HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 01 Main Street Draft Solution Toolbox_Recommendations AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 5/10/2021
Meeting Type: Work Session
Staff Contact/Dept.: Molly Markarian/DPW
Staff Phone No: 541.726.4611
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 – DRAFT SOLUTION TOOLBOX & RECOMMENDATIONS
ACTION
REQUESTED:
Review draft solution toolbox and recommendations and community feedback and
respond to discussion questions detailed in Attachment 1 to inform preparation of a
draft Facility Plan this summer.
ISSUE
STATEMENT:
Since the June 2020 Work Session, the Main Street Safety Project team has
developed and sought feedback from advisory bodies and the broader community
on comprehensive safety solutions for Main Street. The purpose of this Work
Session is to: discuss the draft solution ‘toolbox’ and recommendations; and seek
City Council feedback to inform development of the Main Street Facility Plan.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Council Briefing Memo
Attachment 2: Corridor Project History
Attachment 3: Outreach Summary
Attachment 4: Draft Work Session Slideshow
DISCUSSION/
FINANCIAL
IMPACT:
At their June 1, 2020 meeting, the City Council provided feedback on an initial set
of possible infrastructure solutions to improve safety for Main Street. The project
team then refined the initial safety solution options into a comprehensive safety
solution ‘toolbox’ and recommendations, shaped by community input to date, as
shared with the Council in a November 2020 Communication Packet Memo.
The project team has continued to provide opportunities for interested and affected
parties to provide meaningful input to the Facility Plan. Attachment 3 outlines
outreach activities completed to date, including seeking feedback this winter on the
comprehensive safety solutions from project advisory committees, business and
property owners, focus groups and civic groups, and the broader community.
As presented in Attachment 4, staff will review the solution toolbox and community
feedback in more detail during the meeting. Staff will also seek Council input on
the discussion questions outlined in Attachment 1 to inform the development of a
draft Facility Plan in summer 2021.
M E M O R A N D U M City of Springfield
Date: 5/10/2021
To: Nancy Newton COUNCIL
From: Molly Markarian, Senior Planner
Tom Boyatt, Community Development Director
Brian Conlon, Operations Director
BRIEFING
MEMORANDUM
Subject: Main Street – Draft Solution Toolbox and
Recommendations
ISSUE: Since the June 2020 Work Session, the Main Street Safety Project team has developed
and sought feedback from advisory bodies and the broader community on comprehensive safety
solutions for Main Street. The purpose of this Work Session is to: discuss the draft solution
‘toolbox’ and recommendations; and seek City Council feedback to inform development of the
Main Street Facility Plan.
COUNCIL GOALS/
MANDATE:
Maintain and Improve Infrastructure and Facilities
BACKGROUND:
As noted in Attachment 2, there are several existing or recently completed City of Springfield,
Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), and other partner agency initiatives that have
addressed safety and mobility issues along different segments of the Main Street Corridor. In
2016, ODOT programmed $3.9 million to construct raised center median treatments on nearly
five miles of Main Street from 20th Street to 72nd Street. ODOT also offered financial support to
engage property owners, businesses, and the traveling public in a planning process to develop
and document how to address the safety problems on Main Street with a design concept that
provides for the access needs of corridor businesses and accommodates current bus service and
future transit improvements. Having reached a common understanding about the definition of
the project purpose, agency roles, and project decision-making, the multi-agency Main Street
Governance Team1 formally kicked off the Planning Phase of the Main Street Safety Project in
June 2018.
Project Purpose Statement: Springfield’s Main Street is consistently ranked as one of the most
unsafe city streets in Oregon based on the severity and frequency of traffic crashes. ODOT and
the City of Springfield must address this problem to save lives, reduce injuries, and lessen
property damage due to crashes. The purpose of the Main Street Safety Project Planning Phase
is to select infrastructure solutions that will make Main Street safer for people walking, biking,
driving, and taking transit. The selected safety improvements will provide for the movement of
goods and people, support the economic viability of the corridor, accommodate current bus
service and future transit solutions, and complement traffic safety education and enforcement.
