Council Communication Office of the City Manager	Date	May 21, 2007
	Agenda Item No. 43 Roll Call No. 07- Communication No. 07-297 Submitted by: Jeb E. Brewer, P.E. City Engineer

AGENDA HEADING:

Amending Chapter 114 of the Municipal Code regarding traffic regulation changes as follows:

A. Adding Parking Metered Space—6^th Avenue between Locust and Walnut Streets.

B. East Village Parking Analysis—Additional Metered Spaced in Vicinity of E. 3^rd Street and E. Court Avenue.

C. Traffic Calming Proposals—41st Street between University Avenue and Forest Avenue.

D. Prohibited Right Turns on Red—Intersections of Hubbell and Easton and E. 33^rd and Hubbell.

SYNOPSIS:

Recommend approval of first reading of the Ordinance regarding the above traffic regulation changes.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Amount: Minor costs.

Funding Source: 2006-2007 Operating Budget, Page 84, Engineering Department Traffic & Transportation – Sign Installation and Maintenance, ENG100413

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

A. Traffic and Transportation has added one parking metered space on the east side of 6th Avenue between Locust and Walnut Streets. This requested change is indicated in the measurement change from 110 feet to 135 feet. An administrative change has been made to move the handicapped parking meters that were listed in Sec. 114-2641 to the correct area, with the other parking meter restrictions in Sec. 114-3881.

Sec. 114-2641. Sixth Avenue‑‑Walnut Street to Locust Street.

Sixth Avenue, parking meter 6-301, on the east side, is designated as a handicapped meter, and is subject to the same prohibition as is found in subsection 114-616(a) of this chapter.

Sixth Avenue, parking meter 6-304, on the west side, is designated as a handicapped meter, and is subject to the same prohibition as is found in subsection 114-616(a) of this chapter.

Sixth Avenue, on the east side, from Walnut Street to a point 110 135 feet north thereof, no parking 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Sixth Avenue, on the east side, from a point 110 135 feet north of Walnut Street to Locust Street, no parking 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Sec. 114-3881. Sixth Avenue‑‑Walnut Street to Locust Street.

Sixth Avenue, parking meter 6-301, on the east side, is designated as a handicapped meter, and is subject to the same prohibition as is found in subsection 114-616(a) of this Code.

Sixth Avenue, parking meter 6-304, on the west side, is designated as a handicapped meter, and is subject to the same prohibition as is found in subsection 114-616(a) of this Code.

Sixth Avenue, on the west side, from a point 220 feet north of Walnut Street to Locust Street, two-hour meters, 9:00 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

B. Traffic and Transportation has been involved in an ongoing review of parking in the East Village. As part of this review it was determined that East Third Street, which is currently signed as a Two-Hour parking area should be controlled with parking meters. All of the adjacent property owners were notified by mail on March 30, 2007, of this proposal to install parking meters in the area from south of East Court Avenue to East Walnut Street on East Third Street. ST Howard Development, the developer of these new loft apartments, concurred with the need to control the parking in this area to the benefit of the residents and the developing retail areas. The following requested ordinance changes will define the parking areas on both sides of East Third Street from a point 207 feet south of East Court Avenue north to East Walnut Street. This will add a combination of 32 long- and short-term parking meters in this area.

Sec. 114-4080. East Third Street‑‑East Court Avenue to East Locust Street.

East Third Street, on the west side, from a point 16 feet north of East Court Avenue to a point 160 95 feet north thereof, ten-hour meters, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

East Third Street, on the west side, from a point 185 14 feet north south of East Court Avenue Walnut Street to East Walnut Street a point 76 feet south thereof, ten-hour meters, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

East Third Street, on the east side, from a point 17 feet south of East Court Avenue Walnut Street to a point 50 feet south of East Walnut Street 40 feet south thereof, four-hour meters, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

East Third Street, on the east side, from a point 158 feet south of East Walnut Street to a point 88 feet south thereof, four-hour meters, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

East Third Street, on the east side, from a point 19 north of East Court Avenue to a point 84 feet north thereof, four-hour meters, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

East Third Street, on the west side, from a point 285 feet south of East Walnut Street to a point 24 feet south thereof, four-hour meters, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sec. 114-4080.01. East Third Street—East Market Street to East Court Avenue.

East Third Street, on the west side, from a point 15 feet south of East Court Avenue to a point 115 south thereof, ten-hour meters, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

East Third Street, on the west side, from a point 185 feet south of East Court Avenue to a point 40 feet south thereof, ten-hour meters, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

East Third Street, on the east side, from a point 30 feet south of East Court Avenue to a point 135 feet south thereof, four-hour meters, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sec. 114-2611. East Third Street‑‑East Court Avenue Market Street to Maple Street.

East Third Street, on the east side, from a point 165 feet south of East Court Avenue south to the intersection with the Norfolk Railroad, no parking any time.

East Third Street, on the east side, from East Court Avenue to a point 30 feet south thereof, no parking any time.

East Third Street, on the west side, from E. Court Avenue to a point 15 feet south thereof, no parking any time.

East Third Street, on the west side, from a point 225 feet south of East Court Avenue to the intersection with the Norfolk Railroad, no parking any time.

East Third Street, on the west side, from a point 160 170 feet north south of East Court Avenue Walnut Street to a point 25 100 feet north south thereof, commercial loading zone.

East Third Street, on the west side, from a point 90 feet south of East Walnut Street to a point 80 feet south thereof, no parking any time.

East Third Street, on the west side, from East Walnut Street to a point 14 feet south thereof, no parking any time.

