Memorandum
City of Lawrence
Public Works
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TO: |
David L. Corliss, City Manager |
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FROM: |
Charles F. Soules, Director of Public Works |
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CC: |
Diane Stoddard, Casey Toomay, Brandon McGuire, Mark Thiel, David Woosley |
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DATE: |
July 29, 2014 |
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RE: |
Designation of Pennsylvania from 8th Street to 9th Street as “No Trucks” |
Truck Route and Truck Delivery Route designations are established by Ordinance No. 7719.
The City has adopted a map of certain streets for the use of truck traffic.
Truck routes are used for through town traffic and are only designated on the State Highways, K-10/23rd Street; Iowa/Hwy-59; US-40/6th St. and US-59/40 (or North 3rd St.).
Truck delivery routes are designations provided to appropriate roads within the city for trucks to make inner-city deliveries. Trucks may leave truck routes onto delivery routes to provide deliveries to final destinations.
Prior to the development of the Warehouse District, Delaware Street did not exist between 8th and 9th Streets. Pennsylvania Street was a designated truck delivery route.
In 2012 Delaware Street was constructed. Delaware Street is 8” of asphalt on a treated subgrade. When the street was completed, Penny’s Concrete, Inc. began using this road instead of Pennsylvania Street for access to the southern/eastern sides of town. Neighbors complained about the large loads and volume of vehicles. Delaware Street between 8th and 9th Streets is not designated as a truck delivery route and was posted as such.
In 2013 Pennsylvania was reconstructed with a treated subgrade, 7” asphalt base and brick surface. Pennsylvania is currently designated a truck delivery route. The City has invested significant resources and funding into the reconstruction of these streets and there is concern that the heavier loads from the Ready Mix Plant will shorten the life cycle of the road.
The alternative is to use 8th Street over to Connecticut. Both streets are collectors and designated truck delivery routes. This reroute will cause additional truck traffic in other neighborhoods. The intersection at 8th and Connecticut Street also has concerns from Penny’s Concrete, Inc. with visibility, speed of traffic on Connecticut Street, and sufficient turning radius/room available to make a turn with parking in the area.
Staff is recommending that Pennsylvania be designated as “No Trucks” between 8th and 9th Streets.
Staff will need to discuss truck routes with neighborhoods and the Ready Mix Plant for a mutually acceptable solution. During the interim the truck route will be 8th Street to Connecticut Street.
Action
Pending City Commission discussion, adopt on first reading, Ordinance No. 9032, removing Pennsylvania Street, from 8th Street to 9th Street, from the Schedule of Truck Delivery Routes.
Respectfully Submitted,
Charles F. Soules, P.E.
Director of Public Works
CFS/ch
Attachments: Schedule 28 Truck Delivery Routes