Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-10-10 TAC MINUTES• • • City of Englewood, Colorado ENGLEWOOD TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Minutes of October 10, 2002 The regular meeting of the Englewood Transportation Advisory Committee was called to order by Chairperson Anderson at 7:06 p.m. in the City of Englewood Community Room. Members Present: David Anderson Joe Christie Gary Dounay Betty Goosman Cinda Losee (Alternate Member) Members Absent: Barbara Hodge Ken Ross, Director of Public Works, ex officio A quorum was present. Also Present: Public Comment Officer Erik Lutz Officer John Knoth Officer Brian Mueller Ladd Vestry, Traffic Engineer Wendy Gracy, Traffic Analyst Linda Wilks, Recording Secretary There were no visitors in attendance. Approval of Minutes Chairperson Anderson asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of September 12, 2002. There being none, a motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes as presented. Motion passed. Old Business • Committee Members discussed the outcome of their meeting with City Council on September 16, 2002. Traffic Engineer Vestry reiterated that City Council would like to see ETAC schedule several of their upcoming meetings at Englewood Schools to provide more opportunity for citizens to offer their input regarding traffic and transportation concerns within the City. Advertising for the meetings in the Englewood Citizen and through the Block Captains was considered, as well as meeting locations. Following brief discussion, Committee Member Dounay suggested that a meeting be held in one Englewood school in each of the five Council districts, and to invite the Council Member of that district to attend. Mr. Dounay also suggested that meeting arrangements be made to accommodate the residents living in northwest Englewood, probably at the Alternative High School. Chairperson Anderson made a motion, seconded by Vice-chair Christie, to hold five ETAC/community meetings, to be held at yet-to-be-determined Englewood school locations, one meeting within each Council district. Motion passed unanimously. Additionally, it was determined to begin such meetings in January, 2003 to allow sufficient time to arrange for advertising and school facility usage. Mr. Anderson noted that Englewood Herald reporter Munds requested that he be notified of the meeting dates and locations as soon as they are determined. To Alternate Member Losee's inquiry, Officer Knoth advised that Police Officers, when traffic and other contacts are made, can advise citizens of these public meetings. There was brief discussion of possible notification on the web page. Mr. Anderson suggested that details concerning these meetings should be handed over to the Community Outreach Sub-committee. Mr. Anderson advised that he will call this group together to work up an agenda. Traffic Engineer Vostry reported that Municipal Judge Atencio is scheduled to attend the November ETAC meeting to discuss Members' concerns regarding enforcement of traffic violations. Mr. Vostry also noted that City Council will be discussing the Alive at 25 program and residential speeding at the November 18, 2002 study session. Alternate Member Losee inquired of the Officers if they felt the 25 mph speed limit will be effective in slowing residential traffic. Officers responded that it is unknown until the signs are actually posted. Additionally, Officers noted that speeds over the limit at which tickets are issued may be determined by location, i.e., residential vs. highway locations. An officer's activities are prioritized, emphasizing school zones, citizen complaints, requests from City Council, inspections of various types, etc. Initiation of special observation and enforcement requests in certain residential areas is determined by reported stop sign problems, or where speed study results indicate excessive speeding. When a specific complaint is received, the speed trailer is placed to determine actual speeding problems that exist at that location, however, it is difficult for an officer to be at that location at the same time as a traffic offender. Different locations call for different enforcement actions. It was noted that the speed trailers are randomly • placed at various locations around the City and are rotated every 3-5 days; they are placed at specific • locations when notified of a speeding problem. The only time they are not placed is when they are being serviced or the batteries recharged. Mr. Vostry advised that the speed trailer data does show the time of day, in one hour increments, when speed violations occur. In response to Mr. Anderson's inquiry, Mr. Vostry advised that his staff uses traffic count equipment on residential and collector streets that provides similar information as the speed trailers, but, in contrast, do not give an indication to drivers that their speed is excessive. The speed trailers and traffic count equipment complement each other in the information they provide. Officer Knoth provided his office telephone number so that he can be contacted should Committee Members observe traffic offenses they believe should be investigated. Brief discussion ensued regarding the accident history at Dartmouth Ave. and Santa Fe Drive. Traffic Engineer Vostry emphasized that accident data, since 1995, indicates that, at high accident locations on the arterials and collector roadways, the number of accidents has risen slightly because of the increase in traffic volume, however the severity of accidents has decreased, noting that more accidents occur mid-block. And, from 1991 through 2001, the number of accidents on minor roadways has remained steady. Data also indicates that the accident rate on roadways (excluding arterials) remains steady even though traffic is increasing, and therefore, statistically speaking, the accident rate is actually decreasing; in other words, there are less accidents per number of vehicles per traveled mile. Alternate Member Losee discussed accident frequency near her residence, the excessive speed, and the limited sight distance caused by the hill on Dartmouth Ave. near Ogden St. She stated that the speed trailer was recently placed at that location, which seems to alert drivers of the hazard. 