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HomeMy WebLinkAbouttecm_031604Minutes TRAFFIC ENGINEERING COMMITTEE March 16, 2004 Members Present Mike Harris Dave Lohse Doug Pilant, Acting Chair Joe Martin Rick Seanor Steve Turner Dan Walker Others Present None Staff Present Members Absent Cathy Elawadly, Recording Secretary Ben Kageyama The meeting was called to order by Acting Chair Pilant at 3:06 p.m. in Conference Room No. 3, Ukiah Civic Center, 300 Seminary Avenue, Ukiah, California. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: February 17, 2004 ON A MOTION by Member Seanor, seconded by Member Lohse, it was carried by an all AYE voice vote of the members present to approve the February 17, 2004 minutes, as submitted. III. AUDIENCE COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS No one from the audience came forward. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS: IV. OLD BUSINESS a. None V. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion and possible action regarding proposed traffic mitigations at Yokayo School. Member Turner advised that the Ukiah Unified School District (UUSD) will reconfigure the Yokayo School site this summer for the purpose of downsizing the campus to a capacity of approximately 450 students. The change will reduce the traffic at the site. The issue of safety at the school is a public concern and some of the changes made to the school would create the opportunity to address this issue. The current practice is for many parents to drive their children to school, which creates traffic congestion before and after school. Existing off-street pickup/drop-off facilities are overly congested so parents load and unload their children in the street and improperly use the reserved bus Traffic Engineering Committee March 16, 2004 Page 1 loading area in front of the school. This practice blocks access for school buses, as well as creates a safety hazard for students. The bus loading area is adjacent to the public sidewalk and at-grade with the sidewalk. No physical obstructions prevent a vehicle from driving onto the sidewalk. In an effort to address the safety concerns, the following recommendations have been made: Relocate the existing bus stop from the "circle driveway" in front of the school to another location, perhaps "on-street," to allow for reconfiguration of the "circle driveway" as a passenger loading area. Create a barrier along the street adjacent to the gutter to separate the street from the loading area and stripe the area to channel cars through this area to a designated loading point. Erect a fence to separate the sidewalk from the paved vehicle area with strategic opening for loading. Member Turner addressed the aerial photograph depicting the site layout for the purpose of graphically reviewing the proposed changes, particularly referencing Mendocino Drive and the possible removal of building(s) that would allow space for other uses. He did not favor the concept of relocating the existing bus stop to a public street because there would no protective covering, children would be forced to walk a longer distance, and the location would be farther from teacher supervision, including the potential for increased traffic problems at the new site. Allowing a bus stop near Gobbi Street and Mendocino Drive would create the potential for traffic problems and increased safety issues. Member Turner stated the principal of Yokayo School suggested constructing a barrier parallel to the gutter at the edge of the existing bus loading zone. The barrier could be a planter, curb, or divide to prevent people from pulling perpendicular into the bus loading zone, forcing the traffic to channel through the area. He recommended constructing a fence along the edge of the sidewalk to divide the sidewalk from the parking area to prevent vehicles from crossing the sidewalk located on the "circle driveway" and children would not be able to walk into the driving area. The opening could be located at the southern end of the area where a bus could pull up and load children at this point, allowing vehicles to stack behind the bus. The vehicles would be forced to proceed southbound by the fenced area, as they queue out. Oak Manor School has a similar operation where there are actually three parallel rows allowing parents to line up their vehicles behind a "limit line" and one at a time come around and load their children. In other words, one of three cars could come to the limit line, depending upon which children are waiting to be picked up from the loading area. A change like this coupled with a reduction in the number of children attending the school would improve the traffic situation at Yokayo School. The sidewalk that follows the bus-loading zone is a public sidewalk and the appropriate use of the sidewalk is a public concern because there is no sidewalk that parallels the gutter, since the sidewalk extends upward and around the loading zone on the school property. Traffic Engineering Committee March 16, 2004 Page 2 Member Turner noted the proposed fence would be located between the sidewalk and the loading area, right on the edge of the sidewalk with an opening near the south end of it for the purpose of loading children into a bus or vehicle. He favored the concept of implementing aone-foot wide planter area near the curb. Member Lohse supported the concept of modifying the loading area to discourage vehicles heading northbound from making alert-hand turn onto the loading zone, as this is the area where traffic becomes congested. Member Walker recommended implementing a "Do Not Enter" or a sign designated as one-way, advising northbound vehicles that the traffic flow into the loading zone is one-way. The intent is to avoid allowing northbound traffic from entering the loading zone at the south entrance disrupting the flow of traffic and creating congestion. Member Harris recommended implementing a "No Left Turn" on one side of the sign and a "Do Not Enter" on the other side of the sign with arrows directing the flow of traffic. Acting Chair Pilant inquired whether it was possible to use the school's back lot playgrounds and as a loading zone for buses etc., after school