#3 Presentation of Milwaukee & Court two-way traffic study
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM
October 5, 2010
TO: City Council
FROM: Carl J. Weber P.E., Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: Report on Milwaukee Street/court Street Two-Way Conversion
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council defer any action on this study pending review
and comment by the Downtown Development Alliance (DDA). It is anticipated that
the DDA could complete a review by early 2011.
City Manager’s Recommendation
The City Manager concurs with the Public Works Director’s recommendation.
Suggested Motion
I move to receive and place on file the Milwaukee Street/Court Street Two-Way
Street Conversion Study and to defer any action until which time the Downtown
Development Alliance reviews the study and returns its consensus comments to
the Council.
Request
Council members Rashkin and Steeber asked that this study be presented to the
Council.
Background
Subsequent to the conversion of Franklin and Jackson Streets through downtown
to two way traffic, the City hired Ayres and Associates to study Milwaukee and
Court Streets to evaluate the feasibility of converting those two streets to two way
traffic as well. The final draft of the study was submitted to staff in August of 2010.
A summary was presented to the DDA Board on 8/9/10 with a request for review
and comment. The DDA referred the report to its Traffic and Parking Committee. A
summary was also presented to the Transportation Committee for informational
purposes on 8/11/10. The following is a text version of those summaries:
Milwaukee/Court Street Two-way Conversion Summary
Three alternatives were evaluated:
Alternative 1(Base scenario)
-Both Milwaukee and Court would be converted
from one-way to two-way commencing at Atwood Avenue on the east. Milwaukee
Street east of the Five-point intersection would be cul-de-saced, diverting traffic to
Centerway on the west end of the conversion. Cost $1,777,680.
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Alternative 2-
Both Milwaukee and Court would be converted from one-way to
two-way from Atwood Avenue on the east to the Five-point intersection, on the
west with only westbound Milwaukee Street access remaining open to the Five-
points. Cost $1,415,900.
Alternative 2A-
Following the review of the costs associated with Alternative 2,
which required a costly reconstruction of the Five-points, Alternative 2 was
adjusted to allow Milwaukee to remain one way west of Laurel Avenue and Court
Street to remain one-way west of Academy Street. Cost $481,550.
Each alternative in the study included $242,910 for a traffic signal interconnect
system. However, an independently planned and funded controller replacement
project will provide that function, negating its need for consideration as part of a
two-way conversion.
The consultant evaluated the conversion of Court Street to two-way from Atwood
Avenue east to Randall Avenue. However, traffic volumes on Court Street
increased from 6,000 to 8,200 vehicles per day in the residential area east of
Atwood Avenue. Based on that significant amount of traffic increase and the
potential negative impact on the residential area, the two-way conversion was
restricted to Atwood Avenue.
Significant Findings of the Study
Daily traffic volumes on Court and Milwaukee will remain relatively similar to
existing volumes observed with the one-way system under all Alternatives.
Under the “base scenario” traffic signals would have to be installed at the
intersection of Academy and Centerway. Signals would not be required at
Academy Street under Alternative 2A.
The conversion of Milwaukee Street and Court Street to two-way streets
would only marginally affect on-street parking
Single unit trucks (less than 30 feet in length) could be accommodated with
the two way conversion of Milwaukee and Court with the removal of the
curb bump-out at the Milwaukee Street intersection with Main. However,
the Court Street and Milwaukee Street intersections with Main Street and
Parker Drive will not accommodate the turning radius of semi trailer trucks
under the two-way street operation without intersection improvements
including ROW acquisition.
Recommended improvements include:
Updating traffic signal timings and traffic control equipment at each
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traffic signalized intersection.
Updating signing and pavement markings to accommodate the new
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traffic movements.
Installing traffic signals at the intersection of Centerway and
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Academy Street for the “Base” scenario.
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The DDA will again be discussing this matter at its 10/6/10 board meeting. Staff
feels that the DDA is an appropriate group to gather and organize the thoughts
and concerns of the affected downtown businesses and to provide to the Council
that group’s perception of the benefits and/or detrimental impacts of a two-way
street conversion to business downtown. With the upcoming holidays, it is
expected that it will take into early 2011 to complete that process.
cc: Eric Levitt, City Manager
Jacob J. Winzenz, Assistant City Manager/Dir. of Administrative Services
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