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Home My WebLink About1993-02-02 Correspondence \ 'v\~ ' ~ ~, I !,'..,.," i' ..:,~.: .... lZ' ',-",'" :"..,' :,.;. :...... " ::.:--'::,,('t"'.i:' J.~J.; :~'< ~;ry::' ';,' :;: '(:;'; , ::. :,:' 0: ,~ :..'.t':.:':, . \:':::~ AteJ ~f[) V Ha1d 1726 Lynncrest Dr. Coralville, IA 52241 January 14th, 1993 Iowa City City Council do City ofIowa City Payment Processing Center P.O, Box 3013 Cedar Rapids, IA 52406.9115 Dear Council members: I am including this letter with payment for a parking ticket I recently received while parked inside the downtown parking ramp adjoining the Old Capitol Mall. I was mcredulous to dIscover I could get a parkmg tIcket when parked in an unmarked .. space (not Handicap or otherwise reserved) in a parking ramp, As I stood trying to figure out what the ticket was for, an officer pulled up and explained that I was parked on too Iowa level before 10 a,m, in the morning, She then pointed to a small sign attached to the ceiling of the ramp no where near the space I was in, Then to add insult to injury, I found I still had to pay for parking in the ramp, Some pointed questions to the parking ramp cashier along with a couple of subsequent phone calls revealed to me that the law I had broken was passed by the city council at the request of the downtown merchant's association. I am writing this letter in order to make clear to the city council how angry this ticket makes me, I very much feel that this is the same as the small town speed trap with a 10 mph sign hidden in the bushes and the cop just waiting to catch the unsuspecting motorist, I understand that there were signs posted in the ramp, but frankly I think these are wholly inadequate, All parking ramps have signs here and there. They generally say things like "Not responsible for items left in your car" or "Not respor;sible for damage", One tends to get used to them and hence ignores them unless they are on the space you are abou t to park in as ill the case of "handicap only' signs or "reserved for city vehicles" signs, If you intend to maintain this law you should either put a sign on each and every affected space or you should post a person at the entrance to warn people as they come in, Anything less than this smacks of entrapment. Aside from the notification issue which I see as a fairness issue, this seems to me to be a stupid law. I am amazed that the downtown merchants association requested it. Why do you.Yll!D.Ji to make customers walk further in order to get to downtown stores. It really makes no sense, This especially surprises me in a downtown area given the ongoing pressures from Malls that charge nothing for parking, Unlike many cities, Iowa City has been successful in maintaining a healthy downtown, It seems a shame to see laws enacted which work against that success, I personally have been 0130 I :':/": :: ~,. ..., . ":..;. " ~ - 0'", ..'... :~. . .... ,',,';.: "" ,..;.:'. ::'.'\~. ';,'. .. ""'1 '.~Z::J.,.ill. ':C.l...'" ," ,,', '.' < "; \~ ',.:" ~n.'," ':~31, ~,',L1'0~ ,:~'. ',', '/. ':': :,; ':1':' ,:"1' ,. l ~\ '_' .'11..' . J~. ," , , ~,l ...'. ,', <.. ~ I' I . . ,., I > "", 'I,' , Page 2 (i a frequent customer at a number of downtown businesses including Bremmers, Y ounkers, JC Pennys, Enzlers, The Soap Opera, The Kitchen, Season's Best and others in the Old Capitol Mall, Finding out that the downtown merchant's association is behind this stupid law has prompted me to reevaluate my loyalty to shopping in downtown Iowa City. So long as this law remains in effect with out adequate warning to the unwary user of the ramps, I intend to take my business to Williamsburg or to the Westdale Mall in Cedar Rapids, I am encouraging my friends to do the same. , I I I I ~. ! Sincerely, 1) /~ _....."f )( .<'Ii /. 1 - -- I '-~-i I ! ~- ~"l' . ";.;.;;;",;",;",;;,;".;:~::,:,::r..'!".!2~~'.""'~--"'W' Robert E. Seaholm cc: Downtown Merchant's Association -'--'.~'.. '. ",- --._-'.--"_. "i'AHf( ING T l(;f(ETS r11ISTEHf ILE PARKING TICKEIS MASIURFILE A--.......---.-.....--....-------..-..-'...--------..-----.-::-..--~--~~-::----------------------A j LICf:N:,E : DVH2';12 NMIE: SLAHOLr\ !lOBERT E 1 S'IATE : IMI(, " AUDHSS: ~.;j(; OlliNCY RD Nt lA "')3'13 ISSUE DME : 20-NLlV-'J:l " SOLO~.,. ."" . TlCf(ET~. : 18/'7% NMil; HIdE : OI-[lbC-9J _ _..____.,_______.._.... ~_.._-------------------------------------------------------. - 'ENTRY OATS : 20-NUV-92 DRIB LICI : BILL DAlE: 01-DEC-92 L1RIG STATR A . ---..-----------..----..-....-----A *--..-----..--------------..-..-~ .0i~,:i~i,i~~--;..pz PROHIBIfEl,l LON,E j I ~I~E AMT ~ ~.DO I)EHICLE : !'LYh HYMIJU'tH !OlAl: ~111[1 : ~.oo !.OCATIlJl~ : !(i'lMP A lillAli : 'l J Cl!r:I\UiJ, j P: , ".09 OFl'H'FR . (PH Mnl'l' I . ISl U(, [Il . j(,-.JMI-93 TIME' " : oill:; , " . CUR :\tC liT: 18-J,W-'!3 fI ______...__.___..___ -----------.-...-------.--..----1, i:::::-~~~~~~~-:::::~-~::::-----.- REVIEW/DISMISSAL .rNt~~~~fIU~A~~~-------..--- t 1-~~~~~~-~!~!~..-----1 1-~~~~~-..-----------....----..-- ..---...-..---..----..-----.----A .130 ~ - "..-. -......-- I r\i\~\ y' ... r ....-.....----.-Y'IfJIII(f-....r ..,.....,--~1'........,.._...............~ -,r ...-.,.,. - ....- :,::':" /,.O';..tjO';;:,"..':.EH'.-::,,::,....,.....,;:..:,.... :"';"";'" ,",":':" .. "./ '. '. " :zJ , " , " '. . ,..... '~(":', T~~\" :~!.'\,:E~ .,~, ':-:':;I',~, -: .',;~rl'''':':, ,':' -:, ".:;', ",\"":..:.~,>:" RECEIVED JAN 18 1993 730 East Market Iowa City, IA 52245 January 15,1993 City Council Civic Center 410 East Washington Ave, Iowa City, IA 52240 Dear Member: I am writing this letterin favor of the downzoning from RM-1210 RNC-12 currently under consideration for my neighborhood, defined as the area between Dodge and Clapp Streets and Markel and Jefferson Streets, I recently purchased the single family house at 730 East Market which I had owned for several years nearly twenty years ago, I am appalled al the deteriorated state of Ihe property after the ownership of several absentee landlords, In a discussion of the property several years ago, one of these landlords remarked to me that he who owns the comer house (730 East Markel) can eventually buy up the two adjoining houses, rnze them and put up a large apartment building. Thus, the minimal maintenance on the property, My son and I live in the house and are repairing the damage that has occurred, This house will be my home as I continue teaching college in the Iowa Cily community and on through my retirement years, Simply pUI, the house is part of my retirement plan, not a money-making scheme, I hope you will downzone the area to retain the historical integr.ly of the neighborhood and to avoid further deteriomtion of the properties therein by encouraging my absentee neighbors to take care of what they have purchased, Thank you for your consideration of my concerns, Sincerely, ~~t& i I ~31 i r\~~) ; ~\ I i I I , , I I ~. :.,";...' '. '::'...;~-' ;:.,,:~'-:::.~. ":"" . ,~ ,;':,:.,.,., ,':',::- '.I., . ," " \ ' " r" ," , ~:'.<,:.:J,~;'.... ":'-":,'l":"'~l'"I /,',1 ~.\ :;-.";'.:: .':~.'" I_",',:~:.:',.< .,,: RECEIVED JAN 18 1993 730 E. Market Iowa City, IA 52245 Jan, 15, 1993 City Council CivicClr, 410 E, Washington Ave, Iowa City, IA 52240 Dear Member: I am in favor of the proposed downzoning in the area around the 700 block of Market 51. In my opinion, the proliferation of apartment type multi-family units would depreciate both the quality of life in the area and the future monetary value of existing one-family residences, Thank you, 1:dJtCrt-Z Todd Kratz ~3' ~- --~ ........-- .. '"..----..- ~- ..... ~ "-r - - '"--r- -- ,- ~ - -,. -- .... .....,.... -- --..- .- ::,;, , : .,;:'I.':,,,,:i'tI'.'...:;'l7.,,:,....,'iG::: ,,',:'.' : :,::,':',:, :',,\';':: ", . ,:,,'.,:: 4.;" '1(' .', '111721' ""~" ...1,'."" ., ',' 't" .',{' '1':' ;\\, ...,:. ...",..,...~\.I.' . q~.~ J~,' ,.', :'~~:\', .' : ,', ., ,,'. ,":. :'. ';.' . ~.'. '. I) J 9'\ , , Penny HaJl, President Denise lurea, President.EI~t Kiki Aaneslad. Past President Cindy Parsons, Secretary Sandra 10ynt, Treasurer Bev Byram, Elementary Safely Deb Kauffman-Watson, Secondary Safely Myrna Arner, Traffic Safely Loni Parroll, Newsleller , January 20, 1993 Hayor Darrel Courtney City of Iowa City 410 E. WaShington St. Iowa City, Iowa 52240 .... '" . _h. RECEIVED JAN 27 1993 Dear Honorable Mayor Courtney and Council Members: Criteria used to determine vehicular traffic flow interruptions has me puzzled. The following requests were turned down: 1. WALK/DON'T WALK light at Fairmeadows and Hwy. 6 2. WALK/DON'T WALK light at First Ave. and Hwy. 6 3. Lenghthen the time of WALK/DON'T WALK light at Sycamore and Hwy.6 These separate requosts were all turned down because they would interrupt the flow of vehicular traffic on Hwy.6. Yet four traffic lights have been installed between Boyrum and the Walmart. It appears there are differences in criteria applied to traffic flow interruptions when requested by businesses as opposed to those requested by citizens with safety concerns. Please explain how all of these additional traffic lights are less of an interruption to vehicular traffic flow! The pedestrian overpass was suggested by Jim Brachtel as an alternative solution which would not interrupt the flow of vehicular traffic. While an overpass would assist pedestrian traffic and not impede vehicular traffic, it too appears to have been denied primarily due to cost. The need for safe pedestrian crossings is not questioned. There are many school-aged children who need safe crossing but the need exists every day of the year for all residents! The Districtwide Parents Organization's Ad Hoc Traffic Safety Committee is concerned about an apparent trend from the city concerning safety requests. The initial requests for safe passage in this area were denied and 013" ;~:..'.-:.':~:.' ,."'::.:~.,. ,.?...:,-.",":" tH.....'. . ',,'...:~.: :..:.<, :', 1',:..:....'.' I . ,.11.. ...2::.1, .lZl, 'j , . ".'..' ",' .' J,'>"~~'I..~r:'.:.,}~/.:\'~.fJ'..:',:.,l,If/IIaIt..,"::".: ':' ','", :>':-::>.(' ~',<::, the alternative solution appears to have been denied also. How are these people supposed to cross safely? I urge you to find a form of safe crossing that could be agreed upon and to keep in mind that you have not exhausted a search for alternative funding for a pedestrian overpass. Sincerely, Myrna K. Arner Mary Bantz DPD Ad Hoc Traffic Safety cc DPD/School Board/City Traffic Safety Committee Amy Edwards, Press Citizen Mary Lewis, Brant Wood Neighborhood Assoc. Paul Davis, Brant Wood Principal Steve Auen, Mark Twain Principal Frank Ward, South East Principal I I 1 ;l3 --. . I :':, ',.,...'.:,. ':, ':,ljy ,~,' ::dI'~ ,~il~I": :",'; '<,': ..,>"':' ",:' ,:', >:'. ':~>: ;~~', f',..~:,~,]l:. :'Wl~, : ','. ;;.'.f,.',. :.: ': ., '.. ;:' :'. :,,::' "....:':. " ~i\;~ , ( t\~ : f~ City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: January 27. 1993 To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: James Brachtel, Traffic Engineer Re: Parking Prohibition on the East Side of George Street As directed by Section 23-16 of the Municipal Code of Iowa City. this is to advise you of the following action: ACTION: Pursuant to Section 23.234 of the Municipal Code of Iowa City, the City Traffic Engineer will direct the installation of NO PARKING ANY TIME signs on the east side of George Street from its intersection with Oakcrest Street north to the city limits of University Heights, This action will take place on or shortly after February 11, 1993, COMMENT: This action is being taken after the compietion of a postcard survey. Twelve questionnaires were distributed to the residents of George Street that would be affected by this parking prohibition, Nine residents responded to the questionnaire with five voting in the affirmative and four opposing the proposed change, Based upon a simple majority of the responses to the questionnaire. this action is being taken, bj1g.11fgUI , '" f) I" 'I,) ','" r~ I "..I. . ""'.' ":':I'j 1 II:,' , , " ,'J "J [" ...." r' ul 'v ; " .(.;, ~'l 1~'\J " I '.1 , ,,133 ...., .....--- ~ - "....-------~-------....~'....... ~-- ...... 1 -r - - "-r- I ~:':':,',:i',:'i ;:'.'.~."i~..'...'.",iZI':' ':tJ' ,>, .',:., ';.:,;'::,', '. ' :,:".:: ,<: ',:':- , " 11, ,\. I" ~TI:. '.. -1 ".r, -' ","'," .. , ..c:'~\ ....'