2018-164 Back-in Parking on HickoryDate: November 9, 2018 Report No. 2018-164
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Provide an overview of back-in parking on Hickory and recommendations for continued
enforcement of back-in parking spaces.
BACKGROUND:
Staff has received several recent inquiries regarding the potential of either reconfiguring the back-
in parking on Hickory Street or suspending back-in parking enforcement for designated spaces.
Back-in parking along Hickory Street was a part of the “Hickory Grand Street” capital project.
The project spanned from the Downtown A-Train Station to Locust Street and included new
pavement construction, sidewalk widening, implementation of Americans with Disabilities Act
standards, landscaping, parking reconfiguration, pedestrian lighting, and power supply for future
growth. The total project budget was $3,232,882. Attachment 1 provides an overview of the
funding sources used to complete the Hickory Grand Street project.
Project History
On Aug. 28, 2012, the City Council approved a professional services agreement with Michael
Baker Jr. Inc., a local multi-discipline engineering firm for the design of the Hickory Grand Street
project. Early drafts of the project design included back-in parking along Hickory Street as a way
to accommodate motorists and enhance safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.
On Feb. 5, 2013, staff provided City Council with a project update that was specifically focused
on parking options for Hickory Street. The Feb. 5 presentation (Attachment 2) explained the
advantages of back-in parking over traditional head-in angled parking. Advantages listed include:
• Drivers can pull out directly into the travel lane rather than needing to back out into
oncoming traffic;
• Drivers are better able to see oncoming traffic and bicyclists;
• Car doors open such that they block access to the street and guide pedestrians to the
sidewalk, particularly safer for children;
• The trunk of the car is accessed from the sidewalk rather than the street for loading;
• Back-in parking better accommodates on-street handicapped parking; and
• While parking, drivers have an “eye-to-eye” line of sight with approaching road-users.
During the Feb. 5 presentation, staff also acknowledged that there are disadvantages of back-in
parking including:
• Uncommonness and unfamiliar format for drivers;
• Confused drivers u-turning and pulling front-first into spaces from the opposite travel lane;
• Cars hanging over sidewalks and exhaust directly emitted onto sidewalks; and
• Difficulty in backing-up into a space if the car behind follows too closely.
Date: November 9, 2018 Report No. 2018-164
At the conclusion of the Feb. 5 presentation, staff agreed to consult with the Traffic Safety
Commission and Downtown Taskforce on the proposed project. Minutes from the Feb. 5 meeting
(Attachment 3) reflect that the consensus of Council was to proceed with back-in parking.
On July 19, 2013, Michael Baker’s consultant team held a public meeting to gain input from
residents and business owners prior to completion of the Hickory Grand Street project design.
Approximately 50 stakeholders attended the July 19 meeting, where general project concerns were
raised, including comments about back-in parking. Staff provided a project update to the City
Council at the Sept. 10, 2013 meeting that included an outline of stakeholder feedback provided
at the July 19 public meeting and provided additional information on the benefits of back-in
parking. These materials are included in Attachment 4.
On Nov. 18, 2014, the City Council unanimously passed Ordinance 2014-384 that, amongst other
provisions, established back-in only parking requirements. The ordinance (Attachment 5) states,
“it shall be an offense to park a vehicle in a parking space that is designated as a back-in parking
space in any manner other than by backing into the parking space.”
Enforcement
The back-in parking spaces on Hickory Street were designed to slow the movement of vehicles
and enhance safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and alternative modes of transportation. Chapter 18
section 18-91.54 of the City’s Code of Ordinances requires drivers to properly use back-in parking
spaces. Proper use of back-in parking is enforced throughout the day by parking officers and is
monitored by patrol officers during the night and evening hours.
The table below shows the number of parking citations issued in the 100-400 blocks of E. Hickory
Street from 2014 (prior to the opening of back-in parking spaces) and each year through 2018.
From 2016 to 2017 there was a marked decrease in the number of citations issued, this is likely
due to residents becoming more familiar with and accustomed to the use of back-in parking spaces.
Parking
Citations Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec TOTAL
2014 12 3 8 28 6 1 1 1 60
2015 2 28 202 126 137 74 53 34 53 8 45 762
2016 60 148 130 136 50 164 128 131 88 82 71 50 1,238
2017 50 84 87 52 30 98 38 59 8 17 16 3 542
2018 11 6 33 63 26 16 27 29 1 2 214
TOTAL 123 238 278 465 235 423 295 278 132 154 96 99 2,816
Date: November 9, 2018 Report No. 2018-164
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends continued enforcement of back-in parking on Hickory Street. This
recommendation is primarily due to safety concerns. When drivers improperly pull head-on into
back-in spaces, they have to cross over a live lane of traffic which adds more complexity and
increases the chances for other drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists to collide. The tables below depict
traffic accident data and the types of accidents for 2014 (prior to the opening of back-in parking
spaces) and each year through 2018 in the 100-400 blocks of E. Hickory Street. The number of
accidents per year has leveled off since the implementation of back-in parking and there have only
been two accidents that resulted in an injury since 2014.