Safety Solution Reasons: The Main Street Safety Project is recommending changes to Main
Street to help improve safety and address the specific type of crashes that occur on Main Street.
Data shows that nearly 80% of crashes on the corridor are rear-end and turning movement
crashes, and the primary causes of these crashes are failure to yield right-of-way and following
1 Since 2013, Main Street projects have been coordinated through a three-tiered management structure that incudes project
direction and collaborative decision-making provided by the Main Street Governance Team, comprised of
representatives from ODOT, the City of Springfield, and Lane Transit District.
Attachment 1, Page 1 of 2
5/6/20215/3/2021 Page 2
too closely.
Community Engagement: The project team has been committed to sharing information and
gathering input regarding the needs and issues of the broader community and key stakeholders
related to this planning effort. The project’s Community Engagement Plan, adopted in
September 2018, describes activities the City and ODOT will implement to assure that interested
and affected parties have adequate opportunities to provide meaningful input to the Facility Plan.
Attachment 3 summarizes the outreach completed to date to ensure that community stakeholders
are regularly engaged and consulted and that the City Council and advisory groups have the
benefit of that community input at each major milestone of the planning phase.
Implementation: Over the past two plus years, the project team has been refining recommended
solutions based on community input, technical analysis, and City Council feedback. As noted in
Attachment 4, the Main Street Facility Plan will be the work product that pulls together analysis,
public outreach and design concepts developed during this Planning Phase. Once adopted, the
Facility Plan will serve as a design framework to guide future design and construction of safety
improvements on the corridor. Based on previous transportation revenue for this region, the
revenue that we can expect for any given funding cycle will not be sufficient to fund design and
construction of Facility Plan recommendations for the entire corridor. Thus, all solutions will be
designed and constructed in phases over the next five to twenty years, or beyond. Given funding
timelines, the soonest an intersection and/or segment in the first phase of implementation could
go to design would be 2024 (construction in 2025).
As presented in Attachment 4, staff will review the recommended solution toolbox and
community feedback in more detail during the Work Session. Staff will also seek Council input
on the discussion questions below to inform development of a draft Facility Plan this summer:
• Do the toolbox recommendations meet your expectations and direction?
• Does the toolbox have enough tools to address safety for all of Main Street?
• Are we missing something?
• Do we need to change something about any of the individual elements?
• Do we need to add special considerations or conditions for how to phase safety
upgrades?
• What other outreach should we pursue?
• Which additional groups should we reach out to for feedback?
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Review draft solution toolbox and recommendations and
community feedback and respond to discussion questions detailed above to inform preparation
of a draft Facility Plan this summer.
Attachment 1, Page 2 of 2
City Council Main Street Safety Project May 10, 2021
Main Street Corridor Project History:
Several City of Springfield, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), and partner agency initiatives
are in process or have been recently completed on the Main Street corridor. Collectively referred to as
‘Our Main Street Springfield’, a brief overview of each of these Main Street projects is included below:
• ODOT Safety Study - ODOT’s 2011 Pedestrian Safety Study analyzed existing and future travel
conditions with a pedestrian focus, documented safety problems for pedestrians, and identified
improvement concepts.
• Main Street Pedestrian Crossing Project – Following the 2011 Pedestrian Safety Study, the
City and ODOT have installed seven pedestrian crossing improvements on Main Street at 35th,
41st, 44th, 48th, 51st, Chapman Lane, and 66th.
• Main Street Corridor Vision Plan – Phase I identified the community’s preferred future for
land use and transportation on Main Street between 10th Street and 69th Streets. Phase II (not yet
programmed) would update zoning and development regulations to support incremental
redevelopment to achieve the pattern, mix, and intensity of uses envisioned in the Plan endorsed by
Springfield City Council in 2015.
