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HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecm_031296TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE UKIAH CIVIC CENTER Conference Room 3 300 Seminary Avenue Ukiah, California 95482 MARCH 12, 1996 MINUTES William Fernandez Mike Hams Rick Kennedy Jim Looney Steve Turner Steve Ford, Chairman MEMBERS ABSENT Chris Dewey Bonnie Bazber Barry Inman STAFF PRESENT Mazge Giuntoli Recording Secretary The Traffic Engineering Committee meeting was called to order by Chairman Ford at 3:05 p.m. Roll was taken with the results listed above. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - 19, 1995 AND FEBRUARY 13, 1996 In consideration of the audience present, Chairman Ford determined Agenda Item II., Approval of Minutes, would be moved to follow Agenda Item IV., Discussion/Action Items. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS None. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS: NEW BUSINESS MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE March 12, 1996 Page 1 a. Concern with Bus Stoo Location at 623 South State Street -City of Ukiah Police Officer Barry Inman. Badge #12 Chairman Ford referenced the memo from Officer Barry Inman to Cap[ain Williams, dated February 1, 1996, which reads as follows: On 013196, at about 1500 hours, I was at Sunny's Donuts on personal time. I noticed the Greyhound bus had stopped at the bus stop in front of the Budget Inn, 623 South State Street. The curb where the bus stops is painted red. I began to look at the traffic as it approached the stopped bus. The #2 lane is greatly reduced in width due to the width of the bus as it is stopped while passengers load and unload. I have driven past the bus when it has been stopped. I considered this to be a serious traffic hazard. With the #2 lane width greatly reduced, vehicles must merge into the #1 lane. If a vehicle does not see the bus in time, it may merge and sideswipe another vehicle. Also, a vehicle traveling northbound on State Street may not realize the bus is stopped, or the driver may have an alcohol or physical impairment, and may rear end the back of the bus. While I was watching the situation, and thinking about a solution, Sunny, the owner of the business, said he and some of his customers recognized the hazard, and asked me what could be done. I told him I would address the issue as soon as possible. I talked with Sgt. Barclay about this problem, and he advised me to advise either you or Sgt. McBride as he felt one of you was on the traffic safety committee for the City. Member Harris asked if this was a designated stop for Greyhound busses. Member Kennedy replied Mike Abercrombie has an arrangement with MTA whereby Greyhound may use MTA bus stops, as long as the City does not object. He stated he has shared with Mr. Abercrombie his concerns relative to busses stopping along the curb on State Street to load and unload. They discussed loading personal effects on the sidewalk side in preference to the street side. Greyhound previously had an adequate location next to Anytime Taxi at 23 A Oak Knoll, across the street from the South Side store. However, a neighbor complained about Greyhound using that site, and the County asked that they not stop there. Mr. Abercrombie has been seeking other off-street sites. Member HatTis indicated he felt this type of operation should be located off the street. Discussion followed relative to bus stop locations in other cities. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE March 12, 1996 Page 2 Bonnie Barber, local Greyhound agent, stated she is in the process of negotiating with the owner of the Exxon station on South State Street who has property on Freitas Avenue. There is a 2100 sq. ft. building and a huge parking lot on the property, which measures 92 feet from west to east, and affords plenty of space for bus entry and exit. She has applied for a use permit for this property until a hub can be built at the depot/train station. At the Oak Knoll location, the senior citizens and college students were grateful to have a place where they could be inside. Member Turner commented the Freitas location offered a lot of potential, since it is not a busy azea, is adjacent to State Street, and has a lazge off street azea. Discussion followed relative to ingress and egress of busses. Member Turner commented the Greyhound busses aze longer and wider than the MTA busses, and they remain stopped for longer periods of time. What is needed is a terminal location. Member Looney noted there is a taper to South State Street where the busses aze now loading. There is also a fire hydrant located in the area where they park. Officer Barry Inman commented on his memo, stating he saw the potential for rear-ending and side-swiping with the bus stop located there. Discussion followed relative to Greyhound using the stop at the Budget Inn location on South State Street on a varying basis for several months. Member Harris stated he did not think Greyhound should be doing loading or unloading on State Street, although he had no immediate specific suggestions for an alternate off street location, other than the airport. Member Kennedy indicated he had talked to Mr. Abercrombie about the airport; there is a bus lane north of the entrance. The ideal location would be on-site in the parking lot, which would afford greater security. Chairman Ford asked what the Santa Rosa Airporter's operating hours were. Member Harris replied he believed the hours were 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Chairman Ford commented the problem with the airport location is that it is closed during later hours, with no option for shelter for the passengers. Discussion following relative to Deep Valley Shopping Center, the airport, and Wabash Avenue as possible Greyhound locations. Chairman Ford queried Ms. Barber regarding her involvement with Greyhound. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE March 12, 1996 Page 3 Ms. Barber replied she is the certified, bonded ticket agent for Greyhound in this azea. All permits she has applied for have been turned down for one reason or another, including the one on Wabash. Often the problem is the weight of the bus. At the location they have now, the adjacent property owner is enthusiastic and willing to work with her to turn it into a good stop. She is willing to work diligently until it is completed. Chairman Ford asked if there were bus arrivals both in the afternoon and during the early morning hours. Ms. Barber replied there were, and indicated her company offers a 24 hour taxi service. With someone always available, security is improved. She does not want women to be waiting outside alone; the proposed Freitas location should be friendly and safe. Member Looney commented that moving the State Street location to the north may affect the travel agency business to the north. The northbound No. 2 lane on State Street widens there, and if vehicles come along the curb line it appeazs they are coming directly towards the bus. If it was farther to the north, it would minimize the impact. Member Turner stated Worldwide Travel has a large off street parking lot behind it. He further commented another advantage Ms. Barber has in being the ticket agent, and also operating a 24 hour taxi, is that when passengers arrive on Greyhound they are at the taxi depot and can continue their trip; not necessarily being forced to linger while waiting for a ride. This should allay any feazs of concerned neighbors relative to loitering. ON A MOTION by Member Turner, seconded by Member Kennedy, it was carved by the following roll call vote, to recommend to the City Council the relocation of the bus stop to the north, in front of Worldwide Travel, allow Greyhound to continue using the MTA stop on a temporary basis, and to encourage the Planning Commission to look favorably on Ms. Bazber's application for the site on Freitas to help her develop an off street or on street stop at that location. Member Kennedy stated there would be no loading of baggage on the street side. The City's application for Hazazd Elimination Funds under ISTEA, for the restriping of South State Street from Mill Street to Washington Street, has been approved for funding. The project will involve the installation of a two way left turn lane on State Street from Mill to Hastings and Washington, thus eliminating all on street parking on Slate Street. If the City does not initiate the project within a year, it stands a good chance of losing the funds. Discussion followed relative to the long and short term solutions for Greyhound and clarification of the motion. Member Harris stated he had a problem with the stop on State Street. He would prefer it be allowed on Freitas, where Greyhound is contemplating moving. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMNIITTEE March 12, 1996 Page 4 Member Turner replied he concurred. However, his motion is simply to relieve the immediate problem on State Street until Ms. Bazber can make a permanent location on Freitas. Ms. Barber stated she is presently attempting to get a lease signed. She will then talk to the Planning Department, who gave tentative approval to the request, but did not want them on Oak Street. Member Looney commented that if Greyhound were to move to the Freitas location prior to everything being completed, it might be detrimental to final approval by the Planning Commission. Discussion followed relative to the impact of the change on Worldwide Travel. The vote on the motion was: AYES: Members Fernandez, Kennedy, Looney, Turner, and Chairman Ford NOES: Member Hams ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Member Dewey Mr. Inman stated the people on Oak Street may not appreciate a Greyhound bus depot on their street. Member Turner recommended Ms. Bazber speak to Greyhound relative to turning off the bus engine immediately when it stops during the eazly morning hours. Discussion followed regarding alternate sites. b. Request to Relocate Bus Stop and Passenger Shelter on the North Side of Gobbi Street between Main Street and State Street -Steve Turner. MTA Member Turner commented on the photographs of the proposed bus stop relocation he had brought for the Committee's perusal, and the letter of Mazch 6, 1996 from Robert S. Hall, Bus Stop Coordinator, MTA, which reads as follows: We are requesting permission to move our bus stop and passenger shelter on Gobbi Street, at Safeway, eighty feet to the west... We propose to create an ADA accessible waiting azea at the new location using a new plexiglass and aluminum shelter. The clear sides will allow our drivers to see waiting passengers as they approach the stop. The new location will also solve the existing traffic conflicts with the Main Street and Gobbi Street location. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE March 12, 1996 Page 5 We have sought and obtained permission from Ken McBurney, General Manager of Ukiah Safeway, to build a passenger shelter into his planted area at this location. The new aluminum and plexiglass shelter, similaz to the new shelter at Albertson's, would not interfere with pedestrian traffic on Gobbi Street. An because of its new location, the visibility into this shelter would improve greatly, reducing loitering and improving personal safety. Bus ridership at this location is high, over 50 people per week heading south, according to our last survey. This shelter serves Safeway, Payless, the Yokayo Market, and the redeveloped Social Services Center in the Yokayo Shopping Center. Our bus shelter replacement across the street at Bill's Drugs has also been completed. Member Kennedy voiced his concern regarding visibility of cars pulling out of Safeway's driveway on Gobbi Street. Discussion followed relative to the photographs. It was noted that the entire length on Gobbi from Main to State is no parking, thus no street pazking is affected and Council action is not required. ON A MOTION by Member Harris, seconded by Member Fernandez, it was carried by the following roll call vote, that the Traffic Engineering Committee grant the MTA request to relocate the bus stop and passenger shelter on the north side of Gobbi Street, between Main and State Streets, 80 feet west of the existing location. Member Turner commented there should be no impact to the City since the bus stop sign is located on the shelter. Discussion followed relative to painting the curb red at the bus stop area, wherein it was noted that the entire length of the north curb is already posted for no pazking. Chairman Ford asked how many busses per day use that stop. Member Turner replied approximately 20 busses daily use the stop, running every half hour for 10 hours, and making 30 second stops. Chairman Ford commented there would not seem to be significant blockage of visibility out of Safeway's driveway for any length of time. The vote on the motion was: AYES: Members Fernandez, Hams, Kennedy, Looney, and Chairman Ford NOES: None MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE March 12, 1996 Page 6 ABSTAIN: Member Turner ABSENT: Member Dewey APPROVAL OF MINUTES ON A MOTION by Member Harris, sewnded by Member Kennedy, it was carved by the following roll call vote, to approve the Minutes of December 19, 1995 with the following corrections suggested by Member Hams: Paee 2. 2nd Paragraph from the bottom. amend to read, "Member Hams advised the Committee had discussed stop signs in the past. The majority of the experience shows stop signs become a stopping point from which to accelerate again." Paee 3. 3rd Paragraph from the bottom, delete "with the determination" and replace with ";it was also determined." Paee 4. 1st Paragraph, amend to read "...and have the Engineering Department conduct a speed survey to see the accomplishments of these actions." Paee 4. 3rd Paragraph, delete "that" and replace with "the action." Paee S. Sth Paragraph. 2nd Sentence, amend to read, "Another access to the neighborhood could be developed but it may take several years." Paee 5. 10th Parag_r~~h, amend to read, "Member Hams replied the primary access is off of Dora Street. Analysis of the new development at the time of approval did not identify a problem. If new construction is proposed, additional evaluation will be required." Paee 5. 12th Para rg anh, amend to read, "Member Harris again stated the number of new houses were not considered to significantly increase local travel." Paee 6. 4th Paragraph. Last Sentence, amend to read "...which could be alleviated with the painting of a solid yellow middle line on Beacon." Paee 6, insert as new Paragraph 10, "Member Kennedy discussed the possibility of a stop sign at each end of the narrow portion of the street, similar to some narrow situations observed in the County." AYES: Members Hams, Kennedy and Chairman Ford NOES: None ABSTAIN: Members Fernandez, Looney and Turner ABSENT: Member Dewey ON A MOTION by Member Harris, seconded by Member Fernandez, it was carried by the following roll call vote, to approve the Minutes of February 13, 1996 as submitted. AYES: Members Fernandez, Harris, Looney, Turner, and Chairman Ford NOES: None ABSTAIN: Member Kennedy ABSENT: Member Dewey MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE March 12, 1996 Page 7 OLD BUSINESS None COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS Member Kennedy stated staff took the two bus stop requests the Committee acted upon and Council approved the resolutions. Member Looney advised street division staff have completed the painting of the 20' extension of red curb and white at the Dora Street location in front of St. Mary's school. After the construction of the shelter to be located on Main Street near Standley, the painting of the bus stop and parking stalls will then be completed for the bus stop relocation from Perkins and Main to Standley and Main. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS None AD.TOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjou/rn/ed at 3:54'p.m. ~. L(~t 1, ~~, ~~~ Steve Ford, M~ge mntoli, ecording Secretary B:TEC M031296 MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE March 12, 1996 Page 8