., ~,l~..."" I:";"~, : . I,.. \ ' i '." " " ,'. ',,':'; " .'.. .~. : ~'\:~\ ~\ City of Iowa City MEMORANDUM Date: January 25, 1993 To: The Honorable Mayor and City Council James Brachlel, Traffic Engineer Metered Handicapped Parking Stalls on the North Side of the 300 Block of East College Slreet From: Re: As directed by Section 23-16 of the Municipal Code of Iowa City, this is to advise you of the following action, ACTION: Pursuant to Section 23-253 of the Municipal Code of Iowa City, the City Traffic Engineer will authorize the designation of two existing metered parklng stalls as HANDICAPPED PARKING slalls, The two existing metered parking stalls are currentiy designated as C96 and C98, These two stalls are the most westerly stalls on the north side of the 300 block of East College Street. This action will take place shortly after the conversion of the Old Library Parking Lot from public parklng to private development. COMMENT: When Jim Glasgow begins construction of the new development to be located on the existing Old Library Parklng Lot the City will lose two handicapped parking spaces from Its current Inventory. The conversion of the on-street metered parklng from general parklng to handicapped parking as noted above will keep the supply of metered handicapped parking constant. Additionally, due to the proximity to the City's new Library building It will provide convenient handicapped parking for the City's Public Library. ns\collogD ','." GI .' J" '.'" [I \Ji,i J 1\ ,1,J ..:,., J, \,!\I~- ''': ... ! 'I:) I .r~.., . '-' I \.~ b';; '11"':1 S' I'l!r~- w' h. "l~ LLJ , ,j. I.!r.-.; ....' (... l.a...:.l a3t{ , ff? - ~ ",--- .. ".----' ~- .-- r "--r - -.-~--,......-,.- ... ...-......-._-...................--- :::. ,'. "I"" ", 'rr( . CD." "",1,:.:' .: '....: ':, 'i;.:",: ," ,\ '<'~<,,)h '~'.~:u'?'~'~'.:. :::~JJ' '.' ~tm'.' - :<":. ", ',\. ,'>; ", ~,.:' :...:<.,.';"': .~ .' 'l.\ J' :........ \ , 'r~i,..., II '\ ~ _ ' . .,..' , , '.' l" ',h , I. I _ " .' , .' ....--.:......--.-. ! 3" (6) .----.. ',..,... -..,...........,..--'-....---..- 2601 Friendship St. Iowa City. IA. 52245 January 31. 1993 City Councilperson Naomi Novick Civic Cente,' 410 E. Washington Iowa City. IA. 52240 Dear Naomi: The City of Iowa City wishes to attain, through purchase or condem- nation, sites for five monito,'ing wells south of Iowa City fo,' the pu,'pose of determining whether Iowa City's water supply can be provided via pipeline from approximately twenty wells drilled into the "bul'ied channel" aouife,'. Farm owners and their neighbol's a"e understandably disturbed. What might happen to their own water supply is one concern. What may be a larger concern is how are they to make a living if their crop and livestock practices are severely restricted if their land falls into a half-mile radius of one of the proposed production wells. The reason the city is looking to get its water supply out of wells located roughly between Hills and Lone Tree is that it projects initial costs of that option as si,teen million dollars compared to a projected cost of twenty-five to thirty-five million dollars for a new sut'face water tt'eatment plant inside the city limits. Have the cost pt'ojections of the "but'ied channel" option included the losses fat'met's will incur if the project is completed? The answer is no! If in fact you had determined what those costs might be and had committed to the pl'indple that the city would fairly compensate for those losses. I believe you would have eliminated the "bu,'ied channel" option as too e>:penSlve. What might we be talking about here in terms of losses? If it takes twenty wells to meet the demand and if those wells are spaced a mi Ie apart. than there are twenty sections of farmland that fall within the potential well head protection areas. What might the value be of the livestock facilities on those twenty sections that may have to be abandoned? What econO~,lC losses wi II befall the fa"m operatot's of those 12.800 acres if they cannot use pesticides and fertilizers that other farmers are allowed to use? I urge you to considel' these Questions, Ag,'iculture in Johnson County is a one hundred million dollar per year industry. What would a 1055 of economic activIty on thIS vast, fertile land mass mean for its owners. the level of econQmic activity in the county. and the taM base for several school districts and the county? Please reconsider your dl,'ection, ;),35 ~--. fIF - y-'- - .. ..---~.-....,.- ..... r ., ... - .........,--~~ .. ..-------..,.----.....---.......... ------- ;\ :. ',.!, .' .1':_., ',1,.'; \, . ,7: ~' '.'; .~' ~. /':" ~ . ~ .. ~ ~.. \ . ~ ' ~ :J: I -I ". '. "J" ld ..l., ,[,.., .,' . " " '. '. ~?' :,.':{. .',":'''~~.wJ :.:,',)~: ,:.J~, :,' ,:' " ',:'. '.~: ,'... "'....::. ~u::..:~~~.J~:J,~'t.::~-.; .~.';~:~.:'.~~,'~';~':".a.::::.:..'.;....~..~ -:"':';':,;"'~:;';~"~~~.""""'/''''~ :.c.'~' .'. . -":;::.:.r:.~:.::~.:..;.~...._.:...,:.....~_~:~ I : ~~~),;'- "I Don McCloskey, 320 Melrose 338-1661 January 29, 1993 SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MELROSE AVENUE PROJECT (These are my personal concerns, and do not cover all those of the Melrose Avenue Association, A full presentation can be heard from Ms, Widness, 629 Melrose Ave" 354-4171,) What is the point of building a ,44 mile stretch of widened highway from a bottleneck at University Heights to a bottleneck at the Junction of Grand Avenue and Riverside Drive? The engineers and planners might reply: The traffic counts justify it, Comment by the neighborhood: The counts do not justify the project if in fact the street is mainly a "collector," not an "artarial," and if the bottlenecks cannot be expected to be opened. Traffic mainly stopping and starting on the stretch does not gain speed, Is it necessarj' to make the bridge four lanes in order to get the Federal money for it? The engineers and planners might reply: Yes, I Comment by the neighborhood: There is confusion about the matter, Someone is shading the facts in order to get the project through, If the street is designated an "arterial" then it may by City custom "have to be" four la,les, But. the "arterial" designation, which Melrose will never maet under any plan, is Iowa City'S call, We have spoken with the lOOT and the Federal authorities and they say that the bridge can ba any size Iowa City wants, It is not the case that it must be 4 lanes to get the Federal money. The engi?eers and planners might reply in turn: The traffic statistics justify four lanes, Comment by the neighborhood: The traffic statistics, which were incorrectly ascertained for what is obvious a collector street, are irrelevant, They involve a definition of "capacity" as "free flow of traffic," which is anyway impossible on a segment of street with as much turning off and on as this part of Melrose, One might as well expect a 35 mph average on the corner of Clinton and Washington, And crucially: As long as University Heights does not widen its J3/D1 ',' ....--'. _Jo-.....-- , ...._ - . r .. ....... - - , -- ~ ..- ... .... t:~",:>: :~~<:'-i. ,: '~''':,''':.';-~ .,','.~: '.~~: ': ,:,(0',. ",,"';,"~;;-".I,':'::"I " '/ I' " ".', ',' ,J ,I.. .,' .." ,., " ' ,;":,,~,,...: ':,'.:.~"., ~>,l..;.:',:' -:,F":',; ';'<,::,:;: ..>::", ~-"--' .-------...-.....,.---...------ . - ,,_-..-.....-. . -_.-----~--............... " part of Helrose Avenue the traffic vill come to a halt in the brief rush period on the other side of the bridge, The bridge could be eight lanes and still not speed traffic, The engineers are telling the City Council, .We need the four lanes of highway because of the four lanes of bridge, We need the four lanes of the bridge because of the erroneous traffic counts and because a half mile away and twenty years ago we tried to coerce University Heights by building a useless four-lane divided highway up to their western border,. That dog won't hunt, Are the people in the neighborhood opposed to ell improvements on Helrose? The engineers and planners might reply: Yes, Better keep them in the dark until the deal is done, Don't work with them: fool 'em if we can, at least part of the time, An~ay, why are they so upset? Not much non-University land is taken, Comment by the neighborhood: "Taking land" is not the only fom of damage to a neighborhood, Property values will fall with a congested four-lane highway in front of the houses, making pedestrian use difficult and encouraging truck use, The people in the neighborhood are by no means opposed to sll improvements, A three-lane widening by the Hospital and gym alone, one of the lanes being a turning lane, with even a short stretch of a fourth storage lane to make right turns onto Hawkins Drive easier, would accomplish what the Hospital and the City engineers and planners want at half the price and yet not disrupt the neighborhood, Do the City engineers expect that by building a four-lane highway up to the edge of University Heights they can persuade University Heights to ,'iden its segment of Helrose? The engineers and planners might reply: Yes, Comment by the neighborhood: Does the City wish to play games of chicken against University Heights with $500,000 of City money or does it wish to have good relations with other governments? The strategy did not work in the past, The City did build a four-lane highway, even a divided one, twenty years ago up to the West border of University Heights, Nothing happened, The expense was not then justified by the traffic flow and has for twenty years been a3fD I ' , ".,. .. - ., , , . '., '. . ( 'j ;'. .." " '. '. -, :\~.,. ",' ,\ '\ .,:,'.'.',.:/';":. ~',; "'l"I""':':<."J, ::'~i', ...',':':,'..',' .'~ ,t '~l ,"[.' ",t~. ",' '\. ,~,.~. .,d '-.'.',.:I";L.'.,.,"':~"..;.;,::'~":.l'~" ,It~':!::~,)" ".. .,'" ',j/' , '.".....""'-'\.~_n..~..~..._-"'L. -.__..'~..--.;- ...... .n.: ........'.~................:~.J.:.....~.:........'~..,..;:......,lt.~...~u.J:thlc'l<:!:~I: .~~:.....::........~.'.:"_~'\L..::..l:~.........:..:.:..:......:.,'~.. " '_j i I " " an embarrassing piece of expensive, detached highway from nowhere to nowhere, The City has wasted the money for twenty years. University Heights, which does not wish to take the front lawns of some fifty homes, has not budged, The Engineering Department, hand-in-glove with the Hospital, now wants to throw good money after bad, Building the next fragment of four-lane highway can be seen as a way of retrospectively justifying the embarrassingly mistaken decision 20 years ago, The fragments have a half mile of (wide) two-lane highway between them, and according to University Heights always will, The project is a naive power play by the City to coerce University Heights and a device for the planners and engineers to make their old and mistaken decision look good, Did the planners or engineers for either the City or the Hospital consider the impact on the neighborhood? The engineers and planners might reply: No, by our own admission, Neighborhood considerations were not in the equation at all, None of the planning authorities--City, Hospital, University--considered the neighorbood impact of the project, They all say so, Comment by the neighborhood: A road plan that does not consider the impact on neighborhoods is merely a plan for getting traffic down to the center quickly, regardless of impact, It is not sound planning for the kind of place the people of Iowa City want to live in. No one in Iowa City wants interstates or baby versions of interstates slicing through the town, in the style of Cedar Rapids, Anyway the stretch of Helrose by the Hospital is "the center" to which people are hurrying: it is the destination and origin of much of its own traffic, As citizens and taxpapers the neighborhood people are shocked at the way in which the decision has been reached, a secret deal between the Hospital and the City engineers, with no real input from citizens or their representatives, The City consulted two owners of the railway rights, the Hospital, the University, the County, the IDOT, the'Federal bridge authorities, It consulted everyone except the people most directly involved, The Engineering Department admits it relied on engineers hired by the Hospital. It is inappropriate for the City and Hospitel engineers to collude to achieve a project they want, contrary to the strong preferences of the neighborhood I a3l1t fF~~ I ~~ .. .. -___..