Resolution 7307 Approving Design Issues for the 2008 2009 Street Utility Project

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Streets and utilities Committee Recommendations July 7, 2008 Page 3 For these reasons, the Committee recommends (by a unanimous 6-0 vote) that Red Oak Drive be constructed to a width of 32-feet from face of curb to face of curb. The 32-foot width would consist of two 11-foot driving lanes, an 8-foot wide parking lane on one side of the road, and a 2-foot wide reaction area between the face of curb and driving lane (also a State Aid requirement) on the other side of the road. This would allow parking on one side of the street only, with parking prohibited on the other. This width also closely matches the existing street width, resulting in minimal tree disturbance. The recommended side of the street on which to allow parking has yet to be determined. Because speeding has been an issue on this road, the Committee further recommends that “chokers” be used, as appropriate, at key locations on the street to reduce the width in an effort to produce traffic calming and reduce speeds. (Refer to the graphics on the next page for examples of a choker). The Committee discussed that the narrowing of County Road H2 has not resulted in any noticeable traffic calming, so they felt that narrowing Red Oak to 26 feet (the narrowest width allowed by State Aid) would not be wise and might actually be less safe for pedestrians and bicyclists. The Committee has requested that a preliminary design be performed per the characteristics stated above, for further review and comment. A draft design will be presented at the July 21 Streets and Utilities Committee meeting. 4. Red Oak Drive Pedestrian Corridor Red Oak Drive has been designated as a potential pedestrian/bicycle corridor in the City’s Comprehensive Sidewalk/Trailway Plan. A feedback form was presented to the residents at the June 14, 2008 Neighborhood Meeting requesting feedback related to pedestrian accommodations. Approximately 62% of the residents were in favor of some form of on-street pedestrian corridor (see attached Feedback Form Summary Table). Presently, the 4-foot wide shoulders are used for parking and also by pedestrians and bicyclists. Some Committee members feel that having a pedestrian corridor is important. For these reasons, the Committee recommends (by a unanimous 6-0 vote) that the single 8-foot wide parking lane provided on Red Oak Drive also be used to accommodate pedestrian and bicycle traffic. No separate on-street designated pedestrian/bicyclist lane or boulevard sidewalk is recommended. However, short segments of sidewalk may be needed to cross the “chokers” mentioned in Item 3 above.