Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 01 Main Street Corridor Vision Plan and Traffic Safety AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 3/9/2015 Meeting Type: Work Session/Reg. Mtg Staff Contact/Dept.: Brian Barnett, DPW Linda Pauly, DPW Staff Phone No: 726.3681 726.4608 Estimated Time: 60 minutes S P R I N G F I E L D C I T Y C O U N C I L Council Goals: Maintain and Improve Infrastructure and Facilities ITEM TITLE: MAIN STREET CORRIDOR VISION PLAN AND TRAFFIC SAFETY ACTION REQUESTED: Provide direction to staff concerning Council’s priorities for short term and long term traffic safety implementation actions in the Main Street Corridor. ISSUE STATEMENT: Traffic and pedestrian safety along Main Street is a significant and long standing concern to our community. Public input received through the Main Street Corridor Vision Plan land use and transportation visioning process has confirmed the importance of and community support for implementing additional measures to improve safety. Staff will report on existing actions and present recommended short and long term traffic safety actions available to the City upon its initiative and those requiring Oregon Department of Transportation approval, support and funding. ATTACHMENTS: 1 – Council Briefing Memo - Main Street Corridor Vision Plan and Traffic Safety 2 – Main Street Vision Plan Short Term and Long Strategies 3 – Main Street Vision Plan - Council's Implementation Priorities 4 – Main Street Traffic Safety – Police Department Memo DISCUSSION/ FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Main Street Corridor Vision Plan (adopted by Council on February 17, 2015) identifies a new broad, achievable vision: the transition of Main Street to a “complete community street” that will provide enhanced opportunities for successful commerce and corridor redevelopment as Springfield grows. The Plan identifies specific vision statements, goals, activity nodes, redevelopment opportunity sites, and potential implementation strategies for three distinct “segments” along 7 miles of Main Street between Downtown and Thurston, based on what we’ve heard from the community, and in response to existing and expected future conditions in the corridor. Recommended implementation strategies from the Vision Plan — including actions to address safety — are listed in Attachments 2 and 3 to provide context for Council’s discussion of potential short and long term priorities. The recent tragic collision has drawn the attention of many in the community placing further focus on Main Street. The community aspires to a Main Street that provides safety and mobility to users of all travel modes. Traffic safety along Main Street is a significant and long standing concern in our community. Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), owner and operator of the street, completed a traffic safety study in February 2011 that included a variety of actions and they began funding pedestrian crossing improvements in 2012. The City of Springfield began managing the property owner and business owner contact, design and construction of these crossing projects by agreement with ODOT in 2013. In light of the recent vehicle and pedestrians collision staff undertook immediate enforcement action to improve safety. See Attachment 4 for a summary of Police Department traffic enforcement activity. Staff recommends ongoing and sustained enforcement of traffic laws on all modes of travel. Staff recommends short and long term actions and collaborations with ODOT as discussed in Attachment 1. M E M O R A N D U M City of Springfield Date: 3/9/2015 To: Gino Grimaldi COUNCIL From: Anette Spickard, Interim DPW Director Brian Barnett, Traffic Engineer Linda Pauly, Principal Planner BRIEFING Subject: Main Street Corridor Vision Plan and Traffic Safety MEMORANDUM ISSUE: Traffic and pedestrian safety along Main Street is a significant and long standing concern to our community. Public input received through the Main Street Corridor Vision Plan land use and transportation visioning process has confirmed the importance of and community support for implementing additional measures to improve safety. Staff will report on existing actions and present recommended short and long term traffic safety actions available to the City upon its initiative and those requiring Oregon Department of Transportation approval, support and funding. COUNCIL GOALS/ MANDATE: Strengthen Public Safety by Leveraging Partnerships and Resources Maintain and Improve Infrastructure and Facilities Traffic safety along Main Street is a significant and long standing concern to our community and may be improved by a coordinated effort to: 1) improve infrastructure that fosters safer behavior, 2) traffic law enforcement that punishes unsafe behavior, and 3) education and encouragement of safer behavior by our community members. BACKGROUND: The principle tools to impact street user safety are Engineering, Education, Enforcement, Emergency Response, and Evaluation. This memorandum is focusing on Engineering, Education and Enforcement. Emergency Response and Evaluation are beyond the scope of this effort. Staff is hearing many ideas from the community, traffic safety professional staff, and general staff groups for safety enhancement. We will continue to actively seek input, evaluate and implement the best practices. Below is an outline of the recommended actions in the short and long term. The City of Springfield may act unilaterally in the Education and Enforcement areas. Springfield Police Department has increased enforcement patrols