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MEMORANDUM <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />T0: Janet Watson, Interim City Manager <br />FROM: Evelyn Benford, Director of Public Works <br />DATE: May 20, 2010 <br />RE: Loop South -North Side Parking Meters Report <br />As requested, this report provides additional information on the ordinance which would allow on- <br />street parking on a specific portion of the north side of Loop South. A map of the area is <br />included in this report. <br />Existing Conditions <br />Access to some of the commercial businesses south of Delmar between Kingsland and Leland is <br />primarily via Loop South. The existing businesses in the block include T-Mobile, Cold Stone <br />Creamery, Craft Alliance, Saint Louis Bread Company and Commerce Bank. Currently, the <br />traffic on Loop South between Kingsland Avenue to about the Bread Company is restricted to <br />one-way in the eastbound direction for the following reasons: <br />1. In 2001, changing tone-way traffic for this one block created 25 parallel on-street <br />parking spaces on the south side of the street. <br />2. A traffic study performed in 2000 of this area found that the eastbound and westbound <br />traffic in this area was almost evenly distributed. Therefore, cone-way west designation <br />did not impose a hardship on traffic in this area. <br />3. Eastbound traffic could use the upper alley off Loop South between Kingsland and <br />Leland, therefore this change resulted in little to no inconvenience to drivers and the <br />residents adjacent to the area. <br />4. Parallel parking for this one block area was recommended because both 45 degree and <br />90 degree angled on-street parking would have interfered with fire and emergency equipment. <br />5. The portion of the street near Commerce Bank continued to be designated as a two-way <br />street to provide access to the drive-up facility. <br />6. The portion of Loop South between Leland Avenue and Melville Avenue continued to be <br />designated as a two way street and the Fire Department recommended that no parking <br />on either side of the street be enforced at the intersection of Loop South & Melville to <br />allow emergency vehicles an adequate turning radius. <br />Background Based on a 2001 Traffic Circulation Assessment by the City's traffic engineering firm, Crawford, <br />Bunte, Brammeier ~CBB~, the street was projected to function more as an alley or parking lot <br />aisle, as a result of adding the 25 parking spaces on the south side of the street. Loop South is <br />not a primary through street and is intended to have low speeds. <br />June 21, 2010 L-1-2 <br />