Submitted By
Tammie Grossman, Director Development Customer Services
Reviewed By
LKS
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Motion to Concur with the Transportation Commission’s Recommendation to Adopt a Three (3) Hour, 8AM-8PM, Monday-Friday, Parking Time Limit on the East and West Sides of the 700 Block of Wisconsin Avenue and the East and West Sides of the 600 Block of Wenonah Avenue and Install Signage for Said Limitations
End
Overview
Overview
Residents on the 700 block of Wisconsin Avenue and the 600 block of Wenonah Avenue are petitioning the Village to add daytime parking restrictions along the east and west sides of both blocks in order to prevent employees of Rush Oak Park Hospital and Blue Line commuters from taking the parking spaces during the day.
Body
Staff Recommendation
Adopt the Motion
Fiscal Impact
The estimated cost to add signage is approximately $1,800. This will be incurred as part of the $150,000 budgeted in GL account number 5060.43770.786.570707.0000 Capital Improvements for RFP 18-788: Fabrication and Installation of Signs for Parking Pilot Program.
Background
Pursuant to the approved Transportation Commission Policy and Procedures, items relating to “Time Restricted Parking” may be processed administratively by staff, therefore do not require Transportation Commission review. However, as the locations related to the citizen petition falls within the area defined by the Village’s Parking Pilot Program, staff brought this item to the Transportation Commission for review. The Transportation Commission voted unanimously, at their October 22nd meeting, to approve the citizens request.
In accordance with Village ordinance, the attached petition represent the minimal required 51% of the street frontage signatures from residents requesting to add a no parking along their homes on the east and west sides of both the 700 block of Wisconsin and the 600 block of Wenonah. The residents concerns are that over the past few years, it has become increasingly difficult to locate parking in front of their homes during the daytime. This is primarily due to employees of the Rush Oak Park Hospital and commuters using the Blue Line monopolizing the parking spaces on weekdays, affecting 43% to 80% of the available parking spaces. As shown on the attached daytime restrictions map, restrictions on nearby streets, adjacent to the hospital, push parkers to the blocks in question.
Staff was able to confirm that daytime parking availability is limited on the blocks so indicated in the petition. Staff’s review found that up to 80% of the available parking spaces in the 700 block of Wisconsin were occupied and up to 71% of the available parking spaces in the 600 block of Wenonah were occupied. Staff supports the residents request for daytime time parking limits for the 700 bblock of Wisconsin and the 600 block of Wenonah.
As you can see on the attached petition, residents originally reqested parking restrictions of 4-hour parking, 10:00am to 4:00pm, Monday - Friday, for the 700 block of Wisconsin and 2-hour parking, 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday - Friday, for the 600 block of Wenonah. This part of the petition request is in conflict with the Village Board’s recently approved Parking Pilot Program. The pilot program calls for “3hr, 8-8” standardized restrictions for this particular area. For this reason, staff recommended that the Transportation Commission review a modified time restriction from the original petition that would more effectively align with the standardized restriction of 3hr, 8:00am to 8:00pm, Monday - Friday, as outlined in Section 15-1-27 (“Parking Pilot Program”) of the Oak Park Village Code. The Transportation Commission unanimously approved this modification.
Alternatives
The Village Board could direct staff to do more research or suggest an alternative restriction.
Staff did discuss the requested restrictions with the Oak Park Hospital administrative staff. The Hospital staff felt that the increase in parking concerns could be related to the construction workers and did suggest that the issues may be resolved after the construction of the new emergency room and therefore they thought the need for the restriction may not be needed and as it will only push traffic to a different block.
Previous Board Action
N/A.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
On October 22, 2018 the Transportation Commission reviewed staff’s recommendation, heard public comment, and voted to recommend the time limits.
On December 10, 2018 the Transportation Commission heard staff’s update that Rush Oak Park hospital believed the parking availability issues were related to ongoing construction of a new emergency room and would be reduced when construction was complete. The Transportation Commission also heard additional public comment that refuted this claim. The Transportation Commission reaffirmed its recommendation to the Village Board to adopt the new time limits, as recommended.
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
N/A.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
N/A.
Performance Management (MAP) Alignment
The Parking & Mobility Services Division is scheduled to start MAP in the final phase.