along Main Street. Engineering actions require the approval and support, and presumably funding support, from ODOT since they own and operate the street as Highway 126. Short Term Actions: • Encourage community sourced ideas, consider the most effective ideas and implement with community support. – Development and Public Works Department (DPW) • Continue increased enforcement hours on Main Street and publicize regularly – Police Department (PD) Attachment 1, Page 1 of 4 MEMORANDUM 3/4/2015 Page 2 • Promote use of existing education materials presently on the City web site, kiosk brochures, and other media through public service announcements on radio and television, MetroTV, and social media, etc. – DPW • Support Springfield Public Schools Safe Routes to Schools (SR2S) outreach to students in Spring of 2015 – DPW & PD • Refocus the annual Public Works Week reaching middle school age children concerning bicycle and pedestrian safety education and incorporate SR2S (see example below) – DPW • Evaluate increased support for Safety Town, an education program aimed toward prekindergarten children with high school students as teachers (see example below) – DPW Attachment 1, Page 2 of 4 MEMORANDUM 3/4/2015 Page 3 • Post traffic safety messages on street banner sites, traffic signal controller cabinets and other public sites – DPW • Reduce speed limit – ODOT o Main Street – reduce current 40 MPH zone to 30 MPH o Highway 126 north of Main Street – reduce from 55 MPH to 45 MPH for southbound traffic approaching Main Street • Apply for safety project funding through the All Roads Transportation Safety (ARTS) program – DPW & ODOT • Reduce actual travel speed by street cross section alterations – DPW & ODOT o Narrow each lane to create the appearance of a narrower street using striping methods. o Complete a test project as a reversible, low cost, proof of concept that can be removed if it is counter-effective. • Install a reflective border on traffic signal backplates (see example below) – ODOT Attachment 1, Page 3 of 4 MEMORANDUM 3/4/2015 Page 4 Long Term Actions: • Install street illumination – DPW o At pedestrian crossing projects o At transit activity areas and transit stops o Along the entire corridor • Revisit the Main Street Safety Study – ODOT & DPW o Implement identified but unfunded actions – ODOT o Update the plan to reflect new circumstances, policies, and regulations – ODOT & DPW • Install Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons (PHB) east of Hwy 126/Bob Straub Parkway in the higher speed area - ODOT • Redesign Main Street consistent with the Main Street Corridor Vision Plan and other relevant resources – ODOT & DPW RECOMMENDED ACTION: Authorize staff to redirect resources to accomplish the short term actions that fall under City of Springfield authority, to seek approval from ODOT for actions it is obligated and authorized to undertake, and to begin work on the long term actions with appropriate partners. Attachment 1, Page 4 of 4 Main Street Corridor Vision Plan City of Springfield Excerpts from the Vision Plan Addendum: Implementation Strategies and Actions Transportation, Transit and the Public Realm Short-term Strategies (2015-2020) The following actions are compatible with existing ODOT plans and policies. Strategic Goal Action Encourage multimodal transportation choices. Install additional bicycle parking facilities in Segment 1 and the Activity Nodes consistent with recommendations of the Region Bike Parking Study. Coordinate with the Regional Transportation Options Plan (RTOP) to fully implement transportation options. Evaluate the construction of additional pedestrian crossings utilizing innovative solutions like the Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) or the Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB).1 Implement a bike boulevard on Virginia Street and Daisy Street to serve as a parallel Main Street bicycle route on the south side of Main Street. Determine type, location and cost for pedestrian and bicycle way-finding signage and initiate installation. Update and maintain the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan as part of a larger city-wide plan to address deficiencies in the existing system. Determine locations for additional roadway lighting to improve nighttime visibility, especially of pedestrians crossing the street. Strategic Goal Action Encourage slower speeds along the Main Street corridor. Explore landscaping options such as medians with foliage that would have a traffic-calming effect while providing streetscape enhancement and/or stormwater management functions. Evaluate a potential need for speed feedback signs in Segment 1 and identify specific areas to implement Attachment 2, Page 1 of 8 them.1 Strategic Goal Action Improve mobility and safety throughout the Main Street corridor. Identify potential signal-head and phasing modifications to ensure safe and efficient travel. Work with ODOT to implement the Draft short-range Expressway Management Plan (EMP) improvements identified for the Hwy 126 and Main interchange Provide a balanced, context-sensitive approach to addressing future land uses and transportation needs in the corridor. Identify any necessary signal timing improvements to ensure the most efficient movement of traffic. Implement access management through land use development. Long-term Strategies (2020-2035) Most of the following actions would require concurrence by ODOT and must meet AASHTO NHS standards, regardless of jurisdiction. Strategic Goal Action Encourage pedestrian and bicycle activity along the corridor. Evaluate