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<br />Regular Meeting September 28, 1998 Page 2
<br />proposed parking lot design named Block 17 (Edward Gary -San
<br />Antonio Streets)(Figure 8 attached). Mr. Edwards reviewed the
<br />results of each strategy: (1) balancing on-street and off-
<br />street use +175-200 spaces, (2) redesign of existing lots +40-50
<br />spaces, (3) angle parking on Hopkins -20 spaces, (4) angle
<br />parking on Hutchison and Gary +75-80 spaces, (5) improved
<br />enforcement +74 spaces, (6) Courthouse Square parking +76
<br />spaces, and (7) add new parking in Block 17 +120 spaces. The
<br />recommendations include (1) add 500 spaces to the "effective
<br />parking supply", (2) organization - (a) establish a parking
<br />advisory committee, implement a parking management organization,
<br />(3) enforcement - (a) revise the on-street enforcement program,
<br />(b) establish a ticket tracking procedure, (c) use hand held
<br />computers, and (d) adjust the on-street time limit zone, (4)
<br />work with private sector - (a) meet with private lot owners,
<br />secure unused spaces, (b) prepare a parking bank, (5) design -
<br />(a) add angle parking on Hopkins, Hutchison, Gary, LBJ Drive,
<br />(b) redesign and operate University lot, (c) City to lease and
<br />design a new lot in Block 17, and (6) promotion - (a) undertake
<br />a parking promotion program and (b) provide parking maps and
<br />circulate. The priorities are: (1) immediate - (a)
<br />organization of a parking advisory committee, (b) prepare a
<br />parking map, (c) prepare news releases, (d) prepare a parking
<br />bank, (2) short range - (a) adjust on-street time limits, (b)
<br />City to take over University lot, (c) University to mark angle
<br />parking on Guadalupe and LBJ, (d) establish parking management
<br />organization, (e) transfer enforcement personnel, (f) establish
<br />parking enforcement procedure and publicize, (g) implement
<br />parking enforcement plan, (h) redesign University lot, establish
<br />leasing procedure, (i) prepare plans for on-street angle
<br />parking, (3) long range projects - (a) redesign parking in
<br />alleys, repave alleys, mark parking, (b) implement angle parking
<br />on Hopkins, Hutchison and Gary, (c) negotiate ground lease for
<br />Lot in Block 17, and (d) design and construct Lot in Block 17,
<br />and (4) continuing actions - parking advisory committee to
<br />continually review progress. Mr. Edwards listed the advantages
<br />and disadvantages of one-way streets: (1) advantages -
<br />increased capacity - 25%, reduced left turn conflicts, make use
<br />of parallel streets, spread traffic over several streets,
<br />improved safety and (2) disadvantages - less direct routing of
<br />traffic, concentration of turning movements, confusing to
<br />motorists, detrimental to retail businesses, complicated traffic
<br />operations. A proposed two-way plan and major thoroughfares was
<br />developed (Figure 2 attached). Some considerations in
<br />conversion are (1) will we lose parking, (2) will it adversely
<br />affect citywide thoroughfares, (3) will it cause additional
<br />delay, (4) will the community accept added delay, (5) will it
<br />increase accidents significantly, and (6) what is the perceived
<br />economic advantage. Table 1 compares one-way and two-way
<br />intersections LOS and delays (attached). Figure 3 Accident
<br />Frequency 1997 pinpoints accidents in downtown locations
<br />(attached). The conclusions and recommendations are (1) there
<br />will be no loss of parking, (2) there will be no adverse impact
<br />on citywide thoroughfares, (3) there will be no increase in
<br />average intersection delay, (4) accident rates may increase
<br />slightly, severity will be reduced, (5) two-way will be viewed
<br />as an improvement by merchants and shoppers, and (6) they
<br />recommend implementation of two-way operations on Guadalupe and
<br />LBJ Drive.
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