Executive Summary - Amherst, Massachusetts

____________________________________________________________________________________ Town Manager Parking Recommendation: Lincoln Avenue - February 5, 2020 - Page 1 of 13

To: Town Council

Fr: Paul Bockelman

Town Manager

Dt: February 5, 2020

Re: Public Way Recommendation: Lincoln Avenue

Executive Summary Town staff recommends that parking changes be made to Lincoln Avenue including, in large

measure, prohibiting parking on the west side of Lincoln Avenue from North Hadley Road to

Amity Street and prohibiting parking from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on much of the east side of

Lincoln Avenue from Fearing Street to Amity Street. In addition, staff recommends prohibiting

parking on much of the east and west side of Lincoln Avenue from Amity Street to Northampton

Road from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Details of the recommendations are below.)

Recommendation: Proposed New Restrictions February 5, 2020

Repeal existing parking regulations and replace with the following (see maps below the text):

1. Parking prohibited as a tow zone, on the east and west side of Lincoln Avenue, for a

distance of 120 feet north of the intersection of Northampton Road.


distance of 30 feet north and south of Gaylord Street,


distance of 200 feet north and 120 feet south of Amity Street.

4. Parking prohibited as a tow zone Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm,

on the east side of Lincoln Avenue, from a distance of 200 feet north of Amity Street

to 60 feet south of McClellan Street.

5. Parking prohibited as a tow zone Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm,

on the east side of Lincoln Avenue, from a distance of 60 feet north of McClellan

Street to 30 feet south of Fearing St.

6. Parking prohibited as a tow zone, on the east side of Lincoln Avenue, from Fearing

Street to North Hadley Road.

Office of the Town Manager

Phone: (413) 259-3002

[email protected]

v


7. Parking prohibited as a tow zone, on the west side of Lincoln Avenue, beginning 200

feet north of Amity Street to North Hadley Road.

These are the existing parking restrictions that would be repealed:

Voted July 27, 2015:

1. Parking prohibited as a tow zone, on the east and west side of Lincoln Avenue, 120

feet north of the intersection of Northampton Road.


feet north and south of Gaylord Street,


feet north and south of Amity Street.

4. Parking prohibited as a tow zone, on the west side of Lincoln Avenue, 30 feet south

of Elm Street.

5. Parking prohibited as a tow zone, on the east side of Lincoln Avenue, 30 feet south of

McClellan Street.

Other Parking Restrictions that would be repealed:

6. Parking prohibited as a tow zone, 8 am to 5 pm, on the east side of Lincoln Avenue,

from McClellan Street to Fearing Street.

7. Parking prohibited as a tow zone, on the east side of Lincoln Avenue, from Fearing

Street to North Hadley Road.

8. Parking prohibited as a tow zone, on the west side of Lincoln Avenue, from Elm

Street to Fearing Street.

9. Parking Prohibited as a tow zone, on the east side of Lincoln Avenue, from Elm

Street to McClellan Street.

Rationale: Lincoln Avenue has been used as a through-street from the University to Amity Street and

Northampton Road. This is evident during peak travel times in the morning and evening “rush

hours”. Parking has proliferated on Lincoln Avenue in recent years. It is speculated that

increased fees for parking and greater enforcement by the University has driven University

employees and students to park on residential streets. In addition, Lincoln Avenue is outside the

boundaries of the Town Center Permit Parking and those without permits utilize the street for

parking.

Parking on both sides of Lincoln Avenue has created a potentially hazardous situation when the

parking inhibits the travel of cars going north and south simultaneously. It has also created

challenges to residents exiting their driveways and has made safe biking a concern.


Consideration was given to prohibiting parking on only the west side of Lincoln Avenue, but this

option was rejected because of the large number of vehicles traveling on the roadway and

because the width of the roadway is not wide enough to accommodate two lanes of travel plus

one parking lane. The on street parking is extensive on the street and causes site concerns at the

McClellan and Elm Street intersections. The current 30-foot setback at these intersections and

the 120-foot setback at Amity Street is not enough space during the workday hours. Once these

setbacks and clear turning areas expand, there are much smaller areas for parking. We have also

identified safety concerns that the traffic and parked cars are causing a potentially hazardous

challenge for safe bike riding during this period.