2 • • With regard to ETAC's request for a rul~ change to allow the Alternate Member to sit in a voting • capacity at meetings when a regular member is absent, Traffic Engineer Vestry advised that City Council determined the rule will remain unchanged, that is, City Council will appoint an Alternate Member to a board or commission as a regular voting member only when a regular member is dismissed or has resigned. There was no discussion. New Business Traffic Engineer Vestry reviewed a summary memorandum from Director Ross contained in Members' packets regarding proposed regulations to be included in a supplement to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Design guidelines for state and local government buildings and facilities are developed by an Access Board, which is appointed by the federal government. The summary memorandum from Director Ross is in response to a draft document from ADA which requested comments from state and local government levels. ADA's construction guidelines apply only to new construction and to renovation of existing facilities. Director's Choice • With regard to the supplemental Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) application, Traffic Engineer Vestry advised that City Council approved staff's application submittals for the bike trail from Progress Park to Lehew Ave., and for the bus circulator route from Swedish Hospital to CityCenter. Mr. Vestry stated that, as a prerequisite to award of TIP funds, a peer preview will be conducted next week for consideration of all TIP applications that were received to determine the entities that are prepared to meet • the construction schedule required to receive TIP application funds. "Quick money" is available only for projects that can be designed, right-of-way obtained, and ready to bid by August, 2003. Chairperson Anderson requested that, should funds for the bus circulator be approved, ETAC be kept informed of the progress of that project. • • Mr. Vestry briefly discussed the handout regarding the proposed Multi Year Capital Projects (MYCP) budget, stating that the maximum available funding remains at approximately $2,300,000. Because of budget constraints, it was necessary to defer some projects for funding to other sources or time frames. • Mr. Vestry reported that there was no citizen input at the public hearing held earlier this week for consideration of the City's proposed budget. Mr. Vestry advised that there may be a need for additional adjustments to the budget, which could be determined, in part, on the outcome of the Bates Station agreement with RTD, as well as City Council's decision of whether or not to reduce the rebate fees paid to sales tax vendors. • Mr. Vestry apprised Members on the status of the Hazard Elimination Project at Kenyon Ave. and Broadway. Mr. Vestry elaborated that, as a result of two petitions that had been received from citizens regarding placement of left turn arrows at the intersections of Broadway and Oxford Ave. and Broadway and Kenyon Ave., traffic studies were conducted that indicated Broadway and Oxford Ave. warranted left turn arrows, while Broadway and Kenyon Ave. did not. Installation of the left turn arrows at Broadway and Oxford Ave. will begin in late October; completion is estimated to be early December. Broadway and Kenyon Ave. did not meet warrants for left turn installation at the time of the petition, however, as a result of a vehicle/pedestrian accident in September, 2001, City staff approached the Colorado Department of 3 Transportation regarding the availability of federal funding under the Hazard Elimination Program. As a result, the City received $150,000 in federal funds to upgrade the traffic signal at Broadway and Kenyon Ave.; the design phase will take place in 2003, with construction to take place in 2004. Left turn equipment will be included in this construction and will be activated when warrants are met. Brief discussion ensued regarding the visibility of the existing signals at this intersection. • With regard to a street closure currently in place in the 2700 block of S. Elati St., Mr. Vostry explained that construction of the RTD maintenance facility requires a new water line to be placed in the street. Installation of the water line will take approximately one week; detours will be in place to direct traffic around the construction area. • Mr. Vostry advised that two variable speed board signs, or feedback signs, have been ordered at a cost of $4,600 each. As discussed at the September ETAC meeting, these signs contain a radar device that will post the speed of oncoming vehicles. Comm ittee Members revisited their decision at the September meeting for installation locations for the two signs. Chairperson Anderson opined that the neighborhood residents near Dartmouth Ave. and Ogden St. have been vocal in their concerns regarding