Report Prepared by: Michael R. Beltran II, PE, City Engineer
Title
SUBJECT: Report and Request for City Council Direction on the Main Street One-Way Pilot Program and Downtown Merced Circulation Traffic Impact Analysis
REPORT IN BRIEF
Staff received the Final Traffic Impact and Parking Analysis for the Downtown One-Way Program. The analysis evaluated the circulation of traffic in the downtown corridor and provides recommendations to implement a permanent one-way street on Main Street from Martin Luther King Jr. Way to O Street. Traffic will also flow in the West bound direction. Additionally, the analysis provides recommendations to increase parking in the downtown area from G Street to R Street along Main Street and 18th Street. A minimum of 96 additional parking stalls would be created from implementation of the recommendations
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a Motion:
A. Providing direction to staff regarding transitioning W. Main Street from Martin Luther King Jr. Way to O Street to one-way traffic and adding diagonal parking; and,
B. Providing direction to staff regarding transitioning Canal Street from W. 18th Street to W. Main Street to one-way traffic flow and adding diagonal parking; and,
C. Providing direction to staff regarding transitioning Main Street from O Street to R Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way to G Street to two-way traffic flow (4-lanes to 2-lanes) and adding diagonal parking; and,
D. Providing direction to staff regarding All-Way Crossing.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Provide direction as recommended by staff; or,
2. Deny the request; or,
3. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items as requested by the Council; or,
4. Defer action until a specified date
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
City of Merced 2022-2023 Downtown & Economic Development, a. Downtown, 2. “Continue with one-way traffic flow evaluation on Main Street.”
DISCUSSION
On December 7, 2020, City Council gave direction to staff to implement the Main Street one-way pilot program which included converting Main Street, M Street to K Street, and Canal Street, 18th Street to Main Street, from two-way traffic to one-way traffic and change the parallel parking to diagonal parking. The pilot program was implemented at the beginning of May 2021.
On August 2, 2021, City Council approved a Professional Services Agreement with JLB Traffic Engineering, Inc., to perform a Circulation Analysis, Pavement Delineation, Signage, and Traffic Signal Modifications in Downtown Merced for the Main Street One-Way Project. This contract included the Final Traffic Impact and Parking Analysis for the Downtown One-Way Program and the Plans, Specifications, and Estimates.
On April 4, 2022, City Staff receive the Final Traffic Impact and Parking Analysis for the Downtown One-Way Program. The analysis evaluated the circulation of traffic in the downtown corridor and provides recommendations to implement a permanent one-way street on Main Street from Martin Luther King Jr. Way to O Street. Traffic will flow in the West bound direction. Opposite of how it currently flows. Additionally, the analysis provides recommendations to increase parking in the downtown area from G Street to R Street along Main Street and 18th Street. A minimum of 96 additional parking stalls would be created from implementation of the recommendations.
ATTACHMENT
1. Presentation
2. Traffic Impact and Parking Analysis