City of Lawrence
Traffic Safety Commission Agenda
December 6, 2004-7:30 PM
City Commission Room-City Hall
MEMBERS: Caroljean Brune, Chair, John Ziegelmeyer Jr., Vice-Chair, Carol Bowen, Danny Drungilas, Paul Graves, Robert Hagen, David Hamby, Matt Jordan, and Caleb Morse.
ITEM NO. 1: Review and approve the minutes of the Traffic Safety Commission meeting, November 8, 2004.
ITEM NO. 2: Consider request from New York School PTO to a) Remove the 30MPH SPEED LIMIT sign in front of the school, b) Provide a PUSH BUTTON CROSSWALK at 11th Street & New York Street and c) Establish a 4-WAY STOP on 10th Street at New York Street and New Jersey Street. Consider relocation of the existing beacons on New York Street. Consider establishing a mid-block school crossing.
Report:
1. These items were considered at the November 8, 2004, Traffic Safety Commission meeting, however, the Commission requested additional traffic data before making a recommendation.
2. Traffic counts taken this fall at 10th & New York found ~350 vehicles northbound at an 85th percentile speed of 28.6mph and ~250 vehicles southbound at an 85th percentile speed of 25.3mph.
3. Mid-block pedestrian counts obtained 9-10 November 2004, found 8 students crossing to the school from 7:00-8:45AM (all were let out of cars stopping on the west side of the street) and 13 students (10 with parents) crossing from the school from 3:45-6:00PM.
4. At 11th Street & New York Street, pedestrian counts obtained 9-10 November 2004 found 5 students (1 with a parent) crossing to school from 7:00-8:45AM and 6 students (1 with a parent) crossing from school from 3:45-6:00PM.
5. At 10th Street & New York Street, pedestrian counts obtained 9-10 November 2004 found 9 students crossing New York Street to school from 7:00-8:45AM and 4 students crossing from school from 3:45-6:00PM.
6. At 10th Street & New Jersey Street, pedestrian counts obtained 9-10 November 2004 found 3 students crossing 10th Street to school from 7:00-8:45AM and 10 students crossing from school from 3:45-6:00PM. (Note: these students could cross 10th Street at New York Street if they choose to where traffic on 10th Street is required to stop).
ACTION: Provide recommendation to the City Commission.
ITEM NO. 3: Consider alternatives to improve safety at the intersection of Kasold Drive & Riverview Road.
Report:
1. Kasold Drive is classified as an “arterial” and Riverview Road is classified as a “local” street in a residential area.
2. The speed limit on Kasold Drive is 30mph, however, studies show the 85th percentile speed to be >40mph. The sight distance for eastbound vehicles is only adequate for speeds of 21mph.
3. Alternatives include Do Nothing; install Flashing Beacons with a recommended 20mph speed; install a Multi-way Stop; install a Traffic Signal; acquire right-of-way and remove sight obstacles; construct a Partial Diverter (this could be done on a temporary basis similar to 6th & Schwarz); and close Riverview Road (this could be done on a temporary basis similar to 15th & Goldleaf).
4. Traffic counts obtained 12 October 2004 show that neither a Multi-way Stop nor a Traffic Signal meets the minimum requirements of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
ACTION: Provide recommendation to the City Commission.
ITEM NO. 4: Consider re-striping 6th Street between Alabama Street and Tennessee Street to provide a TWO-WAY LEFT-TURN LANE.
Report:
1. At the 13 September 2004 Traffic Safety Commission (TSC) meeting, the Commission received the Douglas County Road Safety Audit prepared by the Kansas Department of Transportation and recommended that 6th Street be re-striped between Alabama Street and Tennessee Street in order to provide a TWO-WAY LEFT-TURN LANE.
2. The City Commission has requested that TSC hold a public hearing on this item to receive input from adjacent residents and neighborhoods.
ACTION: Provide recommendation to the City Commission.
ITEM NO. 5: Consider request from Beverly Kuester, 416 Perry Street, to establish NO PARKING along the west side of 4th Street between Lincoln Street and Perry Street.
Report:
1. 4th Street is a “local” street in a residential area with a dust-free surface approximately 18 feet wide without shoulders.
2. Parking on streets of this type can cause the edges to deteriorate and eventually work towards the center of the street.
3. Parking has been restricted on similar streets in the past when supported by the area residents.
ACTION: Provide recommendation to the City Commission.