• SmartTrips Main Street – A comprehensive individual household and business outreach
program aimed at increasing biking, walking, use of public transit, and ridesharing through
education, incentives, and community outreach and events, SmartTrips moved down the Main
Street Corridor from 28th Street to east of 75th Street in three phases from 2014 – 2016.
• Education & Enforcement – Since 2014, the City has produced a series of safety educational
videos, created safety informational cards, distributed materials through multiple channels
including social media posts, and hosted or participated in traffic safety programs and events. The
Police Department seeks grants annually to support increased traffic patrols to enforce speed,
seatbelt, and impaired and distracted driving laws. Enforcement is citywide with an emphasis on
streets that would benefit from additional patrols, including Main Street.
• Main -McVay Transit Study Phases 1 & 2 – Phase 1 (2014-15) identified and evaluated the
most appropriate and promising transit options for the Main Street-McVay Highway. Phase II
(2016, 2019-present) is focused on design specifics to inform the decision-making process and
determine the community’s choice for a preferred transit solution. In 2016, the transit study was
temporarily paused to coordinate planning and community engagement with the Main Street Safety
Project. In July 2019, the Main Street Governance Team recommended removing the EmX transit
mode choice and moving Enhanced Corridor and No-Change options forward for further analysis in
coordination with the Main Street Safety Project.
Attachment 2, Page 1 of 1
Outreach Activity Summary: Fall 2018 – Winter 2021
Page 1 of 2
Main Street Safety Project
The project’s Community Engagement Plan, adopted in September 2018, describes activities the City and
ODOT will implement to assure that interested and affected parties have adequate opportunities to
provide meaningful input to the Facility Plan. Below is a summary of the outreach completed to date:
Advisory Committees: The project team engaged several advisory bodies to provide input on goals,
objectives, and design solutions at key stages in the project.
• Strategic Advisory Committee (SAC) – 5 meetings held to date
o Comprised of 13 key stakeholders representing various interests from within and along the
Main Street corridor and broader community.
• Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) – 8 meetings held to date
o Comprised of 32 members representing key partner agencies, including School District #19,
Willamalane Park and Recreation District, Springfield Utility Board, NW Natural, Century
Link, Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development, Lane Transit District,
Oregon Department of Transportation and City of Springfield.
• Planning Commission – 7 meetings held to date
o Advises Council on comprehensive planning projects. In its capacity as Springfield’s
Committee for Citizen Involvement, the Planning Commission reviewed and approved
project community engagement strategies, as well as appointment of SAC members.
Business and Property Owners: Mailers were sent to business and property owners on the corridor
during each of three major rounds of engagement.
• Fall 2018 – Introductory letter with fact sheet mailed to business on the corridor and property owners
within a ¼ mile of the corridor (906 recipients).
o Hand delivered 50 letters to businesses for which staff did not have an address and capturing
the information for future mailings.
• Summer 2019 – Letter describing the Key Principles for Access Management and opportunities for
formal review mailed to adjacent business and property owners (616 recipients).
o Two Collaborative Discussion meetings held with two participants as a result.
• Winter 2021 – Postcard invitation to attend a Local Access Forum, watch an orientation video, and
review forum materials mailed to adjacent business and property owners (612 recipients).
o Two virtual forums held with approximately 13 participants as a result.
o Project team reached out directly to various corridor businesses and residents to confirm they
had received forum notification, and better understand their questions, concerns, and reasons
for not attending. Feedback ranged from lack of interest, other priorities, online format, and
distrust of City and ODOT.
Title VI1 Communities: Focus groups were held with Spanish-speaking households, elderly, youth,
persons with disabilities, and households in poverty during each of three major rounds of engagement.
• Fall 2018 – Briarwood Senior Living, Catholic Community Services, Downtown Languages, and
Willamalane Two50 Club.
1 Title VI Communities of Concern are defined by the Central Lane MPO as concentrations of one or more key
socioeconomic factors.
