Spring Sandusky Interchange Improvement

1. Spring Sandusky Interchange Improvement Traffic Task Force Overall Traffic Management Plan April 15, 2003 http://www.geocities.com/nnhist_dist/ link is in the April 17 news listing 1/22

2. Principles of Implementation-1 Construction of street improvements should be historically appropriate; while actual historic construction materials are not required, designs and methods should replicate as closely as possible the historic nature of streets in which improvements are made. Strategies should be undertaken to encourage through-traffic to utilize perimeter routes rather than entering neighborhoods. The neighborhoods are defined as Italian Village, Victorian Village, Harrison West, Dennison Place, and Goodale Park. Improvements and strategies for streets within the neighborhoods should reduce the combined effects of excessive speeds and <volumes of> cut-through traffic by reinforcing posted speed limits (temporary and permanent) and reinforce the usage of collector and arterial streets rather than local streets. The OTMP should be applied uniformly throughout the neighborhoods, avoiding unintentional shifting of traffic patterns from one neighborhood to another. Improvements and strategies should be consistently applied to give the neighborhoods a strong, collective identity. Such improvements should promote continuity between neighborhoods. 2/22

3. Principles of Implementation-2 Improvements should be made to streets at key intersections and other key points of decision for motorists entering and traveling through the neighborhoods. Improvements and strategies should have a high rate of return on investment. Full-time, on-street parking should generally be increased and encouraged. The OTMP should be fiscally responsible by utilizing phased implementation. Responsibility for maintenance of improvements should be clearly defined. The City of Columbus will construct basic improvements to the roadways that address the function of the street improvement. The neighborhoods will be responsible for providing enhanced landscaping, signage, or other architectural elements (see Exhibit 9, Steve Shinn). Signage will be installed to discourage truck traffic cutting through the neighborhoods. This should reduce the number of trucks on neighborhood street and reduce the noise and congestion cuased by them. 3/22

4. Task Force Recommendations The MOA defines five recommendations the Traffic Task Force is to provide: A list of priority streets needing immediate mitigation as a result of ongoing SSI construction activities; A list of street intersections and methodology to evaluate traffic impacts as a result of the completion of SSI; A plan to monitor traffic conditions and truck usage for at least five years following the opening of SSI; A method to identify and prioritize traffic problems that are linked to SSI and An overall traffic management plan (OTMP) using various tools and strategies. 4/22

5. Recommendation 1: A list of priority streets needing immediate mitigation Refer to Exhibits 1-7, which show the overall layout and location of improvements to be made to provide immediate mitigation of traffic impacts. The exhibits are organized by anticipated year of implementation starting with 2003, with a summary of all implementation plans (as shown on Exhibit 7). A tabular listing of improvements by year is provided below. Furthermore, general commitments not specific to any year are defined below. 5/22

6. Overall Implementation Commitments The City of Columbus will provide measures to calm traffic and reduce speed limits on framework and local streets as allowed and prescribed by state and local regulations. The City of Columbus will avoid infrastructure improvements or operational changes to traffic control devices and systems that may conflict with traffic calming and speed limit reduction goals as long as safe vehicular and pedestrian operations are maintained. Following the completion of construction each year, the City of Columbus will monitor and conduct studies of speed, volume, and truck utilization within the neighborhoods to measure the effect of each phase of implementation. 6/22

7. Capital Improvements 2003 Thoroughfare Plan update:Third, King, and Neil Uniform ban on thru-trucksexcept Fifth Ave. Destination signage for OSU/downtown area Evaluate 4-way stops-4th Ave. 24-hour parking Neil King Ave: remark with25-hr parking, center turnlane 24 hr parking-Michigan Bump-outs 4th St. Gateway-Michigan Ave Gateway-Park St. Contract bump-out design Median with bump-out at Third. Exhibit 1 7/22

8. Additional 2003 Commitment Request to City Council that a uniform speed limit of 25 mph be adopted on all residential portion of streets within the neighborhoods. 8/22

9. Capital Improvements 2004 Goodale St.--24 hr park WB Third: median w/EB bumpout King: medianw/2 bump outs Neil: median w/2 bump outs King: median w/2 bump outs Michigan: median w/2 bumpouts Neil: NB bump out Summit: bump out east side Fourth St.: bump out west side Fifth Ave: median Collins: crosswalk/medianwest of Neil Exhibit 2 9/22

10. Stand Alone Sign Level 1 Bump Out w/Sign S S Features: Water drainage is unaffected. Positioned to create an alcove for parked cars. Does not interfere with cross walks. Emphasizes soil and tree in fill. Features: Used where space does not permit a level 1 bump out. Positioned to inform drivers of entry into the neighborhood. Entry Point Elements 10/22

11. Interior Elements Center Island Treatment Level 2 Bump Out Features: Located in the normally untraveled portions of Neil and Fifth Avenues. Simple soil, tree, and ground cover in fill. Provisions for watering should be done during construction. Features: Water drainage is unaffected. Creates an alcove at the beginning of parking lane. Does not interfere with cross walks. Entirely soil, tree, & groundcover in fill Consistent use throughout interior provides economy of scale, identity. 11/22

