SARPA's Position on Summit Avenue Infrastructure Changes

SARPA Whitepaper on Proposed Street Infrastructure Changes Along Summit
Approved by the board on 28 March, 2011

SARPA (the Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association) is dedicated to the preservation of the historic, residential, and urban park character of Summit Avenue. SARPA was commissioned in 1986 by Mayor George Latimer and the St. Paul City Council to preserve the residential quality of Summit Avenue for future generations. As such, our main concerns are: 1) the preservation of the historic nature of Summit Avenue, and 2) the needs of the street’s residents. Our views towards proposed infrastructure changes are generally seen through those lenses. We also realize that Summit Avenue is part of four different community council districts, with SARPA as the only organization that focuses on Summit itself. Thus:

1) SARPA in general tends to oppose any changes to the configuration of Summit Avenue. The current layout generally demonstrates the historic patterns of development of the street and contributes to the urban park character of the Avenue.
2) Any changes proposed should be consistently addressed along Summit, and not confined to one area, unless reasonable cause can be demonstrated for the restriction (for example, any issues concerned with the medians would not be applicable for the parts of Summit that have no median).
3) Any changes proposed should address, as part of their rationale, a discussion of the impact on and relationship to Summit’s preservation. For example, the center medians on Summit are part of its historic character, and a traditional means of “traffic calming.” Other methods, such as speed humps, diagonal parking, and bump-outs, do not have a historic precedent in this area.
4) Any changes proposed should clearly state the problem or issue (safety, parking, etc.), and give demonstrable evidence of how the issue will be resolved through the measure.
5) Any changes proposed should first and foremost benefit the residents and other stakeholders of the street, should not put an undue burden (financial, access, etc.) on them, and should not result in any detriments to them (eg: loss of parking, etc.)
6) The Summit Avenue roadway is shared by a variety of vehicles, including cars but also including bicycles and runners/walkers when the street is closed for events. Certain traffic calming methods would make the street much more dangerous for these users; for example, bump-outs would push the bicycle lane farther into the main traffic flow, which would be dangerous.
7) In general, traffic calming methods such as bump-outs, chicanes, diverters, traffic circles, etc., are designed only to be effective on low-volume, local streets. While we would all appreciate slower auto speeds and more walkability on Summit, we remain unconvinced that it is an appropriate street for new traffic calming initiatives.

If residents or neighborhood groups are interested in effecting infrastructure changes along Summit Avenue, we encourage them to discuss these issues in advance with SARPA. We are also concerned with traffic and safety on Summit, and want the street to be better for all of us.