PEDESTRIAN SAFETY & GRAND AVENUE

A CIB Proposal Submitted By:

Grand Avenue Business AssociationMacalester Groveland Community

CouncilSummit Hill Association

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Grand Avenue: A Place Where We Live, Work & Play

Grand Avenue is Saint Paul’s premiere destination for shopping, entertainment, dining, working and living

Over 350 businesses reside along Grand Avenue from Dale Street to Cretin Avenue

Thousands of people visit the destination avenue each year

Grand Avenue is home to the nation’s largest one day festival, Grand Old Day, boasting nearly 250,000 visitors the first Sunday in June of each year

Three other community focused events that happen each year

Grand Avenue & Victoria Street

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Background Information

Following a pedestrian fatality at Hamline & Grand in the Fall of 2012, the Macalester-Groveland Community Council (MGCC), Summit Hill Association (SHA) and Grand Avenue Business Association (GABA) worked with area residents, business owners and community leaders to develop a CIB proposal that would address growing concerns about pedestrian safety on Grand Avenue

City of Saint Paul Traffic Engineers provided recommendations for traffic calming and pedestrian safety design elements as seen in this proposal

After the CIB Committee failed to implement the pedestrian safety and traffic calming measures in 2013, MGCC, SHA and GABA Task Force have continued to work collaboratively on issues relating to pedestrian safety on Grand

In March 2014, a near fatality at the intersection of Grand & Syndicate prompted MGCC, SHA and GABA to again discuss the urgent need to implement the pedestrian safety and traffic calming measures seen in this proposal

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“I feel like I play ‘Frogger’ everyday walking and driving down grand to get home. People, cars, dogs, ect. all going super fast, looking for parking, random last minute turning…oh the list goes on and on.” - Mara

“I bought a RED stroller because I'm amazed at how many people can't see me, even when crossing the street. People will even whiz right by when I'm crossing.” – Jennifer

“There have been numerous times when I have been crossing Grand (with my GIANT stroller) and cars literally come out of nowhere, they don't stop and then yell at me for not paying attention.” – Emily

“People drive as if there is no possibility that any pedestrians could be present.” – Shari

“We bought a house 6 months ago very close to Lexington and Grand. I have two little kids and my husband and I are already wishing we hadn't bought the house we did because of this [traffic/pedestrian safety issues].” – Molly

Pedestrian Safety As Told By Pedestrians

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At Issue: Pedestrians on Grand Avenue

There are have been two fatalities and three “incapacitating injuries” involving pedestrian on Grand Avenue in the past four years:

August 2012 – Macalester student hit and killed in crosswalk at Grand & Hamline

September 2011 – Pedestrian hit and killed crossing mid-block at Grand & Syndicate

In total, there have been 27 pedestrian related crashes on this stretch of Grand Avenue in the past 10 years

Average speed Eastbound is 28 mph, with 85% going at or below 33mph

Average speed Westbound is 29mph, with 85% going at or below 36mph

Residents and businesses have reported that there have been unreported and several “near misses”

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At Issue: Pedestrians on Grand Avenue

The area of the project is on Grand Avenue between Hamline Avenue and Lexington Parkway

Specific cross streets of interest include: Syndicate and Dunlap

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Proposal: A Single Phase Approach

Bumpouts at Grand & Syndicate (West Side) & Grand & Dunlap (West Side)

Painted Crosswalk & Signage at Each Bumpout

Parking Lane Striping

Center Painted Median “Turn Lane”

“Combination of mainly physical measures that reduce the negative effects of motor vehicle use, alter driver

behavior, and improve conditions for non-motorized street users” – Institute of Transportation Engineers

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Bump Outs

Bump Outs or Curb Extensions are beneficial for pedestrians because they:

Slow traffic by narrowing the roadway

Shorten the time it takes pedestrians to cross the street

Improve the visibility of pedestrians at a crosswalk

The City of Saint Paul website sites Bumpouts as part of their “toolbox” for calming traffic

Examples of Bump Outs

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Crosswalk & Signage

Crosswalks and signage is beneficial for pedestrians because they:

Slow traffic at a given intersection

Give drivers an indication that a pedestrian wishes to cross

Improve the visibility of pedestrians at a crosswalk

Examples of Enhanced Crosswalk Striping & Signage

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Parking Lane Striping

Low cost, yet effective way to visually narrow the lane to help calm traffic

Indicate parking lane

Example of Parking Lane Striping

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Center Painted Median

Visually narrow the street to help calm traffic

Indicates turning lane at intersections

Still allows for regular road use – including business deliveries

Example of Center Painted Median

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Visuals

Proposed Bumpouts at Grand & Syndicate and Grand & Dunlap (West Side)

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Commitment to Traffic Calming & Pedestrian Safety Proposal fits with Mayor Chris Coleman’s “8-80 Vitality Fund”

Aims to create city infrastructure, streets and public spaces that function for residents ages 8 to 80

Complement to the recently passed St. Paul Bike Plan which calls for bicycle infrastructure that will improve safety for bicyclists, motorists and pedestrians

Summit Hill Association (D16) Neighborhood Plan

Specific pedestrian and bicyclist safety measures

Macalester-Groveland Community Council (D14) Community Plan

Vision for a community that is pedestrian friendly

Grand Avenue Business Association

Mission “The Grand Avenue Business Association provides marketing, advocacy, and education to help member businesses prosper and enhance the quality of life along the Avenue and surrounding community.”

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Community-Wide Support

Summit Hill Association

Macalester Groveland Community Council

Grand Avenue Business Association

Councilmember Chris Tolbert

At-Home Apartments

Kowalski’s

The Wedding Shoppe

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Thank You For Your Consideration!