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HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecm_110999TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE NOVEMBER 9, 1999 MINUTES MEMBERS PRESENT Steve Turner, Public Member Pete Hoyle, Ukiah Police Department Bill Beard, Interim Director of Public Works/City Engineer David Lohse, Associate Planner Jim Looney, Public Works Superintendent Ben Kageyama, Public Member Rick Seanor, Deputy Director of Public Works MEMBERS ABSENT Michael F. Harris, Risk Manager/Budget Officer OTHERS PRESENT Bruce Evans, Fire Marshal John Ayotte Gerald Bondzi Dale Graham Irene Minnin Minnie Marshall Betty McGlade STAFF PRESENT Kathy Kinch Recording Secretary The Traffic Engineering Committee meeting was called to order by Chairman Turner at 3:00 p.m. Roll was taken with the results listed above. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Member Kageyama stated his name does not appear under Members Attending, and the date of the minutes is incorrect. Member Beard made a correction on Page 1, Paragraph 4, "He advised the request for a proposed." the sentence to read, "The request for the proposed bus stop zone might be to close to the fire hydrant. After discussion, it was determined the fire hydrant was in a different location, and presented no conflict." Rick Seanor stated he was also present at the last meeting. ON A MOTION by Member Lohse, seconded by Member Beard, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, that the Traffic Engineering Committee minutes of October 12, 1999 be approved as amended. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE November 9, 1999 PAGES AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS Chairman Turner read audience comments. Welcome New Committee Member Beniamin Kastevama Chairman Turner welcomed Benjamin Kageyama to the Traffic Engineering Committee. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS: NEW BUSINESS d. of Harold S uare - Be McGlade Chairman Turner reported there are two bus stops, the first stop is located eastbound in front of Autumn Leaves with a shelter near the driveway. The second stop is located 200 feet east, between the two driveways in front of Harold Square Mobile Home Park. The residents of Autumn Leaves must walk approximately 500 feet from the driveway to the bus stop, as opposed to crossing the street which is approximately 42 feet. The second bus stop was originally located westbound on the corner of Gobbi and Leslie Streets in front of Ted Myer Insurance, 400 East Gobbi Street, for three years. Mr. Myer's contacted MTA regarding passengers leaning against his new sign; standing under the eaves of the building; and waiting on the porch or in the lobby for the bus. MTA suggested the possibility of building a shelter at the bus stop or in the parking lot 100 feet east of the location. Mr. Myer's responded no to both suggestions. MTA had requested approval from the Committee to relocate the bus stop east, adjacent to the property of Harold Square Park. The manager and owner of the Park had no objection to the bus stop or shelter. The resident behind the fence protested to the manager that she did not want a bus stop located in front of her residence. Mr. Bondzi expressed he would like to have amid-block crosswalk on Gobbi Street. Dale Grimm, Administrator of Ukiah Autumn Leaves, expressed he is very concerned for the safety of the residents, the walk to the bus stop is a long distance for senior citizens, and most of the residents do not see very well. He stated he would like amid-block crosswalk on Gobbi Street or the bus stop relocated to its original location in front of Ted Myers Insurance. Mr. Grimm presented to the Committee a petition of signatures from the residents of Autumn Leaves requesting amid-block crosswalk. Irene Minnen stated in the past the bus would enter into Autumn Leaves and the mobile home park. She suggested as a routine schedule, the Dial-A-Ride bus could enter into MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE November 9, 1999 PAGE 2 Autumn Leaves to pick-up residents twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon. Chairman Turner responded six years ago the buses entered into Autumn Leaves, circled around in the back to exit. At that time the buses were 22 feet in length, today the buses are 40 feet in length. He stated he is opposed to the buses entering into Autumn Leaves 30 times a day each direction. He noted the Dial-A-Ride bus responds to Autumn Leaves approximately 10 times a day. He also noted he will test drive a bus through Autumn Leaves. Ms. Minnen expressed there is a need for amid-block crosswalk for the safety of the senior citizens and children. She advised there are 45 residents at Creekside, and 90 residents at Autumn Leaves. Chairman Turner presented two proposed locations for amid-block crosswalk on Gobbi Street. The first proposal is a mid-block crosswalk located directly in front of the existing bus stop (in front of the Farm Credit building), and the second proposal is a mid-block crosswalk located near the Autumn Leaves driveway. Currently it is 500 feet to walk from the Autumn Leaves driveway down Gobbi Street across to Leslie Street and back-up to the bus stop. He expressed concerns that there are no street lights for the crosswalk, and the