1968 339- 485 _ 1-8 to 4-15-1968

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f discuss modifications. Robert Frank, Attorney representing certain downtown mer- chants named on a list he submitted to Council, stated mer- chants had requested that traffic study program be sus- pended in its entirety, if possible, or alternatives be considered. City Manager reviewed report submitted to Council containing requests which had been -. originally made by the merchant group for modification of the curb width of Broadway to permit installation of channelization to provide for left turn storage and dia- gonal rather than parallel parking and the resultant investigation of Staff on costs, feasibility, and further proposed subsequently suggested by Staff for providing left turn channelization without expense of physically widening Broadway. He advised this concept would retain parallel parking, one traffic lane in each direction and channelization providing left turn slots at estimated cost of $9,000. He advised recommendation originally made by merchants for the diagonal parking would not pro- vide more parking spaces than now present and referred to other substantial pro- blems. He stated Staff's recommendation at this point, and which had been presented to representatives of merchants' group, would be to abandon Stage 5, commence Stage 6 with modifications to allow parallel parking on both sides of Broadway and Cen- tral storage area, permit two lanes of moving traffic in each direction from E1 Camino to railroad tracks, and balance of Broadway one lane in each direction, and thereafter commencing Stage 7 phase. He stated this last phase most closely followed the Downtown Plan as prepared by Blaney and Livingston. He also stated it was felt that these final phases would indicate early in their operation whether problems were being created which would reflect on the validity of the downtown plan. City Manager also advised plans were nearly completed for utility improvements in downtown area under the approved city-wide bond issue and construction program scheduled to begin for early April which too, reflected on the timing of the traffic study program. Upon questioning by Council for further clarification on phases of program under Stage VI, Chief of Police further reviewed proposal as follows: Spring to rail- road track, a pair of one-way stredts; East bound on Broadway -West on Marshall; E1 Camino to railroad tracks -two lanes of traffic in each direction. Another pair of one-way streets proposed for Middlefield and Jefferson from intersection of Jefferson do Middlefield to Veterans Blvd. He advised this phase was proposed for approximately 6 weeks, but allowances would be made for adjustment by'citizens before violations cited. He also noted fact that thereafter Stage 7 most closely resembled plan downtown merchants approved, with exception of the diagonal parking. Police Chief also expressed his opinion that Redwood City had not benefitted from this study program as survey basically designed for purpose of aiding other cities with the statistical data derived therefrom, Stage 5 containing the unbalanced flow of traffic, of little value, and left turn prohibitions already having been proven not beneficial to the City. Councilman Granger asked that street lines be repainted to cover the ones made during program as lines now result in confusion. (Memo 1/9/68) 0 s'*