17 - Downtown Square Short-Term Traffic Stop Plan Project

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ueiii tCe ii ii�ii-5I..11ii�� �ii�� I��iiux� III ��~ru u��u.vul III "iuu"uii�:�= � �I . ..----- ....uw.. qi u u iu ��.V II �u� .�..M Vie,.., DOWNTOWN PLAN GOALS & RECOMMENDATIONS The following goals and implementation recommendations in the downtown plan were adopted by the City Council with the update of the Comprehensive Plan on 10/8/2018. As you will see, a number of these measures have been implemented except for the key identified objectives for slowing speed and reverting the one-way pair system back to a two-way system. TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT to CREATE PEDESTRIAN -FRIENDLY SPACES 2.1 Reduce and enforce speed limits adjacent to the FUMC'S community spray park. 2.2 Reduce and enforce lower speed limits adjacent to Market Square. 2.3 Convert the travel lane adjacent to FUMC on Clarksville to parallel parking. 2.4 Reduce lane widths on Plaza, Lamar, and Clarksville. 2.5 Establish parallel parking on both sides of each street entering and leaving the Plaza, for a minimum distance of one block in each direction. 2.6 Utilize bump -outs and hardscape to enhance pedestrian crossings at each intersection on the plaza. 2.7 Close one block of 3rd between Lamar and Clarksville, replace asphalt paving with pavers, and place bollards on either end to prevent regular access, but also to provide for limited vehicular access for special events and occasions. In the interim, provide enhanced crosswalks in conjunction with the 3rd Street repaving project. 2.8 In order to reduce the number of large trucks, improve No Through Truck & hazardous cargo signage, and maintain police enforcement of existing restrictions on such trucks. 2.9 Incorporate Paris Metro stops into downtown's function and design, and provide assistance to ATCOG in placement of appropriate signage and construction of bus shelters. Evaluate constructing a non-standard downtown shelter from materials that more fit the historical character of downtown. 2.10 Construct two bump -outs each on 1 st SW and South Main south of Sherman, each pair to be opposite from one another to create a traffic calming chicane effect. 2.11 Construct enhanced pavement pedestrian crossings at each Plaza intersection, on 1st SW connecting the library and Market Square, at the intersections of Church and Kaufman, on Main Street connecting Bywaters Park and the Library, and at 1st NE and Lamar. 2.12 Replace all faded, damaged, or otherwise dated wayfaring signs with new -design signage. Eliminate unneeded locations to reduce street clutter. 2.13 Construct landscaped traffic circles at the intersections of North Main and Pine Bluff, and 1st NW and Graham; coordinate improvements with landscaping and other improvements to be established along northern edge of courthouse property. 2.14 Convert Price, Houston, 2nd West, and 3rd West to two-way traffic; identify and convert additional streets as appropriate. 2.15 Expand the size of the Culbertson Fountain plaza approximately 6 feet on each side, using a pervious material (e.g. decomposed granite, softscape, pavers, etc.). Widen existing sidewalks on the plaza by from 3 to 5 feet, using a pervious material. 2.16 Replace traffic signals on each plaza corner with stop signs. 2.17 Demolish former police station (and retrieve old tower for reuse/resale), as well as neighboring properties as necessary, and construct a heavily landscaped new Y intersection of Grand and Bonham in that location; prior to construction, utilize space for a temporary, highly landscaped passive park. Issues Analysis The main issue with the current traffic movements on the TX DOT roadway system is that it is designed to move traffic efficiently and as quickly as possible through the downtown square; in conjunction with the traffic signal system that is timed and sequenced to move traffic along the system at the 30 mile per hour speed limit in all directions to and from the square. The newly adopted objective by the City Council in 2018 was to slow this traffic down to improve the following: Page 12