traffic on Gobbi Street is heavily traveled. The speed limit is 35 m.p.h. east of Leslie Street and 30 m.p.h. west of Leslie Street. He suggested the possibility of installing a pedestrian island on Gobbi Street for the safety of the pedestrians, eliminating the continuous left turn lane; or locate the crosswalk near the existing Autumn Leaves bus stop, which would be under a street light with a suspended overhead flashing yellow light for "Pedestrian Crossing", special stripping, or barrier island. Member Looney read from the California Department of Transportation Traffic Manual, "Crosswalks serve primarily to guide pedestrians into the proper path. Pedestrian crosswalks should not be used indiscriminately, and that their presence can be detrimental to pedestrian safety. In some cases pedestrians can be given a false sense of security due the prominent appearance of a crosswalk to the pedestrian resulting in a lack of caution. Non-intersectional mid-block pedestrian crosswalks are generally unexpected by the motorist, and should be discouraged, unless in the opinion of the Engineer that a strong specification is in favor of such installation." He also stated a crosswalk may not be immediately visible to the driver approaching the area. The purpose of the crosswalk is to provide safety for a pedestrian, but is not to control the area for pedestrian crossing. He expressed he is opposed to the installation of a crosswalk, and would be a better safety location to have the bus stop closer to the intersection of Leslie Street and Gobbi Street. Chairman Turner advised when traveling west on Gobbi Street there is a crown on Gobbi Street. He noted that due to the crown in the road, it would be very difficult to notice a crosswalk painted on the street. Member Beard stated the proposed mid-block crosswalk to the west would be located MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE November 9, 1999 PAGE 3 near a utility pole and could provide additional lighting, however, vehicles traveling westbound using the left-turn pocket into the Autumn Leaves driveway would be crossing through the center of the crosswalk, which makes this location inappropriate. He also stated mid-block crosswalks are a hazard, a hazard to pedestrians, and are unexpected. Member Hoyle asked who determines where bus stops are located. Chairman Turner responded the City of Ukiah has the right-of-way from the back of the sidewalk to the street, and the City determines the placement of the bus stop. The property owner gives permission for the placement of any bench or shelter on private property, the bus stop itself is not subject to the owners permission. The sidewalk is 4-1/2 feet in width and is inadequate to accommodate a shelter. Member Looney asked if there are bus stops on Leslie Street. Chairman Turner responded no. Mr. Seanor questioned if the residents of Autumn Leaves get on and off the bus on the same side of the street, and how many passengers take the bus. Chairman Turner responded no. He advised there are approximately 30 passengers a day. This bus stop provides service to the entire town every 30 minutes and is the most heavily used route. (North and south on State Street; from Plant Road to Gobbi Street; Gobbi Street to Orchard Avenue; north and south on Orchard Avenue to Clara; Clara; Mason; Norton; Main Street to downtown; and east and west on Standley to Perkins Street to Dora; and Dora, Bush, up to crossroad and then to the College). Member Looney asked what is the possibility of a bus shelter between the corner of Harold Square and the bus stop located in front of the Ted Myer Insurance. Chairman Turner responded it is approximately 140 feet from the Harold Square property to the bus stop. He advised that the residents of Harold Square have expressed concerns of people loitering in the shelter. A lengthy discussion followed regarding lowering the speed limit on Gobbi Street; installing an overhead flashing yellow light; relocate the bus stop back to its original location in front of Ted Myers Insurance; Gobbi Street is a main thorough faire and is heavily traveled; to relocate the bus stop west creates a liability with the left-turn pocket on Gobbi Street at Leslie; the travel lane would be blocked by the bus, and traffic would be forced into the left- turn pocket ON A MOTION by Member Looney, seconded by Member Beard, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, that the Traffic Engineering Committee deny the request for amid-block crosswalk between Autumn Leaves and the bus stop, north side MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE November 9, 1999 PAGE4 of Gobbi Street, westbound, in front of Harold Square, and review the possibility of relocating the bus stop to the west to the Leslie Street and Gobbi Street intersection. Chairman Turner abstained. Chairman Turner requested this item be placed on the next agenda a. Request to change direction of stow sign on Seminary Avenue and School Street for Emergency Vehicle egress (Remove the east and westbound stop sign on Seminary Avenue and relocate the stop sign on north- and southbound School Street) -Bruce Evans. Fire Marshal Bruce Evans, Fire Marshal, stated the request pertains to the safety and response time of emergency response vehicles. The Department is requesting that the intersection