-~----.--r---~...... - - '''-r- -- :>-::',',:,/,:,::';';LiCk '\:1' :::.:ij., "."':,,::': ,',:, "':,::::,::,,: ::.,:: ;,::::}:t':.(;~,:\'8r:,,:,',I_:,: :;m':;'.' ,( ,'. ":.,:-:: i,",:":; '.... _...._...-.~-..::._...._~. ___......_,Jt~I~ ....,..;..:-....~';O'....,...~........o:l~~,._._...,...~,;';;:O'~lJ.:.~'\t.:.;!..u...4,).;.;:,....~.,.(.o:......I.. , ': " ',' expressed three times in twenty years and now again for the fourth time, Unless the elected officials expressly order it, riding roughshod over the neighborhood is not appropriate, Have the City or the Hospital done studies of Dedestrian traffic across Nelrose? The engineers and planners might reply; No, sorry, Comment by the neighborhood: Many thousands of Hospital workers and University students cross the street there every day, If the street is to be made safe for them (they after all are legal users of the street and are citizens of the City) it will require more lights (e,g, at Melrose Court), which are themselves expensive, since a 4-lane street is harder to cross, With more lights the street will be slower than envisioned in a plan that pretends pedestrians do not exist, Did the Hospital consult with the City about its plans to dump traffic to and from the Eye Clinic and Family Practice Clinic onto Nelrose instead of making the exits and entrances face onto Ha.'kins Drive, its own collector street? The engineers and planners might reply: Sort of, Comment by the neighborhood: The Hospital did not consult in a way that allowed the City to stop it, The Hospital presented the new building as an accomplished fact, a rush job necessary for Federal funding (notice how the argument gets used), The Hospital, for example, did not bother to get permits to put construction fences on City land, The Hospital is the State, Being the State means being able to do whatever you please whenever you please, with no regard for the impact on the City or the neighborhood, Hawkins Drive is the natural place for the entrance to the clinics and the entrance to the parking ramps to service them, It makes the main Hospital traffic, which comes from the north (where the population centers are), use the main Hospital road, Hawkins Drive, With the entrances on Melrose the bulk of the traffic will have to make a left turn onto Melrose, across two lanes of oncoming traffic, increasin~ the blockage at the junction of Melrose and Hawkins Drive, The proposed entrances on Melrose, adding to the dozens of active entrances to the segment, is a much worse intrusion ~ .w,';:':"_.~~-':.::~ 4 0l3lo I I I , I , f, I - ~ - -,,-.------ . ...........-...- -...., ~---.......-r-,...... - '-r- -- ,.- ~ - .....--........ ................. ~.'I.', ,:,,:::. :...'. .. ":\,' ~ ,:"." ':9'(.' .::. :. - '/,,' :::/:J < ,!.' '.' ',~.:" ~I~\ " " '/ I" .'d .'. ,l. '," .', '.' ,,' , , ..." ",' ~':, .L:' '\\,:.~;:::., 8,!~'>'.' :J~"'I' ~;; _, >'. ::' ,':. ",..,:; .":',1'. ".:. ~ ,','.,' ,-';"~ ""~,..-_",,..J,.',~ ',..........-""'~..~..':..l-~~'*"_. .,....._...~I.ll:.'Ul.:::~....~~-.lzrl~~~~~D::1IO':;:G.:l'I..U.~:l:.IoL~~.~..;.r.~~.~..:.,\';;I:''''.~ " 5 on the neighborhood than the heliport proposed for Mercy Hospital and turned back by the City Council, Considering the confidence game that the Hospital has played and the shocking disregard for the neighborhood and the City, the elected representativas would be justified in making the Hospital redraw its plans, Is the University behind the project? The engineers and planners might reply: Yes, Comment by the neighborhood: The Hospital is not the same as "The University," The University was not seriously consulted, either. The four lanes is a Hospital, not a University, project, presented as an accomplished fact, Will the segment of Melrose after the proposed four-and-three-Iane ~'idening meet the City's definition of an "arterial" street? The engineers and planners might reply: Yes, Comment by the neighborhood: No, Arterial streets must average 35 mph, impossible on a street with so much turning, much of it across other lanes of traffic, and with so much pedestrian traffic, In other ways the street does not and will not ever meet the criteria for an arterial. It is what is known in the City and County definitions as a "collector," a downtown street with numerous entrances. Point-of-origin traffic studies have not been done, The traffic flows used to justify the project are all mere traffic counts, at three locations, The Law School, the Hospital, the gym, the numerous side streets, the four daycare centers, and the massive student housing to the south of Melrose make Melrose the point-of-origin for much of its traffic, Have the planners and the engineers considered alternative routes and plans? The engineers and planners might reply: No, Comment by the neighborhood: And why not? Why not more use of Route 6 and Hawkins Drive for traffic from the northwest, ;l3lQr- - ,- t: ! I ; I I i, , -- I 'fII' - -T'" - .--~~ ....~ "...... ---- '-r- -. ,.- . ~......- .,..... ..... (, .;., :'';(jr''::'~':'"I,;''':Ci;:',<"" .':..:.;::<':".::>",~":';,:':' ~>,\". :~~r:c~:':;'.~,~,':.~ f':.':,',: >:~B ',~ .:'_0,'1" .:r,' .'::~"". .::-'.. .,:' ",' 't . ", J.~ 'O, , "tll~li,. ,~. ,. \ ~ .'. . ,.4_..:....)..:.",L-.;"~..;,.1 ~_...J. ..~:: .~~-t.....:.:-I/.k:..a..:.:xL~~,..:~..JX:..3.".l~....,t:..:r.olC~..' ~.1:'.Ja..:-"'l"'j.:.:.:.i....:::.L..:~.::J.~:-.:...i...:.:...:.c..'.::.-.:..:.::.:::..:.t::.:.L.,.~.~.:~: -...=~.;.:..:.~;;:.::;;~~.i . " 6 neither of which affects any neighborhood? Why not better access to Route 1, which is also wholly commercial, on the southwest side of town? The Engineering Department is not prepared now to present to the Council any alternatives for Melrose Avenue itself. For example, they cannot tell what the extra expense will be of having a four-lane bridge and road rather than the more reasonable three lanes, The planners and engineers have not provided the decisionmakers with options, only with accomplished facts. They have learned about bureaucratic infighting, it would appear, from the Hospital, From what we can gather, the extra lanes cost in total about $500,000 of City (not Federal) funds--excluding extra traffic lights at a hundred thousand dollars each, Even on Melrose there are better ways of spending $500,OOO--such as widening the dangerous stretch, with its deep ditches on both sides of the narrow two lanes now available, between Yest High and 380, Have the engineers and planners considered the option of rounding the curves of Grand and directing all the traffic down it, as it nOl,' takes all the traffic up and some of the traffic dOlm? i The engineers and planners might reply: No, we have not considered the rounding, which would be the cheapest plan, We want the "Diagonal," The Diagonal is a beautiful plan that straightens Grand, demolishing houses and requiring new right-of-way, that has been rejected three times before but has been favored by the Engineering Department for 20 years, Comment by the neighborhood: The rounding would reduce almost all the conflict of traffic with turning in and out of the day care centars and the Law School, There is ample space on Grand's right-of-way to hold the new road, The little road called "Byington" which now serves at the very end of Melrose is an over-90 degree angle and furthermore is a steep descent. It is dangerous and slow, and causes an additional blockage in the Rush Minute when it reenters Grand, A rounded Grand would accomplish the same result in existing right-of-ways with less cost to the neighborhood and the City, a3l11 I . :.... '.,", : ,'..,.. . .:: ,~~ '}','[Lit.,: ":. ,:,' ',' ,'.:: ~',: :'.' ,/> "'. ..i' I .. ~l "l /.." 'PJ" , " '..' , :~ ,,'0 :;'l\~ ,~:. :".'(J:' ,:':-,I~~ "r ',,'j~~~' " .,: ". .'," I,:, ':"'.:.' '--"':~";""';""~"""'A~'~"""'~'.i."'''''''~.JW;::-:.......t~ -"'U...~'~~:.....-..,...IL'.t.a\;i\r....~u...;.....;:..._ ~.~.:.... .L ...:-...:.._::....:...:.:.-..:.:.....:...,...... ~~...~....:...:..:~:i:t~..."'t. 'J' U:. '. ." 7 Will you give up the Diagonal if you get the three lanes added near the Law School onto the four by the Hospital? The engineers and planners might reply: No, The Diagonal remains on all our long range plans for the road, We will keep proposing it, It is beautiful, Comment by the neighborhood: So the City is being asked on the lower stretch of the project to spend some hundreds of . thousands of dollars making a three-lane road which will eventually be abandoned in favor of putting all the traffic, beautifully, down Grand, a310 I ! i II I i I , ~<,:"~;: I' ,.."jJ:,; !~,;'71 i ":. ..:;-,'...~" '.; ,,::: '~~,',:.:: ,;;\: ;<,.: ..:'" )"... ,~~,~,:r>. \':" I,;: \ ~:':.,~':~~:'v': \ I~:'..'.~:,. .I:~,;\. ". ,':-,: >. "'1" #',,! \:::.:' .;- :"::~' :; :.'~ ~<J ,......_-...,"'_..~ .;. 1.:~""'U~,,'''''''''~Io:'..:l!e~...:'~:'';''::lt..'_... .:..-:...~...._.J~:.!....~......,~::.::;.u...-,..~~~-4.~.:;,.~......-:..:.''"'''_.I..::.:.;;..,' ~..--.-......~_:,:..:;..:....:~ ?~ \..~ 'p I January 31,1993 Dear City Council Member, Our family lives at 629 Melrose A venue across from the Hospital's new construction for the Eye/Family Practice Building, We are writing you about Iowa City's reconstruction plans for the Melrose Avenue Bridge and Melrose A venue. As you know, this topic is on the City Council agenda for your working meeting to be held tomorrow night. Since we are told that will not be allowed to speak at this meeting, we feel compelled to make you aware of our views on the reconstruction plans. We do so in the hope that the issues we raise are sufficiently compelling and of significant importance for you to pursue some or all of them in your own questioning of the City planners and engineers at the Monday meeting. (We know for a fact that many of our ideas are shared by the majority of our neighbors and that these neighbors too will also attend the Monday and Tuesday night meetings to voice their views,) For a number of reasons we and many of our neighbors are not in favor of the plan to widen Melrose A venue and the Melrose A venue Bridge to four lanes, It is our view that a new two-lane bridge should be built, that this bridge should be eligible to receive Federal support, and that Melrose Avenue should become three lanes with one lane designated for turning. We realize that at this moment in time that our suggestion will not be looked on favorably by either the City Planners or the University, Le" University Hospitals and Clinics. We do, however, feel that our plan offers the best long term solution for the Iowa City, the Hospital, and our area neighborhoods, It is unfortunate that we are approaching you at such a late point in time. We realize that you intend to make fmal decisions on the 'reconstruction plan in the near future, We and many of our neighbors would have preferred to have been brought in to the planning process at an earlier time. Although we are disappointed and discouraged that this was not offered, our feIVent hope is that City Council will listen to and give serious consideration to what ideas our Melrose community neighborhoods have to offer you about the reconstruction plans, Our neighborhoods' first and foremost plea is that we need adequate time to fully understand what the City's planners and engineers have to say, to learn how the Hospital is involved and what its is position, and to work with the City (and the Hospital if appropriate) to arrive at the best solution for us all. In saying so. we hope that you might also feel compelled to ask the Iowa City Planners some of tile following questions at your Monday night meeting, We have focused these questions are centered about several of the Melrose A venue reconstruction issues as follows: I ; I , I I I I I , I I I I i I J i RECONSTRUcrlON OF TIlE MELROSE A VENUE BRIDGE I. How safe is the Melrose Avenue Bridge at present? How long do you estimate it will be before the Bridge will absolutely need to be repaired or replaced? If you , i c2301, , -. ~- ......". ,........ - .- ~":,',.:.',:' ....f;9., :"''''''t'~/','''' ;~'::., ".','.::,>"'.",.:,.::.,:'.," .,;\ ,", \ I . . . " " 'I I' ~ ", <" .' ,,:''':. '"I:,', " ,:1 ,f,:;:,' /; " '. .;; ,': .\" .- 1..." ,', "._' " .1i' ":..: ',,' /...,,:,.' ;~...