TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
title
Approve a recommendation to establish a “No Parking Zone” on the east side of Webster Street from a point 80 feet south of the centerline of Van Buren Avenue to a point 105 feet south of the centerline of Van Buren Avenue
body
DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Andy Hynes, City Traffic Engineer
BACKGROUND:
The Department of Public Utilities - Electric (DPU-E) Safety Committee made a request to remove the first parking space south of Van Buren Avenue on the east side of Webster Street to provide safe access to an electric utility switch. In 2020, the repair of an electrical outage was delayed due to the presence of a vehicle parked adjacent to the switch gear equipment.
There are currently two marked on-street parking spaces on the east side of Webster Street south of Van Buren Avenue. The intersection of Webster Street and Van Buren Avenue is under all-way stop control.
DISCUSSION:
The two electric utility switches located on Webster Street, south of Van Buren Avenue, are integral components for the supply of electrical service to the Naperville Downtown Core Area. In the event of an electrical outage, timely access to these switches is vital for restoring service to customers located in the core area. The doors to the switch must be opened and a ten-foot clear, unobstructed, safe work zone area must be achieved. The presence of a parked in the parking space adjacent to the utility switch prohibits the necessary clearance to safely service the utility.
In review of the Municipal Code, an ordinance prohibiting parking adjacent to the switch gear equipment was passed in 2005. However, this parking restriction was not implemented on the street and an available parking space remains today.
Although the 2005 ordinance will address the DPU-E concern, staff re-evaluated the request under current conditions. This updated review found that the parking space adjacent to the electric equipment could be shifted north toward Van Buren Avenue while maintaining the standard 30 foot minimum distance from the stop sign. See the attached exhibit. Two parking spaces can be maintained while providing the needed equipment access for DPU-E crews.