City of Saint Paul - File #: RES PH 15-164

• File #: RES PH 15-164
• Version: 2
• Type: Resolution-Public Hearing
• Status: Passed
• In control: City Council
• Final action: 6/17/2015
• Title: Recommending that Ramsey County implement bicycle facilities on Cleveland Avenue between Summit Avenue and Highland Parkway.
• Sponsors: Chris Tolbert

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
6/24/2015	2	Mayor's Office	Signed
6/17/2015	1	City Council	Adopted As Amended	Pass

Title

Recommending that Ramsey County implement bicycle facilities on Cleveland Avenue between Summit Avenue and Highland Parkway.

Body

WHEREAS, Ramsey County is planning a mill and overlay of Cleveland Avenue between Summit Avenue and Randolph Avenue in the summer of 2015; and

WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul's Department of Public Works is proposing that Ramsey County implement bicycle lanes on Cleveland Avenue from Summit Avenue to Randolph Avenue within the project limits of the County's mill and overlay; and

WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul Department of Public Works is proposing that Ramsey County extend bicycle lanes beyond the project limits of their mill and overlay on Cleveland Avenue from Randolph Avenue to Eleanor Avenue, and implement shared lane markings between Eleanor Avenue and Highland Parkway; and

WHEREAS, the extension of bicycle facilities from Randolph Avenue to Highland Parkway 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 Cleveland 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 Cleveland Avenue Project Summary of Engineering Recommendations dated 6/1/2015; and

WHEREAS, the elements proposed for implementation listed in the Cleveland Avenue Summary of Engineering Recommendations includes removal of on-street parking on the west side of Cleveland between Grand Avenue and James Avenue, except for Parking bays south of Grand Avenue and St. Clair Avenue, and the removal of parking on the east side of Cleveland between James Avenue and Randolph Avenue; and

WHEREAS, parking occupancy counts, included in the Cleveland Avenue Summary of Engineering Recommendations, were performed at representative time periods to measure parking utilization on Cleveland Avenue between Summit Avenue and Randolph Avenue; and

WHEREAS, parking mitigation strategies, as identified in section VI of the Cleveland Avenue Project Summary of Engineering Recommendations dated 6/1/2015, were developed and may be employed pending further City Council Action; and

WHEREAS, a public open house was held on 4/29/2015 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 facilities on Cleveland Avenue on 5/11/2015, and offered comments and recommendations about the design as proposed; and

WHEREAS, the written record was left open until 4:30 PM on June 1, 2015; and

WHEREAS, an overwhelming number of submitted comments have raised serious concerns about the impact parking loss will have on local businesses and residents and about the safety of adding bike lanes to a high traffic, narrow road; and

WHEREAS, many public comments recommended Prior Avenue or Finn Street as alternatives; and

WHEREAS, the limited timeframe associated with the Ramsey County mill and overlay of Cleveland Avenue allowed for minimal public engagement  with residents, businesses and other stakeholders; and

WHEREAS, limited parking mitigation has been studied or proposed to make up for the proposed removal of street parking on Cleveland; and

WHEREAS, Cleveland Avenue is a County State Aid Highway under the Jurisdiction of Ramsey County; and

WHEREAS, the implementation of bicycle facilities on Cleveland Avenue between Summit Avenue and Highland Parkway will not proceed without Ramsey County approval;

RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Saint Paul does hereby recommend that Ramsey County implement bicycle lanes on Cleveland Avenue from Summit Avenue to Eleanor Avenue, and shared lane marking on Cleveland Avenue from Eleanor Avenue to Highland Parkway, concurrent with the Cleveland Avenue mill and overlay scheduled for summer of 2015.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Saint Paul City Council does hereby recommend that the implementation of bicycle facilities on Cleveland Avenue from Summit Avenue to Randolph Avenue be delayed until Saint Paul Public Works proposes a robust public engagement plan; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public engagement plan include study and conversation of implementing bicycle facilities on Cleveland Avenue,  Finn Street or Prior Avenue; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED  that the public engagement plan include, but is not limited to, outreach to businesses on the corridors, residents on the corridors, residents in close proximity to the corridors, local universities, the district councils, and other affected and interested parties; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that Saint Paul Public Works will propose an engagement plan to the Saint Paul City Council by August 5, 2015 for approval. Upon approval Saint Paul Public Works will begin implementation of the engagement plan, which will result in a neighborhood-supported, proposed North-South Bike route from Randolph Avenue to Interstate 94 between Fairview Avenue and Mississippi River Boulevard, by December 31, 2015.