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Port of Dbq Bus Loading ParkingMEMORANDUM December 8, 2003 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager Bus Loading/Unloading and Parking Policy at Port of Dubuque The Port of Dubuque has toudst attractions that rely heavily upon bus transportation for their customers. Several of the Port of Dubuque property owners currently have their own parking lots that meet their need for bus parking; however, for other users of the Port of Dubuque such as the Celebration Belie, who rely on bus transportation, bus parking is a challenge. As a result, past practices from bus transportation companies have included parking along the traffic lanes adjacent to the Portside building creating traffic congestion during peak times and blocking access to parking lots for pedestrians visiting attractions at the Port of Dubuque and driving a pdvate vehicle. In an effort to resolve this matter, the Port of Dubuque property owners, representatives from the Convention and Visitors Bureau, representatives from the large passenger vessels and city staff including the police department have met to discuss potential solutions. As a result it was recommended that a bus loading/unloading and parking policy for the Port of Dubuque be developed and submitted to City Council for approval and then for signature by the property owners. Administrative Services Manager Pauline Joyce is recommending City Council implementation of a bus loading/unloading and parking policy at the Port of Dubuque. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. MCVM/jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Pauline Joyce, Administrative Services Manager MEMORANDUM December 3, 2003 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: Michael C. Van Milligen City Manager Pauline Joyce, Administrative Services Manager Bus loading/unloading and parking policy at Port of Dubuque Introduction The purpose of this memorandum is to provide a recommendation for implementation of a bus loading/unloading and parking policy at the Port of Dubuque. Background The Port of Dubuque has tourist attractions that rely heavily upon bus transportation for their customers. This includes the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, the Diamond Jo Casino and Dubuque River Rides. Bus transportation is also relied solely upon the large tourist boats such as the Celebration Belle, the Mississippi Queen and other large steamboats that dock on a regular basis at the American Trust Rivers Edge Plaza. Several of the Port of Dubuque property owners currently have their own parking lots that meet their need for bus parking, however, for other users of the Port of Dubuque such as the Celebration Belle, who rely on bus transportation, bus parking ~s a challenge. As a result, past practices from bus transportation companies have included parking along the traffic lanes adjacent to the Portside building creating traffic congestion during peak times and blocking access to parking lots for pedestrians visiting attractions at the Port of Dubuque and driving a private vehicle. Discussion In an effort to resolve this matter, the Port of Dubuque property owners, representatives from the Convention and Visitors Bureau, representatives from the large passenger vessels and city staff including the police department have met to discuss potential solutions. As a result it was recommended that a bus loading/unloading and parking policy for the Port of Dubuque be developed and submitted to City Council for approval and then for signature by the property owners. Attached is a proposed bus loading/unloading and parking policy. This policy was reviewed and approvea at the November 19, 2003 Port of Dubuque property owners meeting-. As indicated in the policy and shown on the attached map, the policy provides for up to 6 bus loading and unloading locations near the Portside building and the River's Edge Plaza. Remote bus parking will be available on the west side of Fifth Street for queuing buses and in the temporary remote bus parking lot on the former Peavey pad at the end of Bell Street. This location is signed for the convenience of bus drivers, tt is anticipated that buses will park here until the designated time for passenger pickup at the River's Edge Plaza. Buses will be asked to form a queue on the west side of Bell Street and wait there until the two stalls outside of the River's Edge Plaza are available. No more than two buses will be allowed to load and unload in this location at any one time. Up to four buses can load and unload on the east side of the lot just north of the Portside building. This area is not restricted for use by any particular businesses. Upon approval of the policy, a copy of the policy ane attached map will be provided to all property owners, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the regular passenger vessel operators, the charter bus lines and the trolley service. Enforcement of this policy will be handled by the Dubuque Policy department upon City Council approval. Recommendation I recommend City Council approval of the attached Bus Loading/Unloading and parking policy. Cc: Port of Dubuque Property owners Convention