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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-0802 Documents Submitted at Mtg W To: Ashland City Council � road Regarding Proposed Temporary Road Diet for North Main Street I am strongly in favor of the proposed temporary road diet. I travel the North Main corridor almost daily in my commute to work and other activities. I also try to cycle or walk when traveling locally. As we enter the city a sign welcomes us and announces that Ashland is a "bike friendly community'. Motorist view: Most frequently I am a motorist. We desperately need a center turn lane on North Main. The current four lane configuration without turn lanes causes cars that are turning left to stop in the left hand lane.Through traffic must then choose: change lanes or wait?This ultimately slows transit.Then when traffic again moves the tendency is to speed to "catch up". I travel at the speed limit and am often passed by other motorists exceeding the speed limit. Designated turn lanes, as planned in the Road diet, would allow for protected turns and improve flow as those traveling would not need to stop for persons who are waiting to turn. The road diet reduces the number of vehicle lanes from four to three-not two as some opponents state. Pedestrian view: Crossing North Main St is not safe except at traffic lights, which are few and far between. Cyclists who are not comfortable traveling in the road use the sidewalk as an alternative lane. I don't blame them, but it makes walking more risky. It's just not a pedestrian friendly route. Many visitors to our town stay in accommodations along North Main and that street is the simplest and most direct route for them to use to walk to the downtown area.The road diet would make walking a safer and more enjoyable experience for residents and visitors alike. Cyclist view: Cycling on North Main can be difficult and dangerous. I am a skilled cyclist and I've completed the League of American Bicyclists certificate for safe cycling. I strive to follow the rules of the road and to ride safe and ride friendly. North Main St does NOT have a bike lane.Those who state that the road diet will "widen the bike lane" are incorrect.There are NO bike lanes on North Main currently. There are only fog lines which only confuse motorists and some cyclists. As a cyclist I travel in the right hand traffic lane, as close to the right as is safe, as Oregon law prescribes. Because there is a fog line on the right, motorists (and sometimes other cyclists) are often confused, thinking that there is a bike lane. The area to the right of the fog line is dangerously narrow for a bicycle to operate. Some motorists become irate and I have been the victim of rude gestures, honking, and sometimes dangerous aggressive behavior by drivers that try to squeeze me over farther to the right. Even motorists who are trying to pass carefully come uncomfortably and dangerously close when they choose not to change lanes to pass. A bonafide bike lane would improve safety for both motorists and cyclists.The Greenway is not a feasible alternative if one is traveling to locations within town. And finally, cyclist do have the right to share the road. Citizen view: As a citizen of Ashland I'm very thankful for the work that has been done on this project by the Transportation Commission. I appreciate the City councils vision to foster multimodal transportation in the city of Ashland.After countless hours of study, planning, listening to citizen input and expert consultation (hired by the council) the transportation commission at the behest of the council has come up with a workable plan. Refinements have been made based on citizen concerns. The proposal is temporary and this seems prudent.This plan has worked in communities all over the United States and the general response is"Give us more!" If we aren't going to listen to the opinion of experts and the recommendations of commission members then why bother to even have them? It seems really rude to ignore the work of volunteers who are serving our city in this way. I know that there is opposition to the proposal, but if a small group can basically shout down a proposal then what is the role of democracy in our community? I urge you to adopt the proposal as submitted. Sincerely, G 0 Nancy Keeley 78 N Third St Ashland, OR 97520 Why the Transportation Commission(TC)supports the Road Diet and its immediate 1mplemen anon: 4( � State Law, the Oregon Highway Plan, the Regional Transportation Plan, the city's Transportation System Plan(TSP), (,] City Council goals,and the mission of the TC all state: 'Future transportation projects will encourage the promotion of multi- modal travel." (TC note:multi-modal is not"anti-cae'it is ALL modes-cars, bikes,pedestrians, skaters, segways, etc.) • The TC is tasked to solve transportation problems in Ashland.North Main is arguably the city's worst problem,and the TC has been presented a viable solution by traffic professionals/experts. • Extensive data show these 3-lane Road Diets