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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021.11.15 GT PacketAGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 11/15/2021 Meeting Type: Work Session Staff Contact/Dept.: Molly Markarian/DPW Staff Phone No: 541.726.4611 MAIN STREET GOVERNANCE TEAM (GT) Estimated Time: 90 Minutes ITEM TITLE: MAIN STREET SAFETY PROJECT – DRAFT FACILITY PLAN ACTION REQUESTED: Review draft Facility Plan, community feedback and recommended Springfield policy and code amendments and respond to discussion questions to inform finalizing the Main Street Facility Plan for public hearings starting in early 2022. ISSUE STATEMENT: Since the April 2021 Governance Team meeting, the project team developed and sought feedback from advisory bodies and the broader community on the draft Main Street Facility Plan. The purpose of this Work Session is to: discuss the draft Facility Plan and recommended Springfield policy and code amendments; and seek Governance Team feedback to inform finalizing the Main Street Facility Plan for public hearings starting in early 2022. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 1: Fact Sheet #6 – Draft Facility Plan Attachment 2: Draft Meeting Slideshow Attachment 3: Discussion Questions DISCUSSION: At their April 20, 2021 meeting, the Governance Team provided feedback on an infrastructure solution ‘toolbox’ and recommendations to improve safety for Main Street. At their May 10, 2021 Work Session, the City Council confirmed that the toolbox recommendations met their expectations and direction to date and directed the project team to proceed with drafting the Main Street Facility Plan. This summer, the project team drafted the plan in coordination with the project’s Technical Advisory Committee. Attachment 1 highlights the main points and overall recommendations and links to the draft Facility Plan. Attachment 2 provides an overview of the Draft Facility Plan and key steps needed to implement the Facility Plan, including proposed amendments to the Development Code. This fall, the project team sought feedback on the draft Facility Plan from the project’s Strategic Advisory Committee and the broader community. Attachment 2 also summarizes community outreach efforts, including a Spent the Rent podcast episode, and feedback themes on the draft Facility Plan. During the meeting, staff will review the draft Facility Plan and recommended policy and ordinance amendments. Staff will also review community feedback in more detail and seek Governance Team responses to the discussion questions outlined in Attachment 3 to inform finalizing the draft Facility Plan for public hearings starting in early 2022. MAIN STREET SAFETY PROJECT |20th Street to 72nd Street open What is the Main Street Safety Project? 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. The Oregon Department of Transportation (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. Timeline • Fall 2021: Draft Facility Plan will be shared with the Technical Advisory Committee and Strategic Advisory Committee, adjacent business and property owners, and the community at-large to give feedback. • Fall 2021/Winter 2022: The Planning Commission, Main Street Governance Team and City Council will review the Draft Facility Plan and community feedback. • 2022: Adoption hearings. Project Area Project contact: Molly Markarian City of Springfield 541-726-4611 | info@ourmainstreetspringfield.org https://mainstreetsafety.org Main Street Main Street 28th Street58th Street69th StreetVirginia Avenue Daisy Street Hwy 126DMV Bob Keefer Center Fire Station Riverbend Elementary Thurston High School 72nd Street20th StreetN 42nd StreetFire Station Ridgeview Elementary How to Give Feedback • Email: info@ourmainstreetspringfield.org • Website Comment Form: mainstreetsafety.org then select “Contact Us” • Public Meetings: times and dates to be posted on mainstreetsafety.org • Mail: City of Springfield, Attn. Main Street Safety Project, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, OR Draft Facility Plan The main points and overall recommendation of the Draft Facility Plan are on the back of this fact sheet. You can also review the Draft Facility Plan and give feedback at mainstreetsafety.org. Attachment 1, Page 1 of 2 Fact Sheet #6 Draft Facility Plan Draft Facility Plan The community has reiterated that there really is a serious safety problem on Main Street. Community input and values shaped the goals, objectives, analysis of potential solutions, and final recommendations that address the specific type of crashes that occur on Main Street. The recommended safety solution toolbox approach responds to community desire for simplicity, flexibility, and phase ability, as outlined below. Additional recommended upgrades include low-cost systemic safety upgrades, such