AGENDA # 4d
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Response to a Request for On-Street Parking Restrictions on Aberdeen Drive at the Greenway Crosswalk in Southern Village
DATE: January 9, 2006
PURPOSE
This is in response to a request from the Parent Advisory Council at Mary Scroggs Elementary School for on-street parking restrictions on both sides of Aberdeen Drive in the vicinity of a greenway crosswalk in Southern Village.
The attached ordinance would prohibit parking within 100 feet from the greenway crosswalk on both sides of Aberdeen Drive in Southern Village. Please see the map presented in Attachment 1.
We recommend enactment of the attached ordinance.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The Parent Advisory Council at Mary Scroggs Elementary School requested that the Town prohibit on-street parking near the crosswalk at the greenway crossing on Aberdeen Drive in Southern Village. In the request, the Parent Advisory Council noted that parents often park cars on Aberdeen Drive near the crosswalk to drop off children, to walk children to the school, and/or to wait for children coming from the school. When cars are parked near the crosswalk, traffic congestion occurs and sight visibility for pedestrians and drivers is reduced.
The Police Department received a similar request, and recommended prohibiting on-street parking adjacent to the crosswalk. A copy of the Parents Advisory Council request is provided in Attachment 2.
The pavement width on Aberdeen Drive is 24 feet, with curb and gutter and sidewalk on both sides. The posted speed limit is 25 mph and the street is maintained by the Town.
During our field investigation, we observed several cars parked and/or waiting near the crosswalk during the school drop-off and pick-up periods. The parked/waiting cars resulted in some traffic congestion and restricted visibility to and from pedestrians crossing Aberdeen Drive at the subject crosswalk. We also observed several children, and others, using the greenway crosswalk to cross Aberdeen Drive.
We believe that prohibiting on-street parking near the greenway crosswalk on Aberdeen Drive would improve the traffic circulation and pedestrian safety in the area. We also note that there is an existing drop-off/pick-up area provided directly in front of the school.
CONCLUSION
Based on our field investigations, and requests from the Scroggs School Parents Advisory Council, we believe that restricting on-street parking near the greenway crosswalk on Aberdeen Drive would improve traffic circulation and pedestrian safety in the area. We have discussed the proposed on-street parking restrictions with the principal of the Scroggs Elementary School and Southern Village Homeowners Association representatives, and they agree with the proposed parking restrictions. If the proposed parking restrictions are approved by the Council, Town parking enforcement staff would implement periodic enforcement in the area.
That the Council enact the attached ordinance that would prohibit parking on both sides of Aberdeen Drive within 100 feet of the greenway crosswalk in Southern Village.
1. Area Map (p. 4) and Aerial Photo (p. 5).
