14 - REMOVAL OF NO PARKING/INSTALL PARALLEL PARKING

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Item No. 14 memorandum TO: Mayor & City Council FROM: Randy Tuttle, Assistant Chief of Police SUBJECT: REMOVAL OF NO PARKING/INSTALL PARALLEL PARKING DATE: March 12, 2015 BACKGROUND: Lamar Avenue beside First Methodist Church is four lanes wide. The inside lane lasts only as far as the church itself, and serves no other need other than church traffic. As part of our evaluating downtown traffic flows and other issues, we have been examining the possibility of converting this inside traffic lane to parking. Both the church and TXDOT have agreed to the change. STATUS OF ISSUE: Converting this lane to parking will do help replace parking lost by the church due to their park project on the west side of their property, and should also have a claiming effect on traffic by reducing the wider width of the roadway. By replacing open pavement with parked cars, we should expect somewhat slower average travel speeds on Lamar, a high priority of downtown development. On March 3, , the Traffic Commission considered the item to remove the No Parking Zone on the north side of 300 Clarksville and request the installation of parallel parking along that side of the street. The Traffic Commission voted to recommend this be approved. BUDGET: Estimated $1,500 to make necessary changes. RECOMMENDATION: Approve recommended parking lane conversion.