| The Siskiyou / Lithia Way / E. Main / 3rd Street
/ Gresham traffic circulation and safety are not new issues to our community,
City staff or council. Several consultants have looked at this area with
differing options and recommendations.
Kittleson and Associates conducted a technical assistance evaluation
with funding from ODOT. In short, Kittleson reviewed a roundabout option,
and both signalized and unsignalized intersection improvements. Their
recommendation was to signalize E. Main.
In October 2000, David Evans and Associates conducted a circulation
study to evaluate Gresham and potential parking increases. The consultant
recommended one-way on Gresham and other intersection improvements. The David
Evans group also produced the Downtown Plan (draft June 2001), which suggested
that the roundabout be evaluated as the preferred options.
The Transpo Group, a sub-consultant to W&H Pacific, completed
the latest analysis (attached) in February 2002. They looked at the roundabout
and gave a favorable recommendation for current traffic flows, but showed
that the roundabout would fail in the 2020 analysis. Staff recommended that
the roundabout be rejected and that we continue to look at the impacts of
the "whole" intersection including 3rd and Gresham as that was one of the
control points for traffic.
In each of the studies, it is critical to note that pedestrian
improvements and bicycle lanes are addressed. That has been the guiding factor
for the Siskiyou project and will continue to be the priority. Although there
are differences in the neighborhood's interpretation of acceptable standards
for neighborhood streets, and impact to the surrounding neighbors, there
are several options that will improve the intersection even if they are not
the "best" from a traffic engineers standpoint.
After the open house on April 10th, staff once again looked at the
interest of a signal at 3rd and no changes to the traffic pattern to Gresham
or 3rd. The real concern is with traffic backing up at E. Main. Assuming
the one-way options are not open for discussion, staff looked at two options,
both of which require that 3rd change to two way traffic and could eliminate
7-8 parking spots from 3rd Street if there is a need to convert one side
of the diagonal parking to parallel parking. Both options allow the addition
of 7-9 parking spaces to be created in front of the library.
1. Signalize Gresham and 3rd at E. Main, convert 3rd Street to two-way,
close off the bank access at 3rd Street and improve the 3rd Street / Lithia
Way intersection including concrete bulb-outs and crosswalk ladder markings,
and eliminate the E. Main to E. Main move at the Fire Station (thereby
eliminating the need to signalize that E. Main connection now or in the future).
The elimination of the E. Main - E. Main movement could potentially overload
the left turn movement at the proposed new Sherman/Siskiyou signal in the
future.
2. Signalize Gresham and 3rd at E. Main, signalize the E. Main - E.
Main link, convert 3rd Street to two-way, close off the bank access at 3rd
Street and improve the pedestrian access on both intersections by narrowing
the travel lanes to two (2) through lanes on Siskiyou and one (1) lane for
the E. Main - E. Main connection (see attached sketch). For each option the
consultant recommends that 3rd be converted to two way traffic as the left
turn from the E. Main to Lithia Way adds considerable stacking and additional
time to the signal at E. Main and E. Main. The two signals would work in
concert.
Staff needs direction to move on with improving the traffic circulation
and pedestrian safety items at this awkward intersection. |
