City of Lawrence
Traffic Safety Commission Agenda
February 7, 2005-7:30 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, January 3, 2005.
ITEM NO. 2: Consider pedestrian safety improvements at the intersection of 9th Street & Schwarz Road.
Report:
1. At the December 2004 Traffic Safety Commission meeting, the Commission considered a request from Angelian Sterrett, 1126 E 1550 road, to install FLASHING BEACONS on 9th Street at Schwarz Road, due to a pedestrian crash involving a junior high school student.
2. The Commission requested that traffic volume and speed data be obtained and that other alternatives be provided.
3. Traffic data obtained on 29 December 2004 found a volume of approximately 6140 vehicles per day and an 85th percentile speed of 38.1mph eastbound and 39.1mph westbound. The posted speed limit is 30mph.
4. The DRAFT TRAFFIC CALMING POLICY states that traffic calming devices may be provided on a collector street (9th Street is classified as a collector) if the 85th percentile speed of traffic is 5mph or more over the speed limit or if the 24-hour volume is greater than 3000. Both of these conditions exist at this location.
5. A traffic calming device that may be appropriate at this location would be a pedestrian refuge island similar to what have been constructed at other locations throughout Lawrence.
ITEM NO. 3: Consider request for speed humps on Bobwhite Drive; restricting parking to the outside curves; and installing a sidewalk along both sides of the street.
Report:
1. Bobwhite Drive is classified as a “collector” street (therefore speed humps would not be allowed, but speed cushions would be), however, it is only paved 26 feet wide with a sidewalk along only one side of the street.
2. Traffic data obtained 25 January 2005 found traffic volume ranging from 355 to 1000 vehicles per day and 85th percentile speeds ranging from 25 to 44mph.
3. Inasmuch as the street curves reverse several times, it is not practical to prohibit parking on the inside of the curves. Parking could be prohibited along the entire length on one or both sides of the street, however, this could actually increase the speed of the traffic.
4. It appears that a sidewalk could be constructed along the southeasterly side of the street.
ITEM NO. 4: Consider request to re-open Goldleaf Place at Bob Billings Boulevard.
Report:
1. At the 7 July 2003 Traffic Safety Commission meeting, the Commission considered a request from area homeowners to completely close Goldleaf Place at Bob Billings Boulevard (15th Street) due to poor sight distance.
2. The TSC recommended an immediate temporary closure of the street and an expeditious aesthetic permanent closure.
3. At the 12 August 2003 City Commission meeting, the Commission concurred with the recommendation.
4. The Public Works Department had planned on making the closure permanent during the 2004 construction season; however, several property owners requested other alternatives be investigated.
5. City Legal, Public Works and Traffic Engineering staff have been working with neighborhood residents, developers, their legal counsel and Landplan Engineering to determine what alternative there is.
6. The proposed solution is to remove the barriers to a safe sight distance at the intersection, including, shrubs, fences and berms.
7. Legal staff has worked to obtain restrictive use easements from 5 adjacent property owners which will permanently prevent sight distance obstacles from being placed where they would obstruct required sight lines.
8. Property owners have agreed to remove the existing obstacles.
ITEM NO. 5: Review 2002-2004 Pedestrian Crashes.
ITEM NO. 6: Public Comment.
ITEM NO. 7: Commission Items.
ITEM NO. 8: Miscellaneous.
Receive Attendance Summary for the period February 2004-January 2005.
Receive letter from Jean Milstead, 3029 Wellington Court, re: 23rd Street.
City Commission action on previous recommendations:
1. Concurred with recommendation to take no action at the intersection of Kasold Drive & Riverview Road.
2. Concurred with recommendation to deny request for NO PARKING along the west side of 4th Street between Lincoln Street and Perry Street.
3. Concurred with recommendation to establish an ADULT CROSSING GUARD at the intersection of Arrowhead Drive & Peterson Road.
4. Concurred with recommendation to re-stripe 6th Street between Alabama Street and Tennessee Street to provide a two-way-left-turn-lane.
City of Lawrence
Traffic Safety Commission
February 7, 2005 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 and Officer Jim Miller, Police Department
Chair Caroljean Brune called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the City Commission Room in City Hall.
Review and approve the minutes of the Traffic Safety Commission meeting, January 3, 2005.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAGEN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HAMBY, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 3, 2005 TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING; THE MOTION CARRIED 7-0-2 (Jordan, Morse).
Consider pedestrian safety improvements at the intersection of 9th Street & Schwarz Road.
David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.
Commissioner Morse asked if a raised crosswalk had been considered; Woosley advised that it would be possible, but not as friendly to emergency vehicles and may require considerable storm sewer construction.
Commissioner Brune asked if there was a loading zone on 9th Street; Woosley advised that parking was prohibited along both sides of 9th Street.
Commissioner Hagen asked if the school district had commented on the option; Woosley advised that they had been notified of the agenda item.
Commissioner Brune: I think it looks like a good idea; the ones on Louisiana are good.
Commissioner Bowen: Would this be a surprise to traffic on 9th Street such that they would hit it?
Commissioner Hamby: I think there is good visibility on 9th Street.
Commissioner Hamby asked if the YIELD TO PEDESTRIAN sign could be installed on the island to make it more visible; Woosley advised that it could.
Commissioner Hagen: There needs to be a visual barrier to encourage traffic to slow down on 9th Street; this seems to be the device.
Commissioner Morse asked if the reconstruction of the street would require veering out of the lane; Woosley advised that it would require considerable tapering which will not be cheap like many of the other islands constructed.
Commissioner Morse: I think it’s a good investment.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MORSE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ZIEGELMEYER, TO RECOMMEND CONSTRUCTION OF A PEDESTRIAN REFUGE ISLAND ON 9TH STREET AT SCHWARZ ROAD; THE MOTION CARRIED 9-0.
Consider request for speed humps on Bobwhite Drive; restricting parking to the outside curves; and installing a sidewalk along both sides of the street.
David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.
Commissioner Bowen asked who would pay for the sidewalk; Woosley advised that would be up to the City Commission to determine.
Julie Dunlap, 1638 Bobwhite Drive: There are 14 children that live within a 5-home-stretch and we have seen many close calls; the only way I feel comfortable letting my child in the front yard is standing on the curb ready to throw myself in front of an on-coming car. It is not just people living in the neighborhood but visitors and all types of delivery vehicles also.
Bruce Boyer, 1626 Bobwhite Drive: Bobwhite Drive has become a contractor’s haven, but the traffic is getting better and as construction winds down it should continue to improve. There is a parking problem and a speed control problem, but speed humps and sidewalks is overkill. I picked my house because it did not have a sidewalk. This traffic problem will get better as time goes on. I would suggest that nothing be done at this time.
Commissioner Brune asked what the parking problem was; Boyer advised that several of the homes park numerous vehicles in the street, sometimes for weeks without moving them; there is an enforcement issue.
Amy Risley, 1647 Bobwhite Drive: We are very fortunate to have a sidewalk on our side of the street, but I still worry about the speeding issue with my child on the sidewalk. With the curves and the hills, there is not a lot of visibility along the street. The problem is not just contractors, but the residents; the problem is not going to go away.
Jan Roskam, 1604 Bobwhite Drive: I have always been happy that there is not a sidewalk on my side of the road; it would be a waste of taxpayer’s money to put in a sidewalk; there is no need and homeowners will have to modify sprinkler systems and may have to move trees. I realize that there is a certain amount of speeding going on, but I agree that that problem will go away. Speed bumps are a great nuisance and dangerous. Some do park large numbers of vehicles on the road and no parking might help, but don’t let them park on the other side of the road either. I would prefer not spending any taxpayer money on these problems, if there is a problem, but I would like to see more street lights along Bobwhite Drive.
Commissioner Drungilas asked how much traffic a single family home generates; Woosley advised approximately 10 trips per day.
Commissioner Drungilas: So when the contractors are finished, each home will create 10 trips per day; so the traffic will not diminish when the contractors go away.
Commissioner Bowen asked if the city owned property along the side of the street without a sidewalk; Woosley advised that there is 80 feet of right-of-way and the street is usually constructed in the center of the right-of-way.
Commissioner Ziegelmeyer: I don’t think that there is any question that there is a speed issue there; I spent quite a bit of time along there. I’m not sure that sidewalks would help the situation, but I think we could give consideration to speed cushions.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ZIEGELMEYER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HAMBY TO RECOMMEND INSTALLATION OF SPEED CUSHIONS ALONG BOBWHITE DRIVE BETWEEN BOB BILLINGS PARKWAY AND GEORGE WILLIAMS WAY; THE MOTION CARRIED 8-1 (Jordan-more input is needed from the neighborhood).
Commissioner Bowen: This is a new neighborhood with an old problem and we need to start reversing this so that we’re ahead of the situation instead of behind; I am disappointed that this development went through without the sidewalks in the first place; I do support the sidewalk.
Commissioner Jordan: I do not support the sidewalk without more input from the neighborhood; I do not think it is our role to interject sidewalks on a neighborhood that’s not sure if they want them.
Commissioner Graves: We are the Traffic Safety Commission and pedestrian safety, particularly for children, far outweighs the relatively minor inconvenience that would occur and the cost would work itself out; how it get paid for would be determined by the City Commission if they agree.