Attachment 3, Page 1 of 2
Outreach Activity Summary: Fall 2018 – Winter 2021
Page 2 of 2
Main Street Safety Project
• Winter 2020 – Downtown Languages, and three other focus groups had to be rescheduled to due to
COVID-19 restrictions at the time.
• Winter 2021 – Timber Point Assisted Living, LCOG Disability Services Advisory Council,
Downtown Languages.
Broader Community: The project team has offered opportunities for engagement to the broader
community through different mediums at key project milestones.
E-Updates provided notice of upcoming meetings and online open houses, feedback summaries, and
other key project information.
• 18 E-Updates distributed to Interested Parties list (avg. of 806 recipients per e-update).
Online Open Houses sought input on the project and were promoted via E-Updates, news releases, and
social media posts; and cross promoted in Chamber of Commerce and InMotion newsletters and
announced at LTD Strategic Planning Committee and LTD Board meetings.
• Fall 2018 – Online Open House #1 (attracted 450 unique users and 177 participants provided
comments).
• Spring 2020 – Online Open House #2 (attracted 193 unique users and 63 participants provided
comments)
Community Group Presentations were made to five standing groups at key milestones.
• Spring 2019 – Chamber Gov’t Issues Committee, Twin Rivers Rotary, Springfield Rotary,
Springfield City Club and Springfield Board of Realtors.
• Winter 2020/2021 – Chamber Gov’t Issues Committee, Twin Rivers Rotary, Springfield Rotary,
Springfield City Club and Springfield Board of Realtors.
Website provides all project information in one location and opportunities to communicate with the
project team.
• Members of the public have sent over 100 comments via email, phone, and in-person contact with the
project team.
• Feedback captured during Phases 1 and 2 of the Main-McVay Transit Study from business and
property owners along Main Street has been considered and incorporated.
Attachment 3, Page 2 of 2
CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
May 10, 2021
Attachment 4, Page 1 of 36
AGENDA
Project Process
•Purpose, timeline and
milestones
Draft Solution Toolbox and
Recommendations
•Toolbox elements
•What we heard
Discussion
•Do toolbox recommendations
meet expectations/direction?
Next Steps
Attachment 4, Page 2 of 36
PURPOSE STATEMENT
Attachment 4, Page 3 of 36
PROJECT CONTEXT
Winter/Spring
2021We’reHereAttachment 4, Page 4 of 36
PROJECT CONTEXT
The Facility Plan:
•Pulls together analysis, outreach and design concepts.
•Expresses community values.
•Designs a framework for the project.
•Signals agencies to begin detailed design & construction.
•Refines the Springfield Transportation System Plan.
Attachment 4, Page 5 of 36
PROJECT CONTEXT
Safety
Increase the safety of Main Street for all users
Business Community
Support the viability of existing and future businesses
Mobility
Ensure people and goods travel efficiently and reliably through the corridor
Transportation Choices
Create a multimodal environment that connects people and destinations
Vital Community
Support the vitality of the community and its vision for Main Street
Feasibility
Develop a plan with a clear and achievable approach to implementation
Community
Priorities
Goals &
Objectives
Evaluation
Criteria Draft
Recommendation
Attachment 4, Page 6 of 36
PROJECT CONTEXT:
Why are we doing this?
Attachment 4, Page 7 of 36
PROJECT CONTEXT:
Why are we doing this?
Attachment 4, Page 8 of 36
RECOMMENDATION OVERVIEW
Toolbox and (draft) Recommendations
Intersection
Control
Raised
Medians
Street Cross
Sections
Recommended
Solutions
Simplicity
Attachment 4, Page 9 of 36
STREET CROSS SECTIONS:
Short-Term Recommendation
Attachment 4, Page 10 of 36
STREET CROSS SECTIONS:
Long-Term Recommendation
Attachment 4, Page 11 of 36
STREET CROSS SECTIONS:
Long-Term Recommendation
Most of
corridor:
Balanced
Street Width
Attachment 4, Page 12 of 36
STREET CROSS SECTIONS:
Long-Term Recommendation
Approximately Four Blocks:
Active Transportation Enhanced
Attachment 4, Page 13 of 36
STREET CROSS SECTIONS
Attachment 4, Page 14 of 36
RAISED MEDIAN FRAMEWORK
Openings would allow
left turns/U-turns in
designated lanes.