\'. ".~.'.' ..., . ",.' .',...' .' , ".:, , ' .:' ,':.' ; ~i\:.~.''ltr........~\S"....I''~~~T:':' .;;'~~."..~;'C :. ~4-""'; ':....~. ,'.' ~ ~ ~''';:',:\..". -_.' 'n '.~ ,~, ~_'..a...' "_..." H '" .., .,....-. ..... ,. ,--. "_".l< , "--'-- ............~......,...............~;~.~IfL'":IIIool lVidness letter of Jamwy 31,1993 to Iowa City Council Page 2 can't give any time estimate of this, does this imply that it is possible the Melrose Bridge could be closed down tomorrow for reasons of safety? · For adequate planning the City needs a crystal clear idea of what the precise status of the Bridge as determined by experts in this field 2, Under the Melrose A venue Bridge there is a railroad, Are the presence of railroads taken in to consideration in the planning of the arterial plan for Johnson County, or more specifically: I) what are the long tenn plans for this railroad line?; 2) will it be phased out or moved in the foreseeable future?; and 3) is there adequate room along side the railroad line for automobile traffic? If there are plans to eliminate or move the railway, could the empty railroad bed be converted into an "arterial" street or could it be used for municipal mass transportation purposes? 'If the railroad is no longer there, this would providc rcason to invcstigate divcrting Mclrosc Avenuc wcst of UnivC/'sity Heights towards Hawkins Drivc by skirting thc edge of the Finkbine Golf Course, 3. If there are no plans to move the railroad, it is still apparent that the railroad will continue to benefit from the Bridge's presence, What is the City's relationship with the railroad on matters such as railroad bridge repair and reconstruction? Will the railroad be providing a substantia! contribution towards its renovation? If not, why not? . Sincc the railroad is a main bcneficiary of the Bridge reconstruction, the public needs to understand why or why not the railroad will be contribllling, THE WIDENING OF MELROSE A VENUE TO FOUR LANES 1. Why do we need to widen Melrose A venue and the Bridge to four lanes if a present it will only widen a stretch of road between two constricted areas at each end: University Heights and Riverside Drive? 2. The problem of "side friction" (cross streets and parking lots emptying into an arterial street) is potentially a major problem to be considered in any solution to the traffic congestion problem on Melrose A venue, How sure are the traffic engineers that widening Melrose A venue to 4 lanes will solve this problem? With two Janes of moving traffic going in both directions (presumably at higher speeds than at present), it may be even more difficult for side street traffic to enter the highway, '1'l1C strctch of road between the Melrose Bridge and the University of Iowa La\~' School is 0,45 miles long. There arc noli' 16 strcets or parking lots that empty in to Melrose Avenue between the Melrose Bridge and the University of 10ll'a Lall' School, l1Il!. counting drivcways, In addition, the Hospital has plans to build a parking garage between thc nell' Eye Clinic Building and the Field House parking lot, The presclll plans are to have this parking garagc or the new hospital building to open on to Melrose A vcnue, ~3ftJ ....., - T1" -"., - '''r-.. ,- .- .... -- ~ ......,,,- -r '... ~.".- ... ---.. r .......- .......----.a:ol!"-........:.-.~..,,~r.\:,.J...:-...~';:.;:-.:'..:.olo J.."'"_~~_.....~\l '.'. .I_..::._....L : _ ", ,',_, ..:/ . :,.'." :"i':::':::h~~''::'~~'~~"",~,,~,::,. ..L.\.....:'-.__.._.:.:: t I (:.:~: :,.'",,:; j, ..<" +-'..'.':t7.:,:,.,.:"~':';.<"':':.::i-:,>>-.:y .:':;' .", .":/ ,;.. ru..,.ll' " 'w ";.' ".' ," ... '" ~~<:;.":,',;~;\,_..~: ~<, .;{!1~::::."J~~i/\..>.'\ '''',:', ,1, ~',.": ",' .::.'.:: '., ,:'/ Widness lelter of January 31,199310 Iowa Cil}' Council Page 3 4. Residents of the Melrose A venue neighborhoods have suggested to City Council that a new two-lane bridge be built to replace the present Bridge and that Melrose A venue should become three lanes with one lane designated for turning. Have the City Planners investigated how traffic well or how poorly this might work? Has this been done using the "Quick Response System IT" microcomputer-based model that is described in the JCCOG document entitled, "Arterial Street Plan For the Iowa City Urbanized Area"? How predictive has this model been in analyzing other traffic problems in Iowa City? If this model has been applied to this situation, has it been applied to circwnstances in which an increasing proportion of the Hospitals traffic were brought in on Hawkins Drive off of Route 6? UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS' Posmmo{ QN NQI WIDENINQ MELROSE A VENUE I, University Heights' City Council has emphatically stated that it has no plans to widen the section of Melrose A venue that is under their jurisdiction beyond its present two lanes, Do the Iowa City Planners think that some day tllat this section of Melrose A venue will someday become 4 lanes? If so, how will this happen: I) by University Heights eventually agreeing to four lanes?; 2) by the State DOT forcing them to do it?; 3) by some other legal maneuvering? 2. What are the reasons given for University Heights not wanting Melrose Avenue to be four lanes? What have the Iowa City planners done to try to work together with University Heights government to resolve the two municipalities' differences on the Melrose A venue situation? What alternatives has either municipality offered to each other to solve the problem? 3. If we assume that the University Heights section of Melrose A venue will some day become four lanes, won't this have the effect of tremendously increasing traffic on Melrose A venue between the Bridge and Riverside A venue? If this happens how will additional traffic be managed at the already existing bottleneck at the foot of the hill where Grand A venue becomes Burlington? And how will the increase in Melrose A venue traffic affect traffic flow from the 17 side streets and parking lots emptying in to this short 0.45 mile section of road? Will this increased traffic affect vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle safety? What is the speed limit that the traffic engineers envisions for a future 4 lane version of Melrose Avenue? . III the Februal)' 1991 JCCOG document emitled, "Arterial Street Plall For the Iowa City Urbanized Area", it is specified that design standards for arterial streets should include vehicle design speed of 35 llI,p,h, 4. Residents of the Melrose A venue neighborhoods have suggested to City Council that a possible partial solution for both communities would be for the City and/or the Hospital to build a spur road off of Melrose A venue just west of University Heights (along the east end of tile Finkbine Golf Course), The purpose of tllis would be to divert Melrose traffic to the present Finkbine Hospital Parking Lots, How might University Heights City Council view such a proposal? 013(0 I, ~llll1rlfmRlJ. U..~MlII4M f I I I i I I .,.,....~ ..,.-. ~ - ... ~..-~"'. .-----l- _~ .,...._______-~..__ - ..~ ..,. _ --. ~_..- -~ r ..., _ ' -- - .. - .. -.- ..... ~'" :,:.'.,:', ">';:<""ff1': ,.,..."("'I.:.."itQ':( ':,;':", '.' <.:',' :,: :', ..i ,./ '. J, ,0'1 I' _" '" ,'., '~\:': , !~ '" .HI.:~ ',J, . r:, 't'", ,.:'[ :\". t, ;-'\, ',: - ., : ( : .:'. ,':. ", \ ',.,' ,\ ..; ,",' ,I '" "" l' ,> ".,1 ....: ", ~ ~....., "f ,; , .,' .: ' ,'. . , ......' '. " ',- ,.~_ _'" _-._. __,.-....._....'-....- ....,.__~...,.~....,,\Jcr.:t;..:...~......,~IW.\o~~ l"';'..u.'.~"",~'::'':iir.-':';-:....~;,c..., '.,' ...,.::.ll:.:..~:.;;.:-::~.;.:.:.:,'.:.: "'h_'_" ','l ~~",~~'z.:.: ; - -\ ' ~'" \Yidness lelter of January 31,1993 ro Iowa City Council Page 4 IHERQLliMillII:IE RESPONSIBILITY QE UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS lliII:IE PLANNED RECONSTRUcnON L University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics has undergone a tremendous period of growth in the past ten years, During this period, have they coordinated their growth plans with groups such as JCCOG or the Iowa City Plarmers with respect to vehicular traffic? If in the past they have not, should they be requested to do so in the future? 2, Does the City of Iowa City perceive that University Hospitals feels any responsibility for the growth in vehicular traffic in and around Melrose A venue? Have they offered any solutions to the problem? Will they be contributing monetarily or in other ways to help solve the problem? 3. Residents of the Melrose A venue neighborhoods have suggested to City Council that the University should act by bringing an increasing proportion of Ole , Hospital traffic in via Hawkins Drive off of Route 6, If this were done, would this lessen the traffic congestion on Melrose A venue? How would such a suggestion be viewed by University Hospitals? Do you think that University Hospitals would be willing to work with the Melrose neighborhoods on this? 4: Residents of the Melrose A venue neighborhoods have suggested to City Council that the University might reduce Melrose A venue traffic in front of the Hospital by building a spur road just west of University Heights (along the east end of the Finkbine Golf Course) that would join with their existing Finkbine Hospital Parking Facility, How might University Hospitals view such a proposal? 5, Has University Hospitals come up with new plans to encourage its employees to use buses, vans, or car pools that would reduce traffic on Melrose A venue? rn IMPORTANCE QE CITY NEIGHBORHOODS, ESPECIALLY THOSE QE HISTORIC VALUE L As you know, the Melrose Avenue neighborhood was one of the neighborhoods included in the Historic Preservation Plan recently adopted by City Council. It was felt by the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission that our neighborhood was worthy of conservation by virtue of its historic significance to Iowa City. At the City Council meetings in which this was discussed, several citizens pointed out that, because of the proximity of this particular neighborhood to the hospital, it was particularly vulnerable to the destabilizing factors stemming from University encroachment. Have the City planners and engineers taken Olese consideration into their plans in their recommendations on the Melrose A venue reconstruction? 2, In the JCCOG document entitled, "Arterial Street Plan For the Iowa City Urbanized Area" the following quote is found: "A crucial step in the arterial street planning process is reconciliation of the technical analysis with local community priorities, .., Elected officials will consider more than efficient ----------~.-~~ .dSi..D.~.!lli\.u,M~!I!lW."IIa-.~ , I !. I ~3(, ~')~, ,;', ":/' ;' , , :' lit'- ;"'::1'1":' ~:." :", ::~. ';. . :,::- '",':"::, ,~. ,,;: .'.:' ~"~"};':::~'~:'<RL ':..~:",:J:'.:,,),..'.:."':' ,':",.,':, >'(,' <':'. '--~"""''''''''':'~.\~~...J..l~...'':;'';''''; " .. . . "'~"':"'~(,..;...-..,;.........:..,,'_~. ....;;J...,--~,._.~.:;::u.~~L~...ii.t.e;1:1,;<:I.Y.:':'l.;.:.:\t3;.":3-.:it..:;i.'':71: Widness letter of January 3/, /993/0/owa Cil)' Council Page 5 traffic flow when planning capital improvements to the arterial street system", What neighborhood community priorities have been taken into consideration in the proposed plans? 3. There appears to be a great deal of pedestrian and bicycle traffic along Melrose Avenue, Would it be important to have pedestrian and bicyclist counts along this stretch of road? If so, have they been done? What were the results? If cyclists are expected to ride in the City streets along with other vehicles, should there be a bicycle lane added similar to those present on Benton? 