TRAFFIC
ACCIDENTS JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC TOTAL
2014 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3
2015 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 3 2 1 1 3 13
2016 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 2 0 0 8
2017 4 1 2 0 0 1 1 0 1 10
2018 2 1 0 3 1 1 0 0 8
TOTAL 2 4 1 3 5 1 2 7 7 5 1 4 42
TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 TOTAL
Hit & Run 6 4 3 2 15
Injury Crash 2 2
Minor Crash 3 6 4 5 5 23
Crash - Private Property 1 1 2
TOTAL 3 13 8 10 8 42
In addition to safety concerns, back-in parking was an integral component to Hickory Street’s
complete street design. The project required a significant capital investment and would have to be
reconfigured if we want motorists to be able to safely head-in park along Hickory Street.
Date: November 9, 2018 Report No. 2018-164
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 – Hickory Street Grand Project Funding
Attachment 2 – February 5, 2013 Work Session Materials
Attachment 3 – Minutes from February 5, 2013 Work Session
Attachment 4 – September 1, 2013 Work Session Materials
Attachment 5 – Ordinance 2018-384 (Back-In Parking)
STAFF CONTACT:
Rachel Wood
Chief of Staff
(940) 349-7718
Rachel.Wood@cityofdenton.com
CITY OF DENTON
HICKORY STREET GRAND PROJECT
Funding Sources and Expenditures
Source Amount Notes
Other Funding 587,172 Part of the proceeds of the sale of Facilities Management building from DCTA
Tree Fund 11,310 Tree Fund proceeds specifically for trees in this projects
G.O. Bonds 1,777,971 G.O. Bonds - As authorized by City Council Resolution R2010-037
G.O. Bonds 950,000 G.O. Bonds - As authorized by City Council Resolution R2012-027
General Fund 2,300 General Fund contributions
G.O. Bonds (95,871) G.O. Bonds - Project closed with excess repurposed to other street projects
Total Funding 3,232,882
Purchase
Vendor Order Amount Description
Michael Baker Jr Inc 159410 332,628 Project design
Bowman Melton Associates Inc 164681 5,559 Planning & Zoning meetings
Jagoe Public Company 168519 2,750,399 A Paving, drainage, electric, construction, tree-upsizing
W&M Environmental 168993 11,450 Ghost Tank Removal
Impress Graphics 168994 2,425 5 sets of plans
D&S Engineering 169082 4,431 Material testing
Floyd Smith Conrete Inc 177513 2,471 Remove concrete, wheel chair ramp
Stripe-a-zone Inc 177649 2,732 Pavement marking
Floyd Smith Conrete Inc 177685 4,279 Remove concrete, wheel chair ramp, signs and detours
Miscellaneous N/A 116,508 City engineer labor and miscellanous items
Total Expenditures 3,232,882
Jago Public Company Detail - PO 168519
Miscellaneous 275,160 Bonds, general conditions, signs, erosion, temp pavement, traffic control set up
Paving Improvements 1,246,007
Drainage, Water, and Irrigation Improvements 468,640
Electrical Improvements 90,159
Hardscape Improvements 300,927 Concrete, pavers, etc…
Planting Improvements 228,102
Manholes 36,472
Signs and Dumpsters 104,932
Total Jagoe PO 168519 Expenditures 2,750,399 A
1 f' .
ORDINANCE NO. 2014-3$4
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS, AMENDING THE PROVISIONS
OF CHAPTER 18 RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES AND TR.AFFIC BY REPEALING
SECTION II OF ORDINANCE NO. 93-109 WHICH PROVIDES FOR DIFFERENT
DEFINITIONS OF "COMPACT CAR" AND "COMPACT VEHICLE" THAN THE
DEFINITION ADOPTED BY THIS ORDINANCE; BY AMENDING SECTION 18-1
DEFINITIONS" TO ADD A DEFINITION FOR "COMPACT MOTOR VEHICLE"; BY
ADDING SECTION 18-91.52 ESTABLISHING ADDITIONAL PARKING REGULATIONS
REGARDING PARKING IN SPACES DESIGNATED FOR COMPACT VEHICLES ONLY;
BY ADDING SECTION 18.91.53 REQUIRING THAT ALL VEHICLES PARK WITHIN
DESIGNATED PARKING SPACES; BY ADDING SECTION 18-91.54 ESTABLISHING
BACK-1N ONLY PARKING SPACES; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; PROVIDING
FOR A PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED $500 FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE;
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. Section II of Ordinance No. 93-109 is hereby repealed.
SECTION 2. Chapter 18 of the Code of Ordinances of the City ("Motor Vehicles and
Traffic") be and the same is hereby amended by adding a definition for "compact motor vehicle"
to Section 18-91 "Definitions." The definition of "compact motor vehicle" in Section 18-91
shall read as follows:
Sec. 18-91. Definitions.
Compact vehicle means a motor vehicle that is 180 inches or less in length and with a
wheel base that is 105 inches or less.
SECTION 3. Chapter 18 of the Code of Ordinances of the City ("Motor Vehicles and
Traffic") be and the same is hereby amended by adding Section 18-91.52 "Compact Vehicles
Only in Designated Parking Areas." Section 18-91.52 shall read as follows:
Sec. 18-91.52. Compact motor vehicle-only parking spaces.
When sign(s) or marking(s) are installed giving notice thereof, it shall be an offense to
park a vehicle that is not a compact motor vehicle in a parking space marked for only compact
motor vehicles or to park any motor vehicle in a manner that does not fit completely within the
innermost edge of all the applicable marking(s) designating the parking space.