Background: Residents in the Lincoln Avenue neighborhood brought traffic and parking concerns to the

attention of the Town Manager and Chief of Police. It was noted that traffic and parking patterns

in this area were changing because of the University’s growth and parking policy changes at the

University. (A cover letter (Attachment A) with recommendation along with support letters

(Attachment B) are attached to this memo as part of the body and as a scanned attachment.)

The Town Engineer, in consultation with the Superintendent of Public Works, Police Chief, and

Fire Chief developed the above recommendation to the Town Manager.

The Transportation Advisory Committee discussed this situation at its meeting on November

20th, but did not render an opinion or recommendation. It has not discussed this request

subsequently. The Committee has the opportunity to render an opinion prior to any hearing

regarding this proposal.

The Town Council’s “Policy Regarding the Control and Regulation of the Public Ways” states,

in part:

“Requests for permanent parking changes, modification of fees, or other requests relating to

parking not detailed above (parking permit required, no parking signs, parking meter fees,

etc.)

i. Town Council remains keeper of the Public Way and will review and take action

as follows:

1. Hold a public hearing on the request

2. Prior to taking action, refer, as necessary, to the appropriate committee and/or

Town Manager for review, recommendation, and/or advice”

History: The Select Board, then keepers of the public way, held a public hearing on Lincoln Avenue

parking on June 15, 2015 that continued on July 27, 2015. By all accounts, this was a very

complex and somewhat contentious set of issues. It was also related to the "Downtown Parking

Report" by the Amherst Planning Department draft dated July 24, 2015.

Here is a link to the minutes from the June 15th meeting:

https://www.amherstma.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7666



The relevant section from the June 15th minutes is repeated here:

“Public Hearing – Parking Regulation Changes

The Public Hearing was opened at 6:45 p.m. Mr. Musante provided background on the

recommended changes before the Select Board including a proposed increase in fees and

a change to parking regulations on Lincoln Avenue, currently restricted at all times on the

west from the University to Elm Street and on the east to Fearing Street. A memo

included in this evening’s packet outlined the current restrictions and the proposal, which

came about after review with staff including the Chiefs of Police and Fire, DPW

Superintendent and Parking Administrator upon receipt of multiple correspondence from

residents concerned about public safety.

John Holcombe, 154 Lincoln Ave.; Betsy McInnis, 76 Lincoln Ave.; Bruce and Louise

Wilcox, 191 Lincoln Ave.; Katherine Newman, 174 Lincoln Ave.; Mark and Nancy

Gilbert, 166 Lincoln Ave.; Alan Harazin, 34 Lincoln Avenue; Rick Pelletier, 160 Lincoln

Ave.; Rhett Krause, M.D., 163 Lincoln Ave.; and Rick Pelletier and Louise Reilly, 87

Lincoln Avenue all spoke about personal circumstances and thoughts on the proposed

changes.

Concerns with the increased parking restrictions, the unintended consequences of

increased speed, a change to the nature of the neighborhood as well as the loss of resident

parking was also cited. Many noted agreement with no parking on one side only,

preferably the west side, and understanding the need to restrict parking near the

intersections, especially at Lincoln Avenue and Amity Street.

Senior Planner Jeff Bagg noted there are recommendations in the Downtown Parking

Forum Draft Report to be discussed later this evening which identify the need to study

areas close to the downtown and a recommendation for the expansion of permit parking

for downtown residents.

Mr. Musante responded to questions and inquiries from Select Board members. Ms.

McGinnis provided an overview of the downtown and neighborhood permit process and

street markings that exist. The Select Board indicated that the presentation failed to

provide sufficient rationale for the proposal. Members expressed a need for a much more

comprehensive look at the downtown area and further information from the fire chief and

the committees involved in the Transportation Plan.