high speed traffic on Dartmouth Ave., and he suggested that one sign be placed at this location and the other at the Oxford Ave. location previously agreed upon. Vice-chair Christie agreed. Mr. Vostry stated that traffic studies will be conducted before, during and after placement of the signs to determine their effectiveness in reducing speeds. The signs can be rotated to other collector street locations as determined necessary, or when the • effectiveness no longer exists at one location. Electrical connection must exist, or be installed, at each • placement location. Mr. Vostry stated that the effectiveness of these signs is most prevalent on collector streets, as opposed to local and arterial roadways. Mr. Vostry noted that, following a test period to determine the effectiveness of the initial two signs, it may be determined that additional signs are warranted. Brief discussion ensued regarding possible additional locations to be considered for sign placement. Committee Member Dounay expressed that the traffic on Logan St. near Bates/Logan Park could possibly warrant posting of a feedback sign because of the high traffic volume. It was the general consensus that the sign on the Oxford Ave. "hill" be installed when the equipment is received later this month, and consideration can then be given at the November ETAC meeting with regard to other identified trouble spots. Mr. Dounay asked that, prior to making a final decision for placement of the second sign, Mr. Vostry provide additional information at the November meeting regarding traffic conditions at the Dartmouth/Ogden and Logan/Bates locations as well as any other identified trouble areas. • Traffic Engineer Vostry discussed a letter he received from Englewood Schools student Courtney Herzog regarding speeding on Delaware St., specifically in the vicinities of Sinclair Middle School and Clayton Elementary School. To address these concerns, the student suggested that the City install flashing yellow lights, speed humps, and advance school crossing signs. Mr. Vostry advised that both schools are posted with 20 mph School Zone speed limit signs but are not posted with flashing lights, with the exception of flashing lights on Tufts Ave. adjacent to Clayton Elementary, which was at the request of the School Safety • Committee. Additionally, Mr. Vostry advised that speed humps are not currently included in the Transportation Action Plan toolbox for traffic calming. Regarding advanced school crossing signs, Mr. Vostry 4 • reported that signs have been posted for some time, anywhere from 150 to 700 feet in advance of each school crossing, as required in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Committee Member Dounay voiced his concern that the school crosswalks at Delaware St. and Tufts Ave. are marked on three sides of the intersection vs. all four sides. Mr. Vestry explained that, referring to guidelines established in the MUTCD, and working with the School Safety Committee, it was determined that at some locations with higher traffic volumes, three sided crosswalks created the least pedestrian/vehicle conflict, that is, having one crosswalk over the busier streets rather than two creates a safer crossing situation; this would go hand in hand with educating students and all pedestrians to cross the busy street from only one side of the intersection. Mr. Dounay opined that a pedestrian is not likely to maneuver crosswalks on three sides of an intersection merely to end up on the same side of the street, but rather would cross at that one unmarked crosswalk. Mr. Vestry further explained that crosswalks must be marked at all traffic signals with pedestrian crossing equipment, however it is not required to mark crosswalks at stop signs. Discussion ensued regarding the procedure for determining the placement of traffic signals with pedestrian equipment. Mr. Vestry stated that mid block crosswalks had previously been installed on Tufts Ave. at Clayton Elementary, on Dartmouth Ave. at Bishop Elementary, on Chenango Ave. between Cherokee and Delaware Sts., and on Oxford Ave. between Elati and Fox Sts.; however, they have since been removed because of non-use. Mr . Vestry advised that he will prepare a response to Ms. Herzog addressing the concerns she expressed. • Officer Knoth reiterated that Traffic Engineering, as well as Officers from the Police Traffic Unit, and Crime Prevention Officer Peterson are all involved in working with the School Safety Committee in educating • students and parents on traffic safety. Officers have just completed safety presentations at all elementary schools, which included a safety test for students to quiz their parents. Chairperson's Choice Chairperson Anderson requested Recording Secretary Wilks to follow-up with the web page administrator regarding updating ETAC's agenda on a regular basis. Ms. Wilks advised that agendas are forwarded monthly, and she will check on the updating process. Additionally, Mr. Anderson requested that ETAC's web page be expanded to include additional information on ETAC's activities, and offered his assistance in creating the expansion. Committee Members' Choice Committee Member Goosman stated she received a citizen inquiry regarding the corner handicap ramps that are being installed in some neighborhoods. Traffic Engineer Vestry advised that this program is administered through the Engineering Division and suggested she have the citizen contact Larry Nimmo at 303-762-2504. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m . Linda Wilks, Recording Secretary 5