work;we've not been presented an example of Road Diet failure. • Chief Holdemess has stated N. Main is the city's biggest safety problem due to speeding.Road Diets have been proven to calm traffic,allowing greater roadway efficiency and safety for all travel modes. • The Road Diet will be funded almost exclusively by ODOT, with a very small match(less than$50,000; includes 'fuming things back'to existing conditions if warranted)to be made by the city. • There are some urgencies with this project:safety and money.As proposed,most TC members(5-1)realize this pilot project may show that left turn prohibitions at some streets could in fact negate,and thereby save the city an expensive($1million)road realignment With tax monies in mind,some TC members think it financially prudent to implement the less costly Road Diet ASAP while realignment research proceeds. • Deaths have occurred on N.Main,most recently in 2005. We have therefore reasoned that a proposed temporary project proven to: 1)prevent fatalities;2)decrease all types of crashes;3)calm traffic;and,4)allow more multi-modal travel, is the reason for our decision. • RVTD has not informed the TC.they oppose this project Along with anyone fuming left anywhere on N.Main, buses "bottleneck"the street now.Few bus pullouts exist in the city;calmed traffic resulting from the Road Diet may result in an 7-22 extra seconds(per the project engineers)of travel time between Helman/Jackson St. • There is public support for this project.It's not costly, it's temporary,and it's been proven to enhance safety., This is a win-win for the city while some neighborhoods temporarily experience traffic pattern changes by their neighbors. The TC concluded safety for the town should take priority over altered localized tragic issues. • We see this project as justified.Every expert we've heard from has proven with data/other evidence that Road 'Diets work. Such proposals enhance safety for all, and they calm traffic,solving the very problems that have been identified. We have not been shown how this is unsuited to Ashland, only how it helps. Without facts to refute these professional/traffic expert findings, we felt support for the project was more than justified. • To summarize,the TC's decision to support the Road Diet as proposed was made because:1)it's state/local mandate;2)it inexpensively solves the city's worst traffic problem;3)it's endorsed by the Chief of Police%ther traffic professionals;4)it promotes safety for all people and all modes of travel(residents and visitors);5)it will serve to calm traffic to the posted speeds;6)it's financially prudent; 7)it does not change traffic patterns to levels of street'failure'anywhere in the travel network;8)it doesn't preclude any realignment research, which we feel should continue;9)it's temporary only;and, 10)given the professional evidence,facts,and testimony of traffic experts, with no professional counter-argument from anyone in the past year(we have listened for this), the TC determined this was the best decision to make. We feel these facts have led us to the only decision we could possibly make in our mission to serve the needs&ensure safety of the majority of all Ashland's citizens. • This project is a temporary/"pilot"project only.Data shows traffic patterns will change as a result of the project,but professional traffic engineers assure the changes can easily be handled by the local street system. We have trusted these professionals to give us the correct information,as locals have trusted professionals before:i.e.:Siskiyou Blvd. • ' Having said all of the above, TC members do acknowledge that some folks in the community state this project is a surprise for them. Hearing that, TC members are willing to work with those of us opposed to this project in light of three facts: 1)this is a temporary project only;2)it is a project that may become permanent,,and,3) since this project is "pilot"TC members think it would be invaluable to continue to have "running"Input from those who find problems during project implementation. TC members are most concerned with project approval as soon as possible, the main reason being the uncertainty that ODOT monies currently dedicated to the Road Diet will be available a year from now. Staff seems assured the money will still be ours in a year. Some TC members think the$lmillion realignment of Hersey/Wimer simply may not be necessary if the council chooses to implement the Road Diet immediately. An expenditure of$15k towards a temporary Road Diet could negate the expenditure of overa$lmillion in realignment fees;some TC members are then convinced this is a financially prudent course of action. Our last statement concerns Bailey Hill Road in Eugene. When Eugene staff was questioned about that Road Diet's implementation they stated the neighbors WANTED the project because of a pedestrian fatality. Eugene City Council was then onboard as well and the Road Diet was quickly approved. However, Eugene City Staff did indicate that the public process went for a few months(as has been