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HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecm_071294TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE UKIAH CIVIC CENTER Council Chambers 300 Seminary Avenue Ukiah, California 95482 July 12, 1994 r-~ , r-~ [:-~ l.~ ~~ ,~J ~~ r MINUTES MEMBERS PRESENT Budrow, Kenneth Fernandez, William Ford, Stephen Harris, Mike Kennedy, Rick Woods, Larry Turner, Steve - Chairman STAFF PRESENT Shirley Thomas Recording Secretary The meeting of the Traffic Engineering Committee was called to order by Chairman Turner at 5:30 p.m. Roll was called with the results listed above. APPROVAL OF MINUTES -MAY 10, 1994 Correction on Page 2, Paragraph 3, to read "A speed study is performed to determine the proper speed for a speed zone, ...". ON A MOTION by Committee Member Ford, seconded by Committee Member Kennedy, it was carried by an all AYE vote to approve the Minutes of May 10, 1994 as amended. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE JUNE 14, 1994 PAGE 1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES -JUNE 14, 1994 Correction on Page 4, Paragraph 1, to read "Committee Member Kennedv", rather than Committee Member Ford. Correction on Page 5, Paragraph 5, should read "He recommended this committee form asub-committee including himself and someone from the Planning Department." It should be noted that Committee Member Mike Harris left the meeting of June 14, 1994, after the approval of the Minutes. ON A MOTION by Committee Member Kennedy, seconded by Committee Member Wood, it was carried by an all AYE vote to approve the Minutes of June 14, 1994, as amended. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS Chairman Turner read the "Audience Comments on Non-Agenda Items" to those present. NEW BUSINESS Request from Marvin Fuller for the installation of a marked crosswalk at Garret and Bush Streets. Committee Member Kennedy advised that painted crosswalks do not insure pedestrian safety, and that, in fact, there is a potential for a higher accident rate at intersections where there are painted crosswalks because of the misconception among pedestrians that they are safe within the crosswalks. According to the Vehicle Code, any intersection, including a "T" intersection such as that which exists at Garret and Bush Streets, is a legal crosswalk, with or without painted lines, unless posted otherwise. There are no other painted crosswalks on Bush, north of Arlington, which is a controlled intersection with painted school crosswalks. He added that the San Diego study done in the 1970's indicated a higher accident rate involving pedestrians within painted crosswalks than in non-painted crosswalks. Committee Member Budrow advised this issue had been previously acted upon by this Committee by increasing the sight distance to the south of the intersection and recommending a red zone. He added he sees no big problem with the intersection at this time. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE JUNE 14, 1994 PAGE 2 MOTION WAS MADE by Committee Member Harris, seconded by Committee Member Budrow, and carried by an all AYE vote, that the previous action of the Traffic Engineering Committee to red curb the portion of Bush Street on the east side, south of the intersection be implemented, and that this matter be reviewed at the September Traffic Engineering Committee meeting. HIATUS OF AUGUST MEETING MOTION WAS MADE by Committee Member Fernandez, seconded by Committee Member Budrow, and carried by an all AYE vote to have no meeting in August, 1994. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Request for Traffic Signal Rephasing at North State and Scott Street as requested by Lucille Mirata. Committee Member Kennedy advised that included with his staff report are accident collision diagrams for the last four years, (1990 through 1993), and possible phasing alternatives that could be applicable to this intersection. A site plan, which is a copy of the traffic signal plan of the existing system, and a sketch showing settings for the phasing at the intersection are also included. Member Kennedy recommended denial of the proposal based upon the fact it would cost between 540,000, and 545,000 to rephase. Rephasing would require a new controller, new re-wiring of the entire cabinet, and a new harness to connect to the controller. It would require new wiring from the controller to signal heads and, it would also be prudent to re-do the loops, which are old. Money for this project is not in the budget at this time. He added that the future of these signals is uncertain since there is still talk of relocating or eliminating one of them. During the four years studied, three of those years has one type of accident that re- occurs consistently that is of concern. One accident occurred in each of the three years involving a left turning vehicle from State Street onto Scott Street colliding with a southbound vehicle on State Street. He explained that there are approximately 12 warrants for a traffic signal. One of those warrants, the accident warrant, calls for five accidents per year that are the type that are susceptible to correction by traffic signal. MOTION WAS MADE by Committee Member Scott, seconded by Committee Member Kennedy, and carried by an all AYE vote to deny the request for the traffic signal rephasing at North State and Scott Street. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE JUNE 14, 1994 PAGE 3 Request for Elimination of On-Street Parking_alonq Church Street at Spring. Ben Foster, Resident. Committee Member Kennedy requested this item be put on the agenda for the September meeting to give staff time to research and establish a standard street width and policy to eliminate on-street parking. COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS Committee Member Kennedy reported there was a meeting of the Wagonseller Group soon after the last Traffic Engineering Committee Meeting. The sub-committee identified four "hot spot" areas to experiment with traffic calming techniques. They are Orchard and Ford Streets, Orchard and Clara Street (cars are cutting across the double yellow line as they turn from Orchard onto Ford and Clara), Sidney and Ford Streets and Clara Street at the railroad tracks (where vehicles are traversing the railroad tracks at a high rate of speedl. He advised the sub-committee will meet again within the next two weeks, giving staff time to prepare site plans and ideas for their consideration. He advised that staff has been working with the Engineer for the K-Mart project and has notified them that the City will ask them to incorporate a traffic calming measure along the parcel at the southwest corner of Clara and Orchard Streets, which was a condition of the parcel map they submitted. The condition included a requirement to put improvements on the Clara Street frontage of the lot, including the traffic calming measure. One objective of the traffic calming measure is to reduce vehicular speeds along Clara Street. The sub-committee recommended temporary traffic calming measures, (except for the one at Clara and Orchard Streets, which would be permanent) and recommended traffic be monitored, both before and after the temporary measures are incorporated, to determine if they are accomplishing their purpose before making them permanent. Discussion followed regarding traffic calming measures. Committee Member Kennedy reported on the status of Cypress and Bush Streets. The original plan called for relocating or removing the Type C school speed zone signs on the east side of Bush, north of Cypress, but it was decided to leave it as it is, as a reminder to traffic coming from westbound Cypress and turning onto Bush Street. He noted school crossing markings have been painted on Dora street where appropriate. He advised that the City Council adopted the resolution establishing the requirement MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE JUNE 14, 1994 PAGE 4 to stop at Barnes and Betty and established a 15 MPH zone for South Barnes from Clay to Betty. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS Ken Budrow advised there is no action needed by the Committee on the letter he had received from Mr. Pitman. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Steve Turner, hairman ~., -, Shirley Thor~F`as, Recording Secretary MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE JUNE 14, 1994 PAGE 5