at South School Street and Seminary Avenue be re-configured to a four-way stop at Seminary Avenue and School Street or a two-way stop with the directional stop on School Street, to permit egress of emergency equipment to State Street. The reasons for this request are The Fire and Police Department routinely utilize Seminary Avenue as a primary access to State Street. The majority of Fire Department emergency responses (Code 3) use this route. This response route is most desirable due to a. Its width in comparison to other streets. b. The more open the intersection, permitting a better view. c. The separation of east- and westbound lanes. d. Few driveways mid-block. e. Visibility in all directions. He stated the Fire Department is also requesting the removal of on-street parking on the median side of Seminary Avenue. The nominal width of the eastbound lane on Seminary Avenue is 13-'/2 feet with vehicles parked on both sides of the street, which presents an unsafe margin of passage for an emergency response vehicle that is 9 % feet in width. Also, when there is a vehicle waiting to make a lert-turn onto State Street from Seminary Avenue, there is no travel lane for the emergency response vehicle until the waiting vehicle clears the lane. Member Looney suggested the removal of three on-street parking spaces on the east end on the median clearing 95 feet to the crosswalk. He stated there are seven on-street MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE November 9, 1999 PAGE 5 parking spaces on both sides of the median. Member Beard suggested that future emergency vehicles have preemption equipment for the signal system. This wou{d be an expensive procedure to equip each emergency vehicles with equipment and a control unit at the intersection. Currently, School Street and Seminary Avenue are within the City code relative to through streets where the abutting streets stop at the through streets. He suggested the possibility of "Caution fights" that turn red when emergency vehicles are going to use the intersection, stripe the intersection "Emergency Vehicles Use, or legends on the pavement and intersection "KEEP CLEAR". Member Lohse suggested caution warning signs for emergency vehicles that indicate "Fire Station Ahead". Member Looney suggested a timing switch to activate a red light for a few minutes. Fire Marshal Evans asked for the temporary removal of two on-street parking spaces and meters, and the curb painted red zone for a trial basis. Discussion followed regarding the .development of the median area with trees and shrubbery; removal of three on-street parking spaces located on the east side of the median; the possibility of a left-and right-turn lane; and marking the pavement "Emergency Vehicle Use'. ON A MOTION by Member Beard, seconded by Member Looney, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, that the Traffic Engineering Committee approve the temporary removal of two on-street parking spaces on the south side of the median on Seminary Avenue at State Street for eastbound traffic, and that those parking spaces properly be signed "NO PARKING". The Fire Department will monitor the temporary change and report all information back to the Committee for review on the safety of emergency vehicles utilizing Seminary Avenue to State Street for emergency responses. Member Hoyle left the meeting at 4:30 p.m. b. Member Beard reported this project is the first phase in a long-term plan for improvements to modify all four corners of this intersection, install left-turn pockets on State Street and Low Gap Road/Brush Street, remove the existing stripping and restripe with left-turn pockets on State Street. This will require the removal of on-street parking on MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE November 9, 1999 PAGE 6 Gap Road/Brush Street - 290 feet southerly from curb returns on west and east side of street -Bill Beard Interim City EngineerlDirector of Public Works State Street 255 feet north from curb returns on west and east side of street, and 290 feet southerly from curb returns on west and east side of street. He advised a portion of the curb is painted red zone, and that the electrical/gift shop located on the west side, south of Low Gap Road and Ukiah Unified School District office would be affected by the modification. The electrical/gift shop has parking located to the rear of the building, and the building located to the south has on-site parking on the south side of the building. There is an existing red curb zone and bus stop located in front Ukiah Unified School District office. The second phase of the project is to install the loops to the controller allowing the left turns lanes to have a separate turning phase. Chairman Turner requested that Ukiah Unified School District be notified of the modifications. ON A MOTION by Chairman Turner, seconded by Member Looney, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, that the Traffic Engineering Committee recommend approval to the City Council for "Left Turn" lanes on North State Street at Low Gap Road/Brush Street intersection. Consider "NO PARKING" with red curb on North State Street, northerly of Low Gap Road/Brush Street - 255 feet north from curb returns on west and east side of street. "NO PARKING" with red curb on North State Street, south of Low