VOTED unanimously to continue that portion of the public hearing related to parking on

Lincoln Avenue to 6:45 p.m. on July 27, 2015 and close that portion of the public hearing

related to increase of parking fees at 7:45 p.m.”

Here is a link to the minutes from the July 27th meeting:


The relevant section from the July 27th minutes is repeated here:

“Lincoln Avenue Modify Parking Restrictions



The public hearing was reopened at 6:50 p.m. Ms. Brewer reminded the public of a July

23rd memorandum and a number of maps that had been supplied providing further

information. Mr. Ziomek provided brief comments, noting a revised recommendation

with a focus of increased sight lines and public safety emergency response, as noted in a

memo provided dated July 23, 2015. Ms. McGinnis and Chief Nelson were present and

responded to questions from the Board on fire truck radii, proposed signage, speed limits

and differences in footage of prohibition recommended. There was a request for new

signage to be installed the entire length of Lincoln to address conformity. No further

public comment was offered and the public hearing was closed at 7:15 p.m.

VOTED unanimously to prohibit parking, as a tow zone, on the East and West side of

Lincoln Avenue, from120 ft. north to the intersection of Northampton Road.

VOTED unanimously to prohibit parking, as a tow zone, on the east and west side of

Lincoln Avenue, 30 feet north and south of the intersection of Gaylord Street.

VOTED unanimously to prohibit parking, as a tow zone, on the East and West side of

Lincoln Avenue, 120 ft. north and south of the intersection of Amity Street.

VOTED unanimously to prohibit parking, as a tow zone, on the west side of Lincoln

Avenue, 30 feet south of the intersection of Elm Street to the intersection of Elm Street.

VOTED unanimously to prohibit parking, as a tow zone, on the east side of Lincoln

Avenue, 30 feet south of the intersection of McClellan Street to the intersection of

McClellan Street.”

There is extensive history from the proceedings at this time, including the following documents

(Attachment C as scanned documents):

https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/31801/645-a-Recommendation-for-Parking-

Regulation-Changes

https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/31804/645-d-Lincoln-Ave-with-Existing-

Restrictions-to-Parking

https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/31805/645-e-Lincoln-Ave-Proposed-

Parking-Mapped-revised

https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/32121/645-a-Lincoln-Avenue-Parking-

Restriction-Proposal

https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/31801/645-a-Recommendation-for-Parking-Regulation-Changes

https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/31801/645-a-Recommendation-for-Parking-Regulation-Changes

https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/31804/645-d-Lincoln-Ave-with-Existing-Restrictions-to-Parking

https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/31804/645-d-Lincoln-Ave-with-Existing-Restrictions-to-Parking

https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/31805/645-e-Lincoln-Ave-Proposed-Parking-Mapped-revised

https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/31805/645-e-Lincoln-Ave-Proposed-Parking-Mapped-revised

https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/32121/645-a-Lincoln-Avenue-Parking-Restriction-Proposal

https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/32121/645-a-Lincoln-Avenue-Parking-Restriction-Proposal





[Attachment A: Document Provided by Mr. David Sloviter]

