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03. Russell School Request for Closure of West Wyoming StreetAgenda -June 16, 1997 AGENDA ITEM 3 - RUSSELL SCHOOL REQUEST FOR WYOMING STREET CLOSURE BACKGROUND/CONSIDERATION: I have enclosed a letter from Mike Anderson, Principal of Russell Elementary School. Mr. Anderson and I had a meeting at the school last month. I agree that the school has a problem, as he has outlined in his letter of request, with space and playground area/access. However, I do not agree that the student problem that he has at this time will necessarily be compounded due to the West Side Urban Renewal Tax Area approval for the following reasons: 1. Historically, he has had the same problem; 2. Currently he has the problem; 3. The West Side TIF District has not produced any problems yet since we just implemented it; 4. The West Side TIF District may never produce additional housing. The intent for this district was the improvement of the Gateway West Mall, commercial development along Meridian, and related infrastructure, not housing. I have also enclosed memos from the various departments addressing their concern about closing this street. RECOMMENDATION: Wyoming Street is a major street and will be very difficult to justify the closing. Closing of Wyoming would only be a fix for the school and would not address all of the issues. In fact, closing the street would make even more issues to be Agenda -June 16, 1997 addressed for the traffic control, for the school, and in the neighborhood. I would suggest that School District #5 needs to deal with their student growth problem by developing a long range plan that will address this problem in conjunction with the City traffic plans and the State Highway transportation related issues for the entire neighborhood. RECOMMENDATION: I strongly recommend not closing the street without long range plans for the area. All of the staff's comments are valid in evaluating the potential problems. ACTION REQUIRED: If you desire to close this street, direction to the Manager and Attorney are needed. If you do not want to close the street, no formal action is required, but a suggestion for long term planning should be offered. Superintendent 756-5000 Business O)J5ce 756-5006 TransportINfaintenance 756-5015 Special Services 756-5017 Flathead H' h School 7 "7 56-5 5 junior Hig h School 756030 Lindermn School 756-5024 Russell School 756-5052 Peterson School 756-5067 Hedges School 756-5048 Elrod School 756-5043 Edgerton School 756-5058 phone: 406-756-5015 233 FIRST AVENUE FAST - KALISPELL, MONTANA 59901 fax: 406-756-4510 May 22, 1997 Mr. Clarence Krepps, City Manager Kalispell City Hall 312 1 st Avenue East Kalispell, MT 59901 Dear Mr. Krepps: Thank you for meeting with m and listening W my concerns about the Russell School attendance area and playground space. As you can see, Russell School is land locked with no chance for expansion. Additionally, our playground space is inadequate for the number of students we are serving. This is due in part ID the high number of multiple family housing units within our attendance area. With the West Side Urban Renewal Tax Increment District being almost solely within the Russell School attendance area, our student enrollment problem wi It be compounded. A classroom addition was added this past summer to house Russell suXlents. This comirg year I w i I I be bussing a classroom of neighborhood students tD another school because of a lack of classroom space. I respectfully request the Kalispell City Council to close West Wyoming between 2nd and 3rd Avenues WN. This would allow additional playground it and allow for future expansion of the school. With the started construction of low density housing units in the Porta Villa area, additional classroom space will be needed. Perhaps of a more urgent need is the safety of students crossing West Wyoming to utilize ft field. An added bonus would be provisions for wme off street parking for school personnel. I would be more than willing tD meet with file City Council or the planning office to help with making this request areality. Feel free tD call me at 756-5051. 1 thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide. Sincerely, Michael L. Anderson, Principal Russell Elementary School cc: Mrs. Margie Simpson, Chairperson Board of Trustees School District # 5 M r. Todd Watkins, Business Manager School District # 5 KALISPELL POLICE DEPARTMENT Bo 1997 Kalispell, e.0 Phone _0. :0 12 June 1997 TO: UEP CUTNTUIAGER V- FROM: AD CLARK, CHIEF OF POLICE e55� ADDISON H. CLARK Chief of Police DONALD A. HOSSACK Asst. Chief The Police Department cannot support the closure of West Wyoming Street at this time. Apart from the concems raised by Russell School, there are many other issues which would be impacted negatively by a closure. Some of these issues ` include: * Hampering access to NW parts of the city by police and fire vehicles during emergencies. * More congestion around the south side of the school which may impact traffic accidents in this neighborhood. * The loss of easy access to Hwy 93 for detoured traffic no longer having access to the light on West Wyoming. * The loss of our major east/west collector that enjoys a traffic signal and connects Hwy 93 to Meridian Road. We believe that the safety of our children is extremely important. We, also, feel that there will be many other impacts in addition to those identified above. We would feel more comfortable if the engineering, highway traffic safety and public works personnel were to study this issue giving due regard to the total impact on all safety concerns and the general traffic flow through the entire affected neighborhood before closing the street. W interoff ice M E M • R A N D U M to: Clarence Krepps from: Diana Harrison subject: Closing of West Wyoming Street date: June 4, 1997 I have reviewed the North Meridian Neighborhood Plan, which is an addendum to the City - County Master Plan for its goals and objectives related to West Wyoming Street. It seems at one time, because of the traffic signal at Highway 93, West Wyoming Street was being looked at as a potential connector street from Meridian Road to Highway 93. According to the North Meridian Neighborhood Plan, problems arose with this scenario when one considered the elementary school (Russell School) and the fact that the play grounds are across Wyoming Street from the school itself. In addition, Wyoming Street is not a through street past Highway 93. For these and other reasons, the North Meridian Neighborhood Plan identifies Washington Street as the most logical street for a connector between Meridian Road and Highway 93. Although one of the objectives in creating a connector street is to reduce traffic on Wyoming Street, it is probably safe to say that Washington Street will not become the connector street for quite some time. In order for Washington Street to become a connector street between Meridian Road and Highway 93, an extension road would have to cross the Fairgrounds property. It is my opinion, that West Wyoming is a heavily traveled street because of the traffic fight on Highway 93 and because it connects all the way through to 7th Avenue V;N. Until there is another street that offers these same advantages, closing Wyoming Street would impede the flow of traffic throughout this neighborhood. I believe that the children's safety should be our main priority, but I also believe there are ways of reducing the risk to children, such as adding additional crossing guards to Wyoming Street. Date: June 4, 1997 Re: Closure of West Wyoming Street 1) West Wyoming Street is a busy street and will get busier. Closing it will inconvenience many citizens and taxpayers. properties. 3) West Wyoming Street has a traffic signal. The traffic light makes it possible for east/west traffic to get onto or cross Sunset Boulevard. Crossing or (left) turning onto Sunset Boulevard at other intersections is practically impossible. 4) The intersection of West Wyoming Street with Sunset Boulevard (Highway 93 North), occurs on a relatively level straight section of road. Although the intersection is slightly angled, the other streets (Utah, Arizona, California, etc.) not only intersect at an angle but intersect at hills and curves as well. 5) If Wyoming Street is closed the vehicles that normally use the street will select alternate routes. The alternate routes may be less direct and actually result in more vehicle miles being driven around Russell School and the surrounding neighborhood. 6) The road closure would cause a 24 hour a day, 365 days a year penalty in order to achieve an 8 to 5, 180 days a year benefit to Russell School. 8) Expansion of facilities typically generates a demand for more streets or expansion/improvernent of an existing transportation network, Mr. Anderson is proposing to expand his facility and increase traffic while concurrently reducing thi transportation grid and closing a through street that has the best intersection. 9) Of the reasons given by Mr. Anderson, a) bussing due to lack of classroom space, b) additional playground space is needed, c) additional classroom space is needed, d) safety of students crossing West Wyoming Street and e) off street- parking for school personnel-, only (d) can be solved without others suffering negative consequences. Students, as wen as other pedestrians, could use an overhead crossing which would allow vehicles and pedestrians to move concurrently without conflict. 10) The urgent issue of safety of students crossing West Wyoming could perhaps be deal'-i with immediately and with less drastic action than closing a street. Crosswalks, crosswalk guards, a signaled crosswalk, and/or a police presence could be used alone or together to produce the safest crossing in Kalispell. I am opposed to closing West Wyoming Street and I hope the City Council will keep it open. Hopefully a solution exists that will recognize other issues and deal fairly with them. interoff ice to: Clarence Krepps, City Manager from: Ross Plambeck, Redevelopment Manager re: Russell School Request to Close W. Wyoming Street Mete: May 30, 1997 In your consideration of the Principal's request for the closure of W. Wyoming Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues 'AN, the impacts on traffic movement should be evaluated. The Kalispell Area Transportation Plan has been adopted by the City Council and is a component. of the City -County Master Plan. The Plan identifies the following issues regarding W. Wyoming: The street is classified as a "Collector" and defined as "A secondary or intermediate street with moderate speeds and low to moderate volumes. Such streets would collect local traffic from neighborhoods and carry it to adjacent neighborhoods or transfer the traffic to the arterial system. Such streets would typically serve a neighborhood or area of 150 or more dwellings or carry 1,000 to 5,000 vehicles per day." 1992 traffic counts for W. Wyoming were 3,000 vehicles per day, which is similar to E. Oregon from Hwy 93 N to 4th Ave. EN (3,100) and 5th Ave. W from 2nd St. W to the High School (3,400) Projected traffic volumes for W. Wyoming are: 3,900 vehicles per day in year 2000 6,500 vehicles per day in year 2015 East-West travel on the north side of Kalispell is limited to very few streets. W. Wyoming is signalized at Hwy 93 N and allows safe turning access that no other streets provide. June 3, 1997 To: Clarence Krepps, City Manager Subject: Proposed closure of West Wyoming Street Public Works does not support the idea of closing West Wyoming Street as requested by School District 5. This street is the only connector between US 93 and Meridian north of Idaho and contail many utilities. There are other concerns with Police and Fire access, and general traffic circulation. Overall, we feel this is not a good idea. RICHARD SEDDON FIRE MARSHAL To: Clarence Krepps, City Manager From: Ted Waggener, Fire Chief Re: Russell School request to close Wyoming Street. Date: June 5, 1997 The Kalispell Fire Department believes the request to close Wyoming Street by Russell School would have a negative affect on traffic in the Northwest portion of the city. We believe this to be a very serious undertaking and should involve the city, school board and State Highways for a complete traffic plan. The area from Idaho Street North to North Meridian, west of Highway #93 is a safety concern for us. We travel that route to the hospital many times a day. We feel to close West Wyoming just for the school kids crossing to their playground would be a detriment to traffic movement in all Northwest Kalispell.