as better street lighting and fewer driveways, and accommodating Enhanced Corridor transit. Tools include: Raised medians can do the most to reduce conflicts and move turns to safer locations. They can also make pedestrian crossings safer. The recommended use of raised medians would: • Reduce crashes by nearly half, and limit out-of-direction travel for business access to about 30 seconds, on average (when combined with roundabouts). • Reduce turning conflicts by moving turns to safer locations and create more opportunities for safer pedestrian crossings. Roundabouts instead of intersection signals would: • Improve safety at major intersections. • Reduce congestion. • Make U-turns easier when raised medians are present. • Enable freight trucks to make U-turns. Street cross-section upgrades would balance improvements for walking and biking with property impacts. For most of Main Street, the long-term cross- section would be four feet wider on each side. In Summary, the community has reiterated that: There really is a serious safety problem on corridor. It’s ODOT’s and the City’s duty to tackle the problem. Our approach is sensible and responsible. We do listen and we do care. ODOT and the City will continue to listen to stakeholders and make adjustments in future design phases to ensure the safety, business community, mobility, transportation choices, vital community, and feasibility goals and objectives are met. Plan is Ready for Your Review Visit mainstreetsafety.org to review the entire plan and then provide your feedback. How to Give Feedback • Email: info@ourmainstreetspringfield.org • Website Comment Form: mainstreetsafety.org then select “Contact Us” More options listed on front page. Approach includes: Adjustability: Most of Main Street would get raised medians, but we will adjust their locations to meet the needs of all users. Some of the Guiding Principles we’ll use include: • Keep openings at major intersections. • Allow left turns and U-turns at minor streets where possible. • Keep left-turn access to major traffic generators. • Allow for emergency vehicle access. Gradual change: As we secure funding, solutions such as roundabouts, raised medians, and street cross section upgrades will be added in phases. Chapter 5 of the Draft Facility Plan provides an implementation plan with guidance for which intersections and segments of Main Street to prioritize for safety upgrades based on the project goals and objectives. Location: The plan includes cross-section variations for location-specific constraints and property impacts— not “one size fits all.” Also, the plan recommends constrained cross-section upgrades at first, with minimal widening. Attachment 1, Page 2 of 2 MAIN STREET GOVERNANCE TEAM November 15, 2021 AGENDA Project Context •Purpose, timeline and milestones Draft Facility Plan •Overview with focus on chapters 4 & 5 •Overview of proposed Development Code changes •What we heard Discussion Next Steps PURPOSE STATEMENT 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 Recommendations Draft Facility Plan PROJECT CONTEXT: Why are we doing this? PROJECT CONTEXT: Why are we doing this? PROJECT CONTEXT Winter/Spring 2021 We’reHere PROJECT CONTEXT 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 once DRAFT FACILITY PLAN 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 and construction. •Refines the Springfield Transportation System Plan. DRAFT FACILITY PLAN Divided into 5 chapters, with roadmap to guide readers at beginning •Chapter 1 – Introduction •Chapter 2 –Main Street Needs •Chapter 3 –Solutions Development & Evaluation Process •Chapter 4 –Recommended Toolbox of Solutions •Chapter 5 –Implementing the Toolbox of Solutions DRAFT FACILITY PLAN Chapter 4 –Recommended Toolbox of Solutions •Adjustability –does not promote a “one size fits all” approach but allows for accommodation of site-specific constraints during design. •Gradual Change –solutions must allow for a phased approach for implementation (see Ch. 5). DRAFT FACILITY PLAN Chapter 4 –Recommended Toolbox of Solutions •Roundabouts align with project goals better than traffic signals o Better at relieving congestion o Better for improving safety o Complement raised medians by facilitating U-turns o Opportunity for landscaping to enhance corridor appearance DRAFT FACILITY PLAN Chapter 4 –Recommended Toolbox of Solutions •Raised medians will be greatest contributor to improved safety on Main Street –expected to reduce crashes by 35% •The recommended approach balances safety with accessibility, limiting out-of-direction travel to 30- 60 seconds, on average DRAFT FACILITY PLAN Chapter 4 –Recommended Toolbox of Solutions •Guiding principles included to guide future implementation o Keep full access to arterials and collectors at intersections o Limit out-of-direction travel time o Pair