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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-06-09 TAC MINUTES• • • City of Englewood, Colorado ENGLEWOOD TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING Minutes of June 9, 2005 The regular monthly meeting of the Englewood Transportation Advisory Committee was called to order by Chair Christie at 7:08 p.m. in the City Council Conference Room at the City of Englewood Civic Center. Members Present: David Anderson Joe Christie Betty Goosman Regi Maclaren Ray Tomasso, Council Liaison Rick Kahm, Director of Public Works, ex officio Members Absent: Daryl Kinton A quorum was present. Also Present: Ladd Vostry, Traffic Engineer Linda Wilks, Recording Secretary Jerry Lancaster, GIS Analyst Lt. Jeff Sanchez Approval of Minutes Chair Christie asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of May 12, 2005. There being none, a motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes as presented. With all Members present voting aye, the motion passed. Public Comment There were no visitors in attendance. Old Business • With regard to traffic issues raised by Mr. Jim Woodward at the ETAC meeting in May, Traffic Engineer Vostry reported that he attended a School Safety Committee meeting at which Mr. Woodward's concerns involving student drivers in the vicinity of Englewood High School were discussed in great detail. Mr. Vostry stated that the Safety Committee agreed with ETAC that speed bumps would not be beneficial in this area primarily because student accidents near the high school were caused, for the most part, by distraction rather than excess ive speed. Additionally, the Safety Committee did not favor installing a three-way stop on Mansfield Ave. at Pearl St. Mr. Vostry stated that the Safety Committee did agree with ETAC's suggestions to lower the speed limit on Mansfield from 30 mph to 20 mph, and create a school zone that includes Mansfield Ave. as well as Pennsylvania, Pearl, and Washington Streets. The Safety Committee also agreed with Mr . Vestry's recommendation that posting the new signage during the summer and speaking with students when school begins in the fall would be most effective in alerting new drivers that the speed limit has been reduced. Discussion ensued regarding timing for flash ing lights, student driving habits, etc. Mr . Vostry noted that permit parking was removed from the south side of Mansfield in 2001, allowing students to park on that roadway; for a period of 3 112 years pr ior to removal of permit parking there were 8 accidents, however, 18 accidents occurred during the 31/2 years following removal of the permit parking restriction. Director Kahm noted that, from a cost effective standpoint, initial traffic calming could include installation of a school zone, i.e., lowering the speed limit to 20 mph on the affected roadways. Mr. Kahm stated that, if • school zone signage is not effective, three-way stops could then be considered, followed by, should funding become available, flashing signs. Brief discussion ensued regarding limiting possible adverse affects on neighborhoods; education; available funding for traffic control; etc. Chair Christie made a motion, seconded by Committee Member Goosman, to recommend that staff install signage reducing the speed limit to 20 mph on Mansfield Ave., and on Pennsylvania, Pearl and Washington Streets. With all Members present voting aye, the motion passed. • Recognizing that Vice-chair Anderson had made some suggestions at the May ETAC meeting, Director Kahm observed that the City's new web site offers opportunities to make changes and add material to ETAC's web page. Mr. Kahm introduced Jerry Lancaster, GIS Analyst for the Department of Public Works. Mr. Lancaster noted some minor changes he made that were suggested by Mr. Anderson and Mr. Kahm. Mr. Anderson suggested adding some verbage that would present a friendlier face and encourage citizens to attend ETAC meetings. Discussion ensued regarding additional items that could be included, i.e., list the vacant Alternate position along with Committee Members; descriptions of ETAC's accomplishments and current projects; photographs of projects; a link to a page listing and describing traffic calming measures that have been effective in Englewood; links to the Board/Commission Application, Englewood's Bicycle Plan, Speed Watch page, and RTD's web site; notification of upcoming road maintenance projects; emergency after-hours phone number, etc. To Mr. Anderson's inquiry, Mr. Lancaster stated he will check the City 's policy regarding links to external sites regarding traffic calming, MUTCD, other traffic engineering sites, etc. Mr. Anderson commended the committee that put the City's web site