the benefits and feasibility of protected bike lanes. Evaluate the ability to expand sidewalk and bicycle facilities and amenities either by acquiring additional right of way or narrowing the vehicular travel lanes. Strategic Goal Action Encourage slower speeds along the Main Street corridor. Explore the option of narrowing motor vehicle lanes. This will have the added benefit of increasing the area available for widening sidewalks along the corridor. Explore the option of transforming key signalized intersections into dual-lane roundabouts. Strategic Goal Action Improve mobility throughout the Main Street corridor. Assess the potential for installing new LED Street lights along the entire corridor. Prepare Access Management Plan that integrates business owners and their access needs, zoning and development code updates and opportunities to improve the safety and appeal of pedestrian and bicycle trips throughout the corridor. 1 Specific location recommendations for Segments 2 and 3 can be found in a previous DKS Associates Report: Springfield Main Street (OR 126) Safety Study. 2011 Attachment 2, Page 2 of 8 Projects and Programs Project and programs for transportation choices are closely related to efforts to improve the public realm and transit facilities on Main Street. They all serve multiple objectives of improving safety and mobility for all users and enhancing the visual attractiveness of Main Street. Main Street Safety Study – Phase II A potential “next-step” program could be to extend the recommendations given in the Springfield Main Street Safety Study into Segment 1 because it currently applies only to Segments 2 and 3. Previously, the Springfield Main Street Safety Study received funding, and most of the spot locations recommended also have approved funding from ODOT (around $1 million worth). However, the plan only covered Segments 2 and 3. Identifying similar improvement and strategies for Segment 1 would build on the prior successes and potentially facilitate funding opportunities and agency support. 1 Specific location recommendations for Segments 2 and 3 can be found in a previous DKS Associates Report: Springfield Main Street (OR 126) Safety Study. 2011 Transit Goals for Main Street Short-term Strategies (2015 -2020) Improving the convenience and frequency of service and access to transit will address mobility challenges, help maintain household affordability and open up new economic opportunities along the corridor. Strategic Goal Action Encourage comfortable bicycle and pedestrian access to existing transit stops. Evaluate the need to install additional pedestrian crossings near transit stops. Undertake neighborhood walkability assessments that include access to Main Street transit stops. Assess the need for pedestrian and bicycle way-finding signage. Assess opportunities for neighborhood bike boulevards that provide connectivity to Main Street transit stops. Long-term Strategies Jointly Undertaken with LTD (2015 -2020) Partnership is a way to leverage funding sources for public realm infrastructure, provide education and information about transit’s contribution to community livability and to jointly pursue opportunities to stimulate new jobs and housing. Attachment 2, Page 3 of 8 Strategic Goal Action Encourage comfortable bicycle and pedestrian access to transit. Coordinate pedestrian crossing improvements and transit stations along Main Street. Extend, and create pedestrian and bicycle linkages within neighborhoods adjacent to Main Street in order to improve access to transit. Encourage transit- supportive redevelopment. If BRT is selected for future service on Main Street, the City and LTD can development incentives, infrastructure investments, business recruitment and streetscape improvements with planned transit stations wherever possible. Assess current park-and-ride facilities in the corridor and how existing or future facilities could be more effectively integrated into or coordinated with the City’s vision for Downtown redevelopment and redevelopment scenarios for the corridor consistent with 2030 Plan and TSP policies. Effective businesses outreach and support. The City and LTD should target local businesses for support of transit through a coordinated framework for communication, early planning, advertising and business retention strategies for the corridor. Continued stakeholder involvement. A coordinated framework of communication, education and participation in planning efforts that targets Main Street property owners and businesses. Projects and Programs If BRT service is planned for Main Street, the following activities could be collaboratively undertaken by the City and LTD. BRT Station Design Workshops Engage the community in workshops to explore context-sensitive design opportunities for transit stations. Transit stations can provide transit system identity as well as Main Street identity. High- quality transit stations also provide additional urban design opportunities for a comprehensive streetscape plan for Main Street, particularly a plan that integrates public art and wayfinding. Attachment 2, Page 4 of 8 Station Area Planning Collaborate with LTD to facilitate station area planning at for the Activity Ngodes along Main Street. Station area plans should address redevelopment feasibility, infrastructure needs, public space and gateway opportunities and infrastructure needs. Require development concepts and specific project implementation strategies consistent with the Main Street Corridor Vision Plan. Business Support Program During Construction The City should partner