Post by DuaneT on Feb 1, 2006 14:21:04 GMT -5
Leon and Lawrence Avenues
Kelowna City Council has asked staff to send a report on the possible conversion of Leon and Lawrence Avenues from one-ways to two-ways to the Parking Committee for review. Council also asked staff to consult with the Downtown Kelowna Association, the Chamber of Commerce and the Urban Development Institute and report back to Council. This direction came after a report was presented to Council January 30, 2006, that explained the change would remove 190 on-street parking spaces.
Hoping to attract more people to the area, the downtown business community asked Council to look into converting Leon and Lawrence Avenues from one-way to two-way corridors. City staff contracted Urban Systems Ltd. to review the impact this would have on traffic flow and parking.
The report by Urban Systems Ltd. indicated the conversion will have the following impacts downtown:
Create the loss of 190 on-street parking stalls. Added to the 57 stalls expected to be lost this year by bridge approach improvements on Abbott, Water and Ellis streets, the downtown will lose 247 stalls.
Do little to increase traffic volumes along Leon and Lawrence Avenues during peak hours and weekdays. Activity in the area during peak hours is focussed on a north-south direction along Abbott, Water, Ellis and Richter Streets, not east-west on Leon or Lawrence Avenues.
Increased levels of difficulty in gaining access to and from Hwy 97 during peak hours. Significant vehicle queues are expected to result along Abbott, Water and Ellis Streets. This may be mitigated somewhat by this year’s traffic changes at Richter for the east approach to the Okanagan Lake Bridge.
In keeping with the plans for road improvements involving the approach to the bridge and accomodating projected traffic flows, Leon and Lawrence would have to be changed back to one-ways by 2020 or an alternative solution found.
The cost of the project is estimated at $2 million. The primary work will be altering pavement markings, traffic control signage and signals and an active public notification process throughout the conversion.
Background
Parking and Safety Impact
190 parking stalls will be lost on Leon and Lawrence Avenues due to creating dedicated turning lanes and replacing angle parking with parallel parking. In preparing the report, Urban Systems maintained on-street parking wherever reasonable and safe to do so. The requirement of additional roadway width, capacity, driveway clearance and intersection clearance all have significant impact on on-street parking. Travel lane widths are assigned based upon available space and engineering judgement. Strict adherence to current City policy on roadway cross-section dimensions has generally not been possible in these urban retrofit conditions.
Other downtown parking occupancy rates
Chapman Parkade, 345 Lawrence Avenue, - 90%+ occupancy rate
Library Parkade, 1360 Ellis Street, - 60% occupancy rate
Doyle and Ellis Street parking lots have approximately 40% occupancy rate
Projects with potential impact on Leon/Lawrence
Future Bernard Avenue revitalization project from Richter to Water Street – anticipated that approximately 30 parking stalls will be lost.
A new parkade is not expected to be developed within the next five years.
Consultant suggestions for mitigating negative impact
Maximizing other opportunities for east-west traffic to circulate throughout the Downtown core – particular emphasis placed upon gaining access to the Ethel intersection with Hwy 97.
Advancing interests and implementation of the Central Okanagan Bypass Corridor, splitting the focus of traffic demand to and from the Downtown core between the north and south directions.
Planning for access/egress limitation to Leon Avenue in particular from Water Street, Ellis Street and Richter Street, as its proximity to Hwy 97 will generate operational and safety issues over the planning horizon.
Expect/accept lower than desired or anticipated traffic mobility and performance in the Downtown core area.
Kelowna City Council has asked staff to send a report on the possible conversion of Leon and Lawrence Avenues from one-ways to two-ways to the Parking Committee for review. Council also asked staff to consult with the Downtown Kelowna Association, the Chamber of Commerce and the Urban Development Institute and report back to Council. This direction came after a report was presented to Council January 30, 2006, that explained the change would remove 190 on-street parking spaces.
Hoping to attract more people to the area, the downtown business community asked Council to look into converting Leon and Lawrence Avenues from one-way to two-way corridors. City staff contracted Urban Systems Ltd. to review the impact this would have on traffic flow and parking.
The report by Urban Systems Ltd. indicated the conversion will have the following impacts downtown:
Create the loss of 190 on-street parking stalls. Added to the 57 stalls expected to be lost this year by bridge approach improvements on Abbott, Water and Ellis streets, the downtown will lose 247 stalls.
Do little to increase traffic volumes along Leon and Lawrence Avenues during peak hours and weekdays. Activity in the area during peak hours is focussed on a north-south direction along Abbott, Water, Ellis and Richter Streets, not east-west on Leon or Lawrence Avenues.
Increased levels of difficulty in gaining access to and from Hwy 97 during peak hours. Significant vehicle queues are expected to result along Abbott, Water and Ellis Streets. This may be mitigated somewhat by this year’s traffic changes at Richter for the east approach to the Okanagan Lake Bridge.
In keeping with the plans for road improvements involving the approach to the bridge and accomodating projected traffic flows, Leon and Lawrence would have to be changed back to one-ways by 2020 or an alternative solution found.
The cost of the project is estimated at $2 million. The primary work will be altering pavement markings, traffic control signage and signals and an active public notification process throughout the conversion.
Background
Parking and Safety Impact
190 parking stalls will be lost on Leon and Lawrence Avenues due to creating dedicated turning lanes and replacing angle parking with parallel parking. In preparing the report, Urban Systems maintained on-street parking wherever reasonable and safe to do so. The requirement of additional roadway width, capacity, driveway clearance and intersection clearance all have significant impact on on-street parking. Travel lane widths are assigned based upon available space and engineering judgement. Strict adherence to current City policy on roadway cross-section dimensions has generally not been possible in these urban retrofit conditions.
Other downtown parking occupancy rates
Chapman Parkade, 345 Lawrence Avenue, - 90%+ occupancy rate
Library Parkade, 1360 Ellis Street, - 60% occupancy rate
Doyle and Ellis Street parking lots have approximately 40% occupancy rate
Projects with potential impact on Leon/Lawrence
Future Bernard Avenue revitalization project from Richter to Water Street – anticipated that approximately 30 parking stalls will be lost.
A new parkade is not expected to be developed within the next five years.
Consultant suggestions for mitigating negative impact
Maximizing other opportunities for east-west traffic to circulate throughout the Downtown core – particular emphasis placed upon gaining access to the Ethel intersection with Hwy 97.
Advancing interests and implementation of the Central Okanagan Bypass Corridor, splitting the focus of traffic demand to and from the Downtown core between the north and south directions.
Planning for access/egress limitation to Leon Avenue in particular from Water Street, Ellis Street and Richter Street, as its proximity to Hwy 97 will generate operational and safety issues over the planning horizon.
Expect/accept lower than desired or anticipated traffic mobility and performance in the Downtown core area.