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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-10-24 TAC MINUTES• City of Englewood, Colorado ENGLEWOOD TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING Minutes of October 14, 2004 The regular monthly meeting of the Englewood Transportation Advisory Committee was called to order by Vice-chair Anderson at 7:05 p.m. in the City Council Conference Room at the City of Englewood Civic Center. Members Present: David Anderson Betty Goosma n Daryl Kinton Ray Tomasso, Council Liaison Rick Kahm, Director of Public Works, ex officio Members Absent: Joe Christie Regi Maclaren A quorum was present. Also Present: Approval of Minutes Ladd Vestry, Traffic Engineer Linda Wilks, Recording Secretary Lt. Jeff Sanchez Vice-chair Anderson asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of September 9, • 2004. There being none, a motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes as presented. Motion passed unanimously. • Public Comment There were no visitors in attendance. Old Business There was no Old Business. New Business There was no New Business. Director's Choice • With regard to redevelopment of the Denver Seminary site, Director Kahm advised that the developer has contracted with David Tryba Architects for their design work. Mr. Kahm opined that construction will not begin soon enough for retail space to open before early 2006. • Director Kahm reported that it was necessary to reduce the 2005 Proposed Budget by an additional $470,000 to cover equipment lease payments that inadvertently had been omitted during the initial budget process. That reduction affected the Transportation Action Plan budget, trimming the original request from $75,000 to $40,000 for 2005. ETAC had initially requested $75,000 to fund traffic calming measures on Oxford Ave. at Windermere St. and at Broadway. Counc il's first reading for the 2005 budget will take place l at the November 1st City Council meeting, with the second reading taking place at the November 15 th Council meeting, becoming law 30 days later. • With regard to installation of the crosswalks, radar speed limit signs, and flashing pedestrian actuated lights at CityCenter on Inca St., Director Kahm advised that the equipment has been ordered and staff expects installation to take place within the next month. • Traffic Engineer Vostry advised that the double yellow striping on Kenyon/Windermere, and on Navajo at Oxford, is expected to take place within the next day or two. Director Kahm noted that sidewalk, curb and gutter improvements were recently installed on the west side of Windermere at Kenyon, using funds from the Sidewalk Missing Links account. Stormwater improvements were also made at that location. Mr. Kahm stated that the City is working with the steel fabricating company on the corner of Windermere and Kenyon regarding storage on the north end of that property that created a "blind spot" for motorists. The company has made some improvements, however, Mr. Kahm advised that the City has made further recommendations, and is in hopes that the chain link fence will be relocated closer to the building, or removed. • Traffic Engineer Vostry advised that the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is continuing the overlay project on Hwy. 285 between Dahlia and Marion Streets. Rotomilling is complete. Medians are currently being rebuilt, and will be filled in with concrete. The first lift of asphalt shou ld be complete ne xt week, with the final lift to follow in the spring. Director Kahm noted that the City worked with CDOT prior to construction regarding possible night work disturbances that could affect neighboring residents; to date, the City has received no complaints regarding this project. Mr. Vostry stated the City is hopeful that, in 2006, CDOT will be in a financial position to overlay the section of Hwy. 285 between Marion St. and Federal Blvd. Mr. Vostry commented that CDOT's overlay budget for 2005 was cut from $37,000,000 to $9,000,000. Brief discussion ensued. • Director Kahm reported that the City has been contacted by a resident regarding high speeds on East Dartmouth Ave. between University Blvd. and Downing St., referencing a meeting initiated by the resident, scheduled to take place next week. Traffic Engineer Vostry plans to attend the meeting. Mr. Kahm explained that Dartmouth Ave. and other collector streets in the City experience identical problems with speed, and he would like to look at remedies for the collectors on a "global" basis rather than an individual basis. Mr. Kahm stated that after the Speed Pledge Program was implemented a number of years ago, speed studies showed that there was a significant reduction in speed on residential streets; however, the Program, because of the high percentage of cross through traffic, did not have the same effect on collector and arterial streets. Speed studies on those roadways showed only a slight reduction in speed. Mr. Kahm, noting that resources will be limited, stated he would like Committee Members and staff to develop a strategy for consistently managing speed on the collector streets, i.e., Dartmouth Ave., Oxford Ave., Logan St., Downing St., and Floyd Ave. Traffic Engineer Vostry noted that, regardless of the volume of traffic on collector streets, the 85 th percentile speed consistently stays in the 34-36 mph range. Additionally, studies show that the number of traffic signals or stop signs does not seem to affect the speed. 