with LTD to offer a business support program during constructions. Potential elements of the program include efforts to minimize construction impacts and provide construction timing information. Additional services might include marketing and technical support, free business workshops and low-interest loans to affected businesses. Public Realm Enhancements Short-term Strategies (2015-2020) These strategies are intended to result in relatively low cost design studies and conceptual plans. The plans can be used to identify long-term funding sources and to update the implementation strategy. Strategic Goal Action Attractive sidewalk corridor. Complete a comprehensive design plan for Main Street and South A Street within the project area. Update the Wayfinding Action Plan to include all of Segment 1. Develop a Main Street public art program with an emphasis on identified activity nodes. Initiate a Pilot Parklet Program for the Main Street in the Downtown District and Segment 1. Strategic Goal Action Attractive development consistent with the vision statements. Evaluate zoning and comprehensive plan updates, including innovative codes that emphasis building form and the public realm while providing flexibility for uses. Utilize a storefront improvement program along Main Street. Coordinate plans for public realm enhancements with Attachment 2, Page 5 of 8 transit station area planning in order to help focus and incent transit-supportive development. Long-term Strategies (2020-2035) These strategies emphasize implementation through construction. They will require long-term efforts to acquire funding based on short-term planning or an on-going source of project funding. Strategic Goal Action Attractive sidewalk corridor. Undertake demonstration projects in areas of high visibility based on a comprehensive street design plan for the project area (see short-term strategies). Strategic Goal Action Attractive development consistent with the vision statements. Actively engage in storefront improvement projects. Evaluate potential public-private joint development projects with potential for high-quality design. Attachment 2, Page 6 of 8 Projects and Programs Initiate conceptual public realm planning through a Request for Proposals process. Upon completion of a plan, update the implementation strategy to reflect to reflect long-term phasing and implementation of the projects. Plans should identify funding sources for construction. Main Street Corridor Streetscape Plan Engage the community in completing a conceptual design plan for Main Street within Segments 2 and 3 and South A Street within Segment 1. This will be a coordinated effort to bring together businesses, citizens and community organizations in developing design themes, guidelines and concepts for a corridor streetscape. In addition to streetscape and public art features, the plan can address street lighting, potential roadway and intersection reconfigurations and right-of-way impacts. Main Street Public Art Plan Develop a public art plan for project area with an emphasis on installation opportunities in the Couplet Area and in the activity nodes along Main Street. Include local public artists and the community in developing art themes and guidelines. Establish a proposal and selection process and funding support. Coordinate with public art planning for downtown and future BRT stations. 1 Parklets should be initiated in conjunction with traffic calming measures. Projects and Programs Communication Strategy with Businesses and Property Owners Establish a regular means of communication with the property owners and businesses in the area. An email list serve can be used to quickly and efficiently inform them of plans and expected changes. Identify a staff person at the City who would be the point of contact for these parties if they have a question or a concern. Make it easy for them to contact the City. Short-term Strategies (2015-2020) Communicate with property owners. Planning staff can communicate with property owners to ensure they are aware of visions and goal of this plan, plans to revise the Zoning Code and the The “Garden Street” Plan Determine support for developing a unique sidewalk corridor enhancement plan for Main Street between 10th Street and 23rd Street (Segment 1). The plan would emphasize the “greening of Main Street” and the garden history of Springfield. This unique streetscape will be a transition between Downtown and the Mid-Springfield Corridor. Plan elements might include street trees and furnishings, street corner landscaping, wayfinding, public art and showcase stormwater management best practices. Pilot Parklet Program for Main Street Parklet programs have been initiated around the world. Parklets temporarily convert on-street parking spaces into public spaces to enjoy. The goal is activate the streets, provide downtown open spaces and support economic vitality of businesses. Develop a Pilot Parklet Program for Main Street that includes the Downtown District and Segment 1 of this plan. Evaluate the success of the pilot program to determine if a permanent parklet program should instituted.1 Attachment 2, Page 7 of 8 planning process associated with the BRT. Keeping owners apprised of planned changes may affect owners’ development plans. Update Zoning Code. Update zoning to be fully supportive of the visions and goals of the Main Street Corridor Vision Plan. See Zoning and Plan Updates for specific recommendations. Concepts for Future Zoning and Plan Updates A priority implementation action is an update of the City Zoning and Development Code and