together, stating it is wonderful and is a real asset to our community and the Denver region. New Business There was no New Business. Director's Choice • Regarding installation of a street light on Navajo St. south of Oxford Ave., requested previously by Committee Member Kinton, Director Kahm advised that Xcel Energy continues to assure us that the installation is on their schedule. Mr. Kahm briefly discussed service levels provided by Xcel Energy, not only to our city, but cities statewide. To Council Liaison Tomasso's inquiry regarding solar powered lighting, Traffic Engineer Vostry stated the cost is very high. Mr. Kahm noted that staff is looking into a motion detector system to add to the solar powered walk lights that were installed on Inca St. at CityCenter last year. • Mr. Kahm advised that staff is geared to begin the Oxford Ave. Traffic Calming Pilot Program next week with installation of the radar speed signs, which will be "bagged" until other signage, choker islands, etc., • are installed. Mr. Kahm stated that completion of the project is still expected around the end of June. To • 2 • • Mr. Anderson's inquiry, Mr. Kahm advised that the width of Oxford Ave. should adequately accommodate traffic flow during construction of the choker islands, although some traffic control will be necessary . • Traffic Engineer Vostry provided an update on vehicles being parked on Girard Ave. at Lafayette St., blocking the view for motorists. Mr. Vostry stated he visited the Julia Temple Center regarding their service trucks parking too close to the corner, and they indicated that they will speak with the drivers. Mr. Vostry stated he will monitor this location. Additionally, Lt. Sanchez noted that Parking Control Officer Wilson contacted Committee Member Goosman and provided a telephone number to report violations to which Safety Services would respond. • Traffic Engineer Vostry reported that the Deaf Child sign, which had been posted on Cherokee St. at Oxford Ave. a number of years ago, has now been removed following his attempt to contact the requesting party; the phone number on file had been disconnected. • With regard to a resident's concern with speeding in the 3000 block of S. Washington St., reported by Council Liaison Tomasso at the May ETAC meeting, Lt. Sanchez advised that Officer McKay contacted the resident, who advised she had observed an SUV speeding up her block a couple of times in the early afternoon in the past but she had not observed it recently. Officer McKay advised the resident that he will monitor the area at various times. Additionally, Officer McKay requested that the speed trailer be placed in the 500 block of E. Cornell Ave. Lt. Sanchez stated that the results showed the speed trailer counted 5,007 vehicles with an average speed of 21 mph. Lt. Sanchez stated that the resident seemed satisfied with her contact with Officer McKay. Discussion ensued regarding placement of the speed trailer. Vice-chair Anderson inquired if there is information on the Safety Services web page regarding the speed trailer to which a link could be placed on the ETAC web page; Lt. Sanchez stated he will check into it. • Traffic Engineer Vostry provided an update for Committee Members regarding the CDOT overlay project that is taking place on Hwy. 285 from Lafayette St. to Federal Blvd. Mr. Vostry advised that the concrete curb ramps and medians construction is in progress; asphalt rotomilling is expected to begin next week at Federal Blvd., working eastward, however, it may be delayed until after the July 4th holiday. CDOT anticipates that the rotomilling and overlay phases will take from five to six weeks. Director Kahm noted that no resident complaints have been received thus far regarding the project. • Director Kahm reported that City Council approved, on first reading, the ordinance to increase ETAC Member terms from two years to four years, and officer terms from one year to two years. Second reading will take place in two weeks; the ordinance will become law following a 30 day waiting period. Mr. Kahm noted that, at the Council meeting, Council Liaison Tomasso was very complimentary of the work conducted by ETAC. Chairperson's Choice Referring to the recent ETAC attendance report, Chair Christie advised that he emailed Committee Member Kinton last week asking if he would be attending this week's meeting, to which he received no • reply. Secretary Wilks read the attendance policy, which was adopted by ETAC in June, 2003, "1. All board and commission members must attend 60% of all meetings in a calendar year unless there is an excused 3 absence. If a member is absent more than 40% of the meetings, the Chair should discuss with the member his or her lack of attendance. 