ITEM NO. 6: Consider request from Carol Harrell, 528 Arrowhead Drive, to provide additional TRAFFIC CONTROL at the intersection of Arrowhead Drive & Peterson Road.
Report:
1. A Gap Study conducted October 25, 29 and November 4 found an average of >12 students crossing in the morning and >19 students crossing in the afternoon. During the morning period 8 of the 9 crossing periods had less than 1.0 gap per minute; during the afternoon crossing period 4 of the 6 crossing periods had less than 1.0 gap per minute.
2. The City’s School Crossing Control Policy states that an ADULT CROSSING GUARD may be provided at an unprotected marked crosswalk if the average number of students is 10 or greater and the available safe gaps in the traffic is less than 1.0.
3. This crossing exceeds the minimum requirement for consideration of an ADULT CROSSING GUARD.
ACTION: Provide recommendation to the City Commission.
ITEM NO. 7: Consider request from Angelina Sterrett, 1126 E 1550 Road, to install FLASHING BEACONS on 9th Street at Schwarz Road.
Report:
1. The City’s School Crossing Control Policy states that TRAFFIC CONTROL will be provided for elementary students only.
2. An ADULT CROSSING GUARD is currently provided for elementary students at the intersection of 9th Street & Schwarz Road.
ACTION: Provide recommendation to the City Commission.
ITEM NO. 8: Consider request from Steve Bennett, 4224 Wheat State Street, to construct a TRAFFIC CALMING CIRCLE at the intersection of Eldridge Street & Wheat State Street.
Report:
1. Eldridge Street and Wheat State Street are both “local” streets in a residential area.
2. Most other 4-way intersections in the area have temporary traffic calming circles scheduled for permanent construction next spring.
3. Daily traffic volumes on the four legs of the intersection range from 70-140 vehicles per day with 85th percentile speeds ranging from 25.2-29.1 mph.
4. There has been one reported crash at the intersection during the past three years.
5. Sight distance at the intersection is adequate for traffic approaching at approximately 24 mph.
ACTION: Provide recommendation to the City Commission.
ITEM NO. 9: Public Comment.
ITEM NO. 10: Commission Items.
ITEM NO. 11: Miscellaneous.
City of Lawrence
Traffic Safety Commission
December 6, 2004 minutes
MEMBERS PRESENT: Caroljean Brune, Chair, John Ziegelmeyer, Jr. Vice-Chair, Carol Bowen, Danny Drungilas, Paul Graves, Robert Hagen, David Hamby, Matt Jordan, and Caleb Morse.
STAFF PRESENT: David Woosley, Public Works Department
Chair Caroljean Brune called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. in the City Commission Room in City Hall.
Review and approve the minutes of the Traffic Safety Commission meeting, November 8, 2004.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MORSE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HAMBY, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 8, 2004, TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING; THE MOTION CARRIED 9-0.
Consider request from New York School PTO to a) Remove the 30MPH SPEED LIMIT sign in front of the school, b) Provide a PUSH BUTTON CROSSWALK at 11th Street & New York Street, and c) Establish a 4-WAY STOP on 10th Street at New York Street and New Jersey Street. Consider relocation of the existing beacons on New York Street. Consider establishing a mid-block school crossing.
David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report and noted that an updated request had been emailed to each member earlier in the day.
Dawn Hawkins, 1219 New York Street: The new request deleted the request for a mid-block crossing for the time being. This school has no designated drop-off or pick-up zone; however, the school is looking at possibly using capital outlay money to construct such a zone. The major issue is to have 4-way stops on 10th Street at New York Street and New Jersey Street. The speed zone going southbound is 20mph so there is a difference in speed of opposing traffic which doesn’t make sense. Without a drop-off and pick-up zone, there are children that are crossing the street all the time. Also, a push-button light at 11th & New York would be useful for all pedestrians in the area, not just students.
Pete Laufer, 407 E. 10th Street: My dining table looks out at the intersection of 10th & New York and I have wondered why traffic drives so fast on New York Street; it is because there is no stop sign at 10th Street. Mr. Laufer submitted a petition requesting 4-way stops at all four intersections of New York School. It is sensible to have stop signs around a school.
Janet Bartlett, 808 Connecticut Street: With all of the cars parked at the corner of 10th & New York it is hard to see pedestrians or vehicles. Also, it doesn’t make sense to have an End School Zone sign in front of the school. In addition, the crosswalks in the area are not maintained.
Nancy Myers, 1312 New Hampshire Street: We travel northbound on New York Street and wondered why the school beacon was so far from the school and there is a 30mph sign in front of the school. I am here to support all the proposed items today.
