Title
Requesting that Ramsey County implement a 4-lane to 3-lane conversion on Como Avenue between Canfield Street and Snelling Avenue.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul and Ramsey County are collaborating to install improvements on Como Avenue between Raymond Avenue and Hamline Avenue in 2020; and
WHEREAS, the project is a component of the Saint Paul Grand Round and the proposed improvements are consistent with the Grand Round Design and Implementation Plan approved by City Council on 7/19/2017 (RES PH 17-150) as well as the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan approved by City Council on 3/18/2015 (RES PH 15-476); and
WHEREAS, the project scope includes construction of an off-street trail along the north side of Como Avenue between Raymond Avenue and Hamline Avenue, narrowing the street to encourage slower traffic, construction of bumpouts, installation of wayfinding and placemaking elements, and installation of street lighting to improve safety for all roadway users; and
WHEREAS, the project scope also includes reducing the number of travel lanes on Como Avenue between Canfield Street and Snelling Avenue from four to three, commonly referred to as a 4-to-3 conversion; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of the 4-to-3 conversion is to improve safety for all roadway users and encourage slower traffic speeds; and
WHEREAS, a traffic speed study conducted in July 2019 identified 85th percentile traffic speeds at 39 miles per hour in the eastbound direction and 41 miles per hour in the westbound direction, well in excess of the posted 35 mile per hour speed limit; and
WHEREAS, implementing the 4-to-3 conversion requires prohibiting on-street parking on both the north and south sides of Como Avenue between Canfield Street and Snelling Avenue; and
WHEREAS, parking occupancy counts, were performed at representative time periods to measure parking utilization along the corridor; and
WHEREAS, community project meetings were held on 1/15/2019 and 6/18/2019 to present information and receive feedback on the project as proposed; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation Committee of the Planning Commission has reviewed the proposed project; and
WHEREAS, Como Avenue is a County State Aid Highway under the jurisdiction of Ramsey County; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Saint Paul does herby request that Ramsey County Public Works prohibit on-street parking from the north and south sides of Como Avenue between Canfield Street and Snelling Avenue to accommodate narrowing the street and implementing a 4-to-3 lane conversion.