4. Residents of the Melrose Avenue neighborhoods have suggested to City Council that because of neighborhood considerations, Melrose A venue through University Heights and down to Riverside Drive might be considered a "capacity restricted link" (as mentioned on page 7 of JCCQG document entitled, "Arterial Street Plan For the Iowa City Urbanized Area"), As such, widening of Melrose A venue would not occur beyond a three lane road with one lane for turning, As such, a formulation of other projects to alleviate identified deficiencies would be undertaken, Would the City planners be willing to enter into a discussion with the neighborhood residents on this suggestion? There is strong sentiment within neighborhoods that several months will be needed for this proposal to be explored, Would it be worthwhile to do so despite the time delay that t1lis would cause? ! I 5. The fact that the University owns property on the south side of Melrose A venue is of concern to the neighborhood residents of that area, Have the City planners any knowledge whether the University plans to buy up more property in this area to expand further? If so, is this part of the long range arterial traffic planning for this area? Thank you for review of this letter. Please do not hesitate to call us if you wish us to clarify of any points made in this letter i' i I Sincerely, r, , ()" 61 ), l"'! \,.....'fo,1 ,v..-, . . 1,.,." \ t, II" I t1'li ~~dc~i~ha~;;~~e 13, ~d~~s'--:~' c", "629'Melrose A venue Iowa City, IA 52246 home phone 354-4 J 7 J copy to Mr. S, Atkins (Assistant City Planner), Mr, J. Davidson (Assistant City Planner), Mr. D, Gannon (Assistant City engineer), and Ms, M.Klingeman (City Neighborhood Coordinator), Mr, J, Staley (C.E,Q, University Hospitals) and Mayor, University Heights I ~3~1 .....,..--- ~- . -~ .,-.---- . .. ~.-T__. ~-- .....-r---., -... - - ...~ -- ,.~ ~ ..".- :,:.' ':; f':':.[j':"'::'~;:I"":': ,:'t(;:.~:,,'..f' .';, ,:,<',>::" :::,:':\01' :.::~W';":': ;::..',:.ll0;.,~"" ,..:':".",.':,:" : ~~~ c. .~~~~.z;~J.;.:;.-:...:..:J"..;.:.:.........:;:!..'....:.A.:.I.:....:.-..~ __......;....l~..:-.:..,~. _...____ ~-..J_._._~_:.;....:.~.....J;~:u~;.,&.. ~:..:':......."'i:;.,";.i...~....~-:,.,.. ".-:-"'~,~1 Nicholas Johnson Februal)' I, 1993 Councilmember Naomi Novick Civic Center 410 East Washington St. Iowa City IA 52240 Re: Proposed Melrose A venue Widening Project: "Four lanes connecting two bottlenecks" Dear Councihnember Novick: I am among those many citizens of Iowa City who are somewhere between concerned and violently opposed to tile proposal to widen Melrose Avenue, ! As you address those issues this evening, and tomorrow, here are some of my questions and concerns that I would welcome your putting to staff __ and yourself I I, We need to distinguish between the wisest substantive result (i,e" whether or not to widen Melrose A venue) and the most appropriate de1llocratic procedure for gathering the relevant data, evaluating tile alternatives, and encouraging public participation in decisions impacting the quality of life tllroughout the community, 2, Whatever may be the 1IIini1llUIII public education and participation required of you by law, decisions of tllis sort .. (a) that have been opposed by citizens over the years, (b) will have a major, (c) and vel)' long tenn impact on the entire city.. benefit from the 1IImilllU1II possible public infonnation and participation, The procedure used in this instance is so grossly at variance with what I believe to be appropriate democratic C )"1' dC\J: :b () F" JI9.JJS.9019 MCIMAIL IOJ5393 1>Cliveri,,: UI College of Law, Melrose sn~ O);nglan, 1011'S Cil)' JA 52242 From: InlemellOJ5J9J@meimsil,eom Can'puSme >mcim,il:IOJ.5J9J ""ceNCi MCI:IOJ5J9J Telex: 6501035393 AnSll<rback MCI ml' Fran'sn)' X.400 service: C-US, A-MC), S'Johnson, a-Nicholl!, DDA"II>-1035J93 I ( I (-" "C',,',, ' .- , , I:" I' i I -. L} ".c ,_ I..)u. ,-J . 1..;' __. ,_. '1"' -. "-, C' .. .. . l ,-. .. ,.~, .', 1-.. "' -' '\ 1: 1-' -" -,.' -. -.'-. .......-.. .&~ MJtml.I!!I.lD ....'---.u...IlIl..nfllMll'l ~3' I I I , i I y-'-- .. . ...-....-....~- -.. ,..,..------.--y--...........,.~ ... ....-..,..-- ... ;";' :",'. ':".~"'.:.".:.:~:t.;r':"7':":;'''''\,:;:';;';'':;::;':')',::J~''':':''~...~''." :;';_:.;:.:.:.;A'';':'~.<~~~:''''':._ ,~,,-,~,:,,~~~~'.o;:-1iL~!J.l.,;":c~.;~~~n;r.~.:.lZI~r.:..-;::"-: ::'1"~..,:,.;'t.7-'P':l I i i I I I ;:::','.' ,:/. '.. ;:~': .. .:. :~-:.,:'::','" '.: ,:, ..... ".~,' ,'~:, ".:' ;:'.", -" ,/.' ,. .' .'..1 I " ..0"", ,.,. '. ",',' ..., '.:~". ..:< ~'::""'~I,,;,:.':' :';:,,~:_.'\:t :~:;~ II"",; ';,' I'.., ,,::.~<':' ';'(.,:,"'1 '.,>:-' FOllr LID/es Connecting Two Bottlenecks Page 2 procedures, especially for a city of above-average education and levels of participation, as to warrant the consequences of whatever delays are necessary to "take it from the top," Giving unorganized citizens a mere three weeks to participate in a matter of this significance is simply unacceptable, 3. Decisions involving traffic flow patterns through the city should not be treated on a street-by-street basis, When addressing an issue like Melrose A venue widening, the citizens of the community should be informed, educated, and encouraged to participate in a community-wide decision making regarding our transportation system and plans, This involves public transportation (our five bus systems), private commercial services (taxis and limos), parking facilities, major highways (1-80, U,S, 6, Highway ]), bicycle paths and pedestrian walkways, zoning plans to preserve residential areas, and so forth, 4, Interested homeowners and residents of the area most directly affected should not be expected to come forward with tile engineering, legal and plmming expertise, data and analytical arguments necessary to resolve this issue, It is tile responsibility of tile City, or University, or engineering, executives -- whoever is, in fact, behind tllis proposal -- to explain to our satisfaction, and tllat of tile otller citizens of Iowa City, why it is a desirable expenditure of money, imposition of disruption and permanent disfiguring of a residential neighborhood, 5, As for the substance, first, what are tile city and county-wide traffic facilities, pattems, needs, and plans? 6, Mason Williams once wrote, looking out over tile Los Angeles basin from Mulholland Drive: I look out tile window as tile day goes by Watching tile progress screw up tile sky We all know tllat expansion is not necessarily equivalent to improvements in quality of life -. whetller widening roads or stretching buildings towards tile sky, Such jobs as may be created are often short lived. The forests and fannlands turned into suburban sprawl leave many of us feeling less, ratller tllan morc, cnriched, Much of Iowa City's chann -- and attraction to tllOse we scek to draw and keep herc .. is tile ability to ~3h .......- ~- -- ".....-- . .. ---....~-- ...- -- -" ~, -........-....- ......... ' ---,.~ --.. .... .". ........--~- '~'.:<',<:( :/' ;...';:;~];:,' ':":':~;;</; ,'.;.tT<, :,: ':"":::'>:';<~.', ':.;\ : ;', . \..'>' ,',\, ~ ,.,~..,~" '~:\ ,"( : 8,~: . j, .,,;>, ,.' '. .' > . ,. I ", " ,,".. '. ". ' ,.) , .........,.-=...""I,..'..'.~. ," .!_'''-''':-u-'_._''.' ...~...,..._.._~.... "'-'".<;._...I'_~;~''';'''':-'._.I.'':'.:..l..l'';';''-C;;:"''''::fa.1L1' ......~. ,.,-n-:-~l::'.:,l::"';:""'i.'.t'.'!:r,;.:'~-.c.;;:,;t:..:;..<.:i.':''':::;:, Four Lancs COllnccting Two Bottlcnccks Page 3 walk, or bicycle, around a town w ilhout four-lane roads, along tree-lined streets and parks, We refuse to accept the mere assel1ion that creating yet one more four-lane thoroughfare in Iowa City is a net good, 7, Since citizens have been excluded from meaningful and timely participation in the decision-making process, and do not know who is pushing for this expansion, or why, it is difficult to address whatever arguments they may sometime reveal for this proposaL Nevertheless, we will tIy, S, Is it Olat Ole Iowa City area needs more east-west Olroughways? It would appear that we already have a number of major thoroughfares serving Ole Iowa City area traffic patterns served by Melrose A venue (i,e" primarily east and west), There is Interstate SO, only a mile or two from most places in Iowa City, There are Ole two diagonal routes: Interstate 380/21S and Highway 611 (Ole latter only a few blocks from the area of Melrose A venue in question), ' 9, Is it Olat we need better access from either cast or west to Ole hospital and stadium area? If so, V,S, 6 and Hawkins Drive would seem to provide Ole best route.. either as is, or (if OlOught necessary) with, perhaps, some expansion to it. I 10, What evidence is Olere that Olere needs be any expansion to any major OlOroughfare through or around Iowa City? 11. To Ole extent there is need to expand any east-west route, why is it Omt expanding Ole major ones already in existence would not be preferable to widening Melrose A venue? 12, What evidence is Olere Omt more lanes decrease, rather than increase, tile adverse impact of traffic? Anecdotal experience suggests tilat when Los Angeles expanded from two, to four, to eight lane freeways traffic increased, and slowed, rather than tile reverse.. as well as, in Mason Williams words, screwing up the sk)', 13, Iowa City is still a channing, and relatively small, town Witil a total population less tilan many a high-rise building in New York, It would appear to be relatively well served with major thoroughfares, as a casual glance at a map .- or drive around town.. will demonstrate, In fact, its t23ftJ ~..... ~ - ".-.--- '"' .. ~ "'-_-~'l~_ ...... .,..,.---..-.-.-".-.........,.- --... ... "Y - .......-' ....... ...._---....- ,.~--- ;:',,:.....,;..j.> ::',,',k)' ""<;':/',: :,'~c;." ;,.....<~. .(:<. " ~,';; /" '.:":-~'.~l -I" 1,( '1''.;' ~~.'. l... I ""~"':J~ . .1.. '...., ';"_'L I, >'. ""',:~lf~':.<'.''''~I,.,:....~,fr :.,\,'."I'I."/~~'l:' ~!;- 'J':",..~<"',,:,', ":.<:,"' f ..::.Ul.:",,.........L.;~: ,'.-_--.-L. ~.'_.....,... ..: '_._1.' I I " --~-_._-------.. ..' ---:.:-::-...:.:..;.':.... ..-t..:..-...:.....~l:.o~.:=.:.;,~-,.\tt \....iia-:.e...';.::..:.:;.~...s::.::n::~.::..;;:;.V..i~..:.,;~ FOllr Lanes Connecting Two Bottlenecks Page 4 four-lane, major roads are more closely spaced than the freeways in Los Angeles -- with some 50 to lOa times Iowa City's population, 14, On the face of it, it would appear that widening only a part of a two or three-lane road to four lanes doesn't make much sense, If this is, in fact, part of a long-tenn plan to widen Melrose Avenue, and its extensions, from Interstate 380 along Melrose, diagonally to Burlington Street, through town to Highway ], and on back to Interstate 80, tlle full ramifications of that plan should be addressed now, 11 mayor may not make sense, What clearly does not make sense, as we see it, is to widen only a pQl1 of Melrose, What can tllis possibly accomplish otller tllan either (a) providing no relief, or (b) causing enonnous traffic jams where tlle road narrows? 11 will be little more than a four lane stretch of road, of less tllan one-half mile in length, connecting two bottlenecks, ]5, University Heights, 11 is my understanding tllat University Heights opposes tllis expansion and refuses to exyand, its portion of Melrose Avenue, ]f so, doesn't common sense,(.comi~~'and common decency : suggest that a joint resolution should be undertaken -- ratller tllan forcing tlle expansion upon our sister city with this political and traffic pressure? , , ..'~ ,; "".,-1:: '.. .. j,',. I ] 6, The bridge, What do tlle engineering repo~s show as to the condition of the bridge? To the extent winter salt has contributed to tlle damage, why is it we pour salt on steel bridges anyway? Obviously, if tlle bridge is one of those in America now on tlle verge of collapse some repair, at a minimum, is in order, If, on tlle other hand, it is only being replaced to trade it in on a four-lane we need to know tllat. If it does need repair, and were to be kept as a two lane bridge, what would that cost? 17, There have been some representations regarding legal, or regulatory, requirements tlJat it be (a) replaced (rather tllan repaired), and (b) expanded to four lanes, Sometimes the suggestions have been tllat tllese requirements apply whether or not fedcral or state funding is to be made available to tllC City, Otller times tlle suggestion is tllat tlle four lane replacement is requircd to qualify for funding, We need to have the City provide its citizens a legal opinion referring to the precise citations to the statutes or regulations goveming these mailers rather than relying on oral, and shijiing, representations, eU" I , " - . ..........~, ........}- .....". ~ ... - y.. ~ - - .,. - ........ ~ T - ...-- ......,... -- - ........... .'~ ::; "':/"'0'; ," o,:,t2;';'; .'.,',"......:,(..", ;;..:.';;, ~; : :::":. : :"':'~:7(' ,:(, :""1nl'..':,'" :<:' : ',' ::.:....::,;,,:.,:,: . ,',.