Mountable edges would
allow emergency vehicles
to cross when needed
Attachment 4, Page 15 of 36
RAISED MEDIAN FRAMEWORK
•Raised medians can reduce crashes by 35%on Main
Street (or 48% when combined with roundabouts)
•Would add only 31 seconds of out-of-direction travel,
on average
Attachment 4, Page 16 of 36
INTERSECTION CONTROL
Divide intersections into tiers of need.
Add roundabouts at intersections with
the greatest need to:
•Improve safety.
•Reduce congestion.
•Make U-turns easier with raised
medians present.
•Enable freight trucks to go the opposite
direction without attempting U-turns.
Roundabout designs would be location-
specific, to be determined in the next phase.Attachment 4, Page 17 of 36
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Strategic Advisory
Committee
Focus Groups and
Civic Groups
Chamber of Commerce:
Government Issues Committee
City Club
Board of Realtors
Twin Rivers Rotary
Springfield Rotary Club
Downtown Languages
LCOG Disability Services
Advisory Council
Timber Pointe Senior Living
Local Access Forums
Other Comment Feedback
Attachment 4, Page 18 of 36
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
Common
Themes
Local
Access
Forums
Focus/Civic
Groups
Broader
Community
Strategic
Advisory
Committee
Attachment 4, Page 19 of 36
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK:
Common Themes –Project & Process
We largely heard people:
•Are excited about the project
•Understand the need
•Appreciate the process and outreach efforts
•Have questions about data, deliverables, stages, outcomes
Some shared:
•Frustration with project speed or outreach approach
•Questions about cost and funding
•Feedback about building in phases.Attachment 4, Page 20 of 36
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK:
Common Themes -Toolbox & Recommendations
We largely heard people:
•Feel positive about the toolbox and recommendations
•Believe roundabouts are good way to improve safety
•Feel pairing roundabouts with medians is critical
•Feel driving slightly further is worth saving lives
•Favor sidewalk upgrades and more bike separation
•Are concerned about access and site usage for residences
and businesses
•Have questions about elements and potential property
impacts Attachment 4, Page 21 of 36
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK:
Common Themes -Toolbox & Recommendations
Some shared concerns about:
•Not knowing how to walk or drive through
roundabouts
•The time needed for the public to learn how to safely
navigate roundabouts
•Out-of-direction travel due to medians
•Freight delivery challenges due to medians
•Whether phasing and design flexibility would
minimize impacts
Attachment 4, Page 22 of 36
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK:
Common Themes -Other
We largely heard:
•Observations of behavior at pedestrian crossings
•Desire to increase traffic enforcement for all
•Desire to decrease posted speed limit, especially in
eastern segment
•An expressed need for improved lighting
Some shared:
•Hope for transit design integration
•Questions about relocating utilities Attachment 4, Page 23 of 36
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
Common
Themes
Local
Access
Forums
Focus/Civic
Groups
Broader
Community
Strategic
Advisory
Committee
Attachment 4, Page 24 of 36
FEEDBACK RUMORS
Project has evolved. Here is what the project is NOT:
•It's not a Lane Transit District project
•It's not EmX
•It would not prevent all left turns
•It would not need extensive new right-of-way
•It's not one size fits all
•It would not be built all at onceAttachment 4, Page 25 of 36
FEEDBACK RUMORS
It’s not a Lane Transit District project.
•ODOT and Springfield are leading the Main Street Safety Project.
•Main Street Safety Project is coordinating with Main-McVay
Transit Study (LTD/City/ODOT project) to plan for transit
elements.
