Title
Authorizing the Department of Public Works to implement the optional extension of bicycle lanes on Hamline Avenue between Minnehaha Avenue and Pierce Butler Route. (Public hearing held August 17)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul Department of Public Works is planning a mill and overlay of Hamline Avenue between University Avenue and Minnehaha Avenue in 2016, and is proposing to implement bike lanes within the limits of the mill and overlay; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul Department of Public Works is also proposing to implement bicycle lanes on Hamline Avenue beyond the limits of the mill and overlay from Minnehaha Avenue to Pierce Butler Route; and
WHEREAS, public input was solicited on whether bicycle lanes should be implemented on Hamline Avenue north of the mill and overlay project boundaries at the 5/26/2016 project open house, online on Open Saint Paul, and via email to city staff; and
WHEREAS, members of the community and the Hamline Midway Coalition (District council 11) requested that Public Works pursue the optional extension of bike lanes on Hamline Avenue between Minnehaha Avenue and Pierce Butler Route in 2016; and
WHEREAS, extension of bicycle lanes on Hamline Avenue beyond the project limits of the mill and overlay will be funded through the City of Saint Paul’s 8 - 80 Vitality Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Saint Paul approved the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan (RES 15-476) on 3/18/2015; and
WHEREAS, the proposed bicycle lanes on Hamline Avenue are found to be consistent with the recommendations of the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan; and
WHEREAS, the elements proposed for implementation are referred to and listed in the Hamline Avenue Project Summary of Engineering Recommendations dated 8/1/2016; and
WHEREAS, the typical width of Hamline Avenue between Minnehaha Avenue and Pierce Butler Route is 36’, which requires removing parking on both sides of the street to install bike lanes; and
WHEREAS, parking removal is proposed for both sides of Hamline Avenue between Minnehaha Avenue and Pierce Butler Route to accommodate the installation of bike lanes; and
WHEREAS, a street reconstruction project at some time in the future could widen Hamline Avenue and reintroduce some parking capacity between Minnehaha Avenue and Pierce Butler Route; and
WHEREAS, parking occupancy counts, included in the Hamline Avenue Summary of Engineering Recommendations, were performed at representative time periods to measure parking utilization on Hamline between University Avenue and Pierce Butler Route; and
WHEREAS, a public open house was held on 5/26/2016 to present information and receive feedback on the project as proposed; and
WHEREAS, The Transportation Committee of the Planning Commission considered the proposal for bicycle lanes on Hamline Avenue on 2/18/2016, and 6/13/2016, and offered comments and recommendations about the design as proposed; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Saint Paul does herby authorize Public Works to implement bicycle lanes on Hamline Avenue between Minnehaha Avenue and Pierce Butler Route, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the implementation of bicycle lanes in this section occur in 2017 once parking mitigation has occurred in the form of a 2’ widening on segments of the east side of Hamline between Englewood and Hubbard.
.