hours. Member Turner acknowledged the inquiry and stated the existing asphalt on the playground would probably not be able to accommodate the weight of a school bus. It would also be costly to upgrade and maintain the asphalt standards to accompany this type of use. A general discussion followed regarding the traffic/safety problems associated with allowing vehicles to exit from school property onto Mendocino Drive. Member Martin inquired regarding the red zone implemented on Mendocino Drive at Alice Avenue and what transportation agency is allowed to utilize this zone. Member Turner replied it was his understanding that the purpose of the red zone is to establish a sight distance for the existing crosswalk. Member Martin advised that the red zone was extended farther east, stating it was his understanding the purpose of this was to allow buses to pull into the area. A brief discussion followed regarding the red zone established at Mendocino Drive and Alice Avenue and its intended purpose. Traffic Engineering Committee March 16, 2004 Page 3 Member Seanor commented on the changes proposed for the existing bus loading area, and recommended implementing flexible, reflective pylons instead of a curb to separate the travel lane from the bus turnout area. Member Martin did not favor the aforementioned concept because people run over reflective signs. Member Seanor referred to a parcel map of the area where Yokayo School is located, noting Chairman Kageyama suggested extending the existing driveway/parking area at north side of the school gymnasium from the Dora Street entrance through the school property to Gardens Avenue. A brief discussion followed regarding the potential problems associated with extending the driveway to Gardens Avenue because of the existing pedestrian access and public utility easement located where vehicles would exit onto Gardens Avenue. There was also discussion regarding ways to potentially mitigate the issues of potential traffic congestion in a residential neighborhood, safety concerns, maintaining the public utility easement, and other relevant issues confronting this alternative access proposal. Member Lohse commented the school architectural improvements have greatly contributed to its appearance. He recommended continuing with this approach when making changes to the loading zone and/or proposing traffic mitigation measures for the school. He was not supportive of implementing a lot of vegetation as an aesthetic feature to the existing "circle driveway" should it be maintained as the primary loading zone. A general discussion followed regarding the potential problems associated with the proposal to create a barrier along the street adjacent to the gutter by extending the curb to separate the street from the loading area. This approach would allow for the addition of on-street parking accommodations. Providing adequate street parking accommodations allows children to walk to their parent's parked vehicle. As a safety precaution measure, changes should not be made that would encourage children to cross the street to get to their parent's vehicles. Member Seanor stated in his review of the proposed traffic mitigations at Yokayo School, he was unable to determine whether there is a public right-of- way near the existing "circle driveway" passenger loading area. Member Lohse inquired whether ADA ramps would be required with the potential redesign of the existing "circle driveway." Member Seanor replied affirmatively. Member Seanor reported that he reviewed the City's right-of-way records and found no indication that the "circle driveway/bus turnout" is within the City's right- Traffic Engineering Committee March 16, 2004 Page 4 of-way for Dora Street. Member Turner added that he is of the understanding that the "circle driveway/bus turnout" is located on school property. Member Turner stated he would discuss the input from the TEC presented today with the Ukiah Unified School District Superintendent. It was the consensus of the members present to recommend to the District that reconfiguration and improvements to the existing "circle driveway," be considered, as suggested by Member Turner in his memorandum dated March 8, 2004 to the TEC. The proposed design plans and accompanying necessary signage would be reviewed by the TEC and the Public Works Department to ensure compliance with all standards for the associated improvements. VI. COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS a. Update on City Traffic Circulation Study Member Seanor reported a traffic consultant is currently in the process of conducting the study. The results will be discussed in a series of public workshops and the TEC is encouraged to provide input. b. Update on City Parking Study Member Seanor reported the City is conducting a City Parking Lot Study to determine whether changes need to be made to City parking lots and on-street parking. He added that a draft study should be completed within 30 days. The draft parking lot study is available to the TEC for comment. b. Update on Crosswalks Member Seanor reported discussions concerning proposed changes and improvements to City crosswalks will be ongoing as new ideas are raised. Acting Chairman Pilant reported that Caltrans is proposing "raised" crosswalks in Gualala. VII. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS Member Martin inquired regarding an update on whether the "No Parking" signs can be removed on the east side of Waugh Lane near the Creek Village apartments to allow for additional on-street parking. It was noted the matter will be agendized for discussion at the next regular meeting so staff would have the opportunity to conduct an analysis of the parking accommodations and determine whether the residents in the area would be impacted. Member Harris recommended TEC meetings be held every two months. A general discussion followed regarding this recommendation and the members were amenable to the proposal. Traffic Engineering Committee March 16, 2004 Page 5 VIII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:53 p.m. /s/ Doug Pilant Doug Pilant, Acting Chair i ~ ~vr~ti~~. Cathy E adly, Recording ecretary Traffic Engineering Committee March 16, 2004 Page 6