HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/27/2017Council Work Session
March 27, 2017
Time indicated below
Harold E. Getty Council Chambers
Roll Call.
Approval of Agenda, as proposed or amended.
3:50 p.m. Discussion regarding "Park to Park" Complete Streets Project for
Park Avenue, and present the Committee's recommendation for
moving forward with the project.
Submitted By:Aric Schroeder, City Planner
ADJOURNMENT
Kelley Felchle
City Clerk
CITY OF WATERLOO
Council Communication
Park to Park, Park Avenue Complete Streets Project.
City Council Meeting: 3/27/2017
Prepared: 3/22/2017
REVIEWERS:
Department Reviewer Action Date
Planning & Zoning Schroeder, Aric Approved 3/22/2017 - 10:54 AM
Clerk Office Even, LeAnn Approved 3/22/2017 - 2:44 PM
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
a Waterloo Complete Streets Advisory Committee letter
for Park to Park
SUBJECT:
Submitted by:
Recommended Action:
Summary Statement:
Type
Cover Memo
Discussion regarding "Park to Park" Complete Streets Project for Park
Avenue, and present the Committee's recommendation for moving forward
with the project.
Submitted By:Aric Schroeder, City Planner
Review and provide input on how the City of Waterloo should proceed with
the "Park to Park" complete streets project for Park Avenue.
The proposed project includes reducing Park Avenue from four to two lanes
of vehicular traffic and adding bike lanes. The concept was originally
proposed by Vandewalle and Associates in 2013 and is supported by the
city's Bicycle Accommodation Plan. The Complete Streets Advisory
Committee reviewed and debated whether to pursue a low-cost option for
immediate implementation, or to wait and pursue grant or other funding for a
more extensive project, and the Committee is recommending that the City
move forward with the low-cost option as an interim redesign and
recommend implementation of the project in 2017. The Committee is also
recommending that the bike lanes be installed adjacent to the curbside, and
where existing on -street parking is provided, the parking be shifted over to
be between the vehiclular travel land and the bike lane, which creates a
"protected bicycle lane". The interim redesign is estimated to cost $35,000,
and all work should be able to be completed in-house by Traffic
Operations. The Committee encourage that the City identify funding, such
as existing operating budget, CIP funds, Road Use Tax funds, or other
existing funding sources, to implement the project this year. The Committee
would encourage the City to pursue grant or other funding opportunities to
further improve Park Avenue with bus shelters/pullouts, crosswalk
improvements, improved traffic signals, planters, and/or other
enhancements. Main Street Waterloo has also taken an active role in
supporting implementation of the project.
Expenditure Required: $35,000
Source of Funds: To be determined.
Policy Issue: Complete Streets, Traffic
Alternative:
Background Information:
Waterloo Complete Streets
Advisory Committee
March 2, 2017
The Honorable Mayor Quentin Hart, City of Waterloo
The Honorable Waterloo City Council:
Mr. Tom Lind, At -Large
Mr. Steve Schmitt, At -Large
Mr. Tom Powers, Ward One
Mr. Bruce Jacobs, Ward Two
Mr. Patrick Morrisey, Ward Three
Mr. Jerome Amos, Ward Four
Mr. Ron Welper, Ward Five
RE: Park to Park, Park Avenue Complete Streets Project
Dear Mayor Hart and members of the Waterloo City Council:
At the February 14, 2017 meeting of the Complete Streets Advisory Committee, we discussed options for the planned "Park
to Park" complete streets project for Park Avenue. This concept was originally proposed by Vandewaile and Associates in
2013 and is supported by the city's Bicycle Accommodation Plan.
The Committee debated whether to pursue a low-cost option for Park Avenue immediately, or to wait and pursue grant
funding for a more extensive project. With continued renovation downtown including the SingleSpeed Brewery, Grand
Crossing Condos, TechWorks Campus, Hawkeye Community College Adult Learning Center, and Cedar Valley Sportsplex,
the Committee voted unanimously to support the low-cost option, as an interim redesign, in order to advance the project in a
timely manner and improve traffic safety. The Committee recommends a 2017 implementation of this project, which includes
the following:
• Reducing Park Avenue from four to two lanes of vehicular traffic
• Adding bike lanes adjacent to the curbside
• Shifting the parking lanes over between the vehicular travel lanes and bike lanes
This configuration creates "protected bicycle lanes" which have already been implemented in Cedar Rapids and the Des
Moines metro area. Protected bicycle lanes have the unique safety benefit of separating automobile traffic from bicycle
traffic, resulting in a safer and more comfortable experience for both user groups.
The interim redesign is estimated to cost $35,000 with all work to be done in-house by Traffic Operations. We encourage the
City to identify funding (such as operating budget, existing CIP funds, Road Use Tax funds, or other existing funding sources)
to implement the project this year. We also ask the City to take advantage of grant funding opportunities to further improve
Park Avenue with bus shelters, crosswalk improvements, improved traffic signals, planters, and other enhancements.
Your continued work toward implementation of Waterloo's Complete Streets Policy is greatly appreciated. If you have any
questions relating to this recommendation, please contact me at your earliest convenience.
Sincerel
Felicia Cass, Chair
Waterloo Complete Streets Advisory Committee
cc:
Noel Anderson, Community Planning and Development Director
Eric Thorson P.E., City Engineer
Aric Schroeder, City Planner