Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Department of Public Works

Traffic Engineering Division

TO:	Charles Soules, Director of Public Works
FROM:	David Woosley, Transportation/Traffic Engineer
CC:	Shoeb Uddin, City Engineer
Date:	Revised May 11, 2009
RE:	May 12, 2009 City Commission Agenda Item No Parking – 10^th Place, Randall Road and 10^th Terrace

Background

At the April 6, 2009 Traffic Safety Commission meeting, the Commission addressed a request to establish No Parking along one side of 10^th Place, Randall Road and 10^th Terrace.  This item had been placed on the consent agenda for the May 5 City Commission meeting, however, the resident at 3510 W. 10^th Place asked that it be postponed because he was unable to attend the meeting. 

Evaluation

The city’s practice has been to not restrict parking on local streets in residential areas unless requested-by and supported-by area property owners and/or residents.

Traffic Safety Commission Action

The resident at 1017 Randall Road submitted the request and spoke in support.  He indicated that there had been incidents in the past when an emergency vehicle could not get through the neighborhood due to parked vehicles.  He felt that parking should be removed from one side of the streets throughout the neighborhood because any place two vehicles park across from each other would prevent emergency vehicle access.  The resident at 3510 W. 10^th Place spoke in partial support of the request.  He felt it was probably necessary to restrict parking near the intersection of 10^th Place & Randall Road, but was not necessary throughout the neighborhood.  The commissioners split on supporting the request; those that were opposed felt that an individual resident was being singled out, that it appeared to be a neighborhood feud and that the result would be an increase in the speed of traffic. The Commission voted unanimously, 8-0, to recommend that no parking be established along one side of each street from 10^th Place & Kasold Drive through the neighborhood to the easterly intersection of 10^th Terrace & Randall Road; and that the Fire Department be consulted to determine which side of each street.  Public Works Department staff met with Fire Department staff on April 16, and it was decided that the restriction should be placed so that the inside of the corners at 10^th Place & Randall Road and 10^th Terrace & Randall Road were restricted.  In addition, several days after the meeting, the resident at 1021 Randall Road called to find out the out-come of the meeting since she was unable to attend; she was advised of the action and indicated that she was in support and felt that parking should be removed from one side of each of the streets.

Project Funding

It is estimated that this will require the installation of approximately seven no parking signs at a cost of $37.50 each.

Action Request

It is recommended that the City Commission approve the recommendation to establish no parking along the south side of 10^th Place between Kasold Drive & Randall Road, along the east side of Randall Road between 10^th Place & 10^th Terrace and along the north side of 10^th Terrace between Randall Road & Randall Road (Randall Road offsets at 10^th Terrace).