TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION

MINUTES

August 4, 2003

The Lawrence Traffic Safety Commission met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., in the City Commission Room in City Hall with Chair Paul Graves presiding and Commissioners Jeremy Anderson, Steve Blackwell, Caroljean Brune, Danny Drungilas, Caleb Morse and John Ziegelmeyer Jr. present.  Commissioners Brian Edwards and Robert Hagen were absent.  Staff members David Woosley (Public Works Department) and Officer Mike Monroe (Police Department) were present.

The Chair recognized a new appointment to the Commission, Caleb Morse.

ITEM NO. 1:               Review and approve the minutes of the Traffic Safety Commission meeting, July 7, 2003.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ZIEGELMEYER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER DRUNGILAS, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 7, 2003, TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING.  THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0-3 (Anderson, Brune, Morse). 

ITEM NO. 2:               Consider Harvard Road permanent Traffic Calming Plan.

                                    David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report and distributed additional comments that had been received since distribution of the agenda.

                                    Mark Desetti, 4605 Harvard Road, stated that the neighborhood had been working on this for about three years, including numerous meetings and presentations and temporary devices.  The plan as proposed may not be perfect, but it will do a lot; the traffic calming circles are an appropriate size and will slow down traffic; the cushions will slow down traffic; the devices may be too far apart, but there is room for additional devices between if needed later on.  Desetti urged the Commission to look at the plan, approve it and move it forward to the City Commission.

                                    Mary Chaney, 1032 Eldridge Street, stated that she did not want any traffic calming on Harvard Road; speeding is not that much of a problem; and the circles are confusing to drivers and pedestrians.

                                    John Chaney, 1032 Eldridge Street, stated that he had a problem with the design of cushions and would rather have something like in front of the Arts Center.  Stop signs and other devices would be better than this expense, particularly if it is paid for with a benefit district.  The City should never have allowed houses to face Harvard.

                                    Jill Patton, 4404 Harvard Road, stated that since the temporary devices were removed, traffic has picked-up; the devices did make a huge difference; it is more difficult to cross the street; there is a lot of traffic and it is very fast; once the devices were removed, neighbors realized that they really worked; we won’t even allow our children on the sidewalk because it is too scary; this plan is a step in the right direction; send it on to the City Commission.

                                    Lucy Flynn, 4528 Harvard Road, stated she would move because of the traffic, but she likes the neighborhood and her neighbors; with three small children it is scary; it needs to be fixed; it takes 15 minutes to cross the street with a stroller and a 3-year old.

                                    Jim Greathouse, 4101 Harvard Road, stated the traffic is way too fast; stop signs would not be as expensive; the cost should be the responsibility of the City; something has to be done, our property values have gone down.

                                    Barry Nason, 821 Justin Street, stated he was new to the neighborhood, but the traffic is too fast and would support anything to reduce the traffic; however, stop signs may not work if children think all traffic will stop.

                                    Roger Bain, 4500 Harvard Road, stated that we have an opportunity to fix the problems that resulted from previous decisions; it is a band-aid, it won’t be perfect, but it will be a solution; we need traffic calming on Harvard; there is enough space between the proposed devices to add additional ones in the future if they are needed; we saw a big difference when the temporary devices were put in, and a bigger difference when they were taken out; the temporary devices need to be reinstalled until permanent ones can be constructed.

                                    Commissioner Anderson stated he thought this was a good initiative and he supported the plan.  It has been an educational process, but the plan has a lot of support.

                                    Commissioner Brune stated that she concurred with Commissioner Anderson and supported the plan.

                                    Commissioner Graves stated that the neighborhood had gone through all the necessary steps and he supported the plan.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ZIEGELMEYER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON, TO RECOMMEND IMPELENTATION OF THE PLAN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND INSTALLATION OF TEMPORARY DEVICES UNTIL PERMANENT CONSTRUCTION CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED.  THE MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

ITEM NO. 3:               Public Comment.

James Dunn, 936 Kentucky Street brought three items to the attention of the Commission:

1. NO PARKING needs to be extended further north at 9^th & Maine due to KU buses turning onto Maine.

2. There is a tree on the southwest corner of 10^th & Kentucky that blocks sight distance and may have contributed to crashes in the past.

