ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from City Manager and Director of Public Works with a Request to ADOPT an ORDINANCE Amending Schedule “N” of Chapter 28 of the CODE of the City of Peoria by Designating the 1300 Block of DOUGLAS STREET (from Columbia Terrace to Armstrong Avenue), the 1300 Block of BESTOR STREET (from Columbia Terrace to Armstrong Avenue), and the 800 block of ARMSTRONG AVENUE (from Douglas Street to Bestor Street) as One-Way Streets in TRAFFIC SCHEDULE “N”.
Body
BACKGROUND: The City of Peoria has received a request from the Peoria Public School District to change the character of the roadways of Douglas Street, Bestor Street, and Armstrong Avenue surrounding Franklin School. Currently, the traffic on these roads is two-way, but Douglas is posted one-way during school days by Peoria Public School staff.
The Peoria Public School District is currently designing upgrades to Franklin School to accommodate additional students. These improvements include changing the low volume roadways around Franklin School property to one-way operation. They requested this change in hopes that it will help control traffic around the school and make drop-off and pick-up time safer for the students and more efficient for the parents. Peoria Public School District held several meetings with area residents concerning the project. The changes proposed are as follows:
• The 1300 block of Douglas Street (from Columbia Terrace to Armstrong Avenue) shall be a one-way street with traffic flowing south.
• The 1300 block of Bestor Street (from Columbia Terrace to Armstrong Avenue) shall be a one-way street with traffic flowing north.
• The 800 block of Armstrong Avenue (from Douglas Street to Bestor Street) shall be a one-way street with traffic flowing east.
Peoria Fire Department and Traffic Engineering staff have reviewed the proposal by the Peoria Public Schools and support the School’s recommendations.
The request was brought before the City’s Transportation Commission at a regular meeting on November 21, 2017, with Peoria Public School District representatives present. All the affected adjacent properties were mailed notices of the Transportation Commission meeting to allow public comment on the subject. No public comment was given at the meeting. The Commission approved recommending this Ordinance to City Council for adoption.
The proposed change will permanently convert the 1300 block of Douglas Street, the 1300 block of Bestor Street, and the 800 block of Armstrong Avenue into one-way streets as described above. Peoria Public School District’s proposal is attached.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Financial impact will be minimal. Any expenses necessary will come out of existing operating funds.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: Peoria Public School District held several meetings with area residents concerning the proposed changes at Franklin School. The request was discussed by the City Transportation Commission at their November 2017 regular meeting, which was attended by Peoria Public School District representatives. All adjacent properties were mailed notice of the November Transportation Commission meeting, however no representatives of the neighborhood attended said meeting.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: The 1300 block of Douglas Street, the 1300 block of Bestor Street, and the 800 block of Armstrong Avenue will be designated one-way streets in Traffic Schedule “N” and will be changed from two-way to one-way operation as stated above. This will allow Franklin School to better handle the traffic in front of its campus for daily pick up and drop off times.
IMPACT IF DENIED: The 1300 block of Douglas Street, the 1300 block of Bestor Street, and the 800 block of Armstrong Avenue will remain two-way operation. Traffic and pedestrians will be managed as they have been in the past.
ALTERNATIVES: NA
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: NA
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2014 - 2029 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Attractive Neighborhoods with Character: Safe and Livable
2. Choose an item.
3. Choose an item.
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Improve Peoria Public Schools.
2. Reinvest in neighborhoods.
3. Invest in our infrastructure and transportation.
DEPARTMENT: Public Works