Greg Herrod, 942 New Jersey Street: I have two children that use the playground at the school, one in kindergarten and a 3-year old. Traffic laws were developed around 1967 for a neighborhood that is 130 years old. The neighborhood is set-out to be a pedestrian neighborhood. The traffic laws were developed for a suburban area. Due to a fence, students crossing at 10th & New Jersey can’t be seen. The traffic studies are useful but not accurate. There is also a problem with 9th Street being a truck delivery route. There are a lot of trucks using New Jersey Street.
William Winkler, 1625 Delaware Street: I am here to support the suggested changes around New York School.
Nancy DeGarmo, New York School Principal: I believe that these parents have a legitimate concern and it doesn’t make sense to have a 30mph sign in front of the school. We are looking at developing drop-off zones to make it safer.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MORSE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HAGEN, TO RECOMMEND RELOCATING THE SCHOOL BEACONS ON NEW YORK STREET TO APPROXIMATELY 925-929 NEW YORK STREET AND 1004-1008 NEW YORK STREET WITH THE END SCHOOL ZONES SIGNS ADJACENT TO THEM. THE MOTION CARRIED 9-0.
Commissioner Brune asked if the crossing at 11th Street & New York Street meets the minimum requirements for a push-button signal with the expanded pedestrian counts; Woosley advised that it does not.
Commissioner Bowen: The problem with a pedestrian count is that if it is not safe for pedestrians to cross, then there won’t be any pedestrians.
Commissioner Graves asked if there could be a volunteer crossing guard to find out if more students would use the crossing if it were safer; Woosley advised that could be possible as long as the volunteer did not try to direct traffic, but only controlled the students.
Commissioner Jordan: If we make a variation of our policy for this area, we might as well throw away our policy, because why wouldn’t we then do the same thing for any other school that came to us?
Commissioner Bowen: Perhaps we should have regulations that fit older neighborhoods that were designed in a more pedestrian friendly manner.
Commissioner Jordan: This sounds like a more pedestrian friendly area with narrower streets and slower speeds than new areas with wider street and higher speeds.
Commissioner Hagen: The key to having a safe crossing is the gap between cars and it seems the volume of cars is not so great so it shouldn’t be that much of a problem.
Commissioner Jordan asked if it made sense that older neighborhoods don’t fit with newer regulations; Woosley advised that the regulations have been developed over a period of 70 years or more and based on studies of what works and what doesn’t work throughout the country in large cities and small ones and older neighborhoods and newer ones.
Commissioner Hagen asked if one of the suggestions in the new proposal to make New York Street a one-way would help in any way. Woosley advised that it could actually increase the speed of traffic along the street; however we do have a one-way street adjacent to Sunset Hill School.
Commissioner Brune: It appears that if we make an exception here for most of what has been requested we will be violating City Policy or the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ZIEGELMEYER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER JORDAN, TO RECOMMEND DENIAL OF THE REQUEST FOR A PUSH-BUTTON CROSSWALK AT 11TH STREET & NEW YORK STREET; THE MOTION CARRIED 9-0.
Commissioner Graves pointed out that there are some solutions; the school district needs to develop a safe drop-off zone and volunteer crossing guards can be used.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MORSE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HAMBY, TO RECOMMEND DENIAL OF THE REQUEST FOR 4-WAY STOPS ON 10TH STREET AT NEW YORK STREET AND NEW JERSEY STREET; THE MOTION CARRIED 9-0.
Commissioner Brune requested that the minutes show that the Commission is in agreement that a safe drop-off zone needs to be provided at this school and if the city can help the school district, that needs to be a top priority.
Consider alternatives to improve safety at the intersection of Kasold Drive & Riverview Road.
David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report and noted that an email from John Wysocki, had been forwarded to the Commission on December 1 and provided copies of correspondence from Rhonda & Jerry Wells, 3401 Riverview Road.
Glenn Prescott, 226 Arizona Street: I think that the 4-way stop came up in order to help children cross the street. I advocate that nothing be done here; I don’t think there is a problem and I believe that the person who made the initial request wanted to withdraw it. If a partial diverter were installed, it would send all the traffic back through the neighborhood.
Neil Shanberg, 3520 Riverview Road: I live near where the traffic would be re-routed; I also suggest that nothing be done at that intersection. There have been no accidents for three years and those of us that use the intersection have learned how to turn there. If we do anything at all, there are two trees in the backyard on the corner that could be trimmed higher and a privacy fence on the adjacent lot that could be changed. As far as traffic control, I suggest that nothing be done.
