City of Lawrence

Traffic Safety Commission

January 3, 2005 minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Caroljean Brune, Chair, John Ziegelmeyer, Jr. Vice-Chair, Carol Bowen, Danny Drungilas, Paul Graves, Robert Hagen, and David Hamby.

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:  Matt Jordan, Caleb Morse.

 

STAFF PRESENT:  David Woosley, Public Works Department and 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, December 6, 2004.

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAMBY, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GRAVES, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 6, 2004, TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING; THE MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 2:

 

Consider establishing STOP signs on Rhode Island Street at 12th Street.

 

David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.

 

Commissioner Hagen asked if there was any reason to stop 12th Street instead of Rhode Island Street; Woosley advised that there was not a significant reason.

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ZIEGELMEYER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HAMBY, TO RECOMMEND ESTABLISHING STOP SIGNS ON RHODE ISLAND STREET AT 12TH STREET AND THAT THE BUSH ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION  BE TRIMMED; THE MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

 

ITEM NO. 3:

 

Consider request from William Dann, 3720 Trail Road, to establish a 20MPH SPEED LIMIT on Sierra Drive between 6th Street and Trail Road.

 

David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report and showed a video from the Kansas Department of Transportation on setting speed limits.

 

Joseph Rantner, 412 Sierra Drive:  In the evening time when my kids are out playing, people do not drive 30mph; they drive 35, they drive 40, some drive 50.  We have had several close calls.  I realize that 20mph might not be feasible, but something needs to be done.  When I back out of my driveway, a vehicle going 30mph could not stop.

 

Isabella Rantner, 412 Sierra Drive:  A lot of the 16 year-olds that have just gotten their licenses go 50mph.  My next door neighbor who is 3 years-old goes out in the street a lot and once was 2 inches away from a car going 50mph.

 

William Dann, 3720 Trail Road:  There are 8 children living near the corner and 30mph is not a reasonable speed for Sierra.  The most you can approach the curve at is 22mph.  In warmer weather there are children in the street and crossing the street.

 

Commissioner Ziegelmeyer asked if there were any options available; Woosley advised that if there was a problem at the intersection, a traffic calming circle may be possible.

 

Commissioner Hamby:  Reducing the speed limit would probably not lower the speed of the traffic.

 

Commissioner Brune:  Every neighborhood with children thinks that 30mph is too fast.

 

Commissioner Bowen:  It troubles me that state law does not provide a lower speed limit in residential areas.  I would suggest that the existing speed limit signs be removed.

 

Commissioner Brune:  I think posting the speed limit is a good idea.

 

Commissioner Ziegelmeyer:  My frustration is that we have a situation without a way to solve it other than to encourage a benefit district for sidewalks.

 

Commissioner Graves:  It appears that the problem is young drivers disobeying the 30mph speed limit; lowering the speed limit will not solve that problem, they are already violating the posted speed.

 

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GRAVES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HAMBY, TO RECOMMEND DENIAL OF THE REQUEST TO ESTABLISH A 20MPH SPEED LIMIT ON SIERRA DRIVE BETWEEN 6TH STREET AND TRAIL ROAD; THE MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 4:

 

Consider request from Water’s Edge, 847 Indiana Street, to construct PERPENDICULAR PARKING within the roadway right-of-way of Indiana Street adjacent to 847 Indiana Street.

 

David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.

 

Dan Sabatini, 805A New Hampshire Street:  The idea is that the parking is necessary for these smaller businesses on 9th Street to operate successfully compared to new development where there is a lot more land available without further encroaching into the neighborhood.  This would allow Water’s Edge to create 7 additional parking spaces that will help their business.  There is precedence in the area for this type of parking.  We feel this is a viable option to keep businesses in the downtown area.

 

Susan Davis, 847 Indiana Street:  I feel there is a precedent for that corner.  Traffic coming from the north would be slowing for the stop sign at 9th.  To the best of our knowledge there haven’t been any accidents at the corner.  Three or four more spaces don’t seem like a lot, but we have more business than we anticipated and we want to stay there.

 

Commissioner Hamby:  We may have to restrict parking to the north in order to provide sight distance for vehicles backing-out.

 

Commissioner Brune:  That would eliminate parking that is used by residents.  I drive that area a lot and I feel unsafe when I back-out of the Owens parking on the other side of the street.  I think this would be a terribly hazardous situation.  I wish there was some other solution.

 

Commissioner Graves:  I’m opposed to it for safety reasons as presented by staff and I don’t think it is appropriate for the area.  If customers have to walk a little further, they are doing it now, and I don’t think we should start promoting or allowing this type of parking.

 

Commissioner Hamby:  If we restrict parking to the north, there may not be any gain in parking spaces.

 

Commissioner Brune:  I don’t think we want to make a situation hazardous and then cross our fingers hoping that nothing will happen.

 

Commissioner Graves:  The presence of perpendicular parking on the other side of the street reinforces my opposition to putting it on this side.

 

Commissioner Hagen:  The potentials of a safety issue are a concern and the gain in parking may not be that great because of the losses for sight distance to the north.

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GRAVES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRUNE, TO RECOMMEND DENIAL OF THE REQUEST TO CONSTRUCT PERPENDICULAR PARKING WITHIN THE ROADWAY RIGHT-OF-WAY OF INDIANA STREET ADJACENT TO 847 INDIANA STREET; THE MOTION CARRIED 6-1 (Drungilas, they have the same type of parking across the street and traffic is slowing down as it approaches the stop sign).

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 5:

 

Consider establishing YIELD signs on Wheat State Street at Eldridge Street.

 

David Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.

 

Commissioner Graves asked if it would meet the MUTCD requirements; Woosley advised that it would because of the sight restrictions.

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ZIEGELMEYER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HAGEN, TO RECOMMEND ESTABLISHING YIELD SIGNS ON WHEAT STATE STREET AT ELDRIDGE STREET; THE MOTION CARRIED 7-0.

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 6:

 

Discussion of Pedestrian Right-of-Way.

 

There was considerable discussion of the lack of driver respect for pedestrian right-of-way throughout Lawrence.

 

The Commission requested that pedestrian crash data be provided, and that information on water bill inserts be provided.

 

 

ITEM NO. 7:

 

Public Comment.

 

None.

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 8:

 

Commission Items.

 

None.

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 9:

 

Miscellaneous.

 

The Commission acknowledged City Commission action on previous recommendations.

 

 

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:25 PM.

 

 

 

The next scheduled meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission is Monday, February 7, 2005.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

David E. Woosley, P.E.

Transportation/Traffic Engineer