Loading...
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.