Commissioner Bowen: I think that a 4-way stop on Kasold would not be a good idea and I don’t think that flashing lights would be a good idea.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BOWEN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER DRUNGILAS, TO RECOMMEND THAT NO ACTION BE TAKEN AT THIS INTERSECTION; THE MOTION CARRIED 9-0.
Consider re-striping 6th Street between Alabama Street & Tennessee Street to provide a TWO-WAY LEFT-TURN LANE.
David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report and noted two e-mail’s had been forwarded to the Commission that were received on December 6, and advised that the resident at 547 Alabama had telephoned on December 3 and spoke in favor of the re-striping. In addition, the re-striping can be accomplished without any additional parking removal. The lanes would be narrowed to 11ft which may reduce the speed of traffic in the area.
Commissioner Brune asked if KDOT had a recommendation; Woosley advised that KDOT’s Douglas County Road Safety Audit did recommend re-striping to include a two-way left-turn lane.
Commissioner Morse asked if the Commission hadn’t already recommended the re-striping; Woosley advised they had, but the City Commission had sent it back and asked that the Traffic Safety Commission hold a public input session.
Tim Miller, 620 Indiana Street: It will make traffic faster on 6th Street and will increase traffic on 6th Street. There should be traffic calming along with it.
Commissioner Graves: It doesn’t make sense to me that it would have any negatives associated with it. I see positives in terms of safety for left-turning vehicles and the narrower lanes may serve as a form of traffic calming.
Commissioner Brune: I agree with Paul; when we saw the crash reports, I thought the number of crashes due to left-turns was atrocious.
Commissioner Jordan: It seems to me that 6th Street is the best route in and out of downtown and if we as a community want to continue to bring people downtown, we need to make routes available for them to travel to and from downtown. It is the arterial designated for that area of town and shouldn’t try to get traffic to use 7th Street, 8th Street or 9th Street, and we should make it as safe as possible.
Commissioner Hagen asked what the Pinckney Neighborhood thought.
Gwen Klingenberg, Pinckney Neighborhood Coordinator: We had a general meeting in November; however I have not received any feedback from my emails.
Commissioner Bowen: I think that 6th Street is definitely a strong arterial, however, the more left-turn lanes we put in, the fewer pedestrians we will have.
Commissioner Morse asked if the tunnel was still used; Woosley advised that it was used by Pinckney School students to cross 6th Street.
Commissioner Ziegelmeyer: I think more public good is served by re-striping 6th Street.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ZIEGELMEYER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GRAVES, TO RECOMMEND RE-STRIPING 6TH STREET BETWEEN ALABAMA STREET AND TENNESSEE STREET TO PROVIDE A TWO-WAY LEFT-TURN LANE; THE MOTION CARRIED 9-0.
Consider request from Beverly Kuester, 416 Perry Street, to establish NO PARKING along the west side of 4th Street between Lincoln Street and Perry Street.
David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report and distributed another letter from Beverly Kuester received December 6.
Megan Morris, 401 Perry Street (provided several letters and a petition opposing the request): I am the property owner at 401 Perry; I park my vehicle on 4th Street because it is much wider than Perry Street.
Commissioner Ziegelmeyer: I drove through this area a couple of times with the truck and trailer there and there is adequate room to get through.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ZIEGELMEYER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BOWEN, TO RECOMMEND DENIAL OF THE REQUEST TO ESTABLISH NO PARKING ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF 4TH STREET BETWEEN LINCOLN STREET AND PERRY STREET. THE MOTION CARRIED 9-0.
Consider request from Carol Harrell, 528 Arrowhead Drive, to provide additional TRAFFIC CONTROL at the intersection of Arrowhead Drive & Peterson Road.
David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.
Karen Cooper, 601 Bently Drive: It is scary for an adult to cross at this intersection, let alone an elementary student; there are adults that drive their students to school; some vehicles stop for the students, but many don’t. We would like to have an adult crossing guard there.
Leslie O’Neil, 409 Arrowhead Drive: It is a very dangerous intersection and I would urge you to do whatever you can to make it safer.
Melissa Jakmouj, 620 Bently Drive: Since there is a hill there and there are cars stopped for a crossing guard there may not be sufficient sight distance for another car to stop. During nice weather there are a lot more students crossing, 30 or more.
Carol Harrell, 528 Arrowhead Drive: I choose to drive instead of walking across the intersection. We would appreciate whatever you can do to help us. No one goes 20mph even when students are there.
