knapp Street) to ensure safe and reliable service. ("Emergency Snow Route"
designations already exist along Knapp Street from Ash Avenue to Sheldon Avenue
since it has been a bus route.) Of these new segments, emergency snow route
designations are especially needed along Ash Avenue from Knapp Street to Lincoln
Way due to the existing heavy parking utilization. The Ash Avenue segment is very
difficult to plow after snowstorms since vehicles are often parked along both sides of the
street. Currently, Ash Avenue (Lincoln Way to Knapp Street) has an alternate side
parking designation with a turnover period from 9:00 p.m. to Midnight. No parking is
allowed on either side of Lynn Avenue from Lincoln Way to Knapp Street.
"Emergency Snow Route" designations have enhanced the priority and level of snow
removal activities along major arterial streets and bus routes. On streets with
"Emergency Snow Route" designations, parking is prohibited from the time the snow
ordinance goes into effect until the snow removal operations have been completed for
the entire width of the street and it has stopped snowing. Vehicles found to be parked
in violation of this designation are towed at the owner's expense to an impoundment lot.
As part of this measure, staff will place supplementary "red" flags on snow emergency
signs placed on Ash Avenue to enhance their visibility during the winter season. In
addition, staff will provide extra information concerning the snow route regulations to the
area residents.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve "Emergency Snow Route" designations along Ash Avenue (Lincoln Way
to Knapp Street) and Lynn Avenue (Lincoln Way to Knapp Street) to accommodate the
new CyRide route along these streets.
CAF — Emergency Snow Route
November 13, 2001
Page 2
2. Do nothing and allow parking during snow emergencies on Ash Avenue and
Lynn Avenue.
MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
It is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt alternative
number 1, thereby approving the ordinance to establish "Emergency Snow Route"
designations along Ash Avenue (Lincoln Way to Knapp Street) and Lynn Avenue
(Lincoln Way to Knapp Street) to accommodate the new CyRide route along these
streets. Due to the approaching snow season, staff requests that standard procedures
be waived so that this ordnance can be approved as early as possible.
Although the new route was initiated by students from the area and is perceived
to be positive, there is a negative aspect to this new route because many
students use these streets for parking. The permanent parking regulations
involve alternate side parking. The student's vehicles will need to be moved off
of the streets totally whenever the snow emergencies are declared and the
available spaces in the area are very limited.
COUNCIL ACTION: