City of Lawrence

Traffic Safety Commission

November 8, 2004 minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Caroljean Brune, Chair, John Ziegelmeyer, Jr. Vice-Chair, Danny Drungilas, Paul Graves, Robert Hagen, David Hamby, Matt Jordan, and Caleb Morse.

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:  Carol Bowen

 

STAFF PRESENT:  David Woosley, Public Works Department; Officer Tracy Russell, Police Department

 

 

Chair Caroljean Brune called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the City Commission Room in City Hall.

 

 

ITEM NO. 1:

 

Review and approve the minutes of the Traffic Safety Commission meeting, October 4, 2004.

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ZIEGELMEYER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER JORDAN, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 13, 2004, TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING; THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0-3 (Brune, Hagen, Morse).

 

 

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.

 

David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report and distributed additional information provided by Dawn Hawkins.

 

Dawn Hawkins, 1219 New York Street, reviewed the information distributed to the commission.

 

John Caffrey, 1104 Pennsylvania Street, appeared in support of the request.

Commissioner Morse asked what would be the feasibility of establishing a mid-block crosswalk in front of the school.  Woosley advised that there may be a problem meeting ADA requirements on the west side of the street due to the difference in elevation of the street and sidewalk, and parking would need to be prohibited a distance in advance of the crosswalk each direction so that motorists could see pedestrians.

 

Commissioner Ziegelmeyer asked if it would be possible to obtain pedestrian counts during a time period longer than the normal school count.  Woosley advised that would not be a problem; staff just needed to know what time period.

 

Commissioner Brune asked if it would be feasible to flash the beacons earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon due to the before- and after-school programs.  Woosley advised that could be done if it is documented that sufficient students are crossing during those time periods.

 

Commissioner Hamby asked if a speed study had been conducted on New York Street.  Woosley advised that one had not been conducted.

 

Commissioner Morse asked what a push-button signal at 11th & New York would consist of.  Woosley advised that it would require that the entire intersection be signalized.

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ZIEGELMEYER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MORSE TO TABLE THIS ITEM UNTIL ADDITIONAL PEDESTRIAN COUNTS CAN BE OBTAINED, 7:00-8:45AM AND 3:45-6:00PM, AND OBTAIN SPEED STUDIES AROUND THE SCHOOL, AND EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF A MID-BLOCK CROSSING, AND EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF RELOCATING THE EXISTING SCHOOL BEACONS.  THE MOTION CARRIED 8-0.

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 3:

 

Consider request from Doug Compton, First Management, to establish NO PARKING along the south side of Kresge Road.

 

David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRUNE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MORSE TO RECOMMENDED ESTABLISHING NO PARKING ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE OF KRESGE ROAD ALONG THE ENTIRE FRONTAGE OF 601 N. IOWA STREET.  THE MOTION CARRIED 8-0.

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 4:

 

Consider request from the Prairie Park Neighborhood Association to establish traffic control at the intersection of 29th Street & Kensington Road.

 

David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report and noted that stop signs are not currently warranted, but yield signs are border-line and could be justified.

 

Kathy Egbert, 2941 Bishop Street:  Everyone in the neighborhood is concerned about this intersection and would like to have it controlled.  There have been many close calls; I circulated the petition and almost everyone I talked to related an experience.  Both Kensington and 29th are used by residents entering and leaving the neighborhood.  We all would prefer stop signs, but yield signs would be an improvement.  There were three residents that wanted anything but a roundabout there.

 

Rita Blankinship, 1915 Goodell Court:  Visitors coming into the neighborhood don’t stop there and it needs to be addressed.

 

Stephen Egbert, 2941 Bishop Street:  We really do need something type of traffic control there.  I am in favor of a stop sign; I don’t think a yield sign is adequate, even a traffic calming circle would be ok.

 

Martin Blankinship, 1915 Goodell Court:  The way Kensington is laid-out, Kensington acts like an artery but due to dips at the intersection it appears that 29th would have the right-of-way.

 

Commissioner Ziegelmeyer asked if there was room at the intersection for a traffic calming circle.  Woosley advised that there was.

 

Commissioner Ziegelmeyer:  It is clear that stop signs are not warranted but this might be an intersection where a temporary traffic calming circle might be appropriate.

 

Note:  The tape recorder malfunctioned at this point and did not record for approximately 45 minutes.

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GRAVES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ZIEGELMEYER TO RECOMMEND INSTALLATION OF A TEMPORARY TRAFFIC CALMING CIRCLE AT THE INTERSECTION OF 29TH STREET AND KENSINGTON DRIVE.  THE MOTION FAILED 3-5.

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DRUNGILAS, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRUNE TO RECOMMEND ESTABLISHING YIELD SIGNS ON 29TH STREET AT KENSINGTION DRIVE.  THE MOTION CARRIED 8-0.

ITEM NO. 5:

 

Consider request from Heather Alford, 3404 Morning Dove Circle to establish NO PARKING along one side of Morning Dove Circle, Eagle Pass Drive, Field Stone Drive, Gunnison Drive and Hill Song Circle.

 

David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report and noted correspondence received today from a resident supporting the request for Eagle Pass Drive and from a resident opposed to Field Stone Drive.

 

Tim Bredehoft, 805 N Field Stone Drive, spoke in opposition to the request.

 

Michele Johnson, 3840 Hill Song Circle, spoke in opposition to the request.

 

Rich Johnson, 3840 Hill Song Circle, spoke in opposition to the request.

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GRAVES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER DRUNGILAS, TO RECOMMEND DENIAL OF THE REQUEST TO ESTABLISH NO PARKING ALONG ONE SIDE OF MORNING DOVE CIRCLE, EAGLE PASS DRIVE, FIELD STONE DRIVE, GUNNISON DRIVE AND HILL SONG CIRCLE.  THE MOTION CARRIED 8-0.

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 6:

 

Consider West Lawrence Neighborhood Association TRAFFIC CALMING PLAN.

 

David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.

 

Alan Cowles, 1121 Stoneridge Drive, President of the West Lawrence Neighborhood Association, spoke in favor of the plan.

 

Gwen Klingenberg, 4900 Colonial Way, spoke in favor of the plan.

 

Tony Folsom, 704 Fox Chase Court, suggested that the commission proceed slowly.

 

Stephen Menke, 1000 Congressional Court, spoke.

 

Shaun Coffey, 5209 Harvard Road, spoke.

 

Alan Cowles noted that two individuals supporting the request had to leave the meeting.

 

Chris Earl, 1337 Stonecreek Drive, noted that the residents were the problem.

 

Note:  The tape recorder BEGAN RECORDING AGAIN at this point.

 

Commissioner Jordan suggested proceeding with the three speed cushions that currently meet the city’s criteria.

 

Commissioner Brune stated she felt a little bit uneasy since there appeared to be residents of the neighborhood that were unaware of this request until today.

 

Commissioner Graves:  It has been clearly shown that there is a speeding problem and speed cushions solve that problem.  I’m in favor with proceeding with the speed cushions subject to the appropriate approval by adjacent residents.

 

Commissioner Hagen asked about the possibility of constructing a temporary gateway treatment.  Woosley advised that the city had not installed a temporary gateway treatment but that a permanent one would be constructed next spring on Folks Road south of 6th Street.

 

Commissioner Graves noted that several developments had constructed gateway treatments when the area was developed.

 

Commissioner Ziegelmeyer:  I think we should be sensitive to the residents that would like to see us proceed slowly.

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MORSE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HAGEN, TO RECOMMEND CONSTRUCTION OF THE FOUR WARRANTED SPEED CUSHIONS.  THE MOTION CARRIED 8-0.

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MORSE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GRAVES, TO RECOMMEND CONSTRUCTION OF THE TWO GATEWAY TREATMENTS SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATE DESIGN.  THE MOTION FAILED 3-5.

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ZIEGELMEYER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRUNE, TO RECOMMEND DENIAL OF THE REQUEST FOR GATEWAY TREATMENTS.  THE MOTION CARRIED 5-3 (Graves, Hamby, and Morse: gateway treatments already exist elsewhere in the city and staff is capable of designing them).

 

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 7:

 

Consider request from Hazel Burgert, 1505 Vermont Street, to establish a RESERVED PARKING FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES space in front of 1505 Vermont Street.

 

David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GRAVES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HAMBY TO RECOMMEND ESTABLISHING RESERVED PARKING FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN FRONT OF 1505 VERMONT STREET.  THE MOTION CARRIED 8-0.

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 8:

 

Consider proposal to establish NO LEFT TURN 4PM-6PM MON-FRI on 23rd Street at Ohio Street, Tennessee Street, Kentucky Court, Vermont Street, New Hampshire Street, Rhode Island Street and Learnard Avenue.

 

David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report and noted possible concern at Vermont Street and at Kentucky Court.

 

Commissioner Morse asked if this was restricting left-turns from 23rd Street.  Woosley advised that it was.

 

Commissioner Morse asked how this would affect queuing at 23rd & Massachusetts.  Woosley advised that could not be determined without traffic counts at each intersection showing how many vehicles were actually turning left during this time period.

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAMBY, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MORSE, TO RECOMMEND ESTABLISHING NO LEFT TURN 4PM-6PM MON-FRI ON 23RD STREET AT OHIO STREET, TENNESSEE STREET, VERMONT STREET, NEW HAMPSHIRE STREET, RHODE ISLAND STREET AND LEARNARD AVENUE.  THE MOTION CARRIED 8-0.

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 9:

 

Public Comment.

 

ITEM NO. 10:

 

Commission Items.

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 11:

 

Miscellaneous.

 

The Commission acknowledges receipt of the Attendance Summary November 2003-October 2004.

 

 

 

The meeting adjourned at 10:20 PM.

 

 

 

The next scheduled meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission is Monday, December 6, 2004.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

David E. Woosley, P.E.

Transportation/Traffic Engineer