\ ,,' I, --'. ,'--. ,.II!lliI"" . " ,_ " - " .' ,"') . , '. ' \,\, I I . , . . i' \ ' . '. ", .' , , '~, ,,' .__-...................w~.el>...J...::..w.>l.~\..'''-C::-..-y\_...,. .';:~.:....:.:.:::..,_:.:..~... ~:.:..~:~_: _.:.~.~:-...~~.::..:~\.'..:~.:.:..:.. Four Lanes Connecting Two Bottlenecks Page 5 18. If, in fact, the funding assistance is limited to a four-lane replacement, and the bridge does need replacement (rather than repair), what are the relative costs of building a new two, and four, lane bridge? That is, is it possible that building a two-lane bridge, using nothing but City money, would cost little or nothing more than the City's share of the greater four-lane bridge cost? 19, Of course, the concerns of those citizens living in the neighborhood about the expansion, both short term (during the years of construction and chaos) and long term (with increased traffic flow, accidents and noise) come from their own interests in the value of homes and quality of life for themselves and their children, But these concerns should not be discounted for that reason. A substantial portion of Iowa City's population will be adversely affected, directly and indirectly, by this proposed construction. Any rational view of democratic governance would suggest that these concerns need be given substantial weight in the City Council's decision-making process, I appreciate your taking these concerns into consideration, and look forward to your active opposition to this proposal. I ;/3ftJ <, I ,:;~) c\. I I i i I i I I I I I I , " , (:';':':i'~:.."':' '.:~.!:~~: "'.'~:I"'/J~':." /.~7I": < :", i">,'., ',;"';':./<' , ''',/ 'I ", I ' , '. " , " " "] " . . I._ - ,':' u. ':':..' .', "', ".. , . ,', , ,'. .,/. '.. r , I" :\ " '. ,,~. '., ,.., II M. '..,', I . ,'. "'., -", ' J 'f , . >::' '.' . ---.........-----.....-........ .,".....;.~...;"'.-'..,..,;.....Io'...:..:....J..-...:.. ....:...~-~.'.~ :_-~-~._..:-::. -....~ ~......._.-:........J 223 Melrose Court Iowa City, lA 52246 February 1,1993 Iowa City Council Members Iowa City, Iowa Dear Mayor and Council Members: We are writing to express concern over the proposed widening of Melrose Avenue to four lanes, Living on Melrose Court for over fifteen years, and working for the University, has given us the opportunity to witness the almost continual growth of the University Hospital complex, What has been most troubling over the years is the fact that the University appears to demonstrate no discernible responsiblity or concern relative to what this growth has done and is doing to our conmlUnity. Earlier decisions to reroute Nell10n Road and Woolfe Avenue (now Hawkins Drive) have undeniably added to traffic con$estion on the west side, and particularly on Melrose Avenue, Noll' with the latest addItions to the hospital underway, Iowa City and University Heights will undoubtedly be expected to cope with and resolve the problems the additional traffic lI'ill bring to this same area, If the decision is made to widen Melrose Avenue to four lanes, we can't help but wonder what impact that will have on Melrose Court. It appears that automobile traffic on our street has increased over the past ten years in spite of the barrier at the south end of Melrose Court (supposedly preventing access from Melrose Court to Myrtle Avenue and vice versa), This barrier was set up around 1980 in an attempt to control the amount of traffic using this very narrow street. However, many drivers choose to ignore the signs and drive around the barrier, Pedestrian traffic continues to be very heavy on our street, thus safety continues to be a concern, . Before you come to a decision on this matter, we ur$e you to take the time to consider our questions and give some thought to the folloll'lllg points: . Hall' will the volume of traffic on Melrose Court be affected? . Hall' will pedestrian safety, especially crossing Melrose Avenue at Melrose Court, he addressed? (Crossing tll'O lanes is nearly impossible now), . How will four lanes move traffic through this area more efficiently when most traffic is coming to, not through, this area (daycare centers, hospital, football stadium, fieldhouse, law school)? . Would three lanes (with one beinc a turn lane) suffice? . Could access to the Hospitals be on Hawkins Drive? . Why does the Melrose Avenue bridge need to be four lanes? We recognize thai growth and change arc inevitable and arc hopinc that the decisions you reach will be in the best inlere~1 of our nei~hhorho()d and reenecl the allilllde that the City of Iowa City places a higher value on its cillzens and their qualil\' of life Ihan its institutions, ' Sincerely, " 71 '10. \1 ~ 'f' eLl \J,~I:. f\ ,^" I N~ cj // Mark and Carole Rams,,) ,i I i , I , I a3~1 I I I I I I ~lll y-.-- - .. ...----..-~- .....". .,....... - - "'-r- .-. .,.- .. ....".- .,..... ~:;. ': ,:; :/: : :,,'~" '~; ,;; J,' -(. ',.' :, ';tzl.... : .':, . ,: ,', ::.. ' . ,; ':,':. ';::, ;"\'.'~',i"' :",1 "'..::r; l,r,:'1 ..'.::',....~'.',:,"<,",' "'. . J. " I.. ,I, I . l _,'.' ,,_ . ." '~', 'l\l~; .1#; , ,. j . \,.. . : 'I: . " _<' '. ,." r',' ,'" . . 'I '.".' J -CEIVEC ~~1 1 - 1993' January 26, 1993 Iowa City City Council 410 E, Washington street Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Dear Counc ill The Lone Tree City Council has been reviewing the Iowa City Comprehensive Water study and the options you are investigating, Particularly the "Buried River Channel" from which we now provide our community with water, We would think that you would understand our concern, January 25th the residents of Lone Tree and the Rural Southern Johnson County Community met and shared information and compiled a group of questions, We will be submitting these to IDNR, EPA, Rural Water Association, Johnson County Health Department, Iowa Geologioal Survey, Johnson County Supervisors and Iowa City's Ci ty Council, February 22, 1993, we are requesting a representative from your organization to sit on a panel at the High School Gym in Lone Tree at 7:00 P.M, This public meeting will use a moderator forum, asking questions you would have reoeived in advance, Each organization will have had a chance to research answers and help our public understand what is happening, We feel there is a need to make this information available to all citizens in the Johnson County community that may be impacted upon, ~~~d( T~;~~ D, Wilke~ Mayor, City of Lone Tree City Hall Lone Tree, Iowa 52755 319-629-4615 :237 ~..---,.r""~ ...-.--- ... .---~.~- ....... .,..-v"-.-.--...-..,--.......,-- - .... -,. - .--.-........~~---....... .~~. '-, ':~.'.;::" ...','~.. ',,', '~;.,. "'8"";"":' ,~:,,~ " . '" ::..~:'," . ,,/,1, , '" ' . , '. ,,',., ~I:: ;~\>J "':~t,,....'.:~""'AI._:(, "'::~~"><..,':-..", ')" ,<.: ;'.' ":..: i.? I : OUTLINE FOR PRESENT A nON OF MICHAELANNE WIDNESS I. Complaints about process: A, Notice to residents B. Inclusion of neighborhood concerns II, Concerns about proposal: A. Will it alleviate exacerbate and anticipate traffic problems? B. Will it create new or exacerbate existing problems? III. What we are asking for: A. More time B, More options I. To address immediate problems 2, To address long-tenn problems C. More cooperation I I I i "'~V' I . . . . . . . . . , , , I' '. I I, I , . . . . . I I .-;,..,' ," "..:, .~...' ':" '" ~:., .:~' <', .",' ". '-,""-: '; .":' "'..:":, \ ,', 'I,J", ""iii. 1 ". ," ",." .... ~:,::.',' J';~~.,t\,;c.' :?t. ~::<,.,~~r:!_..:.,\ _ .~:": ,~~,:, ,';\,' ,"::' ";.:"\"'\'.':~ II", .~\" Johnson County Council of Governments 410 E IMJshln;Jrm 5t bvvo City. bvvo 52240 Date: March 20, 1991 To: JCCOG Board of Directors From: Jeff Davidson, Transportation Planner rl/ Re: Arterial Street Plan for the Iowa City Urbanized Area Attached for your consideration Is an arterial street plan prepared by the JCCOG Transportation Planning Division. This plan is recommended to you for adoption by the JCCOG Technical Advisory Committee, This report is a culmination of several years' research by JCCOG into a suitable arterial street planning process for our community, It is intended to succeed the "Area Transportation Study" (ATS) of the eariy 1970's and to exciude those facets of the ATS which were clearly unacceptable: the assumption of high population growth combined with a rapid increase in vehicle miles of travel, and the focus on grandiose capital improvements which had no regard for the scale and integrity of the community, . The focus of this plan is on the identification of deficiencies in the arterial street network, both now and in the future, II is Intended to provide a guide for the programming of capital improvements by the various local and state organizations responsible for arterial streets, In its current form the pian does not suggest specific improvements for specific locations, II is recognized that the communities of Iowa City, Coralville, and University Heights; the University of Iowa; and Iowa DOT ',viii handle street deficiencies in different ways, No longer does the identification of a street capacity deficiency carry with lithe assumption that the street will be <fl widened, It is intended that the Transportation Planning Division will assist in the subsequent microscale analysis of specific problem areas, but that this not be an element of this document. The scale of Improvements, The traffic analysis model used in this report confirms wh'1t most of us would say is obvious: There are not significant traftic problems in Iowa City, certainly not on the scaie of suburban congestion In major metropolitan areas, There is no technical justification for massive changes In the arterial system, With our slow growth rate and theeD heightened sensitivity towards neighborhoods which Is part of life In this community, there will be no new grade separated overpasses or expressways cutting through established neighborhoods, Improvements will be on the same scale as existing streets, Interjurlsdlctlonallssues. Certainly JCCOG is the appropriate torum tor arterial, street issues ''\ which involve more than one JCCOG member agency. Inlerjurisdictlonallssueswhlch currently 11/ exist include: ',' , " '. . Melrose Avenue through University Heights, . Highway 6 between First Avenue and Rocky Shore Drive, . The Melrose diagonal between Grand Avenue and Riverside Drive, . The Market.Jefferson.Madison Slreet system through the University at Iowa east campus, . Camp Cardinal Road, :21/~ - ~._-~ ...---r....... ~..-~ --- -,.:- - ... , ~ .~ ~ I I . III ... ,:,: '" .. :,: ~ ',', .'M' "'" , . jl~i" ': ,,7'1'.' '<':'.' ,~: '-','" ~',: ,',:' :~::' ,:' i:".\'7/,' ,:~":'I " ":I?J~;"":"'.t.",,,,:\,:, ""r.' ':' . ".":'''' :. ,.; .;. .,~, I ",', '"(.. ' 'I! '..... , . " \ _. ,. 'c' , '. "~d} ""j ...,.... I c,' t' , ' ,I',' ., . . Introduction The Federal3-C transportation plan- ning process (comprehensive, coordi. nated, continuing) is conducted in the Iowa City Urbanized Area by the JCCOG Transportation Planning Division, Arterial street planning is one facet of the overall transportation planning process which encompassest)l all modes of transportation, ArteriaV <estreet planning is best conducted on <an urbanized area scale, since arteri. al stree~ Mj10t terminate at munici. pal boundaries, The objective of arterial street plan. ning is to provide the information necessary for public officials to make decisions regarding improvements to the arterial system, Concerns at this level of the planning process pertain to generalized street alignment and street capacity considerations. Major structures such as bridges and cuI. verts on the arterial system should also be considered, The ultimate goal is a program of capital improvements which can be programmed by individ. ual JCCOG member agencies to en. sure the continued adequacy of the arterial street system, Capital improvements to arterial streets in the Iowa City Urbanized Area are not only a local concern. The Iowa Department of Transporta. tion is responsible for the federal and state system of highways and ex. pressways which are included on the local arterial system, These range from a major interstate highway (1.80), to facilities on the state prima. ry system. Scope The arterial street system in the Iowa City Urbanized Area is shown in Figure 1. For the purposes of this plan the arterial street system also includes the expressway system, the highest functional class of street, A small number of collector streets are included in order to make the arterial system function in the modeling pro. cess which will be described later. The urbanized area is defined as the contiguous city limits of Coralville, Iowa City, and University Heights. In addition to the three municipali. tics, certain streets under the juris. diction of the University of Iowa are represented in the arterial system, Because arterial streets do not stop at municipal boundaries, consider. ation must be given to tics with the -1- :1'/1 -..;r-..... - fIP - ...