Title
Recommending University Avenue Design Changes to Permit On-Street Parking in Designated Areas from 6:00 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Body
WHEREAS, the Green Line Light Rail Transit (“the Green Line”) opened for operations in June 2014; and
WHEREAS, construction of the Green Line involved removal of parking spaces on University Avenue, with the understanding that such decision could be reevaluated after Green Line operations had commenced and new University Avenue traffic patterns became established; and
WHEREAS, stakeholders expressed a desire to evaluate the return of on-street parking to University Avenue in order to support small businesses and institutions and to strengthen the pedestrian realm; and
WHEREAS, a study titled “University Avenue Parking Possibilities” (“the study”) was conducted for the City of Saint Paul that evaluated the technical feasibility of converting portions of existing vehicular traffic lanes to on-street parking spaces on University Avenue from 23rd Avenue in Minneapolis to Rice Street in Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS, a survey of businesses and residents (“the survey”) was conducted for the City of Saint Paul that addressed the potential impacts to respondents of adding on-street parking and preferences for changes to the University Avenue design; and
WHEREAS, a technical advisory committee was established consisting of staff from various affected governments; and
WHEREAS, an advisory committee was established consisting of elected officials, Mayor’s Office staff and Public Works staff; and
WHEREAS, the technical advisory committee, considering the study and the survey, provided a recommendation to the advisory committee regarding the establishment of on-street parking during certain hours and in certain locations along University Avenue; and
WHEREAS, the advisory committee, considering the study, the survey, and the technical advisory committee’s recommendation, provided a recommendation to the Transportation Committee of the Saint Paul Planning Commission regarding the establishment of on-street parking during certain hours and in certain locations along University Avenue; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation Committee, upon reviewing all relevant materials and information, recommended to the Planning Commission that the advisory committee’s recommendation be adopted and implemented; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on January 8, 2016 regarding the potential changes and has considered all testimony from such hearing, as well as the recommendations and information it received via the Transportation Committee; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul Planning Commission found the proposed changes to on-street parking on University Avenue to be supported by the policies of the Comprehensive Plan; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the City Council recommends that the design of University Avenue be revised so as to permit on-street parking from 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. daily in the following stretches of University Avenue: between Emerald Street and Hampden Avenue the Fire Station west of Vandalia Street, between Prior Avenue and Aldine Street, between Syndicate Street and Grotto Street, and between Mackubin Street and Rice Street; and be it also
RESOLVED, that the City Council requests that Public Works implement a bicycle facility between Hampden Avenue and Aldine street as indicated in the Citywide Bike Plan.
RESOLVED, that the City Council requests that staff establish a monitoring process for the first year of on-street parking implementation in the stretch of University Avenue between Prior Avenue and Aldine Street with metrics such as parking usage and public feedback received, and that the results of such monitoring be reported to the Transportation Committee of the Planning Commission.