ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and Director Of Public Works with a Request to ADOPT an ORDINANCE Amending CHAPTER 28 of the CODE of the City of Peoria Pertaining to TRAFFIC AND MOTOR VEHICLES to Prohibit Forward-Facing Parking in REVERSE DIAGONAL PARKING SPACES.
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BACKGROUND:
In order to improve the safety, efficiency and use of public roadways, the Public Works Department often looks for new traffic control concepts, such as road diets, bike lanes, or additional on-street parking. One such concept new to Peoria is reverse diagonal parking. Reverse diagonal parking is a method whereby the motorist pulls in front of the diagonal parking space and then backs into it, much like parallel parking. This type of parking has been used successfully in other cities, such as New York, Indianapolis and Washington DC, and is now available in a small area of downtown Peoria.
Reverse diagonal parking has several benefits over traditional diagonal parking, such as giving the driver improved visibility of cars, bikes and pedestrians when exiting the space and entering the flow of traffic. Additionally, this parking method is safer for the vehicle’s passengers because they exit the vehicle toward the sidewalk and not into the street. Finally, reverse diagonal parking allows for passengers to load from the sidewalk and not the street-especially the back end of a vehicle-which, in a traditional diagonal parking space, would require access from the traffic lane.
Public Works staff determined that Fulton Street, from Monroe to Jefferson, and on Monroe and Madison, from Main to Fulton were prime spots to install this parking method in Peoria. These areas were selected for several reasons: the traffic is fairly light, the parking lines were badly in need of maintenance, and the area could benefit from a few additional parking spaces, which are afforded by a diagonal layout. The project of installing the reverse diagonal parking spaces was started in July of 2015 with the installation of the pavement marking, and will be completed with the relocation of the parking meters in September. The installation of the parking meters has been delayed to allow the motorist time to adjust to the new parking concept. Traffic Engineering performed a traffic study on the selected area to measure the parking turnover and use of the area. The study showed that the parking spaces were being frequently used, but many motorists were parking at the spaces all day. The installation of the parking meters will create parking turnover, encourage long term parkers to use the City parking deck and create revenue from the on-street parking spaces.
As the study showed, the diagonal parking spaces have been getting frequent use. For the most part, the motorist is understanding the concept and parking in a reverse diagonal fashion. However, some motorists continue to pull directly into the parking spaces. Parking frontwards in a reverse diagonal space requires the vehicle to make a dangerous traffic movement to both enter and exit the space, and gives a through motorist an unexpected perception of the car in the wrong lane.
In the time since the installation of the parking spaces, Parking Enforcement Officers have been attempting to train the motorist on the correct way to park in a reverse diagonal space and have been placing informational flyers on vehicles. At this time, however, there are many repeat offenders and these violations should be enforced. Therefore, Public Works staff recommends that City Code Section 28-295 be amended to make it unlawful to park forward-facing in a reverse diagonal metered space. The amended language, in the attached ordinance, makes it a violation to park forward-facing in a reverse diagonal space and subject to a $15 fine per instance.
Attachments to this Communication include the proposed Ordinance, the Press Release describing Reverse Diagonal Parking, and a depiction of the Reverse Diagonal Parking Sign, and a Parking Study Report with camera location depictions.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: No direct financial impact is expected from the Code amendment. Tickets issued for violating the reverse diagonal parking will be enforceable.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: None expected from the Code amendment.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: Parking Enforcement will legally be able to issue tickets for violating the reverse diagonal parking.
IMPACT IF DENIED: The current Ordinance language will remain as written, and tickets issued for this violation may be dismissed.
ALTERNATIVES: NA
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: NA
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2014 - 2029 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Vibrant Downtown: Riverfront/ Central Business District/ Warehouse District
2. Financially Sound City Government, Effective City Organization
3. Grow Peoria: Businesses, Jobs, and Population
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Invest in our infrastructure and transportation.
2. Have an efficient government.
3. Grow employers and jobs.
DEPARTMENT: Public Works