and Visitors Bureau Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Klm Wadding, Police Chief Mike Koch, Public Works Director PORT Of DUBUQUE BUS LOADING/UNLOADING AND PARKING POliCY Issued November 1,2003 The Port of Dubuque tourist attractions rely heavily on bus transportation. Due to this reliance, it is necessary to provide policies to direct where buses are allowed to load/unload passengers and where buses are allowed to queue while waiting for arriving boats, and finally, where buses are allowed to park while their passengers are attending local attractions. Several of the property owners have their own parking lots that meet their needs for bus parking. Those include the Diamond Jo and Dubuque County Historic Society. Dubuque River Rides has reached agreement with the Historic Society to allow bus parking for Dubuque River Rides in their lot. However, for other property owners, there is a temporary remote bus parking lot on the old Peavey pads at the end of Bell Street that is signed. Property owners are encouraged to use this lot for bus parking or overflow bus parking as needed. Bus loading and unloading zones have been included at the Museum and Aquarium (both entrances), at the Diamond Jo west entrance and space for four buses will be provided along the east side of the lot just north of the Portside Building (see attached map). Finally, there are two stalls provided just outside of the River's Edge Plaza that have been provided to serve the needs of the passenger vessels (and can be used by Dubuque River Rides during inclement weather). Buses arriving to pick up passengers from the large passenger vessels are asked to form a queue on the west side of Bell Street, and wait there until the two stalls outside of the River's Edge Plaza are available. No more than two buses will be allowed to load and unload at the River's Edge Plaza at any given time. This will be enforced by the Dubuque Police Department. The lanes between parking rows are to be kept open for vehicle circulation and are not to be used as queuing lanes for buses and/or trolleys. Up to four buses can load and unload on the east side of the lot just north of the Portside Building. This area is not restricted for use by any particular business. All of these areas are designated on the attached map, which will be distributed to all property owners, the Convention and Visitor's Bureau, the major passenger vessel owners who current visit the Port of Dubuque, the charter bus lines and trolley service. The effective date for enforcement of this policy by the Dubuque Police Department will be subject to City Council approval. PORt Of DUBUQUE BUS LOADING/UNLOADING AND PARKING POLICY Issued November 1,2003 The Port of Dubuque tourist attractions rely heavily on bus transportation. Due to this reliance, it is necessary to provide policies to direct where buses are allowed to load/unload passengers and where buses are allowed to queue while waiting for arriving boats, and finally, where buses are allowed to park while their passengers are attending local attractions. Several of the property owners have their own parking lots that meet their needs for bus parking. Those include the Diamond Jo and Dubuque County Historic Society. Dubuque River Rides has reached agreement with the Historic Society to allow bus parking for Dubuque River Rides in their lot. However, for other property owners, there is a temporary remote bus parking lot on the old Peavey pads at the end of Bell Street that is signed. Property owners are encouraged to use this lot for bus parking or overflow bus parking as needed. Bus loading and unloading zones have been included at the Museum and Aquarium (both entrances), at the Diamond Jo west entrance and space for four buses will be provided along the east side of the lot just north of the Portside Building (see attached map). Finally, there are two stalls provided just outside of the River's Edge Plaza that have been provided to serve the needs of the passenger vessels (and can be used by Dubuque River Rides dudng inclement weather). Buses arriving to pick up passengers from the large passenger vessels are asked to form a queue on the west side of Bell Street, and wait there until the two stalls outside of the River's Edge Plaza are available. No more than two buses will be allowed to load and unload at the River's Edge Plaza at any given time. This will be enforced by the Dubuque Police Department. The lanes between parking rows are to be kept open for vehicle circulation and are not to be used as queuing lanes for buses and/or trolleys. U p to four buses can load and unload on the east side of the lot just north of the Portside Building. This area is not restricted for use by any particular business. All of these areas are designated on the attached map, which will be distributed to all property owners, the Convention and Visitor's Bureau, the major passenger vessel owners who current visit the Port of Dubuque, the charter bus lines and trolley service. The effective date for enforcement of this policy by the Dubuque Police Department will be subject to City Council approval. EEL D5 SPACES HC SPACES LOT 2 A PARKING 193 SPACES PARKING 4 HC SPACES LOT 1 ~' OF DUBUQUE