12. Capital Improvements 2005 Goodale St.--WB bumpouts Neil: SB bump outs King: 2 bump outs Buttles: bump out north side Buttles: 2 bump outs Dennison: bump out Dennison: bump out Exhibit 3 12/22

13. Capital Improvements 2006 Where feasible and following determination by a properly conducted traffic study that the posted traffic speed limit must remain higher than 25 mph and traffic volumes exceed acceptable levels (as defined in Recommendation 4), construct up to 10 medians along Neil Ave between Goodale and Eighth Ave. Construction will proceed until all 10 medians are constructed or when the posted speed limit on Neil Avenue can be legally reduced from 35 mph permanently, and when traffic volumes are less than or equal to the acceptable levels (defined in Recommendation 4), whichever comes first. Exhibit 4 13/22

14. Revised Wording 2006(draft version) Where feasible and following determination by a properly conducted traffic study that there is a speeding problem or that volumes exceed an acceptable level (as defined in Recommendation 4), construct up to 10 medians along Neil Ave between Goodale and Eighth Ave. Construction will proceed until all 10 medians are constructed or when speeding problems and excessive volumes are alleviated, (defined in Recommendation 4), whichever comes first. 14/22

15. Capital Improvements 2007 Review and implement a feasible signing and pavement plan to encourage more full-time parking along one side of Fifth Ave btw High and Summit Re-mark and change signage on Fifth Ave. between Forsythe and the alley west of High to accommodate two through lanes and left turn storage at signalized intersections. On-street, 24 hour parking will be provided along WB Fifth Ave in this area. Construct a median and one WB bump-out on Fifth Ave at the alley west of High St. Exhibit 5 15/22

16. Capital Improvements 2008 Where feasible and following determination by a properly conducted traffic study that the posted traffic speed limit must remain higher than 25 mph and traffic volumes exceed acceptable levels (as defined in Recommendation 4), construct up to seven medians along Fifth Avenue btw Perry and High Sts. Construction may be divided up into seasons ending in 2009 Construction of medians will proceed until all seven medians are constructed or when the posted speed limit on Fifth Ave can be legally reduced from 35 mph permanently, and when traffic volumes are less than or equal to the acceptable levels (as defined in Recommendation 4), whichever comes first. Exhibit 6 16/22

17. Revised Wording 2008(draft version) Where feasible and following determination by a properly conducted traffic study that there is a speeding problem or that volumes exceed an acceptable level (as defined in Recommendation 4), construct up to seven medians along Fifth Avenue btw Perry and High Sts. Construction of medians will proceed until all seven medians are constructed orwhen speeding problems and excessive volumes are alleviated, (defined in Recommendation 4), whichever comes first. 17/22

18. Capital Improvements 2003-8 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 Exhibit 7 18/22

19. Recommendation 2:list of street intersections to evaluate traffic impacts Exhibit 8 19/22

20. Recommendation 3: A plan to monitor traffic conditions and truck usage for at least 5 yrs following opening of SSI Speed, volume, and traffic accidents and truck usage will be measured annually at the locations shown in Exhibit 8: April 2003: Prior to construction of 2003 Implementation Commitments Sept. 2003: Prior to SSI opening Nov. 2003: Following opening of SSI Nov. 2004: Following completion of 2004 Implementation Commitments Nov. 2005: Following completion of 2005 Implementation Commitments Nov. 2006: Following completion of 2006 Implementation Commitments Nov. 2007: Following completion of 2007 Implementation Commitments Nov. 2008: Following completion of 2008 Implementation Commitments The Public Service Director will provide a report to the SSI Traffic Task Force summarizing observation at the appointed locations shown in the previous slide. The report will be provided to the SSI Traffic Task Force by Dec. 31 each year beginning in 2003. 20/22

21. Recommendation 4: A method to identify and prioritize traffic problems that are linked to SSI Following completion of a scheduled traffic measurement conducted according to Recommendations 2 and 3, the City of Columbus will analyze the data for tends in traffic volumes, speed, accidents, and truck usage. If increases in these measurements from prior years are encountered, the locations will be further analyzed for possible problems and solutions. Reduction in the same measurements will also be noted. Factors affecting the priority of any problem or its proposed solution include, but are not limited to accident frequency and type; percentage increases in speed, volume, and truck usage; classification of street; width of street; complexity of the solution; and cost of the solution. The City Engineer will prepare a report summarizing the analyses and possible solutions and provide it to the SSI Traffic Task Force by March 31 each year beginning in 2004. 21/22

22. Recommendation 5: An overall traffic management plan using tools and strategies The actions proposed in Recommendations 1 - 4 contained herein comprise the overall traffic management plan, which satisfies the Memorandum of Agreement. The City of Columbus with consultation from the SSI Traffic Task Force reserves the right to utilize any traffic mitigation tool and strategy included in the Principles of Implementation contained herein. Furthermore, various publications may be consulted when formulating various tools and strategies including, but not limited to the December 2001 Final Recommendations Report prepared by Glatting Jackson Kercher Anglin Lopez Rinehart, Inc. 22/22