•LTD is an interested party and is providing input in order to
continue providing transit service along Main Street, now and
into the future.
Attachment 4, Page 26 of 36
FEEDBACK RUMORS
It’s not EmX.
•Main-McVay Transit Study had considered EmX, which could
have included dedicated, bus-only lanes on Main Street.
•Main Street Governance Team formally removed EmX from
consideration in July 2019. EmX is not part of this project.
•Enhanced Corridor transit, which will consist of buses
running along the current Route #11, stop amenity upgrades,
and transit travel time improvements, will integrate into the
Main Street Facility Plan.
Attachment 4, Page 27 of 36
FEEDBACK RUMORS
It would not prevent all left turns.
•Main Street would have raised medians, but not continuously
throughout the corridor. There would be gaps.
•Some intersections would have left-turn/U-turn pockets.
•Other intersections would have roundabouts that allow for all
turning movements.
•What’s more, raised medians would have mountable curbs so
emergency vehicles could drive over them when needed.
Attachment 4, Page 28 of 36
FEEDBACK RUMORS
It would not need extensive new right-of-way.
•Toolbox includes cross-section variations for location-
specific constraints and property impacts.
•Along most of Main Street, the proposed future street design
would need four more feet on each side.
•Narrowing the street in physically constrained locations will
happen during the design phase.
Attachment 4, Page 29 of 36
FEEDBACK RUMORS
It’s not one size fits all.
•The project would not involve the same street design and
mix of elements throughout. For example:
o 69th –72nd Streets: consider three-lane cross-section to
help reduce speeds and serve as gateway treatment
between rural and urban areas
o 52nd Street –Bob Straub Parkway: Active Transportation
Enhanced cross-section with raised cycle track and
landscaped buffer
•Toolbox also includes flexibility to modify each street
segment during the design phase.Attachment 4, Page 30 of 36
FEEDBACK RUMORS
It would not be built all at once.
•Design and construction would occur in phases over the next
5 –20 years, as funding becomes available.
•Phases are prioritized based on the project’s Goals and
Objectives, including addressing the highest safety needs first.
•Phasing enables people to see and experience results in early
phases.
•Phasing also allows community members to adjust to new
street design gradually.
Attachment 4, Page 31 of 36
PLANNING COMMISSION &
GOVERNANCE TEAM DISCUSSIONS
We heard agreement that:
•Toolbox is right approach and includes right tools
•Implementation will be an evolution not a revolution
•Phasing is critical to:
allow travelers and those nervous about change to
adjust gradually;
provide flexibility to account for changes in traffic
patterns;
enable people to see results in the short-term; and
facilitate sourcing of funds. Attachment 4, Page 32 of 36
PLANNING COMMISSION &
GOVERNANCE TEAM DISCUSSIONS
Some shared:
•Appreciation for outreach efforts
•Suggestions for next round of community engagement
•Recognition that toolbox provides a path to a safer,
multimodal Main Street
•Support for starting with locations with highest crash
rate/most severe crashes
•Desire for long-lasting solutions that prioritize the
safety of those at greatest risk
Attachment 4, Page 33 of 36
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
•Do the toolbox recommendations meet your expectations and
direction?
•Does the toolbox have enough tools to address safety for all of
Main Street?
•Are we missing something?
•Do we need to change something about any of the individual
elements?
•Do we need to add special considerations or conditions for
how to phase safety upgrades?
•What other outreach should we pursue?
•Which additional groups should we reach out to for feedback?
Attachment 4, Page 34 of 36
Summer Develop Draft Facility Plan
Fall/TAC, SAC, Public Outreach
Winter
NEXT STEPS / NEXT MEETING
Attachment 4, Page 35 of 36
THANK
YOU!
Contact
Molly Markarian
Project Manager
info@ourmainstreetspringfield.org
Comments
Project Website
www.mainstreetsafety.org
Attachment 4, Page 36 of 36