LINCOLN AVENUE NEIGHBORS

AMHERST, MA

FEBRUARY, 2020

This document and its attachments are intended to present to Town Council a situation that is dangerous and has made life more difficult for the people who live on Lincoln Avenue. It also affects other members of the public who drive on Lincoln Avenue each weekday. We are seeking relief from Town Council to correct this situation. OUR REQUEST We ask Town Council to change the parking regulations on Lincoln Avenue to prohibit parking on weekdays from 8:00AM to 5:00PM to address the problems and concerns discussed below. This would bring the part of Lincoln Ave. where parking is a problem, though currently legal, into conformity with the rest of Lincoln Ave. north of McClellan St. where parking is already restricted with those limits. BACKGROUND Use of Lincoln Avenue Lincoln Ave. is a direct through route from Amity St. and Route 9 to the UMass campus. It is the only connecting street other than Pleasant St. that has no directional restrictions where it meets Massachusetts Ave. and is popular because it allows drivers and delivery vehicles seeking access to UMass to avoid the lights and traffic on Pleasant St. As a result, it is one of the busiest streets in Amherst during the workweek, especially when UMass is in session. Change in parking practices Since Fall of 2018 the number of cars that park on Lincoln Ave. during the day has grown dramatically and is a daily occurrence on weekdays. The parked cars now include some that are there overnight and even stay for a few days at a time. The situation involving non-resident cars parking on Lincoln Ave. all day during the work week has become increasingly difficult and dangerous in the past year and it continues with no indication that it will change. CURRENT SITUATION During the average weekday when the university is in session, cars are parked along the east side of Lincoln throughout the day in an almost solid line beginning at McClellan St. and extending well beyond Elm St. This line of cars reduces Lincoln Ave. to two narrow transit lanes and forms a gauntlet that interferes with the passage of vehicles. Only two compact cars can


pass each other comfortably. Large cars must slow almost to a stop and often pull over and wait. Delivery vehicles such as UPS, Fedex, oil trucks, trash trucks, landscapers, school buses, etc., which would be able to flow easily if the line of cars was not there, must wait on the side in front of a driveway before being able to proceed down the gauntlet. Often multiple cars have to wait at one end while these vehicles pass. On weekends there are usually no more than one or two cars parked on the street, making it easy to get around them and proceed unimpeded. Safety concerns

One of the major concerns is the effect the current situation can have on the efficient and unimpeded movement of emergency vehicles. No one wants to have an emergency response by fire, ambulance or police slowed because the traffic flow is restricted.

It is difficult to exit the driveways of certain homes because of the reduced sight lines and blind spots.

It is often difficult and dangerous to turn from McClellan onto Lincoln Ave. because of obstructed sight lines.

It is often difficult to turn from Elm St. onto Lincoln Ave. because of narrow access to Lincoln Ave. if cars are approaching.

Cyclists on Lincoln Ave. often come too close to cars or hold up traffic because of the limited space to operate. It seems to be only a matter of time before there is a major injury.

There have been significant delays, backups involving 5 to 7 cars, trades people having a difficult time backing into their jobs, and even aggressive confrontations between drivers.

We have witnessed events where side mirrors on passing cars have hit each other. Physical limitations The dimensions of Lincoln Ave. allow for two active transit lanes that can move freely and efficiently. The dimensions do not allow for two transit lanes and a parking lane, effectively requiring three lanes. A row of cars removes one third of the street from vehicle movement. The remaining space is not sufficient for free and safe movement. Lincoln Ave. is 24 feet wide. Without parked cars there are two lanes of 12 feet each for traffic flow. This is wide enough to easily accommodate any vehicles including trucks and fire engines.


For comparison, Fearing St. between University Dr. and Sunset Ave. is 32 feet 6 inches wide. It accommodates two traffic lanes and a parking lane that is 7 feet 4 inches wide, leaving 25 feet 2 inches for the two traffic lanes. That is essentially the same as the width of Lincoln Ave. At Sunset Ave. where Fearing narrows to Lincoln Ave. dimensions, and continuing to N. Pleasant St., parking is prohibited. Source of the problem

The cars that park on Lincoln Ave. on a daily basis are essentially all placed there by students or staff at UMass.

The cars begin to arrive about 7:30 on most days and remain there until late afternoon

We have witnessed daily occurrences of drivers who park and then remove a bicycle from the vehicle and ride to UMass.

When UMass is not in session, there are rarely any parked cars.

On Columbus Day when UMass was closed, there were no cars parked on Lincoln Ave. The next day, when school resumed, there were 14 cars.

On MLK Day when UMass was closed, there were no cars parked on Lincoln Ave. The next day, when school resumed, there were 18 cars.

