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HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecm_051496TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE Ukiah Civic Center Conference Room 3 300 Seminary Avenue Ukiah, California 95482 May 14, 1996 3:00 p.m. MINUTES MEMBERS PRESENT Mike Harris Rick Kennedy Jim Looney Steve Turner Steve Ford, Chairman MEMBERS ABSENT Chris Dewey William Fernandez OTHERS PRESENT None STAFF PRESENT Marge Giuntoli Recording Secretary The Traffic Engineering Committee was called to order by Chairman Ford at 3:15 p.m. Roll was taken with the results listed above. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Apri19, 1996 ON A MOTION by Member Hams, seconded by Member Kennedy, it was carried by the following roll call vote, to approve the Minutes of April 9, 1996 as submitted. AYES: Members Harris, Kennedy, and Looney NOES: None ABSTAIN: Member Turner and Chairman Ford ABSENT: Members Dewey and Fernandez AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS No audience was present. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE May 14, 1996 Page 1 DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS: NEW BUSINESS a. Request to Change Meeting Time of the Traffic Engineering Committee to 5.30 p m on the Second Tuesdav of Everv Month -Steve Ford Chairman Discussion was had regarding the meeting time for the Traffrc Engineering Committee. Staff noted that absent member Chris Dewey had indicated, in writing, his preference fora 5 00 or 5:30 p.m. time slot. ON A MOTION by Member Harris, seconded by Member Turner, it was carried by the following roll call vote, that the meeting time of the Traffic Engineering Committee remain at 3 00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month. AYES: Members Harris, Kennedy, Looney, and Turner NOES: Chairman Ford ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Members Dewey and Fernandez b. Request to Abolish All-Wav Stop at Clav and Oak Street Establish Two-Wav Stoa and Make Clav Street a Through Street -Councilman Sheridan Malone Member Kennedy advised that Councilmember Sheridan Malone requested the recommendation for abolishing the all-way stop and the establishment of a two-way stop at Clay and Oak Streets, with Clay Street being a through street, be brought to the Traffic Engineering Committee for review and discussion, with the results of that discussion to be presented to the Council at a future meeting. The original recommendation had been brought forth to the Council in September of 1994, but was tabled due to the incomplete status of the plaza project at that time. When said project was recently accepted by the Council, Mr. Malone requested the recommendation once again be agendized and discussed. Member Kennedy further advised that the Traffic Engineering Committee previously recommended that Clay Street be a through street from State Street to Dora, and staff discussed switching the stop signs at School and Clay, and then making the all-way stop at Oak and Clay atwo-way stop. Discussion followed relative to the Committee's prior action on the recommendation. Further discussion followed regarding the safety and speeding issues involved with the elimination of the stop signs on Clay Street. It was noted that the intersection of Clay and Oak does not meet the warrants for afour-way stop, and that there no recent traflic counts indicating whether Oak or Clay was the major leg of the intersection. Concern was expressed that if Clay were made a through street, there MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE May 14, 1996 Page 2 may be a proposal for making Clay and State Street a signalized intersection. Committee members expressed their opinion that additional signalized intersections along the State Street corridor would not be advantageous. Member Harris was excused from the meeting. Discussion followed regarding the future extension of Clay Street to Leslie. It was believed that the extension of Clay would not be pursued because of the impact it would haue on the residential area east of Leslie. ON A MOTION by Member Turner, seconded by Chairman Ford, it was carried by the following roll call vote, to recommend to the City Council the abolishment of the four-way stop at the intersection of Clay and Oak Streets, and the establishment of a two-way stop with Oak as the through street. Member Kennedy asked how many east/west streets in that azea were fairly open to through traffic. Discussion followed relative to which were through streets. It was determined that since the adjacent streets of Mill, Perkins, and Standley were through streets, there was no need to make Clay Street through also. Member Looney stated he felt the requirement to stop on the east approach of Oak and Clay contributed to the slowing of eastbound traffic coming down the hill. AYES: Members Kennedy, Turner, and Chairman Ford NOES: Member Looney ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Members Dewey, Fernandez and Harris Member Kennedy asked if the Committee wished to make any recommendation for the intersection of School and Clay Streets. It was the consensus of the Committee to have it remain as is, which is a two-way stop with School as the through street. c. Conceptual Design of Traffic Calming Devices for Clara Avenue and Ford Street Member Kennedy advised that on June 1, 1994 the City Council introduced a resolution that committed the City to addressing some traffic issues on Clara and Ford Streets, which were being utilized as collectors and through streets to the shopping center. On June I5, 1994, the Council passed resolution No. 94-54, which states that the City Council of the City of Ukiah. "1. Declares its commitment to have the Public Works, Planning, and Public Safety staffwork with representatives of the Neighborhood in a timely and effective MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE May 14, 1996 Page 3 manner to develop and implement a Neighborhood Traffic Management Program to reduce impacts of traffic on Clara Avenue and Ford Streets. 2. The City's commitment shall include immediate steps to enforce the 25 MPH speed limit on Clara Avenue and Ford Street to ensure continued observance of safe driving in the Neighborhood. 3. The City's commitment shall include efforts to discourage increased use of the Neighborhood streets by any traffic generated by new developments along Orchard Avenue in excess of projections by Barton-Aschman Associates' Traffic Impact Analysis prepared for the Kmart project. 4. The City's commitment includes considering and implementing, where practical and financially feasible, any other mitigation measures deemed appropriate to lessen impacts, as mutually worked out by City staff and Neighborhood residents over time, and as appropriately phased with other regional traffic improvements which individually and cumulatively lessen the need for Clara Avenue and Ford Street to be utilized as "collector" streets to accommodate cross-town traffic. 5. In considering and implementing any mitigation measures which may include physical alterations to right-of--way segments, the City and Neighborhood residents shall refer to applicable resource material and literature to guide their proposals, including, but not limited to, "Traffic Calming," written and published by CART (Citizens Advocating Responsible Transportation). 6. Any proposals which require physical alterations to existing street right(s)-of- way shall be evaluated and approved by the City Engineer and Traffic Engineering Committee prior to implementation to assure that the public safety and welfare are not compromised." Referencing drawings, Mr. Kennedy further advised he desired the Committee to look at the conceptual design and comment on any safety hazards or traffic related problems that would be caused by the proposed traffic calming measures. Member Ford inquired whether there were funds set aside for the project. Member Kennedy replied $40,000 had been set aside from gas tax funds. He stated there were six locations proposed for traffic mitigation measures: 1) Orchard and Clara with a standard traffic island on Clara; 2) Orchard and Ford with a standard traffic island on Ford; 3) three traffic circles of 12 foot diameter in the middle of the road, two of them on Ford at Myron and Sidnie, and one at Clara and Sidnie; and 4) a neckdown at the intersection of Clara and Mason, east and west of the railroad crossing. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE May 14, 1996 Page 4 Discussion followed relative to the proposed locations and the impact of the mitigation measures. Member Kennedy referenced the publication, "Neighborhood Traffic Mitigation Program" from Boulder, Colorado, and stated the City's proposed traffic calming measures were being used as a demonstration project that could serve as a mode] for other neighborhoods if, in fact, traffic is slowed on the streets. He emphasized Boulder's plan called for citizen involvement and the establishment of priorities based on need and the availability of funds. He further commented on the neckdowns at Clara and Mason, and stated there will be insufficient funding to complete all six locations; however, there may be enough monies to complete approximately five and one half locations. Staff would propose to do the neckdown portion just west of the railroad tracks, and leave any of the work in the railroad right-of--way alone until the railroad restructuring is completed. Discussion followed relative to the neckdowns. Member Turner suggested the school district be consulted regarding the proposed traffic measures so that the bus drivers could be alerted. He further suggested the traffic circles be permanently landscaped and posted with a reflectorized marker so drivers would be warned to slow down, thus avoiding clipping the circles and landing in someone's yard. Member Kennedy stated staff was recommending the circles be installed in a manner which would facilitate their removal should the traffic circles not accomplish the objectives. Chairman Ford voiced his objections relative to issues being addressed on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis rather than according to a full city traffic plan. He stated his opinion that the way to handle these particular traffic problems is to offer a better alternative, i.e. make it more convenient for people to go where they want to go so that they choose alternate routes. Member Looney stated he would like to explore the feasibility of enlarging the traffic circles to prevent approaching vehicles from going the wrong way on the street. Discussion followed relative to the traffic flow around the circles, specifically with a left turn situation. Member Turner stated he concurred with Chairman Ford's concerns relative to a limited application such as this which would move the problem somewhere else; however, this is just an experimental project. He further stated this was something he would see growing in neighborhoods, coupled with a master street plan to keep traffic on the intended through streets. It was the consensus of the Committee that the necking down of the intersections was acceptable. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE May 14,1996 Page 5 Discussion followed relative to the number of traffic circles to be installed; it was determined that only one circle should be installed on an experimental basis at this time. ON A MOTION by Member Tumer, seconded by Member Kennedy, it was carried by the following roll call vote, to accept the proposed concepts with the following modifications: 1) that the traffic circles be limited to one test installation at the four legged intersection of Ford and Myron; 2) that the circle be made immediately visible by "soft" landscaping to avert accidental impacts from motorists; and 3) that the Mason and CJara Street neckdown be implemented on the western leg of the intersection only at this time. Discussion followed relative to marking of bike lanes. AYES: Members Kennedy, Looney, and Turner NOES: Chairman Ford ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Members Dewey, Fernandez, and Harris It was determined the neighbors impacted by the project will be notified. OLD BUSINESS N/A COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS Member Turner reported on the recent MTA Conference held at the Thomas Plaza, and commented on the popularity of the trolley that transported attendees from the Days and Discovery Inns to the Conference Center. He stated the use of the trolley had effectively eliminated much of the traffic in the downtown area that ordinarily would have occurred during such a conference. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS Chairman Ford inquired regarding the status of the Orchard Avenue bridge at Orr Creek, and the North State Street restriping for a two way left turn lane. Member Kennedy replied funding was available in the form of $50,000 for preliminary engineering work for field survey work and soil foundation and EIR work for the bridge. Funding was approved by MCOG. Funding in the amount of $43,000 has been approved under the HES program of ISTEA for the striping and redoing of the traffic loops on South State Street from Mill Street to Hastings Street; nothing will be done on North State Street at this time. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE May 14, 1996 Page 6 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned a~4~46 p.m. ~__ /i ~, Stephen Ford, Chairman ~'. ~- M~`ge Gi toli, Recording Secretary B:TEC/M051496 MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE May 14,1996 Page 7