Traffic Commission Agendas and Minutes

Page 1 of 3 MINUTES OF THE COHOES TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON MONDAY MAY 23, 2022 IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF COHOES CITY HALL AT 3:02 PM MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Paul Johnston City Planner Joseph Seman-Graves Lieutenant John Shanahan Commissioner Stephen Hennessey MEMBERS ABSENT: Fire Chief Joseph Fahd ALSO PRESENT: Theresa Flatley, Recording Secretary CONSIDER THE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 18, 2022 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, Lieutenant Shanahan made a motion to approve the minutes. Joseph Seman-Graves seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF STREET CLOSURES ON REMSEN STREET BETWEEN COLUMBIA STREET AND CAYUGA STREE FOR EAT-IN-THE-STREET This request was submitted by Steve Napier for the Cohoes Local Development Corporation. The closure request was to permit the Remsen Street restaurants to have in-street dining. The closures will on Fridays only and will be between the hours of 4:30 PM to 9:30 PM beginning on May 20, 2022 and ending on September 16, 2022, weather permitting. The cross streets, Howard, White, Ontario and Seneca Streets would remain open to traffic. Newcomb Street will be partially closed allowing only access to the Matchbox parking lot. Oneida Street would be closed to traffic. Chairman Johnston stated that, historically, we have closed Remsen Street for other City endorsed public events. However, in the past, for this event, we have only closed Remsen Street between Columbia and Ontario Streets. The requested closures, this year, extend all the way to Cayuga Street. The Chairman stated that we would be addressing the closure of Remsen Street between Ontario and Seneca Streets for the Rock the Block concert series. Accordingly, he did not feel that it is prudent to close this section of Remsen Street for consecutive days and further impact CDTA and their users. There was discussion amongst the Members about why the request was to close Remsen Street to Cayuga Street when there was only one combination restaurant and  Page 2 of 3 ice cream parlor between Ontario Street and Cayuga Street. The Members agreed that it was not prudent to close this section of Remsen Street to impact CDTA and their users for two consecutive days for one ice cream parlor. Chairman Johnston’s recommendation was to modify the various requested closures of Remsen Street and approve only between Columbia and Ontario Streets and contingent on notification to CDTA of the proposed closures. Joseph Seman-Graves made a motion to approve the request for the street closures on Remsen Street between Columbia and Ontario Streets and to deny the request to extend the closure to Cayuga Street. Lieutenant Shanahan seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF STREET CLOSURES ON REMSEN STREET AND SENECA STREE FOR ROCK-THE-BLOCK This request was submitted by Amanda Primeau of the City of Cohoes. The closure request was to permit the annual Rock the Block concert series. The closures will be on Thursdays only and will be between the hours of 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM, weather permitting, beginning on June 16, 2022 and ending on August 4, 2022. Remsen Street would only be closed between Ontario Street and Oneida Streets. Seneca Street would only be closed between Remsen Street and the Keybank exit driveway. Chairman Johnston stated that the Commission has historically approved closures of Remsen and Seneca Streets for the City endorsed Rock the Block concerts. Chairman Johnston’s recommendation was to approve the request contingent on notification to CDTA of the proposed closures. Joseph Seman-Graves made a motion to approve the request for the street closures on Remsen and Seneca Streets. Lieutenant Shanahan seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE PLANS FOR THE CARWASH FACILITY AND A DRIVEWAY AND CURB CUT AT #378 SARATOGA STREET This request was submitted by Hoffman Development Corporation. Chairman Johnston stated that he has been working with City Planner Joseph Seman-Graves in reviewing the final plans for the construction of the car wash at the subject site. The plans were developed by C. T. Male Associates. The plans detail that a driveway and a curb cut onto Saratoga Street is required. A traffic study, that was performed by the consultant, detailed that there would be no significant impact on the adjacent intersection with the installation of the driveway for the facility. The plan sheets that were attached to the agenda, traffic wise, are now acceptable to the City.  Page 3 of 3 The Chairman’s recommendation was to approve the plans dated March 25, 2022 and that were attached to the agenda. The plans will be on file in the City Engineer’s office. Joseph Seman-Graves made a motion to approve the request for approval of the plans that are attached to the agenda for the construction of the carwash facility at 378 Saratoga Street. Lieutenant Shanahan seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. CONSIDER THE REMOVAL OF THE NO TURN ON RED SIGN ON SOUTHBOUND MOHAWK STREET AT THE ONTARIO STREET INTERSECTION This request was made by Mayor Keeler. The Mayor is requesting that the southbound No Turn on Red sign, at the subject intersection, be reviewed to ascertain if it is still required. The Chairman stated that he took the liberty to review the sight distance on all four legs of this intersection. The sight distance was reviewed both at the intersection stop bars and at the furthest edge of the crosswalks. The table that was attached to the agenda details that, only in the southbound direction of Mohawk Street and at the edge of the crosswalk pavement markings, does the sight distance meet the criteria outlined in the MUTCD. The reasons for not fulfilling the minimum 200 feet of sight distance for the other legs of the intersection were detailed in the table. Anything less than 200 feet of sight distance is considered critically limited by the MUTCD. MUTCD advises that intersection warning signs should be used where there is inadequate sight distance to vehicles approaching from the left. The Chairman’s recommendation was to remove only the southbound Mohawk Street No Turn on Red sign where there is sight distance for turning vehicles that meets MUTCD minimum requirements. The other three (3) No Turn On Red signs, where sight distance does not meet minimum MUTCD requirements, should remain in place. Joseph Seman-Graves made a motion to remove the southbound Mohawk Street No Turn On Red sign at the Ontario Street intersection. Commissioner Hennessey 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 because of the Juneteenth Holiday, next meeting of the Traffic Commission would be on June 27, 2022 at 3 PM. Chairman Johnston made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Hennessey seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 3:10 PM.