-' ------ ~ ~ .. .. ~l"~---"""'-r-,.-.. - - .-.r-' ---,.~ _ - 'T -- ".- -- _ -.....- ..~ <:;',: ""'J" : ;,":~' ,<::.':"~'; :";:::EJ' ',',,:'.::,'.' :::':" ~': '. ,'t ;:-,:' ~ , ./. '. ~ I ' , I ,.' j .,', \ ,,,',' '., ,;" ::-', : "J ',' '..: ' J f -: :' _ ' .:' ,'" : >' \' ',\ ~ ," ,~, " . '" . 'r.. ,". 1\ t ' \ ,~ I.j'!, _ :',1 ,- , "fl" ~ .',"." . f,..", '" " .. . ' rural system in unincorporated areas of Johnson County, Many of these streets will eventually be included in the urbanized area arterial system as annexations occur, The design and function of arterial streets should facilitate the efficient movement oflarge amounts of traffic, In order to maximize safety and road. way capacity, arterial streets should minimize access to abutting property, Arterial Street Function Arterial streets are the network of streets in a community which facili. tate the major movement of traffic, Arterials connect the principal traffic generators within a city and rural routes feeding into a city, The arteri- al street network is an important quality of life factor in a community, Roads which are underbuilt or sub. standard cause congestion and longer than necessary travel times, This can deter gro\'..th and undermine the promotion of commerce, Design standards for arterial streets 'should include: . (The entire street width dedicated to traffic movement @) . yehicle design speed of 35 m,p,h ~ or greater '" Design volume of 2,500.30,000 . AnT . ,p,eripheral location to neighbor- ~oods; buffers if possible . Continuous corridors . Separated turning lanes . ~idewalks . ROW of at least 66 feet Functional Classification of Streets Expressway Traffic Circulation Function Arterial Collector Property Access Function Residential Relationship Between Traffic and Access Functions .3. ~~e ~.....~ y-.-- " II ~ ~ ~ 18 . .. ...-----.. ~-.....r .,....,.~r~-....... ,,_ .. ...--.,,--------....- --r __ ';;::, .: ~;'l'<: ::.;;ltf:;' ::\:kl' :,\'t{. "',,:' ,', . ..:': .,', >,>' . ,',:::.:\ ::;. \"';' ,\:' '.,,"., ffl .. . J: CIl '" ~', '~jJ ;; / ':.' '. ::~ ",:' . . "'.~ 1,'-':: .,1' '1\ '" ...,' '.' 1\ ~. """... ,...' ~' . . . '! (.."." . ','. ," '. 'I . .,., . ',' '" setbacks can be increased and buffer. ing provided, and individual lot ac. cess provided through interior streets only, Unfortunately these design elements are frequently not available in inner city areas where the arterial street network was superimposed on a street system which never envi. sioned the proliferation of the auto. mobile. Community Priorities A crucial step in the arterial street planning process is reconciliation of the technical analysis with local com. ,:munity priorities, The purpose o~ technical analysis is to identify exi . ~ ing and forecasted deficiencies in t arterial street system, based on the concepts of delay and VlC. If a deci. sion is made to widen an existing street or relocate a street along a new alignment, thlire are standards gov. erning lane width, curve alignment, and traffic control, These standards are established to ensure safe, effi. cient motor vehicle traffic flow. Elected officials, however, will con. sider more than efficient traffic flow when planning capital improvementa to the arterial street system, Other users of the street system should be considered, such as bicyclists and pedestrians, What will be the impact of an arterial street improvement on these secondary users? Are there compromise measures which can be taken to allow eflicient vehicular traffic flow while ensuring pedestrian safety? This may be as simple as maintaining on.street parking and decreasing curve radii in' order to slow vehicular traffic, Community vision will change as dif. ferent individuals are elected to polio cy.making positions. Certain individ. uals will give high priority to programming capital improvements based on technical analyses, while others will find increased delay and congestion acceptable if the only alternative is to negatively impact a neighborhood, It is important to consider the arteri. al street plan as a dynamic document ~ which can respond to these change in public policy. For example, if.:K1 policy is established that a corridor is a capacity restricted link, that is, streetwidening will not occur under ari{Circumstances, then the street plan can formulate projects to allevi. ate identified deficiencies within this policy constraint. Similarly, the street plan is predicated on existing mode splits being maintained, Le" similar proportions of people driving, walking, taking the bus, etc. If changes in mode split occur over time, then the plan can be adjusted to reflect greater or lesser need for roadway improvements, The update of the arterial street plan will be an annual work element for the JCCOG Transportation Planning Division. Through the updating pro. cess it is hoped the street plan will remain a useful planning and pro. gramming tooL -7. tif! ,.........--........,. -- - __ ..1'. -.II>. ~r.l..........-.:~Ml.l~~ I I ~' - . :~>':" .:-. .';", :t~' ;." ".,' (':""::,".:: g'. ,":,' , ." : ,'.:,<:,:: ",'::,::::: .. ", './ I' ,Ll f.2> It "" , " ....., , , .'.:" \:., ~\.' ~7~l::, :f7l1,;','J.;, :~.' . : ~ ,.. ,',.' "". ';".:'. ""\ '., -I" "~ \..II!III", .,1 Ii, , . . '. I" "". . .._rr~ " 1 \ (l L- 10 19 ~ 8 :J ~ I:J ~ r~t E ~ o ~ ~ ~ "~ <: ~ "E ~ N ~ '2 VI o " '2 ~ :J ~ ,,~ ~ ~ '0 Co U . OW ~ .c o 0 - 'L:;. ~ ~ .( (]) ~ 0 u 0_ ~ W ~o III I- 0' 0 l- v'" U u- u^ QJ -~" ~u I., . " >S u- tE ~ O~ " i " --JU... "c i v- I., ~ '" "0 QJ 0 · VlZ a- D" OlQJ'~:J 0: ';' ": v" 0" c: >- ~.,J... I q CC ^ CO t o V Q.ilJ CO ,_ v --l! I . ~ : ,! j i I I , I ,_ CZVl ., I ..... I/U_ 'j I., l- I I I o :> VI' .c - I I )( " VI W \ I -\11- -19- r2i/! I ~ I 0 8 I w .--r.l t ~ ~ .., ::J '~ " r~t - ~ -- I E I . I o ~ I !! ~ ~I <(~ ~I " . . ~ .1 N ~ 'c VI ~I o " vI q __0(1- :J ~ ~I ~~ (jJ .. 0. -I u, ~I ow ~ l 51 .2 .g .1 . ~ I - 1 <( 1 I , ! I 1 I I I I I I 1 I 1 1 1 1 -I _..J ~I - I ~- 5' wll ...._~ ~I O. .lMOHJ015 \ I --..- --'_.'-"~'-"~- =1 I 81 . .?' 'I 01 =1 .. o c u 21 V1'L:' w g R- I o >- ~ 00 I u 0 ... Cl~ UN \ IlJ IlJ U ~ C ~ ~^ \ 0).. u~.9::; .U I ) VI ~~ U.O.O.c .- m -J U.~ 0 .C QJ 1I Vl ~.:: ~ . - < "0 OlO,~:J.Y.~ ~, 0- 7 <, u" - - . -Ii c: .... ) -J....( 0 ^ oc o U 11. ~ to co . _u Q::: 0 VII:}.... ~ N.... II 0 J il I c 22 v O'l~U- 41 . C ~~~~ OX. -J w ~ VI -..- ~,' ;:' ,: '/>~' i8: .. .::::C;~'" ":.. :.;. J :,. " .., \",:",,:." ::j' :', ':, .:"; :',' ,{,j':,e-::,':'!:"'P1,;~,<:J;r..:' :; ("r ::',:" ,:'. ,.', :" .;" :::., .21. ,p~t ''', I '~,:-:.:,'I:.,:. ;: >::~. " ~ 'l;~~' ':.:.',~ " I," :,',...,: >~.' ,,'~' '.' .'~' ',:;>.\ .' . ''1 I' , ." .,' ,,is:, , ,:i:J, , c,.".. . " , " ~:'\,\:'l::: .',";)' ',.' 1'~:f2lJi,,',.,llt~.;I.. ,r:', ':_"'. ;. ':;"';' ""',"..'.. ..... ,. '. " ""',"'" ,~'-""; "'~" J" ) ," . ',~ ',. , ','1. ,0' .,"/" " _ ,,","1. \ . '. I . .' January 21, 19~3 ....'!-;:&... CITY OF IOWA CITY Re: Reconstruction of Melrose Avenue and Melrose Avenue Bridge Dear Resident: During the Summer of 1993, the City of Iowa City hopes to begin construction on the Melrose Avenue Bridge Replacement Project. Due to Its condition the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) has ranked It third in the State for bridge replacement assistance, The project will involve the following: 1) The removal and replacement of the eXisting bridge with a four-lane bridge including an 8' wide sidewalk on each side, 2) The removal and replacement of the existing pavement from the bridge to approximately 150' east of Hawkins Drive. The new four lane pavement will measure 47' back of curb to back of curb, The existing pavement Is 31' wide, The bridge will be centered within the existing right-of-way while the wider pavement will gradually shift to the north so that from Hawkins Drive east, all of the widening will be on the Unvlerslty's side of Melrose Avenue and the south curb line will remain In the same location, An 8' wide sidewalk will be Installed along the north side of Melrose Avenue and a 4' wide sidewalk will be Installed along the south side of Melrose Avenue, 3) The removal and replacement of the existing Melrose Avenue pavement from the bridge west to Olive Court In University Heights, The pavement width will taper from the bridge to the existing roadway width at Olive Court, which measures 36'. 4) The estimated construction cost Is $1,250,000; the City will be seeking federal funding In the amount of $650,000. Another project proposed for the near future Is the reconstruction of the remainder of Melrose Avenue pavement from approximately 150' east of Hawkins Drive to Byington Road. Design has not begun for this project but It appears that the four lane concept will continue to S, Grand Avenue whereupon the facility will then be reduced to three lanes (two east-bound and one west- bound) to Byington Road, A start date for construction of this project has not been determined but City Council will consider this project at Its upcoming budget meetings, The estimated construction cost Is $525,000, As you know, traffic counts continue to Increase and should grow substantially with the construction of the new eye clinic and parking ramp, ((5) 410 EAST WASIlINOTON STREET' IOWA CITY, IOWA 5114001126. (lit) JU.HOO' FAX (l19) lJ6.JOO' ~I/! I I , I I i j' I ',. " . (.. ...i', .':, ,,' ,'. >. .;..~ :;:,i:j .:' :>>',' ',; :/":,::':,',,:,:;:,.:,' ':".' "'i"" .:,[J,:'" "~E~,, '..:7]".. 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',;.,' j.,1 ,'-: :~':1..,~11'- ':'," .'. > .:;.: .~y I ~ @ ~ c: ,0 .+::; (,) 2 -+..;; U) c: 8 ,~ Q) E ex: ~ Q) 0 ~ .~ ..... ~ Q) U) e ...... ~ I Q) ::J c: ~ ~ Q) U) e ...... ~ z ... Riverside Avenue , ... 1 Q) ::l c: Q) > <: -g Byington Rd Ol ~ ... {!J (Il Grand Ave Ct I'> * *0 , mi3. ~ eNo' pueJ~'OS ~ Lucon rive 01 .E_ .ll:0 (ij..J. a. Cl c: *:':0 (ij..J a. '0 c: W '0 III OJ o to N ~ Ql > '': o a. o o .c t) en ~ j .9 scaJaE) ~ CU!l\lad :g Hawkins Drive m I .ll:E ,~ :J C:'- c:'O ,- fI '!t.(J) # # # I # # # I . Olive ou Q) ::l c: Q) ~ m e OJ :::E III a. o J: (J) Q) ~ Q) ~ :::E ... .l!l c: Q) o ~ cu o >. cu Cl II * ..... ~.L:';:":<l':':"'~'" ,':,"";,Jb~:;.':,~'(C:;:'. >: :'::,',:.'.,\~';,: '):::::::':. :':'\:'/' d\, . , . I I' ."f" ~-:"8l ,.,/~l." '. I . . " I ':{'.".r"';'~)\~'.'"",','1",(~,,"",,~~. ....~l :' ",', .\;,. \.' .5 W.-lCVl, UJ ~Y1\QJ.. r~lLw) ~.-U~, 2/lqcf3 ~ WLCL~ la, ~&W ~ D-Lvf~~ ~ ~ht~~oJ) ~~ ~ ~'Qw. 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John Morrissey 505 Westwinds Drive Iowa City, Iowa 52246 From: John Morrissey To: Iowa City Council members Re: Parking restrictions, Capitol Street Parking Ramp February 2, 1993 I urge the city council to abandon its policy banning all parking on the fIrst three levels of the Capitol Street Parking Ramp between the hours of 6:00 and 10:00 am on weekday mornings, I do so on four grounds: . The policy is unfair; . It is economically unsound; .It doesn't solve the correct parking problem; . The problem's urgency has passed, The burden rests on the downtown merchants to make their case for continuing the parking ban, not on city government to resist laying it to rest. Unfair Policy When you entered this decision sequence last spring, City Manager Atkins noted "the serious conflict" that merchants have complaining about downtown parking when "they may be abusing parking privileges." That conflict remains unaddressed by the current policy, This isn't just a matter of individual citizens being angered at fInding a parking ticket under their windshield wipers, The unfairness of the "no park" ramp policy has two arms -- applicability and notifIcation, The Capitol Street ramp was built for the use and convenience of the gel/eral public who have business downtown, on a first-come, fIrst-served basis, This policy is in accordance wiOI the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code pertaining to tax-exempt bonds issued by governmental units, The Capitol Street ramp was initially fInanced and then refinanced using revenue bonds, which appear to fall under provisions' of Ole tax code regarding accessibility by the general public, Various merchants downtown, notably tenants of Old Capitol Center, have argued that retail customer parking needs during the mid-morning hours should supersede OlOse of the general public, especially with regard to "convenience", e,g, the distance from one's car to Ole entrance to Old Capitol Center, Hence the desire to reserve the fIrst three parking levels for use by their customers. That others of the general public have business to conduct downtown, retail or otherwise, before 10:00 am and also want to use convenient parking, goes without saying. Your present policy treats this group differently and unfairly, The fIrst-come, fIrst-served a<</f ... - . -, (F/'~',:ll' _'I, ~'.', r.