To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: ANDREW WINJE, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
TITLE
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APPROVE A TRAFFIC CIRCULATION MODIFICATION TO PULLMAN LANE TO MAKE IT ONE-WAY, WESTBOUND, BETWEEN RIPLEY AVENUE AND MACKAY LANE
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Per the Public Works & Sustainability Commission (PWSC) recommendation in February 2024 and City Council approval in March 2024, a pilot one-way westbound conversion of Pullman Lane between Ripley Avenue and Mackay Lane has been in effect since mid-April 2024. Feedback was collected during the trial period, and residents in the area were invited to provide public input at the June 2024 PWSC meeting, when permanent solutions were discussed.
Following the discussion, the PWSC recommended the City Council approve the permanent conversion of Pullman Lane, between Ripley Avenue and Mackay Lane, to make it one-way, westbound only. This conversion addresses significant visibility challenges at the Ripley/High/Pullman intersection and insufficient roadway width for two-way travel on Pullman. If approved, the project would greatly improve visibility and will be combined with a separate City project to add crosswalk curb ramps at Ripley/High.
BACKGROUND
The attached report from the June 24, 2024 PWSC meeting includes the existing conditions at the intersection, resident-reported issues, feedback received during the trial period, and proposed permanent changes to circulation in the area. Noticing for the June 2024 PWSC meeting was provided to residents within 150-feet of Ripley/High, High/Ives, Ripley/Mackay, and Mackay/Pullman. One resident attended the PWSC meeting to support the proposed conversion, while two residents provided positive written feedback on the proposed conversion.
Staff initiated this study after receiving traffic safety and visibility complaints in early 2024 from residents of the area. Complaints stem from a severe lack of visibility between eastbound Pullman and westbound Ripley, which is controlled as an all-way stop with High Lane. All-way stops require visibility between each conflicting approach. Therefore, staff proposed removing eastbound Pullman from the Ripley/High intersection. A trial was recommended by the PWSC in February 2024 and approved by the City Council in March 2024, with the trial conversion in place since April 2024. Flyers were placed around the area inviting residents to provide feedback.
The City largely received supportive feedback of this modification during the trial period. Several residents requested an additional all-way stop at Ripley/Mackay. The PWSC discussed this request at its June 2024 meeting, but determined the resulting closely-spaced stops on Ripley could, potentially, result in compliance issues. Ultimately, the PWSC did not recommend an additional all-way stop-controlled intersection at Ripley/Mackay, but did support the permanent conversion of Pullman Lane to one-way travel westbound.
Currently, there are no curb ramps to cross Ripley at either High or Mackay. As a separate project, the City is designing ADA-compliant intersection curb ramps at the Ripley/Pullman/High intersection. Once installed, the improvement will reduce the overall size of the intersection, add a crosswalk across Ripley, and reduce turning speeds from westbound Ripley onto westbound Pullman. A crosswalk across Ripley is only possible if stop controls along Ripley are maintained in their current form (AWS at High, no AWS at Mackay).
Therefore, staff and the PWSC recommend a permanent conversion of Pullman Lane to be one-way westbound between Ripley and Mackay, with no further changes to be implemented at this time. If approved, signage installation would be performed by Public Works personnel, and the necessary striping work would be performed by the City’s striping contractor.
COORDINATION
Coordination of this report took place in the Public Works Department.
FISCAL IMPACT
Staff estimates the cost of restriping Pullman Lane and replacing signage to be approximately $3,000. Funding is available in the Public Works Department’s annual Maintenance & Operations Budget and the Traffic Calming Project Account.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
• June 2024 PWSC Administrative Report and Subsequent Attachments