AGENDA #4d
MEMORANDUM
|
TO: |
Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager |
|
FROM: |
George Small, P.E., Engineering Director Kumar Neppalli, E.I.T., Engineering Services Manager |
|
SUBJECT: |
Follow-up Report Regarding On-Street Parking Restrictions on Coolidge Street between South Columbia Street and Dawes Street |
|
DATE: |
January 14, 2008 |
PURPOSE
Enactment of the attached ordinance would prohibit on-street parking on both sides of Coolidge Street between South Columbia Street and Dawes Street. An area map is provided in Attachment 1.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
At its November 19, 2007 meeting, the Council received a staff report recommending prohibition of on-street parking on both sides of Coolidge Street between South Columbia Street and Dawes Street. A copy of the November 19th report is provided in Attachment 2. Several citizens spoke at the Council meeting in support and opposition of the recommended on-street parking regulations. The Town Council referred the report back to the Town staff requesting information regarding on-street parking regulations on the public streets near Coolidge Street area.
Coolidge Street is 18 to 20 feet wide in the area of the 400 block. The street is unpaved with two-way traffic circulation between Dawes Street and Old Pittsboro Street; and it is paved with one-way traffic westbound only between South Columbia Street and Old Pittsboro Road. The posted speed limit is 25 mph and on-street parking is currently allowed by residential permit only on both sides of the full length of Coolidge Street, Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. On-street parking is allowed without permit during the remaining night and weekend times.
As requested by the Town Council, the existing on-street parking regulations on public streets around Coolidge Street are provided in the following table:
|
Street |
Pavement Width (feet) |
Current On-Street Parking Regulations |
|
Coolidge St (between Dawes St and Old Pittsboro Rd) |
18 to 20 (Unpaved) |
No parking except by residential permit, Monday-Friday, 9 am to 4 pm |
|
Dawes St |
18 |
No parking anytime- on both sides |
|
Smith Ave |
17 |
South side: No parking anytime-Tow zone North side: No parking except by residential permit |
|
Old Pittsboro Rd |
16 |
No parking anytime- on both sides |
|
Woodland Ave |
20 |
West side: No parking except by residential permit East side: No parking anytime-Tow zone |
We also note that the survey forms returned to the Town indicated that 8 out of 10 property owners agree to the prohibition of on-street parking on both sides of Coolidge Street between Dawes Street and South Columbia Street.
Staff from the Engineering and Fire Departments conducted field investigations at various times. We observed that, when cars are parked on both sides of Coolidge Street between Dawes Street and South Columbia Street, the street is effectively reduced to one travel lane, inhibiting two-way vehicular traffic and often leaving insufficient travel lane width for reasonable access by fire trucks and routine service vehicles.
Based on our field observations, survey results, and discussions with emergency and routine service providers, we have prepared the attached ordinance that would restrict on-street parking on both sides of Coolidge Street between South Columbia Street and Dawes Street. On-street parking regulations (currently parking by permit) on Coolidge Street between Dawes Street and to its end will allow the residents to continue to park on the street.
CONCLUSION
We believe that the proposed on-street parking restrictions on Coolidge Street would improve access and mobility for emergency and routine service vehicles and local residents and their visitors.
We recommend that the Council enact the attached ordinance that would prohibit on-street parking on both sides of Coolidge Street between South Columbia Street and Dawes Street.