2. If a board or commission member misses three consecutive meetings, the Chair may ask that a vacancy be declared, unless those absences are excused absences. 3. If a board or • commission chooses, they may adopt their own attendance policy if it is more strict than the City Council policy. 4. This rule shall not apply to members that are required to be on a board or commission by statute." Discussion ensued. Mr. Christie stated he will make another attempt to contact Mr . Kinton regarding his intentions as a member of ETAC, and ask that he try to comply with the attendance policy. To Mr. Christie's inquiry, Committee Member Maclaren replied that he was not familiar with the attendance policy, but additionally, because of some personal circumstances, he has been unable to regularly participate with ETAC, however he is hoping that for the remainder of his term he will be able to take part. Mr. Maclaren added that he enjoys and respects the Committee and is proud to be a member. Mr. Christie reiterated he will prepare a letter to Mr. Kinton and include a copy of the attendance policy. Mr. Christie advised that visibility, when turning west off of Broadway onto Princeton Ave., is obscured by vehicles parked on Princeton at the Broadway curbline. Additionally, the same situation exists at Acoma St. and Princeton. Lt. Sanchez stated he will contact the business owners in that vicinity and monitor the area for violations. Committee Members' Choice • During a recent citizen contact, Committee Member Goosman was advised that the individual couldn't find an opening to cross Broadway because of street closures on the cross-streets in conjunction with the recent Micro-surfacing program. Director Kahm advised that the Micro-surfacing project was accomplished two blocks at a time, and only the side streets associated with each of the two block sections were closed at any one t ime. • Council Liaison Tomasso inquired about an item included in the Council packets regarding a citizen driving a scooter who could not get a green light on Dartmouth Ave. at Santa Fe because a scooter does not hold enough weight to trigger the traffic signal sensor loop. Traffic Engineer Vostry stated he was contacted by this citizen regarding the intersections of Dartmouth Ave. and Santa Fe, which is controlled by CDOT, and Belleview Ave . and Windermere St., which is controlled by the City of Littleton. The citizen requested that these sensors be adjusted for lighter vehicles, as is the signal at Floyd Ave. and Inca St. Mr. Vostry exp lained to her that the Floyd/Inca signal is triggered by a camera motion sensor rather than loops in the pavement. Mr. Vostry notified both CDOT and the City of Littleton regarding the citizen's request. Mr. Vostry advised that the loop sensors throughout Englewood are gradually being replaced by camera motion sensors as Englewood and CDOT projects come up. Mr. Kahm noted that approximately 25% of Englewood 's intersections will have the camera sensors by the end of August when CDOT completes their Hwy. 285 overlay project. • To Vice-chair Anderson's inquiry regarding the 2005 Micro-surfacing program, Director Kahm explained that from the Broadway and Hampden Ave. bridge south to Quincy, the ruts were filled and a 10 foot wide top coat was applied, and stated that the traffic lane lines will be repainted next week. Next year's program 4 • • • • • will begin with filling the ruts and applying a top coat to the section from Quincy Ave. to Tufts Ave., and followed by Micro-Surfacing the Broadway and Hampden bridge surface as well as the full width of the roadway south to Tufts Ave. Additionally, Mr. Kahm commented that he hopes federal funds through DRCOG will be available in 2006 to construct median improvements on Broadway between Tufts and Belleview Avenues. Mr. Kahm stated that the Micro-surfacing process costs the City only 40% of what the expense would be to rotomill and overlay the roadways. Mr. Kahm added that micro-surfacing will generally hold up for about seven years. Mr. Anderson inquired about RTD's progress in building the pedestrian tunnel under Santa Fe for additional patron parking. Mr. Kahm advised that RTD and Englewood are discussing several scenarios and locations for RTD parking. Brief discussion ensued regarding the availability of the art Shuttle which provides free transportation between Swedish Medical Center and the Englewood light rail station. Mr. Tomasso inquired about posting signs on Broadway directing motorists to public parking, and was advised that signs exist on some of Broadway's traffic signal poles. Mr. Kahm suggested that staff can look at ways to enhance the visibility of those signs. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:49 p.m . Linda Wilks, Recording Secretary 5