East Third Street, on the east side, from East Walnut Street to a point 50 17 feet south thereof, no parking any time.

East Third Street, on the east side, from a point 57 feet south of East Walnut Street to a point 101 feet south thereof, no parking any time.

East Third Street, on the east side, from a point 246 feet south of East Walnut Street to a point 99 feet south thereof, no parking any time.

East Third Street, on the east side, from East Court Avenue to a point 19 feet north thereof, no parking any time.

East Third Street, on the west side, from East Court Avenue to a point 16 feet north thereof, no parking any time.

C. Over the past year or so, the residents of 41^st Street between University Avenue and Forest Avenue have had several meetings with City staff to discuss traffic concerns on their residential street. The residents expressed concern that (1) traffic uses this residential street as a “cut-through” instead of using 42^nd Street, which is considered the collector street in the area; (2) there is considerable speeding on the street; and (3) trucks illegally use 41^st Street on a regular basis.

In February 2007, a “focus group” consisting of several of the residents met with Traffic and Police Department staff to discuss various possibilities to alleviate these traffic concerns. This team identified several “traffic calming” options. These generally involved minor modifications at the intersections of 41^st Street at University Avenue and at Forest Avenue in order to deter/prohibit “thru” traffic from using 41^st Street. The team agreed that a survey should be sent to all the residents in this block to solicit their opinions on the various alternatives.

In April 2007, the survey was sent to the 44 residences in this vicinity. Staff received 27 responses. Below is a list of the alternatives, along with the tabulated results of the survey:

A. No changes should be made	Favor: 2 Oppose: 18 No Opinion: 1
B. Prohibit left turn and through movements for southbound traffic on 41^st Street at University Avenue	Favor: 23 Oppose: 4 No Opinion: 0
C. Prohibit left turns for eastbound traffic on University Avenue at 41^st Street	Favor: 22 Oppose: 4 No Opinion: 0
D. Allow parking all day long on the west side of 41^st between University and Forest (remove current 7-9 a.m. restriction)	Favor: 19 Oppose: 5 No Opinion: 4
E. Modify the intersection of 41^st/Forest by adding short median and “knuckle”	Favor: 18 Oppose: 7 No Opinion: 2

The results indicate that a large majority of the responses would like changes to be made, and they favor that all four proposals be implemented.

One comment was received regarding “Alternate D” - the removal of the parking restriction. It suggested that the parking restriction should remain in place on Fridays, which is garbage collection day. This type of restriction, between 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., has been implemented on several other streets in Des Moines to help Public Works staff in this collection.

“Alternate C” - the proposed improvements at the intersection of 41^st Street and University, would be implemented by installing temporary pylons to outline the future median, along with the appropriate “turn prohibition” signing. This would remain in place for several months, at which time the decision to install the permanent median would be made.

“Alternate E” is the proposed improvements at the intersection of 41^st Street and Forest Avenue. The estimated cost of this modification is $35,000, and involves acquisition of a small amount of right-of-way. This work would be accomplished in 2008.

At their May 8, 2007 meeting, the Traffic Safety Committee voted to implement Alternates B, C, and D, but temporarily hold any action on Alternate E because of the costs involved and lack of details. This Alternate E would be brought back to the Traffic Safety Committee at their September 2007 meeting. The following changes to the Municipal Code are necessary to place these changes into effect.

Sec. 114-2921. Forty-first Street‑‑Grand Avenue to north city limits.

Forty-first Street, on the west side, from a point 125 feet north of University Avenue to a point 100 feet south of Forest Avenue, no parking 87:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Sec. 114-320.01. Prohibited left turns.

(12) At the intersection of Forty-first Street and University Avenue, prohibiting left turns and through movements from southbound Forty-first Street to and/or across University Avenue.

(13) At the intersection of University Avenue and Forty-first Street, prohibiting left turns from eastbound University Avenue to Forty-first Street.

D. Fire Station No. 3 has requested a No Right Turn on Red sign for traffic on southbound Hubbell Avenue so vehicles will not proceed past the “Stop Here on Red” sign in order to make a right turn on red and block the Fire Station driveway.  In an emergency these vehicle become “trapped” and are forced to go through the red light in order for the emergency vehicle to exit the driveway. A No Right Turn on Red sign is also needed due to limited visibility at the intersection of E. 33^rd and Hubbell.  Visibility for southbound vehicles on E. 33^rd Street looking east to make a right turn on red to travel westbound on Hubbell Avenue is obstructed by the bridge over Four Mile Creek. The following revisions to the Municipal Code will put these restrictions into effect.

Sec. 114-257.01. Prohibited right turn on red.

(2) At the intersection of Easton Boulevard, Avenue Frederick M. Hubbell and East Twenty-fifth Street, prohibiting right turns from eastbound Easton Boulevard to southbound East Twenty-fifth Street or westbound Avenue Frederick M. Hubbell or prohibiting right turns from southbound Frederick M. Hubbell Avenue to westbound Easton Boulevard.

(10) At the intersection of East Thirty-third Street and Frederick M. Hubbell Avenue, prohibiting right turns from southbound East Thirty-third Street to westbound Frederick M. Hubbell Avenue.

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION(S): NONE

BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S): TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

Date: May 8, 2007

Roll Call Number: N/A

Action: The Traffic Safety Committee voted to implement Alternates B, C, and D, but temporarily hold any action on Alternate E because of the costs involved and lack of details. This Alternate E would be brought back to the Traffic Safety Committee at their September 2007 meeting.

ANTICIPATED ACTIONS AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS:

Second and third readings of ordinance.