the land use designations identified by the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan (Metro Plan). A comprehensive plan and zoning update will follow adoption of the Main Street Corridor Vision Plan. The concepts are: • Apply and Modify Existing Zoning Districts • Create a New Plan District • Create a New Form-Based Code No concept is being recommended over another at this point. Whatever updates are ultimately adopted should bear in mind these common objectives: • Create a favorable environment for public and private investment. • Encourage quality development. • Enhance the public realm as design continuity for the corridor. Attachment 2, Page 8 of 8 Short Term Implementation Priorities Main Street Corridor Vision Plan At the April 21st, July 14th, and November 3rd 2014 work sessions, Council identified projects that could be initiated in the shorter term to advance Council’s land use and transportation priorities for Main Street and implement new visions for the Corridor. Staff requests confirmation that these are the items Council wants staff to work on next. If directed by Council to do so, these items will be discussed at future work sessions or during budget discussions. 1 Improve pedestrian crossings and connectivity. Design and implement more pedestrian crossings and crosswalk design treatments with lighting. (DPW) Two more crossings are planned and programmed for construction. Additional analysis, planning and design would be required for crossings not identified in the 2010 study. 2 Update land uses and zoning. Initiate plan amendments and zoning update (Main Street Corridor Plan Phase Two) to accommodate growth and more mixed use in the corridor aligned with the Vision Plan and Springfield 2030 Comprehensive Plan policies. (DPW) There was positive support from the Mayor and Council for initiating the zoning update as Phase 2 of the Main Street Corridor project, at the April 21st work session and in previous work sessions to discuss the Scope of Work and TGM grant for Phase One. 3 Design and construct parallel bike routes. (DPW) DPW received funding from ODOT Transportation Enhancement funding to start the Virginia Avenue/ Daisy Street Bike Boulevard parallel bike route project. 4 Initiate implementation of the Wayfinding Plan (CMO, DPW) 5 Initiate a Springfield Public Art Program modelled on Downtown McMinnville’s program. (Arts Commission/DPW) Staff Pauly and Cure and Jim McHugh (NEDCO) discussed this item with Mayor Lundberg on Feb. 2nd. Mayor suggested this could be combined with intersection improvements (e.g. lighting and landscaping) at key intersections / activity nodes. 6 Initiate an expanded Façade Improvement Program (CMO) 7 Identify and implement options to reduce traffic speeds. Analyze effectiveness and cost of different options and present staff recommendation to Council (DPW) Attachment 3, Page 1 of 1 M E M O R A N D U M - CITY OF SPRINGFIELD COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE ________________________________________________________________ DATE: March 2, 2015 TO: Brian Barnett (Traffic Engineer) From: Captain Richard Lewis SUBJECT: Main Street Safety ________________________________________________________________ Traffic Engineer Barnett, In regards to short term solutions to increase safety for Main Street, I will explain the Police Department’s current efforts in order for you to assess and comment on how they correlate with your Department’s recommendations regarding this issue. To provide some historical perspective regarding traffic enforcement on Main Street: we have conducted 2698 traffic stops in 2014 that showed Main Street as the location of the stop. The CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) lists the location of where the officer stopped the violator. Therefore, many of the stops that could be attributed to Main Street may not have been captured due to the driver pulling down a side street and the officer would then give a location other than Main. We have one officer in the evening hours who specializes in DUII enforcement and has been very successful in apprehending intoxicated drivers. SPD Officers as a whole arrested 549 DUII drivers last year (2014) and of those 549 arrests 147 occurred on Main Street. Again this number could be affected depending on the exact stop location as mentioned above. Springfield has suffered 12 fatal accidents on Main Street within the last decade. Of those (12) incidents (6) were vehicles colliding with pedestrians, 5 were vehicles colliding with other vehicles and (1) was a vehicle vs bike. Regarding the 6 incidents of pedestrians being struck (4) were not in the crosswalk at the time of collision. A short term solution that the PD can provide is to increase its traffic enforcement of Main Street. Patrol Officers will concentrate their efforts on violations that contribute to traffic crashes. Specifically, officers will be looking for speed violations, failure to obey traffic control devices, careless driving, DUII, failing to yield to pedestrians and pedestrians who fail to utilize crosswalks. Our increased enforcement will come from refocusing priorities for our 3 motor officers plus hiring officers on an overtime basis to provide dedicated enforcement on Main Street. Patrol Officers do not always have Attachment 4, Page 1 of 2 the time throughout their shifts to work traffic, therefore by utilizing overtime and refocusing our motor officers we can have more of a consistent and immediate response. Respectively Submitted: ___________________ Richard Lewis, Captain Attachment 4, Page 2 of 2