accomplished here). If council decides to approve the project under the condition of realignment at Hesery/Wimer, TC members do realize the opportunity for more public input thus raising consensus towards the pilot project The TC has no preference either way(approve to implement now or next year) the TC just seeks Council approval. J� 44yyl �rr�l►r �\ 11AV :17ISKIYOU� Siskiyou Velo Bicycle Club PO Box 974 Ashland,OR 97520 July 27,2011 Mayor and City Council City of Ashland 20 East Main St Ashland,Oregon 97520 Dear Mayor Stromberg and Councilors, I am offering written testimony regarding the proposed "road diet" project for North Main Street on behalf of the Siskiyou Velo Bicycle Club. The Siskiyou Velo Bicycle Club supports the proposed"road diet" project reconfiguring North Main Street to a travel lane plus bicycle lane in each direction with a center turn lane from the current two travel lanes in each direction. We believe that the proposed re-stripping will increase safety for both motorist and bicyclist and enhancing the livability of the north Ashland neighborhood. Providing on-road bike facilities such as designated and marked bicycle lanes improves safety by separating bicycles from motorized traffic allowing for safer overtaking of bicyclist by motorist. Accommodating bicyclist with separate on-road facilities increases the sense of safety,encouraging less experienced cyclist to substitute bike trips for motor vehicle trips. Curb side bike lanes also provide added buffer space between motor vehicles and pedestrians,encouraging walking as an alternative to motor vehicle trips. While improved safety for bicyclist is intuitive to most folks,the proposed configuration with center turn lane will also reduce the frequency of motor vehicle accidents. The current four lane configuration does not have turn lanes. Left turning vehicles increase the likelihood of"rear end" collisions. In addition to the potential conflict caused by slowing or stopping vehicles initiating a left turn from the"fast lane", trailing vehicles are more likely to execute sudden lane shifts to the"slow lane"to avoid delays caused by the turning vehicle. The lane change movement both increases the possibility of accidents and has a slowing effect on traffic movement. A frequently heard concern regarding the re-stripping from four lanes to three plus bike lanes is that mdtor vehicle traffic capacity will be reduced. Moving left turning vehicles from the"fast lane"to the center turn lane significantly mitigates the reduction in capacity. We understand that the City's engineering studies concluded that the delay at peak traffic hours would be measured in seconds. The Kittleson&Associates, Inc(Mark Butoroe,PE) memorandum to the City of Ashland(Jim Olson)re: Road Diet—White Paper, Project#10633.07 dated January 31, 2011 identified the following"road diet" Siskiyou Velo Bicycle Club City of Ashland—North Main Street Road Diet Plan benefits: Improved traffic flow Reduced conflicts/crashes Attractive environment for pedestrians and bicyclists I would like to cite the US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration document, "Bikesafe:. Bicycle Countermeasure Selection System", Report FHWA-SA-05-006,dated May 2006 [FHWA Report] in support of the proposed North Main Street"road diet' plan. The FHWA Report includes a similar"road diet"case study where San Francisco restriped Valencia Street to three lanes plus bike lanes from a four-lane arterial street. Valencia Street had an Average Daily Traffic(ADT)of about 22,000 vehicles per day. It served a shared- use area of 2 to 3 story buildings with commercial ground floor space and residential units above. The trial basis study replaced about 1.8 miles of four traffic lanes with single traffic lanes plus center turn lane and curb side bike lanes in 1999. The FHWA Report notes that signal timing was set for smooth progress at 25 mph and the speed limit reduced from 30 mph to enhance neighborhood livability. The Valencia Street case study included an analysis comparing baseline data collected before the"road diet'conversion with post conversion data. Following conversion,ADT dropped by about 10%. (The San Francisco street grid included parallel routes,diverting 10%of the traffic from Valencia Street). The FHWA Reports Valencia Street case study found that total collisions declined by 20%. The report noted that: "Although bicycle collisions increased by approximately 50 percent the increase was outpaced by the 140 percent rise in [bicycle]ridership along the street. This net decrease in collision rate for cyclist mirrors the increased comfort cyclist report feeling along the street". The FHWA Report concluded that: "Although the project was initially controversial within the local department of transportation and some members of the community,the general consensus is that the project is a success. Bicycling along the street has increased dramatically.... Collision rates for cyclist have dropped on the street. The merchants association has show support for the road