Traffic Commission Agendas and Minutes

Page 1 of 4 November 16, 2020 MINUTES OF THE COHOES TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2020 IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF COHOES CITY HALL AT 4:01 PM MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Paul Johnston City Planner Joseph Seman-Graves Lieutenant John Shanahan Fire Chief Joseph Fahd Commissioner Stephen Hennessey ALSO PRESENT: Theresa Flatley, Recording Secretary CONSIDER THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 19, 2020 MEETING Chairman Johnston asked if there were any comments, questions or concerns regarding the minutes as presented. As there were no questions, concerns or comments, Joseph Seman-Graves made a motion to approve the minutes. Lieutenant Shanahan seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF ONE-WAY SIGNS AND PARKING PROHIBITION SIGNS TO MAKE ORCHARD STREET ONE-WAY NORTH BETWEEN ERIE AND CHURCH STREETS This request was jointly submitted by Mayor Keeler and S. Forkel. Chairman Johnston stated that the field measured width of Orchard Street is 22 feet. Accordingly, residents are parking their vehicles on the sidewalk so that they can safely park their vehicles on this narrow street. Parking on the sidewalk is contrary to Subsection 1202 of the NYS Motor Vehicle and Traffic Law. The change to one-way north and prohibiting parking on the west side of the street will make this area safer for motorists and would provide more legal parking for residents of the area. Mayor Keeler and Chief Waldin are in agreement with the proposed change. His recommendation was to approve the request in accordance with Attachment “A” to the agenda. Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request to make Orchard Street one-way north between Erie and Church Streets and to install one-way and parking prohibition signs as necessary and in accordance with Attachment “A” to the agenda. Joseph Seman-Graves seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL OF PARKING LIMITATION AND PROHIBITION SIGNS AND PAVEMENT MARKINGS ON ONTARIO STREET This request was submitted by CDTA. The Chairman stated that on November 8, CDTA instituted a new bus route through the City called the “Blue Line” This route will require  Page 2 of 4 November 16, 2020 that southbound buses on Mohawk Street take a left turn onto eastbound Ontario Street. The Chairman stated that CDTA recently scheduled a dry run of the route and its required bus turns and the dry run revealed that for the bus to make a safe left turn, a parking prohibition was required on the south side of Ontario Street. The City will install and remove the parking limitation signs detailed on Attachment “B’ to the agenda and CDTA will remove and install pavement markings and signs detailed on their sketch and attached to the agenda. The Chairman’s recommendation was to approve the installation and removal of signs and striping on Ontario Street as detailed on Attachment “B” and CDTA’s sketch. Joseph Seman-Graves made a motion to approve the installation and removal of signs and pavement markings on Ontario Street in accordance with Attachment “B” and CDTA’s sketch attached to the agenda. Chief Fahd seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF A DRIVEWAY WARNING SIGN ON EGBERT STREET IN ADVANCE OF #67 EGBERT STREET This request was submitted by Brooke Turcotte of #67 Egbert Street. She is concerned that perceived uphill speeding vehicles do not have adequate sight distance to see vehicles exiting her driveway and that a warning sign is necessary to slow vehicles down. Chairman Johnston stated that he looked at the site and measured the sight distance for motorists traveling uphill towards the driveway. Because of a right curve in the street, the measured sight distance is 100± feet. This distance is less than the required 200 feet sight distance required by MUTCD for a 30 MPH speed and places it into the critically limited sight distance category of MUTCD. The Chairman’s recommendation was to install a Right Side Road warning sign with a supplemental Driveway plague on Egbert Street in accordance with Attachment “C” to the agenda. Joseph Seman-Graves made a motion to install a Right Side Road warning sign with a supplemental Driveway plaque on Egbert Street in accordance with Attachment “C” to the agenda. Chief Fahd seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF STOP SIGNS ON JAMES STREET AT THE JEFFERSON AVENUE INTERSECTION This request was submitted by Mayor Keeler on behalf of area residents. Chairman Johnston stated that in conversation with the Mayor, residents are concerned over the safety of the intersection as motorists exiting Jefferson Avenue are failing