09/07/93 Board of Public Works Minutes

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- 3-46 REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 7, 1993 that one of the key issues is the potential impact on the traffic as a result of the proposed closings. He further noted that he submitted his report to the City last week which contains several exhibits. Mr. Fattahi handed out to Board members copies of those exhibits at this time to assist them in this presentation. Members of the Board were advised that the study area for this project is bounded on the west by Main Street, on the east by Miami, on the North by Pennsylvania and on the south by Ewing Avenue. Mr. Fattahi displayed a regional map showing the collector/distributor streets and the arterial streets. Mr. Fattahi further explained for members the criteria utilized in preparing his report which included system continuity and system hierarchy. The Board was informed that a typical traffic pattern would be vehicles utilizing local streets that flow into collector streets that flow into arterial streets. Mr. Fattahi stated that Ewing Avenue is an east/west arterial that handles approximately eleven thousand (11,000) vehicles a day. Mr. Fattahi further informed the Board that twelve thousand (12,000) to fourteen thousand (14,000) vehicles a day is an acceptable level of service for a four (4) lane road. Mr. Fattahi referred members to Exhibits #3 and #4 showing the current traffic pattern and numbers of vehicles utilizing various streets and what will happen after traffic is reassigned. It was noted that the bulk of the traffic will shift onto Ewing. However, some traffic will move to Indiana Avenue. Mr. Fattahi stated that motorists utilize the route with the least resistance and through traffic will choose Ewing. Mr. Fattahi advised that he has had conversations with the staff of the Department of Community and Economic Development and has been advised that some development is planned north of the Riley High School area. It was noted that Indiana Avenue has a volume of traffic that is adequate for that street. A new east/west roadway will be built as part of that development. However, this development and roadway will have a minimal effect on the study area. Mr. Fattahi further noted that there will not be any adverse impact on the north/south roadways because of this project and Ewing Avenue will receive the bulk of the impact. Mr. Fattahi advised that the report refers to Level -of -Service. For example, a four (4) lane road with a volume of traffic at twelve thousand (12,000) to fourteen thousand (14,000) would be at a Level C. The Board was reminded that Ewing Avenue is a two (2) lane road. It also has parking on both sides of the street, several driveways, student traffic and pedestrian movement. An immediate recommendation would be to eliminate on -street parking on Ewing and expand to a four (4) lane street. Additionally, the Fellow Street and Miami Street intersections will need to be upgraded. Mr. Fattahi suggested that these intersections become part of the City's closed loop system as well. He stated that if Calvert Street is to be closed, Ewing will need to be widened in the near future. Mr. Caldwell inquired if the situation on Ewing Street would be helped if the students could exit the school parking lot onto Donald and Fox Streets on the west. Mr. Fattahi responded by advising that utilizing exits to the west of the parking lot would dump traffic onto local streets which would not be good. Mr. Leszczynski inquired of Mr. Fattahi if the traffic counts that were utilized included school traffic. Mr. Fattahi stated that traffic counts furnished by the City were utilized. Those counts were taken in 1991, 1992 and 1993 and most were conducted in the spring. Mr. Leszczynski stated that the traffic numbers were