~'~"^.~~::....~. -\, 'r;::~I~ ;~.:' J " ',: .~>,./.".,:~I. .<.-~~>:':,::.: ~..-;:) 1/.~, :t: ~'.,~ "'-. ""l,"', ~""!j I . . ',;' -". . ," . ,'" ,I"." :e.'..~.: ;"" 'I;~'O'-"} j','~~~.',l '-0_::':,' ,:"J..,',',':' '. :',.I'~':.1~':.l:'.~.. ,';;. ,.,",,;'I;\.I.,'...:,..\~..,!,.\.....~., "'l"I,~" ""; ....,.'.,'.. ,,' ....'.;:,.. :', '''- "" ",,', \'.'1"" ','~I" . ,'" "," . ~"' JMI CORPORATION NICROGAA'HICS DIVISION ~ TARGET SERIES 1193~53IZ-ot WT-8 CCR~ORATICN "_n-__ ,. -,.,- - - ...-.---- .. ... ~.-~--....-~ , ... - - i<. , <:"/ ./.: :,' ':}f:I' ;,(:,,:~.;..~:,., '1Zi.... :',: ,:', '" " ,...:.- "':'" :', .:~ ',:' ;,:;':, w' .' f ' ~ , . I ,," I I :.\. l' ',\ 'r . .',", ' , " ,.., ,I ',',' '.' , , ,( ,,,' . ,\ ',' ,- " ,',\' , '^11 '"'I ' ,'~~. ,'r . - ,'~. "- ' , " <., '( - , ,." , ,I I' ," , .' ), John Morrissey 505 Westwinds Drive Iowa City, Iowa 52246 From: John Morrissey To: Iowa City Council members Re: Parking restrictions, Capitol Street Parking Ramp February 2, 1993 I urge tlle city council to abandon its policy banning all parking on the ftrst three levels of the Capitol Street Parkir,g Ramp between the hours of 6:00 and 10:00 am on weekday mornings, I do so on four grounds: . The policy is unfair; . It is economically unsound; . It doesn't solve the corrcct parking problem; . The problem's urgency has passed, The burden rests on the downtown merchants to make their case for continuing the parking ban, not on city government to resist laying it to rest. Unfair Policy When you entered this decision sequence last spring, City Manager Atkins noted "the serious conflict" that merchants have complaining about downtown parking when "they may be abusing parking privileges," That conflict remains unaddressed by the current policy, This isn't just a matter of individual citizens being angered at ftnding a parking ticket under their windshield wipers, The unfairness of the "no park" ramp policy has two arms -- applicability and no tift cation, The Capitol Street ramp was built for the use and convenience of the gel/eral public who have business downtown, 011 a ftrst-come, first-served basis, This policy is in accordance witll the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code pertaining to tax-exempt bonds issued by governmental units, TIle Capitol Street ramp was initially financed and then refinanced using revenue bonds, which appear to fall under provisions' of tlle tax code regarding accessibility by the general public, Various merchants downtown, notably tenants of Old Capitol Center, have argued that retail customer parking needs during tlle mid-morning hours should supersede those of the general public, especially with regard to "convenience", e,g, the distance from one's car to the entrance to Old Capitol Center, Hence the desire to reserve the ftrst three parking levels for use by their customers, TIlat others of the general public have business to conduct downtown, retail or otherwise, before 10:00 am and also want to use convenient parking, goes without saying, Your present policy treuts this group differently unci unfuirly. TIle first-come, ftrst-served a~' ......:. I - ~.r___- .",....-- --.. -..............-..- ....., ~-- ....-r--..,.-.- - - '" r- .. - ,- .. ~...".- ...... ><' ;";; /':' >.~":,.::.G;; ";1~':"", ," .:,..,"'" .'\:.:""/: ::'\ . . I ' I. ~ -1~.!;11 s-l r '. ' . - " '. )J,"('~l\.j:' ,~,~_",i.":'~~"I' :"l".~.:l :". :\~.":,:',_'. .:~,: "','_~~~i doctrine has been supplanted by special pleading and offends the common sense of fair play, Secondly, the notification provided to the general public about this policy is substandard, The policy has resulted in thousands of violations, A common response from violators is "( didn't see the sign," or "I didn't know the policy extended to the area where I parked, " Why don't people heed the signs? In his letter to the city, included in tonight's meeting packet, Robert E, Seaholm of Coralville touches on the reason, Motorists do IIOt e,\pect to encounter large blocks of reserved parking spaces in a public parking ramp, especially when those spaces are not physically separated or explicitly labeled as off-limits, There are exceptions and most people recognize them -- non-handicapped motorists know they risk a violation if they park in a designated handicapped space, Likewise, motorists at the Dubuque Street ramp know they risk a violation if they park in the two clearly marked spaces on the lower level that are reserved for use by the Parking Enforcement division, (Parking Superintendent Joe Fowler tells me those two spaces generate very few violations,) The "no parking" signs are clear and explicit; and motorists obey them, I believe that the "no parking" signs in the Capitol Street ramp are generally construed as meaning "no parking" only in a very limited area, perhaps only those two spaces on either side of each overhead sign, or perhaps the row along the north wall, But the entire level? This is a novel experience for even the most-traveled motorist. Proper notification to motorists shonld be a sign at eveI)' parking space subiect to the policy, The total cost of proper signage -- one sign per space -- would not exceed $5300. The parking ramp should have a physical separation, of short- and long-term parking and a pricing policy for each area, An automatic gate could be installed on one of the upper floors of the Capitol Street ramp delineatin~ less-expensive long-term parking from more- expensive short-term parking for about $5000, Merchants should pay for additional signs and an automatic gate. Economically Unsound Like Mr, Seaholm, I was amazed that otllerwise hard-nosed downtown business interests were the very ones who suggested the current policy, It is economically unsound because the city government's police power, not the price of convenient parking, is the instrument that compels motorists to obey tile policy, The policy takes a scarcity of parking spaces and makes parking spaces even more scarce, Inventory was reduced during one part of the day to increase it at others, This is soft-headed economic logic, To manage a growing demand for convenient space, hourly pricing should be increased, You should not have further limited supply-- doing so has only resulted in reduced parking revenues, The projected operating revenue shortfall at the Capitol Street ramp is significant .. estimated to total $44,000 by thge end of the fiscal year, The most likely cause has been a policy which reduced by nearly 87,000 parking hours, usage in tile Capitol Street ramp, Fortunately, system wide revenues are up and more than adequate to meet the shortfall. ~lf' ~......... "., - y-.----- .., _ r...-_ ---... ~_ r-.. .,......______ ..-...,,- -...... ,_ -. ... -~ - ...-' .....,.. .--- - ..... . ..~ \,' ':1' '.":~' ,:.' rL}"'<'~'t'WAi..",' :,',':, 0 "",: ::,"'. >"!',\ ..' !. I", , "l7.1 I f' ',..,,, " . ':<; .~>\:~1:.:: ,,'.\lIt ':"""'~': ".. I ." \ .. '.. :,' \. "." But since this policy, which benefits downtown merchants, reduces revenues to the city, shouldn't the policy's beneficiaries remunerate the city for its losses? Without the policy, the Capitol Street Parking Ramp would probably meet the financial projections in its budget. With the policy in effect, that perfonnance is in doubt. If the shortfall is significant; the result might be a reduction in the city's bond rating and a corresponding rise in future borrowing costs, Further, the very retailers who complain that a lack of convenient parking threatens their continued success have money set aside to make parking more convenient for customers, The Park & Shop program operates with an annual budget in excess of $100,000, Currently used to subsidize parking fees when individual customers buy a certain amount of merchandise, this pot of money could easily be used as a direct payment to the city covering the revenue short-fall, As far as I know, no request has been made of, and no offer has been extended by, downtown merchants to cover the Capitol Street ramp's projected operating shortfall. The financial risk to the city by continuing this policy seems wholly out of proportion to the alleged benefit to merchants, If the policv continues, dowutown merchants must share in the financial risk to the citv's parkin~ system, At the very least, downtown mercha~ts Sh~~I~ m~~ up an~ shortfall between proiected revenues and actual revenues at the C it I S eel ram for the current fiscal year, Doesn't Solve the Correct Problem JCPenney executive Tim Stewart, in his letter of April 20, 1992, claims that when the JCPenney lease was negotiated in the late 1970s, ".., it was indicated that we would have adequate convenient customer parking for JCPenney and the mall," Stewart's artful correspondence does not say who made those "indications" 'oo they likely were part of the private negotiations between his employer and the mall's developer, Yes, the city committed to building and operating a public ramp next door to the shopping mall with the idea that shoppers would use it. But it hardly promised to build an 870-space parking ramp for the sole use of Penney's customers or shoppers headed to the Old Capitol Center, Besides that, times change, Downtown redevelopment has produced a more vibrant, busier core, It did not increase the physical size of the downtown, The parking system hns not been able to meet the growing demands for convenient parking by every motorist hending downtown, While the city has indicnted every willingness.. too much so in my view.. to address merchant concerns about parking, it hardly owes any of them an ironclad promise of convenient parking for retail shoppers to the exclusion of everyone else going downtown to conduct business, Larry Gravin, a senior executive with the Younker's department store chain in his letter to the city manager last April, claims it's "necessary for the city to nddress tlle pm*illg problem ,.. before irreparable hann is done to Younkers' sales," (Emphasis mine,) It will be very difficnlt to add "convenient parkinu capacity downtown, A better strategy would incrcase easy, convcnient acccss to downtown that docsn't depcnd nn a~q I ~:.',',::";,>::r. :''px'~. :.-(i;;::,,,':>:I,, ".'..::.'::,. .." .:/,>:. ',:~':'" :,i' . .". f, ". 5?5J ' , tEJ . ~ ~t . , l'l . '" . .:. ," ',\ - . " l( :.; _,,' ,',. 't . Il ~ , { '. t't .., . private cars, notablv. ~ heavv emphasis on, employee b,us passes an~ ~~~~~ion ~f the BU~ & Shop programs, Netther has been done m any meanmgful way b nts own tow , Parking Problem's Urgency Fades In his,May 18, 1992 letter to the city, JCPenney leasing representative Scott Johnson asked the city to institute "a temporary solution" before UI students returned for the fall semester, "Our most important sales are in October, November and December ... and this is when the problem is most acute," he wrote, We are now past these prime shopping months, In my view. the policy was an experiment that yielded flawed result~, It should be withdrawn.lf a "problem" again presents itself next fall. the entire concept of balancing the parking needs of shoppers vs, the rest of the general public in pubicly owned parkin~ ramps should be revisited and a new approach attempted, \ a~'