Lincoln Ave. has become a UMass parking lot that is free of charge. Inconsistent regulations Parking on Lincoln Ave. north of McClellan St. is already restricted from 8:00AM to 5:00PM but there is no difference in the size or function of that section of Lincoln Ave. Our request will bring all of Lincoln Ave. under the same restrictions. COMMENTS OF TOWN SAFETY OFFICIALS We have spoken with Fire Chief Nelson and Police Chief Livingstone. Chief Nelson - The fire chief agrees that the current situation presents undesirable challenges and supports steps that will remove the all-day gauntlet. He said that it would be much easier to get around a single vehicle making a delivery or a landscaper who is parked for a short time than negotiating the current situation. Chief Livingstone - The police chief told us that he does not support a parking restriction because he believes that homeowners have a right to park in front of their homes. While we as a community highly approve of the job that Chief Livingstone and the Amherst Police Department do, we respectfully disagree. We believe his position is a personal one that does not override our problem. All of the houses on Lincoln Ave. have off-street parking to


accommodate a parking restriction and almost every house has signed a petition supporting this request. None of the cars forming the gauntlet are placed there by Lincoln Ave. residents. The right of a Lincoln Ave. resident to park in front of one’s house is already largely eliminated by most of the spaces being taken up by the current situation. The ability to park that the chief is concerned about is not currently available during the day to most residents. The right to park at other times would not be impaired by our proposal. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS AND NOTES

A restriction during the week from 8:00 to 5:00 does not restrict residential or visitor parking on evenings and weekends. There is no current problem with parking on Lincoln Ave. after 5:00PM or on weekends. A restriction also does not preclude exceptional situations that have always existed, such as a memorial gathering when residents notify the police in advance.

A suggestion was made for a two-hour parking limit but we feel that is not workable and would require significant town resources to monitor and enforce. The police are already busy.

The congestion on Lincoln Ave. does not only affect Lincoln Ave. residents. Many people from Amherst and the surrounding area use Lincoln Ave. every day, largely to access the university.

The recourse of calling the police to deal with cars parked too close to the fire hydrant or encroaching on driveways is an unwarranted imposition on the neighborhood. The call to the police has resulted in tickets being issued but it does not move the car or make it easier to exit a driveway. All of this is eliminated with weekday parking restrictions.

UMass has announced a project that will replace Lincoln Ave. apartments with a new apartment complex. The demolition and construction will certainly involve many large trucks that will need to use Lincoln Ave. to access the site. This is certain to significantly exacerbate the current situation unless the street can provide an efficient flow of traffic during the day during work hours.

We are making our request in this form and with the attached petition even though the petition does not meet the requirement for the number of signatures. The total of all the residents in the affected area is less than the 150 or 200 signatures required for a petition. Rather, we are making our request of Town Council as residents of Amherst who live with a situation that we feel is unsafe. We are also including letters from several Lincoln Ave, residents who feel most affected and vulnerable.


Please note: Since we circulated the petition in September we have changed our request from a parking restriction until 6:00PM to the restriction ending at 5:00. We felt this was less restrictive while still addressing the problem. We did not want to go to the effort of collecting signatures again for a change that is not consequential.

We are looking to Town Council to solve a legitimate concern by a unified neighborhood that feels under siege. This is not from a sense of entitlement nor irrational alarmist reactions. We feel that the current situation has negatively impacted our neighborhood. The parked cars do not provide any benefit for the neighborhood or the town. It benefits a few people while the neighborhood and the rest of the area motorists who travel on Lincoln Ave. pay the price.

Please note: In the attached photos the pattern of parking that has established itself during the week is clearly revealed. The photo from Friday, 1-31, shows a solid line from Elm St. to McClellan St. The Saturday, 2-1, photo shows a normal Saturday, no cars or very few. The Tuesday, 2-4, photo shows a solid line of parked cars from about 100 ft. south of Elm St. all the way to McClellan St.

These photos show why we believe that parking can be permitted on the east side of Lincoln Ave. after 5:00 on weekdays and during the weekend.

Documents

Executive Summary - Amherst, Massachusetts