Commissioner Graves asked if there were any advance warning signs; Woosley advised that there were School Advance Signs, Reduced Speed Limit Signs and School Crossing Signs on Peterson Road.
Commissioner Morse asked if it would be possible to construct a pedestrian median at the intersection; Woosley advised that it would replace the left-turn lane and left-turners would have to stop and turn from the through lane of traffic unless the street is widened.
Commissioner Hagen asked if the intersection warranted a traffic signal or all-way stop; Woosley advised that it didn’t at this time.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRUNE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BOWEN, TO RECOMMEND PROVIDING AN ADULT CROSSING GUARD AT THE INTERSECTION OF ARROWHEAD DRIVE AND PETERSON ROAD; THE MOTION CARRIED 9-0.
Commissioner Bowen requested that the Police Department provide additional enforcement of the speed limit along Peterson Road and Kasold Drive.
Consider request from Angelina Sterrett, 1126 E 1550 Road, to install FLASHING BEACONS on 9th Street at Schwarz Road.
David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.
A letter from Angelina Sterrett and Chris Bay was distributed.
Commissioner Drungilas asked if the student was in the crosswalk when struck; Woosley advised that the Police report indicated the pedestrian was in the crosswalk.
Commissioner Brune requested that a review of the School Crossing Control Policy and a discussion of pedestrian right-of-way be placed on the January Traffic Safety Commission agenda.
Chris Bay, 1650 N 1600 Road, Sunset Hill School Principal: Over the past year, three different students have been struck along 9th Street; it is a bottleneck area, but people travel at a high rate of speed; there have been multiple close calls with the crossing guard almost getting struck.
Angelina Sterrett, 1126 E 1550 Road: There are a lot of junior high students that pickup younger brothers and sisters after the crossing guard leaves; someone needs to be there until 3:45; traffic is horrible, people don’t pay attention.
Commissioner Bowen asked where the nearest traffic control was along 9th Street; Woosley advised at Iowa Street and at Lawrence Avenue.
Commissioner Hamby: This would be an ideal location for a pedestrian refuge island.
Commissioner Morse: This street is very similar to Louisiana Street where pedestrian refuge islands have worked very well during school hours as well as off hours.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ZIEGELMEYER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MORSE, TO TABLE THIS ITEM UNTIL COUNTS CAN BE OBTAINED AND OTHER ALTERNATIVES CAN BE EXPLORED; THE MOTION CARRIED 9-0.
Consider request from Steve Bennett, 4224 Wheat State Street, to construct a TRAFFIC CALMING CIRCLE at the intersection of Eldridge Street & Wheat State Street.
David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report and advised of a telephone call from Kimberly Steines, 1012 Eldridge Street, opposed to a traffic calming circle.
Steve Bennett, 4224 Wheat State Street: I have noticed a steady increase of traffic and increase in speed of traffic on Wheat State Street; sight distance is not good at the intersection; part of the problem is due to the circles on Goldfield and people using other routes.
Commissioner Bowen: We are not willing to pay for police officers and are trying to control traffic with other means which don’t work.
Commissioner Hagen: We need both police and traffic calming devices to solve problems that were created by the improper design of some of our neighborhoods.
Commissioner Brune: I go out of my way to use routes with traffic calming circles; it is much easier for me to keep moving at a slow speed than stopping.
Commissioner Hamby: Traffic calming devices do a much better job of controlling traffic than a sign since the devices are in the roadway.
Commissioner Morse: Both the volume counts and speed data are very low.
Commissioner Hamby asked how this intersection would compare to others that have been approved; Woosley advised that the traffic data does not meet the minimum required by the Draft Traffic Calming Policy, however, based on existing sight distance, a YIELD sign could be justified on the lower volume street.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MORSE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER JORDAN, TO TABLE THE REQUEST TO CONSTRUCT A TRAFFIC CALMING CIRCLE AT THE INTERSECTION OF ELDRIDGE STREET AND WHEAT STATE STREET AND CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES AT THE NEXT MEETING; THE MOTION CARRIED 9-0.
ITEM NO. 9:
Public Comment.
None.
ITEM NO. 10:
Commission Items.
None.
ITEM NO. 11:
Miscellaneous.
None.
The meeting adjourned at 10:15 PM.
The next scheduled meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission is Monday, January 3, 2005.
Respectfully submitted,
David E. Woosley, P.E.
Transportation/Traffic Engineer