Traffic and Parking Board Meeting, July 27, 2026

The Traffic and Parking Board (TPB) met on July 27, 2026, starting at 12:00 p.m. The meeting included the election of a new chair and vice chair, a report from the new director of Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES), and discussion of several public hearing items. Key topics included a curb cut appeal at 315 East Raymond Avenue, a mid-block crosswalk on South Royal Street, a safety improvement project for Russell Road near Naomi Brooks Elementary School, an administrative process for stop signs at T-intersections, and proposed updates to city code for car sharing and disability parking.

Consent Calendar

• The board approved the consent items as a whole.
• The June 22, 2026 meeting minutes were adopted with a correction to the public hearing item number seven, noting the motion included items A, C, F, G, and J.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Matthew Bean (Old Town resident, parent of Lyles-Crouch Elementary student): Expressed deep concern that his child's school is now designated a "walk zone" without school bus service. He argued that crossing Route One and Washington Street is unsafe for young children, stating he would not let his own children cross those streets until age 18. He asked the board to prioritize safety over policy. Staff responded that school walk zones are determined by ACPS, not the city, and encouraged submitting a 311 request for a safety assessment. Staff also noted a new coordination cadence with ACPS and committed to providing a written update.

Discussion Items

• Election of Chair and Vice Chair: The board elected Annie Evers as chair and Ashley as vice chair.
• Introduction of New T&ES Director: Leah Riley, the new director of T&ES, introduced herself to the board. She has over 25 years of public service experience, including roles at the Washington, DC Department of Transportation, Chicago Department of Transportation, and as transportation director for Portland, Oregon. She stated a goal for the year to develop a more comprehensive curbside management program to handle competition for curb space from ride-sharing, scooters, and delivery services.
• Written Staff Updates & Q&A:
  • Staff reported that the "No Turn on Red" sign at West Street and Duke Street has been installed.
  • Staff agreed to follow up on a pedestrian crosswalk at West Street and Jameson, noting right-of-way issues.
  • Staff updated on the Hollens Lane bike signal timing issue, stating it is still being worked on due to integration with a recent adaptive signal phase project.
  • The board requested regular data on pedestrian, cyclist, and scooter incidents; staff indicated a presentation is planned for the September meeting.
• Curb Cut Appeal: 315 East Raymond Avenue:
  • Project Description: The property owner applied for a curb cut in an 21.2-foot front yard. With a standard parking space dimension of 8 by 20 feet, only 1.2 feet would remain between the house and the vehicle, potentially causing sidewalk obstruction and ADA non-compliance. Staff recommended upholding the denial based on city code 5-2-14-C.
  • Board Discussion: Some members expressed safety concerns about vehicle overhangs obstructing sidewalks, especially for pedestrians in strollers or wheelchairs. Others argued it was speculative to assume the owner would violate codes. The board voted 4-3 to uphold the staff's denial of the curb cut application.
• Mid-Block Crossing: South Royal Street:
  • Project Description: The Basilica of St. Mary requested a mid-block crosswalk for parishioners crossing from a parking lot. Staff recorded 390 people crossing on a Sunday and 50 on a weekday. The proposed crosswalk would remove one parking space on one side and two on the other, plus ramps. The Old Town Civic Association supported the project.
  • Board Action: The board voted unanimously to recommend that the T&ES director approve the removal of four parking spaces and the installation of the mid-block crosswalk with ADA ramps.
• Russell Road Safety Improvements (Naomi Brooks Elementary):
  • Project Overview: Six intersections on Russell Road near the school were considered. Staff presented two concepts derived from a 2017 Safe Routes to School walk audit. Concept One: high-visibility crosswalks, painted curb extensions at all intersections, and a new pedestrian crossing at West Chapman, requiring removal of two spaces. Concept One (Revised) added two spaces on the 600 block, netting a loss of two spots. Concept Two: similar improvements plus median refuge islands at three intersections, requiring removal of 20 parking spaces. Parking occupancy data showed 34% peak occupancy.
  • Public Comments: Over 44 community members spoke, mostly in favor of the more ambitious Concept Two, citing safety risks for children from high speeds (recorded up to 49 mph) and inadequate daylighting. Several supported exploring dedicated teacher parking solutions rather than sacrificing safety. Others supported the staff-recommended Concept One, noting concerns about effective median refuge islands due to tight geometry and the need to preserve parking for evening events.
  • Board Discussion: Multiple board members expressed frustration that Option Two was not more fully vetted. Staff explained that partial median islands would not be fully protective due to intersection geometry. The board voted 5-2 to approve a motion (with a friendly amendment to staff to bring back proposals for dedicated ACPS staff parking) adopting the parking modifications of Concept Two: removal of four spaces on the 300 block, six on the 400 block, six on the 500 block, one on the 700 block, and three on the 800 block of Russell Road.
• Administrative Process for Stop Signs at T-Intersections:
  • Proposal: Staff requested authority to install stop signs at T-intersections on minor streets without coming before the board, based on an engineering analysis meeting conditions (no all-way stop, no loss of parking, etc.).
  • Board Decision: The board voted unanimously to approve the administrative process, delegating this authority to the T&ES director.
• Car Share Code Update (Informational):
  • Staff outlined plans to update city code to expand stationary car share (e.g., Zipcar) citywide, introduce free-floating car share (e.g., Free2Move), and adjust fees to be demand-based. The proposal will come to the board for consideration in September.
• Disability Parking Code Update (Informational):
  • Staff proposed streamlining the process for disability parking on residential blocks: reducing recertification from annual to biennial, allowing electronic communication, and delegating waiver approvals from the city manager to the T&ES director. A similar process for non-residential blocks is also proposed. The formal ordinance will be presented in September.

Key Outcomes

• The board elected Annie Evers as chair and Ashley as vice chair.
• The board upheld the denial of the curb cut at 315 East Raymond Avenue by a 4-3 vote.
• The board unanimously recommended approval of the mid-block crosswalk on South Royal Street, removing four parking spaces.
• The board voted 5-2 to recommend pursuing safety improvements on Russell Road under Concept Two, removing 20 parking spaces to allow for median refuge islands. A friendly amendment asked staff to explore dedicated parking for ACPS teachers.
• The board unanimously approved delegating authority to the T&ES director to install stop signs at T-intersections under specific conditions.
• The meeting adjourned after the staff updates on car share and disability parking code reform, which will return for formal votes in September.