3. Jaywalking in the downtown area and pedestrians crossing the street against the red at signalized intersections.

ITEM NO. 4:               Commission Items.

Commissioner Anderson announced that he would be submitting his resignation prior to the next meeting.

ITEM NO. 5:               Miscellaneous.

The Commission acknowledged receipt of the latest 12-month attendance summary.

The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

The next scheduled meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission is Monday, October 6, 2003.

Additional Harvard Road Comments
on plan presented 10 July 2003
Goldfield Court
4509	I am TOTALLY against the idea of roundabouts.  Lawrence should be making improvements to beautify the city…and roundabouts are very unpleasant in appearance.  Also I witnessed on a daily basis the confusion caused to drivers and pedestrians from the temporary roundabouts.  They were not a solution to traffic calming.  What is wrong with stop lights or even stop signs at every intersection??  Probably would be safer, less costly and more effective!!
4513	Address issue of parking on both sides of Harvard.  Homeowners do not utilize driveways.  It is extremely dangerous as children dart out from between parked cars.  Explore an option other than a turning circle/roundabout at Harvard Goldfield intersection.  This may have helped to slow down traffic on Harvard however it is extremely difficult and dangerous for pedestrians-adults and children.  A crosswalk will not be enough.  Strongly consider a 4-way stop at this intersection.  I am appalled that there was no monitoring done of the temporary traffic calming and that this permanent plan is driven by the perceptions and opinions of one group rather than any factual data.
Goldfield Street
4204	I was present at the meeting and my opinion on the best solution is traffic calming circles at the intersections of Grove (the east one) and Moundridge.  I think it's unnecessary and dangerous for children to have a circle at Goldfield (school crossing).  I'm for the cushions on either side of that intersection all the way down.
4204	I was not present at the meeting but my opinion remains that a circle at Goldfield is not needed and is dangerous for children that need to cross Harvard.  I would like either large "Dips" or cushions placed in the road to slow traffic at this spot.  I would favor this approach at any spot on Harvard.
Harvard Road
4005	We would like at least one more calming device between our address and Monetery Way.  The cars go extremely fast in this section of Harvard.
4204	My opinion is that traffic calming measures are necessary to discourage frequent traffic exceeding the posted limits (or accepted residential limits by state law).  In particular I believe that the planned traffic circles at intersections with Harvard Road between Monterey Way and Wakarusa wil be beneficial to reducing traffic to safer speeds.  I like the current placement planned for speed cushions; however, I am concerned the excessive height could be detrimental to vehicle condition safety.  I would prefer something closer to the "rumble strips" on the interstates.
4208	I would prefer not to have any traffic calming devices.  And if they have to be done - I feel there should be good old fashioned stop signs.  I would think when the city is in dire financial straits, better things money could be spent on.  And I would not be willing to help with the cost of this project.  And as far as kids getting hit - I feel this is the parents responsibility.  Kids should not be playing in the front on a busy street.  And children should be supervised at all times.  There are many other bad things that could happen to them besides getting hit by a car.  Can you please find something better to put your time, effort and money into.  Thanks.
4213	I would like to see your data on stop signs vs. circles!!  Placement of a 4-way large sign at Wagon Wheel/Wheat State & Harvard.  PERIOD!!!  Yes speed cushions will slow down traffic if they are tall enough & secure enough.  What about the damaged curb already existing???  Calming circles are too large for size of street.  Making one solution fit into a problem.  Stop signs are less expensive & easier to maintain.  Let me know when Lawrence is known for "the circles city of the world."
4500	I totally agree with what was presented at the meeting on Harvard Road traffic earlier this month.  The plan as presented would be great and if more is needed later it should be added.  The sooner devices can be installed the better.  School starts in less than a month and with that traffic will increase.  If at least part of the temporary devices could be reinstalled it would help a lot.
4709	Circle at Harvard and Moundridge is EXCELLENT!  Should slow traffic entering neighborhood.
	Speed cushion in front of my home would be okay for additional slowing.
	Crossing guard at Goldfield & Harvard would make crossing safer for Quail Run students.
Mulberry Drive
828	We would prefer that Folks & Mulberry not be joined - but if in the long run they are - we would prefer a planned neighborhood street with traffic calming devices that does not feed more traffic onto Harvard.  A small traffic circle at Mulberry & Harvard with landscaping is preferable to something larger.