09/07/93 Board of Public Works Minutes

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3r REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 7, 1993 relatively small except for the peak hours which included student traffic. Mr. Fattahi stated that that was the thought but the change was found not to be that significant as Ewing and Calvert Streets are utilized for through traffic movement. Mr. Leszczynski questioned the Level of Service at the Calvert and Fellows and Calvert and Miami intersections which the report indicates to be at a Level B and Mr. Fattahi explained how different Levels of Service are derived. Mr. Leszczynski noted that a Level B would be an uninterrupted flow. Mr. Leszczynski further stated that collector/distributor streets are designed to handle neighborhood traffic. However, Calvert Street, at the present time, operates as a minor arterial through a residential neighborhood which is not a good situation to have with the curve further down on Calvert. Mr. Leszczynski noted that given that Calvert Street is being used as a minor arterial, closing a section of Calvert as proposed would break. This would result in having the benefit of bringing the volume of traffic back down to a collector/distributor street feeding into an arterial street. Mr. Fattahi noted that Ewing Avenue is reaching saturation levels. Mr. Leszczynski noted that he has personally observed many children that live in the neighborhood that walk to Studebaker School. At the present time Calvert Street is being used as a minor arterial. Closing it will slow down traffic in the neighborhood for the children as well as the school buses that go to Studebaker School. Mr. Leszczynski reiterated that Calvert Street should not be a minor arterial. Mr. Fattahi stated that attempts have been made to bring it down to a collector/distributor street by the installation of four (4) way stop signs. Mr. Fattahi noted that Dubail Street is very wide and therefore conducive to traffic. Mr. Leszczynski again stated that the report/recommendation indicates a Level of Service at borderline B/C. It was noted that a Level C is definitely acceptable which is free flow without minor inconvenience. Mr. Fattahi stated that some recommendations would be to improve the traffic signal on Miami Street, the intersections of Fellows and Ewing Streets should be reviewed, parking during peak periods should not be allowed and Ewing should be improved to a four (4) lane street. It was noted that Ewing is a forty foot (401) wide street so four (4) ten foot (101) lanes could be constructed. Four (4) twelve foot (121) lanes with no parking allowed on either side of the street and not many driveways would be even better. Mr. Leszczynski stated that the City has been looking at making some improvements on Ewing. He further stated that there have been problems on Fellows Street as well as with bus parking. With the new campus plan for Riley High School, it is likely that students would not be parking on Ewing as it would be quite a distance to the main entrance of the school. Mr. Leszczynski indicated that he has read the report submitted by Cole Associates. He stated that Calvert Street is currently functioning at a level that it should not. As a point of visual observation, traffic in the area needs to be slowed down for the safety of school children in the neighborhood. With the new school campus.plan in place, parks will be combined for easy access. He further noted that Ewing Avenue can handle additional traffic and the City will continue to monitor the traffic at the location. He stated that when improvements are made to Ewing Avenue, the City may ask for assistance from the South Bend Community School Corporation. Mr. Fattahi stated that should Calvert Street be closed, they have