Commissioner Morse: Given that we don’t have any city-wide policy on installation of sidewalks, this would probably be done by benefit district. Until we have figured-out as a city how we’re going to retrofit poorly planned streets like this one we need to proceed cautiously.
Commissioner Brune: Since we are in the process of discussing pedestrian safety, this might be a good time to take the bull by the horns and start asking that these neighborhoods be properly equipped with sidewalks.
Commissioner Hamby: I think the neighborhood should get together and determine if there is a 51% majority for building a sidewalk rather than having us recommend it. Even though I favor a sidewalk on that side of the street, I don’t think this is the appropriate measure for getting it there.
Commissioner Morse: Let me make it clear that I also favor a sidewalk on both sides of all streets in Lawrence.
Commissioner Graves: I think that without us taking a stance on it, it’s going to be hard for a group of people to on their own create a sidewalk.
Commissioner Bowen: Transportation 2020 requires sidewalks on both sides of all collector streets.
Commissioner Drungilas: I think speed humps will take care of the problem; if the neighbors want to band together and put in sidewalks, wonderful; I don’t think we should be imposing retrofitting neighborhoods at our discretion.
Commissioner Jordan: These people bought the houses and lots and knew what was going into it; at what point do you have a reasonable expectation that that’s the condition that you’re putting your money into?
Commissioner Brune: I consider it is a public safety issue which is the charge of this commission and if we have to retrofit every neighborhood in this town to get there, so be it.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GRAVES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRUNE TO RECOMMEND INSTALLATION OF A SIDEWALK ALONG THE SOUTHEASTERLY SIDE OF BOBWHITE DRIVE BETWEEN BOB BILLINGS PARKWAY AND GEORGE WILLIAMS WAY; THE MOTION FAILED 4-5 (Drungilas, Hamby, Jordan, Morse, Ziegelmeyer-not enough neighborhood input; should be brought forward as a benefit district).
Consider request to re-open Goldleaf Place at Bob Billings Parkway.
David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.
Commissioner Morse asked if all the affected property owners were agreeable to remove the obstructions; Woosley advised that was the understanding.
Mark Gardner, Landplan Engineering, distributed a drawing showing the area to be cleared.
Commissioner Ziegelmeyer asked if removal of the obstructions would make it safer; Woosley advised that removal of the obstructions would provide adequate sight distance and meet nationally accepted criteria.
Commissioner Hamby asked if the sight distance calculation was based on the 85th percentile speed of traffic; Gardner advised that it was.
David Kelsey, 5750 Longleaf Drive, and President of the Neighborhood Association: The consensus within the neighborhood is to get the street opened back-up; now all the traffic in the neighborhood uses Redleaf Place. Some of the property owners have already moved their landscaping.
Chip Knapp, 5745 Longleaf Drive: We were okay with shutting it down when it was a safety issue; now we have an easier solution to the problem and can eliminate half the traffic on Redleaf. I think it is a waste of time and a waste of money to go ahead with the street closing.
Betty Alderson, 1920 Maine Street: I spoke in favor of closing the intersection and was relieved to hear that it will not be the danger it has been, but I will continue to use Redleaf when I visit the neighborhood.
Commissioner Ziegelmeyer asked if right-of-way was being taken; Woosley advised that it wouldn’t be right-of-way but would be permanent easements prohibiting obstructions.
Commissioner Hamby: I think this is positive with the neighborhood finding a solution to reopen the street and if anyone is uncomfortable using it, they still have Redleaf as an alternative.
Commissioner Graves: If the conditions are changed so there is not limited sight distance, then there is no basis to close the street.
Commissioner Bowen: I think it is a short-term solution because we know we have experience with inside curves causing problems, however the neighborhood is all together.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAGEN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BOWEN, TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE PLAN TO RE-OPEN GOLDLEAF PLACE AT BOB BILLINGS PARKWAY; THE MOTION CARRIED 9-0.
Review 2002-2004 Pedestrian Crashes.
David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.
After considerable discussion, Commissioner Drungilas volunteered to get more information together to discuss at the next meeting.
Public Comment.
Betty Alderson, 1920 Maine Street: I’m a walker and I’m glad you’re taking-up pedestrian safety. There are hazards on the sidewalks and they are not taken care of very well. Also, there is a problem with the signage of our traffic circles; they need signage directing traffic to the right.
Commission Items.
The Commission decided to not hold a meeting on the first Monday in April; if a meeting is needed in April, it will be scheduled for another night.
Miscellaneous.
The Commission acknowledged receipt of the Attendance Summary for the period February 2004-January 2005.
The Commission acknowledged receipt of the letter from Jean Milstead.
The Commission acknowledged City Commission action on previous items.
The meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM.
The next scheduled meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission is Monday, March 7, 2005.
Respectfully submitted,
David E. Woosley, P.E.
Transportation/Traffic Engineer