Gap Road/Brush Street - 290 feet southerly from curb returns on west and east side of street. This is the first phase in a long-term plan for improvements to this intersection. Discussion followed regarding the possibility of installing a bicycle lane. It was the consensus of the Committee that no bicycle lanes be installed on State Street or at this intersection. c. MTA Chairman Turner reported he received a complaint that traffic is backed up to Saint Mary's School when school is dismissed at 3:00 p.m. It was the consensus of the Committee that no action be taken on this item. e. Correspondence from Ottv Lippi regarding "Right Turn" on red signs for Perkins Street and Orchard Avenue intersection. Member Beard reported he received a letter from Mr. Lippi requesting a sign, "Right Turn OK on Red", be relocated under the traffic signal light at Perkins Street and Orchard Avenue. His concerns are there is one lane for both forward and right turn traffic. Many times the first vehicle wants to make a right turn, but the driver may not know it is MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE November 9, 1999 PAGE 7 permissible to turn right on a red light. Member Looney stated he is opposed to the sign without a traffic count to warrant the installation of the sign. Member Kageyama expressed the sign would be confusing to drivers. He stated it is the responsibility of the driver to know the vehicle code, and it is the responsibility of the driver to determine if the right-turn is safe or not to proceed into on-coming traffic. Discussion followed regarding the driver may interpret the "Right Turn OK on Red" sign to be a guaranteed right-turn on a red light with no conflict of on-coming traffic or traffic with the right-of-way. ON A MOTION by Member Looney, seconded by Chairman Turner, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, that the Traffic Engineering Committee deny the request fora "Right Turn" sign at Perkins Street and Orchard Avenue without a traffic count to warrant the installation of the sign. AYES: Members Beard, Looney, Kageyama, and Chairman Turner. NOES: Member Lohse. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Members Harris and Hoyle. Request from MTA for an eastbound stop on Talmage Road in front of Lampson Tractor and a westbound stop in the dirt shoulder across the street. Member Looney stated the area is in the jurisdiction of the State highway and not within City limits, however, the Committee could support the request. Member Beard stated an encroachment permit may be required from the State. ON A MOTION by Member Beard, seconded by Member Kageyama, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, that the Traffic Engineering Committee recommend approval of the request from MTA for an eastbound bus stop on Talmage Road in front of Lampson Tractor, and a westbound bus stop in the dirt shoulder across the street. Member Turner abstained. Member Beard recommended a drawing that shows the length and dimensions needed for the bus stop zone and how it connects to the nearest curb and intersecting street. g. Review the language of the Ordinance that specifies the membership criteria of the Traffic Engineering Committee to al{ow more public member participation. It was the consensus of the Traffic Engineering Committee that this item be placed on the December 14, 1999 agenda. MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE November 9, 1999 PAGE S OLD BUSINESS a. Review and discussion of Ford and Clara Avenue Traffic Calming Survey -Rick Seanor. Deouty Director of Public Works Rick Seanor, Deputy Director of Public Works, reported the Public Works Department distributed a survey to the Ford Street and Clara Avenue residents on October 8, 1999. A total of 106 surveys were returned. The survey allowed several options such as leave the traffic circles; remove traffic circles; construct a neck down; construct a chicane; construct abulb-out; construct speed humps; and alternate measures for Clara Avenue and Ford Street. The analysis of Ford Street and Clara Avenue traffic calming survey are attached as Attachment "B". Member Looney stated he supports the removal of the traffic calming circles because they are not effective in reducing traffic speed beyond the circles. Vehicles travel slower around the traffic calming devices and then increase speed on the straight away. The circles are continuously be damaged by vehicles and repairs. ON A MOTION by Member Lohse, seconded by Member Looney, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present, that the Traffic Engineering Committee recommend to the City Council the removal of the traffic calming devices on Ford Street and Clara Avenue based on the survey present by the Public Works Department and that the calming devices are not effective in reducing traffic speed, and the continuous traffic accident and repairs of vehicles hitting the calming devices. The Committee also recommended afollow-up speed study on Clara Avenue and Ford Street in six months after the removal of the traffic calming devices. COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m. l~~ (~(~ ~~~ ~ Chairman Steve Turner ~~~ l~~ti «i_ I~ \ j'~i 1C ~ ~~' Kathy Kinch, Re rding Secretary .. R'.1\TEC A110999 MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE November 9, 1999 PAGE 9