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Approving the installation of bike lanes on Front Avenue from Kent Street to Rice Street. (Public hearing closed and laid over from February 8, 2023)
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WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul Department of Public Works is planning a mill and overlay of Front Avenue from Western Avenue to Rice Street in 2023; and
WHEREAS, Public Works is proposing to implement bicycle lanes on Front Avenue from Kent Street to Rice Street to improve safety and comfort for all users of the street; 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 Front Avenue from Kent Street to Rice Street are found to be consistent with the guidelines from Minnesota Department of Transportation given traffic volumes and vehicle speeds on Front Avenue; and
WHEREAS, the proposed bicycle lanes on Front Avenue from Kent Street to Western Avenue, which are outside the mill and overlay project limits, will be implemented only if funding is identified and found feasible; and
WHEREAS, the elements proposed for implementation are referred to and listed in the Front Avenue Summary of Engineering Recommendations dated 12/5/2022; and
WHEREAS, parking removal is proposed for the south side of Front Avenue from Kent Street to Rice Street to install bike lanes while maintaining appropriate lane widths; and
WHEREAS, parking occupancy counts, included in the Front Avenue Summary of Engineering Recommendations, were performed at representative time periods to measure parking utilization along the corridor; and
WHEREAS, staff held a virtual Open House on November 17, 2022, which included a mailed notification of the open house time and date, and proposed improvements to properties within 500 feet of the project, provided access to additional project resources and invited questions or comments regarding the project to be sent directly to City staff; and
WHEREAS, staff reviewed and considered comments received and gave its recommendation to the Transportation Committee; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation Committee of the Planning Commission has reviewed the proposed project and has recommended approval; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Saint Paul does herby approve installation of bicycle lanes on Front Avenue from Kent Street to Rice Street concurrent with the mill and overlay scheduled for 2023.