raised medians with roundabouts o U-turns at major intersections and unsignalized intersections o Avoid overlapping turn lanes o Consider left-in access to large traffic generators o Emergency vehicle access o Access to streets with no outlets o Crossing for people walking and biking o Provide two-stage lefts where feasible o Avoid freight routing through neighborhoods DRAFT FACILITY PLAN Chapter 4 –Recommended Toolbox of Solutions Three base cross section designs: •Constrained Width •Balanced Street Width •Active Transportation Enhanced DRAFT FACILITY PLAN Chapter 4 –Recommended Toolbox of Solutions DRAFT FACILITY PLAN Chapter 5 –Implementing the Toolbox of Solutions •Funding Strategy •Project Development •Policy and Plan Coordination •Adoption Process •Phasing •Future Steps (Funding, Design, Construction) DRAFT FACILITY PLAN DRAFT FACILITY PLAN LOCAL POLICY AND ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS Tech Memo #19 (Local Policy & Ordinance Amendments) builds upon Tech Memo #18 (Implementation Overview) •Recommends specific City policy and ordinance amendments to implement Main Street Facility Plan Springfield Comprehensive Plan/Springfield 2035 Transportation System Plan (TSP) Springfield Development Code LOCAL POLICY AND ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS Transportation System Plan, Chapter 5 •Add section describing role of refinement plans •Include reference to Main Street Facility Plan as a relevant refinement plan •Modify intersection performance standards for Main Street to reference Facility Plan •Add reference to Facility Plan in the Safety discussion LOCAL POLICY AND ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS Springfield Development Code Section Summary 4.2-105C Minimum street curb-to-curb widths and minimum street right-of-way widths Amend Section 4.2-105C and footnote 5 to Table 4.2-1 to expand applicability provisions and include standards in “Facility Plans.” 4.2-105M Special Setback Streets Amend subsection 1.b. (Special Street Setbacks) to include specified special setback distances for the Main Street Corridor. The special setback distances correspond to individual segments. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Strategic Advisory Committee Web Updates Fact Sheet Postcard E-Update Spent the Rent Podcast Chamber of Commerce: Government Issues Committee COMMUNITY FEEDBACK: Common Themes –Project & Process Largely heard - •Positive reception for project, enthusiasm for community benefit •Appreciation for project engagement, information, responsiveness •Questions regarding deliverables, stages, outcomes Some shared - •Skepticism that effort and potential corridor impacts worth community benefits •Lower confidence in corridor awareness of project, feedback not addressed as desired •Last minute circumstances, lack of interest, other priorities, online format, general agency distrust influenced decision to not engage COMMUNITY FEEDBACK: Common Themes –Draft Facility Plan Largely heard – •Positive feedback overall, support for specific tools •Toolbox good, allows for a flexible approach to implementation •Concerns for implementation impacts to site access/usage and out of direction travel for residents, customers, freight Some shared – •Doubt that tools address project goals as presented •Suggestions for alternative solution approaches •Reflections on existing out of direction travel for bicyclists and pedestrians, economic impact of bicycle and pedestrian trips PLANNING COMMISSION DISCUSSION We heard agreement: •Overall support for approach and toolbox •Applaud community engagement, with desire to replicate •Plan demonstrates that responded to community •Code update will demonstrate commitment Some shared: •Desire for more enhanced pedestrian crossings, lighting, landscaping, and traffic enforcement DISCUSSION Does the draft Facility Plan: •address Governance Team questions and concerns? •incorporate community feedback as envisioned? •meet your expectations? Questions or concerns regarding local policy amendments? Any additional reflections as we prepare the draft Plan for public hearings? Nov/ODOT Mobility Advisory Dec Committee Springfield City Council Dec Adoption Draft Facility Plan and Policy/Code recommendations Early Public Hearings2022 NEXT STEPS THANK YOU! Contact Molly Markarian Project Manager info@ourmainstreetspringfield.org Comments Project Website www.mainstreetsafety.org Governance Team Main Street Safety Project November 15, 2021 Discussion Questions  Does the draft Facility Plan: • address Governance Team questions and concerns? • incorporate community feedback as envisioned? • meet your expectations?  Do you have any questions or concerns regarding the recommended local policy amendments?  Do you have any additional reflections as we prepare the draft Plan for public hearings?