2 • • • • • • Mr. Kahm commented that the four-way stop installed in December, 2003, at Tufts Ave. and Knox Ct. was successful in removing some of the traffic from Tufts Ave. as well as removing the majority of high-end speeders from that roadway. Brief discussion ensued. To Committee Member Kinton's suggestion, Mr. Vostry stated speed studies indicate that installing flash ing yellow/red lights at signalized intersections does not actually slow traffic. Mr. Vostry stated that speed on westbound Dartmouth Ave. is higher than eastbound, while speed on eastbound Floyd Ave . is higher than westbound. Mr. Vostry reiterated the effectiveness of the variable speed signs that have been installed on Quincy Ave. and on Logan St. for slowing speeding motorists, from an average 39 mph before the signs were installed to 34-35 mph after installation. Mr. Kahm explained that a "fine balance" must be reached when calming traffic so that motorists are not so inconvenienced that they reroute to other ne ighborhoods, which could happen when you install a traffic hardscape plan, i.e., roundabouts, bulb-outs, neck-downs, etc. Mr . Kahm added that these types of str uctures also create concern for storm drainage situatio ns, but suggested that a "softer" form of nec k-down traffic calming device, that would accommodate d rainage , could be installed, for wh ich f unding is ex pected to be available in 2005. In addition to the "softer" calming devices, Mr. Kahm suggested including var iable speed signs in the pilot program, adding tha t, with Committee's approval, two of the var iable speed signs could be o rdered utilizing funds from the 2004 budget. If successful in the pilot program, the variable speed signs and "softer" traffic calm ing devices could then be installed on other collector streets as well, pend in g available funding . Vice-chair Anderson ex pressed his agreement with Mr. Kahm 's suggest ion to include var iable speed signs . Committee Member Goosman discussed ex periences she has had regarding poor visibility at some corners on Floyd Ave. Mr . Kahm advised that, in some situations, restrict ive he ight signs can be posted on corners where parked oversized vehicles block the sight distance for motorists. Counc il Member Tomasso offered an email from a citizen commending the Police Department for controlling speeding near the Char les Hay School area. Br ief discussion ensued regarding hit and run accidents involving parked cars that have occurred on Oxford and Dartmouth Avenues. With regard to traffic volumes, Mr. Vostry maintained that increases in volume on Oxford Ave. occurred when access to Santa Fe Dr ive was closed at Tufts, Quincy, and Kenyon a number of years ago. However, with regard to Dartmouth Ave. near Un ivers ity Blvd., daily volumes jumped from 5700 to 6300, or approxi mate ly 1 % per year, over a seven year period . Discussion ensued regarding the elements and characteristics of Dartmouth Ave. traffic and the homes that line this stretch of roadway. Vice-chair Anderson inquired if the Committee would be helpful in determining locations for placement of speed signs on Oxford Ave. for the pilot program, noting that there was no available electrical power on Oxford Ave. when Members ultimately determined to install the original variable speed signs on Quincy Ave. and on Logan St. Mr. Vostry exp lained that the newer radar speed limit signs provide the option to use a solar power source where e lectrical power is not available. These signs, when vehicles are exceeding the speed limit, will exhibit and flash "Your Speed Is ... -Slow Down", otherwise will display only the posted speed limit. Mr. Kahm suggested that, at the November ETAC meeting, Comm ittee and staff begin 3 formulating the Oxford Ave. pilot program for traffic calming, and discuss locations for placement of the new radar speed signs as well as a couple of neck-down devices. Mr. Kahm felt that the signs could probably be installed yet in 2004, but that installation of the "softer" neck-down calming devices would most likely have to wait until funding is available in 2005. Measuring the success of this pilot program, and as funds become available, additional collector streets can then be similarly equipped. Mr. Kahm compared preparation of this pilot program to a similar process taken with the School Safety Committee in the early 1990s to install flashing lights at Englewood schools. In this case, because the City could only purchase the needed equipment for one school at a time, the School Safety Committee selected the school with highest priority, and then continued the process with other schools as funds became available. Suggestions were made as potential solutions to reduce the excessive width of Oxford Ave. and thereby curbing the high speeds, i.e. install islands along the roadway, create a boulevard. Mr. Kahm reiterated that the systems that are developed for use on Oxford Ave. will, as the pilot program, work on all collector roadways, and expressed the need to avoid hardscaping as much as possible. There was brief discussion regarding the "psychological" differences when traveling Dartmouth Ave. east of Downing St. versus west of Downing St. because of hills and other physical factors, and similarly so when traveling Floyd Ave. Mr. Anderson reiterated including discussion of collector street traffic calming on the November agenda under New Business. Chairperson's Choice • Vice-chair Anderson inquired if Traffic Engineering had received a request from Officer Peterson to conduct a speed study on Acoma St. between Oxford and Princeton Avenues. This request was made at a recent Neighborhood Watch meeting in that neighborhood. Traffic Engineer Vostry advised that the speed study has been completed, with results show ing that the s5 th percentile was under 30 mph. • There was brief discussion regarding ETAC's policy pertaining to unexcused absences. Committee Members' Choice • To Committee Member Goosman's inquiry regarding the Denver Seminary redevelopment, Director Kahm advised that receiving an access permit from COOT for lane reconfiguration on University Blvd. could be a lengthy process, and he surmised that the developer is most likely currently working to provide all the necessary information to obtain that permit. Adjournment Vice-chair Anderson noted that the November ETAC meeting will be held on the 18th rather than the 11 th , because of the Veterans' Day Holiday. As a side note, Lt. Sanchez announced that the Safety Services Traffic Division again has a full staff of four officers. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m. Wn:2ct, ~(/1 ,t /2._/"} Linda Wilks, Recording Secretary 4 • • •