diet that made the street seem like more of a destination rather than through arterial" I would like to conclude by encouraging the City of Ashland to try the North Main Street"road diet" plan as a tool to both increase safety and to encourage use of bicycles as an alternative to private motor vehicles. Respectfully submitted, Edgar J. Hee Vice President,Advocacy 2 Board&Staff. Hal Anthony Jimmy MacLeod Jean Mount Steve Rouse Pan'rangible Peppe -ail Sa ah Vae Mike alker ��U/ f' ,�a2D �;T., P.O.Box 443 Williams,OR 97544 i r�( Advocating for a more livable&sustainable 541.846.1083 www.rogueadvocates.org WV vc&y LLL���� Rogue Valley through responsible land use a 1000 Friends of Oregon affiliate July 27, 2011 Mayor Stromberg and the Ashland City Council 20 E. Main St. Ashland,OR 97520 Rogue Advocates is a nonprofit organization that works in Jackson and Josephine counties to preserve farmland,forestland and open space and advocates for the sustainability and livability of communities in the Rogue Valley.On behalf of our members in both Ashland and region-wide,we are writing in support of the Ashland North Main Road Diet Project. Currently Rogue Advocates is spearheading a Smart Growth educational and policy campaign called"Envision the Rogue Valley,"in which we are working towards a collaborative, community-led vision for a more livable,sustainable Rogue Valley region. One of our three focus areas is reducing our dependence on driving.Our prolific use of the automobile as the primary means of getting around our community contributes to congestion,greenhouse gas emissions and pollution in a region that is already air-quality impaired by EPA standards.Unfortunately,our dependence on the car is getting worse: Between 1990 and 2005 our region increased its vehicle miles traveled per person by 13 percent. Clearly,we need to be finding solutions to fix this growing problem. The Road Diet is one of these solutions.Ashland has become a model of sustainability in our region,as has been evidenced by its decision during the Greater Bear Creek Regional Problem Solving Process to contain future growth within its existing urban growth boundary. It is also seen as a sustainability model across the state. In Cool Planning:A Handbook on Local Strategies to Slow Climate Change,for example,Ashland is highlighted as one of the Oregon cities that has"invested in their centers and adopted land use regulations that promote higher densities, mixed use,good design,and building a walkable setting" (pg. 39).The Road Diet project can serve as yet another model for sustainability in our region and our state,and is an integral first step to providing other options for getting around our region and leading to reduced VMTs per person. Again, Rogue Advocates is in full support of the Ashland Road Diet as a model for sustainability in our region.We ask that,as the body of decision-makers representing a city that purports to champion sustainability,the City Council please make the right decision and support the Road Diet as well. Yours truly, /s/Sarah Valle Sarah Vaile Program Director, Rogue Advocates Su Rolle surolle3 @gmail.com 541.482.0093 August 2, 2011 To: City Council Re: N. Main Road Diet My name is Susan Rolle. My husband, Wayne, and I have lived at our home (311 High Street) in Ashland since 1983. Before that I lived on Central Avenue in a home purchased in 1978. 1 am very familiar with the traffic patterns in our neighborhood and changes that have occurred for over 30 years. While 1 have actively supported the greenway and bike paths through our town, I do not support this pending proposal without further study. We have seen a significant increase in traffic on Manzanita Street over the years since expansion of the properties above Grandview. Cars come down Manzanita at alarming speeds and the intersections with the offset High Streets can be hazardous. High Street between Wimer and Mazanita is difficult to negotiate due to cars parked on both sides of the street. There is room for only one car to pass at a time. Can you imagine what will happen with significantly more vehicles on this street? The increased impacts to High Street were not addressed in the Kittieson and Associates Study in the memorandum dated June 8, 2011. There is a reference to the traffic flow between Wimer and Manzanita on High, but no impact study. If cars coming from the plaza or other locations in Ashland cannot access Wimer from Main Street, they will be heading up Manzanita, turning on High and moving toward Wimer. We can be sure they will not be traveling slowly as if they had children in the neighborhood. I am also concerned about the process of this proposal. It seems very much a push without much opportunity for those of us who don't get the Tidings. It has seemed rushed and narrow. As I understand this, the City Staff did not support this immediate implementation, but recommended waiting. For the council to proceed with a go decision lacking staff support and without more community support seems dead wrong at this time. S oIly, le