to yield the  Page 3 of 4 November 16, 2020 right-of-way to James Street motorists resulting in some near miss accidents with vehicles. The Chairman stated that the Stop signs that were previously at this location were approved for removal at the November 2016 meeting because, at that time, the intersection right-of-way signs were only required, in accord with MUTCD, on Jefferson Avenue. The Chairman felt that this intersection is still signed correctly and that vehicles ignoring the Stop sign are an enforcement issue. He stated that he saw no need for the additional Stop signs and could not recommend their installation. However, Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request to install Stop signs in both directions of James Street at the Jefferson Avenue intersection in accordance with Attachment “D” to the agenda. Commissioner Hennessey seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Members Fahd, Hennessey, Seman-Graves and Shanahan all voted in favor. Chairman Johnston voted nay. The motion passed. CONSIDER THE REMOVAL OF ROUGH CROSSING AND 20 MPH SIGNS ON NEW COURTLAND STREET ADAJCENT TO THE RAILROAD CROSSING This request was submitted by Chairman Johnston. Chairman Johnston stated that CP Rail has just completed the replacement of the concrete precast panels and accordingly, the crossing of the railroad tracks is not rough anymore. Chairman Johnston’s recommendation was to remove the Rough Crossing and 20 MPH signs in advance of the crossing, in both directions, of New Courtland Street. Chief Fahd made a motion to remove the Rough Crossing and 20 MPH signs. . Lieutenant Shanahan seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF A DRIVEWAY AND CURB CUT AT #75 VLIET STREET The request was submitted by Katie Mayo of #77 Vliet Street for the installation of a driveway and curb cut of 25 feet for three vehicles at her adjacent property located at #75 Vliet Street. Chairman Johnston stated that he had looked at the location and the request will have no adverse effect on on-street parking and will only improve it. The Chairman’s recommendation was to approve the request for a driveway and curb cut of 25 feet, in accordance with the photo attached to the agenda, the driveway being constructed out of a typical driveway construction material of either asphalt, concrete or other approved hard surface material and contingent upon receipt of a City building permit and any requisite variances that may be required from the Zoning Board. There was discussion amongst the Members about whether the existing concrete sidewalk should be removed and what material the new sidewalk, if replaced, should be constructed out of. Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request for a driveway and curb cut of 25 feet at #75 Vliet Street, the driveway being constructed out of a typical driveway construction  Page 4 of 4 November 16, 2020 material of either asphalt, concrete or other approved hard surface material and contingent on receipt of a City building permit and any requisite variances that may be required from the Zoning Board. Joseph Seman-Graves seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF A DRIVEWAY AND CURB CUT AT #52 CENTRAL AVENUE The request was submitted by John Yvie of #52 Central Avenue for the installation of a driveway 17 feet in width on the north side of his property; no curb cut is required. Chairman Johnston stated that he had looked at the location and the request will have no adverse effect on on-street parking and will only improve it. The Chairman’s recommendation was to approve the request for a driveway and curb cut of 17 feet, in accordance with the photo attached to the agenda, the driveway being constructed out of a typical driveway construction material of either asphalt, concrete or other approved hard surface material and contingent upon receipt of a City building permit and any requisite variances that may be required from the Zoning Board. Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request for a driveway and curb cut of 17 feet at #52 Central Avenue, the driveway being constructed out of a typical driveway construction material of either asphalt, concrete or other approved hard surface material and contingent on receipt of a City building permit and any requisite variances that may be required from the Zoning Board. Joseph Seman-Graves seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed Since there was no further business on the agenda, Chairman Johnston stated that the next meeting of the Traffic Commission would be held on December 21, 2020 at 4:00 PM. Chairman Johnston made a motion to adjourn. Chief Fahd seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 4:25 PM.