AGENDA #5a
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Follow-Up Report on a Petition Regarding Traffic Issues on Cameron Avenue
DATE: January 13, 2003
The following information responds to the petition submitted by Mr. Richard Goldberg regarding a staff report on his request for changes in existing parking regulations and bicycle overlay zones in the Cameron Avenue area.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
At its June 24, 2002 meeting, the Council received a staff report in response to a petition from Mr. Richard Goldberg regarding several traffic issues on Cameron Avenue, Columbia Street and McCauley Street. At its September 9, 2002 meeting, the Council received another staff report (Attachment #1) responding to Mr. Goldberg’s comments on the June 24, 2002 report.
Mr. Goldberg requested that the Town conduct a new study on Cameron Avenue to remove on-street parking. He believes that most cars parked on Cameron Avenue belong to students who can be accommodated by fare free public transit, thereby eliminating much of the need for parking in this area. The Council referred the report to the Transportation Board and Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board to receive their input regarding the current bicycle and parking operations on Cameron Avenue.
Currently, bike lanes are designated eastbound between 7:00 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. and westbound between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. On-street parking is allowed during the hours that the area is not designated as a bike lane. Pedestrians, bicycles, cars, trucks, buses, and existing on-street parking share this corridor.
The following are advisory board comments on the September 9 staff report and staff responses:
Transportation Board Recommendations (Attachment #2):
1. Parking should be removed from Cameron Avenue and bike lanes provided. (The Transportation Board recommends establishing full-time bike lanes by removing on-street parking.)
Staff Response: It is our opinion that the existing striping and parking operations on West Cameron Avenue, which include a center turn lane only at two intersections and alternating use of the on-street parking lanes by both bicycles and cars, is a reasonable compromise that has proven to work well for the last year in meeting the service needs of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians while providing approximately 100 parking spaces during off-peak bicycling hours. We do not recommend any changes to the existing configuration on West Cameron Avenue.
2. If parking cannot be removed along Cameron Avenue, the Transportation Board recommends that Cameron Avenue be re-striped to allow for two automobile travel lanes, striped bike lanes and parking west of Kenan Street. East of Kenan Street, striped bike lanes should be provided and parking removed at all times.
Staff Response: At its December 11, 2000 meeting, the Council approved the current striping on West Cameron Avenue. At the same meeting, the Town Council approved eliminating parking adjacent to areas where center turn lanes remained. West Cameron Avenue between Merritt Mill Road and Pittsboro Street is striped to allow one travel lane in each direction with the center turn lanes at Kenan Street, Ransom Street, Mallette Street, and Merritt Mill Road. Also, on-street parking is prohibited between Kenan Street and Mallette Street because of the existing center turn lanes.
Striped bike lanes and removal of parking on Cameron Avenue west of Kenan Street, as recommended by the Transportation Board, would reduce the number of on-street parking spaces available on Cameron Avenue and, we believe, would transfer the on-street parking demand into the adjacent neighborhoods, exacerbating an existing problem on the neighborhood streets.
We have not observed chronic speeding or an accident pattern on West Cameron Avenue that would suggest that the current shared use plan is creating particular problems for pedestrians, cyclists, or motorists. We do not believe that changes are necessary at this time in the striping or parking regulations on West Cameron Avenue.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Recommendations (Attachment #3):
South side: 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
North side: 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Staff Response: If the “no parking” hours were extended as suggested above, we believe that there would be insufficient on-street parking to meet the daytime demand for parking in this area. We are concerned that this would result in more cars parking in the adjacent neighborhoods, as noted previously. We believe that the current arrangement allows parking during the hours when bicycle traffic is lowest and preserves bicycle lanes when bike traffic is highest. The bicycle count taken on a weekday in spring 2002 reflects a range of 50 to 113 bicycles per hour between 7:00 and 10:00 a.m., compared to a range of 40 to 67 per hour between 10:00 and 3:00 p.m. The highest level of bicycle traffic appears between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. with a range of from 122 to 158 per hour. The present restrictions allow the most parking with the least number of bicycles affected. Please see the bicycle counts in Attachment #2.
2. Parking spaces should be eliminated at intersections and areas where left turns are made.
Staff Response: On-street parking is presently prohibited on West Cameron Avenue near intersections and where a center left-turn lane exists.
3. Parking enforcement should be increased.
Staff Response: Parking Enforcement Officers from the Town Parking Services Division conduct periodic enforcement on West Cameron Avenue. The Town Parking Services Division issued a total of 1120 parking tickets on West Cameron Avenue from January 1 to December 1, 2002. There were 401 tickets issued between 7:00 and 12:00 noon and 719 tickets were issued between 12:00 noon and 5:30 p.m. Cameron Avenue is and will continue to be a priority area for enforcement of parking regulations, to the extent possible with available resources.
4. Signage should be placed at the intersection of Cameron Avenue with Ransom Street to warn turning motorists of the presence of through bicyclists.
Staff Response: We have reviewed the location in question and believe that additional signage at the intersection would improve drivers’ awareness of through bicyclists. The requested signs will be installed within the next few weeks.
CONCLUSION
After evaluating the field conditions and considering board comments and options proposed to accommodate the diverse uses of West Cameron Avenue, we believe that compromises are necessary. It was with this in mind that the existing striping and operational controls were implemented on this multi-use facility. West Cameron Avenue now serves many modes of transportation and provides on-street parking, without it being necessary to entirely exclude any specific use category. It is possible to improve conditions for one user category or another, but not, we believe, without reducing services to another user category.
We think that the existing striping and controls on West Cameron Avenue provide a reasonable compromise for providing adequate services on this multi-purpose street.
MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
That the Council make no changes in the existing striping and operational controls on West Cameron Avenue, with the exception of adding bicycle signage at the intersection of Cameron Avenue and Ransom Street.
If the Council wishes to make changes, the following generic resolution and ordinances can be completed on the floor as appropriate to implement the desired changes.
ATTACHMENTS
1. September 9, 2002 Council Report (p. 7).
2. Summary of Transportation Board Recommendation (p. 18).
3. Summary of Bicycle and Pedestrian Board Recommendation (p.19).
A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE TOWN MANAGER TO HAVE WEST CAMERON AVENUE RE-STRIPED TO ELIMINATE ON-STREET PARKING BETWEEN MERRITT MILL ROAD AND PITTSBORO STREET (2003-01-13/R-5)
WHEREAS, the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill is interested in optimizing the operation of West Cameron Avenue for all users; and
WHEREAS, the Council has considered information on a variety of alternatives for modifying conditions and controls on West Cameron Avenue; and
WHEREAS, the Council has determined that certain changes could be made in re-striping and on-street parking on West Cameron Avenue without jeopardizing traffic operations;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council directs the Manager
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council directs the Manager
This the 13th day of January, 2003.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE TOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING BIKE LANE OVERLAY ZONES (2003-01-13/O-2)
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill as follows:
Section 1. Section 21-27.3 of the Town Code “Bike Lane Overlay Zones” is hereby amended by inserting the following therein, in appropriate alphabetical order:
Cameron Avenue South
Cameron Avenue North
Section 2. This ordinance shall become effective February 10, 2003.
This the 13th day of January, 2003.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE TOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING PARKING AS TO PARTICULAR STREETS (2003-01-13/O-3)
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill as follows:
Section 1. Section 21-27 of the Town Code “No parking as to particular streets” is hereby amended by inserting the following therein, in appropriate alphabetical order:
Cameron Avenue South
Cameron Avenue North
Section 2. This ordinance shall become effective February 10, 2003.
This the 13th day of January, 2003.