Transportation and Transit Committee Meeting

Bradley Kimbrell, Transportation

In March 2023, Transportation staff received an inquiry from concerned residents to evaluate the existing travel lane and parking configuration along Brookside Drive, between Frank Street and Glasscock Street. The concerns regarded how existing conditions allowed aggressive drivers to pass slower motorists in the existing elongated dedicated right-turn lane into Conn Elementary School. Prior to installation of the existing dedicated right-turn lane, unregulated on-street parking was existing in this curb-space along Brookside Drive.

As Council may recall, recent public comments during the May 14 and May 21 public comment periods were presented regarding concerns and planned improvements along Brookside Drive between Frank Street and Glascock Street.  Council has also received numerous email messages from residents in the vicinity related to these same concerns.

Between March and September 2023, staff heard from and worked with residents and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC) to evaluate different strategies to address the safety concerns along Brookside Drive. Staff received several inquiries regarding the possibility of utilizing the existing right-turn lane to create bike infrastructure instead of on-street parking. Staff advised that bike lanes had been considered during staff’s review of the corridor, but while Brookside Drive is slated for bike infrastructure in the long-term bike plan, it is not identified in the adopted 10-year bike plan priority list of projects. Implementation of bike lanes typically occurs during a resurfacing project or as part of a funded standalone project. Currently, Brookside Drive is not scheduled to be resurfaced in the next five years, nor has the City allocated funds to move a bike project forward on this street.

In September 2023, affected property owners were notified of this proposed change to add back unregulated on-street parking along Brookside Drive and provided two weeks to respond with any questions or concerns.  The majority of responses received were residents requesting consideration to add bike lanes to this section of Brookside Drive instead of on-street parking. Staff spent the next several months working with the concerned residents to ensure all parties were aware of the changes, staff’s intent to address safety concerns, as well as reasons bike lanes were not being pursued along the corridor at this time.

In April 2024, staff again notified all affected property owners of this proposed change and provided two weeks to respond with any concerns, and no responses were received. The recommended changes would convert the existing dedicated right-turn only lane leading into Conn Elementary into fifty-three (53) new unregulated parking spaces on Brookside Drive.

During the June 18, 2024 Council meeting, staff presented a detailed history relating to Brookside Drive assessments and engagement with request for Council to provide direction on the implementation of proposed curb space changes on Brookside Drive.  Staff will give a detailed presentation regarding options for consideration.