Traffic Commission Agendas and Minutes

Page 1 of 10 November 21, 2022 MINUTES OF THE COHOES TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2022 IN THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF COHOES CITY HALL AT 3:01 PM MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Paul Johnston Fire Chief Joseph Fahd Lieutenant John Shanahan MEMBERS ABSENT: City Planner Joseph Seman-Graves Commissioner Stephen Hennessey ALSO PRESENT: Stephen Napier, City of Cohoes Kathleen LaBombard, Secretary to the Mayor Jonathan Hernandez, RISEmpowerment Peter Schoonmaker NEW BUSINESS CONSIDER THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 17, 2022 MEETING Chairman Johnston asked if there were any comments, questions or concerns regarding the minutes as published. As there were no questions, concerns or comments, Chief Fahd 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 APPROVAL OF A STREET CLOSURE OF REMSEN STREET, BETWEEN COLUMBIA AND SENECA STREETS, FOR THE FIRST SANTA SPRINT This request was submitted by Jonathan Hernandez of RISEmpowerment. Mr. Hernandez is requesting that Remsen Street, between Columbia and Seneca Streets, be closed to traffic on Saturday December 10, 2022 between the hours of 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM for the first Santa Sprint. The Chairman asked Mr. Hernandez to explain what and why the closure would be needed especially for the length of time that was requested. Chairman Johnston opened the floor to public comment at 3:02 PM. Mr. Hernandez explained that the request was to permit the first Santa Sprint along Remsen Street. The sprint is to allow folks to dress up in festive clothing and to sprint along Remsen Street to Canal Square where live entertainment would be performing. The requested times are arbitrary and could be changed as necessary. Live entertainment was scheduled to start at noon.  Page 2 of 10 November 21, 2022 There was discussion about the length of time that was actually required for the sprint and what closures of intersecting side streets would be required. Steve Napier thought that the intersecting traffic could be controlled using volunteer flaggers. Lieutenant Shanahan did not think that utilizing untrained flaggers would be safe especially at the heavily traveled Ontario Street intersection. It was thought that a closure with barricades, identical to the Halloween parade closure, would be most prudent. There was additional discussion about utilizing police officers, if available, to help with traffic control and what might happen if the officers were on a call. Chief Fahd suggested that the hours of 11:15 AM to 12:15 PM might be satisfactory to conduct the race. The Chief also questioned if Remsen Street would be re-opened to traffic after the race concluded. Mr. Hernandez answered yes to both questions. Chairman Johnston closed the floor to public comment at 3:11 PM. Chairman Johnston stated that the Traffic Commission has historically approved closures of streets for City endorsed events. The Chairman’s recommendation was to again approve the request to close Remsen Street between Columbia and Seneca Streets on Saturday December 10, 2022, between the hours of 11:15 AM to 12:15 PM, for the Santa Sprint contingent upon CDTA being notified of the closures. Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request for the street closure of Remsen Street on Saturday December 10, 2022 between the hours of 11:15 AM to 12:15 PM contingent upon CDTA being notified of the closure. Lieutenant Shanahan seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE REMOVAL OF NO PARKING SIGNS, INSTALLATION OF DIAGONAL PARKING SPACES OR MAKING THE STREET ONE-WAY ON MOHAWK STREET BETWEEN COLUMBIA STREET AND HOWARD STREET These requests were submitted individually by Peter Schoonmaker of 204 Mohawk Street, Meghan Ruff, Morgan Ruff and Rosalie Carusone of 196 Mohawk Street. Mr. Schoonmaker is requesting that Mohawk Street, between Howard and Columbia Streets, be made one-way so that diagonal parking can be created on the west side. An alternate proposal of his is to permit parking on the east side. He is requesting these items because he states that the street does not have sufficient parking spaces for his tenants to park and therefore it makes renting his units difficult. Morgan Ruff is also requesting that the street be made one-way so that parking may be permitted on both sides as she also states that parking on the block is difficult because of all the multiple unit apartment buildings.  Page 3 of 10 November 21, 2022 Meghan Ruff would also like the street to be made one-way, or the street widened to allow for parking on both sides as she states that she has to walk “one mile” back to her apartment after finding a parking space. Rosalie Carusone of 196 Mohawk Street is also requesting that the street be made one- way or that diagonal parking be created. Chairman Johnston opened the floor to public comment at 3:12 PM. Peter Schoonmaker spoke and stated that every building on this section of Mohawk Street is a multi-unit building. He felt that there are not enough parking spaces to provide space for a single vehicle per apartment. Two units do have single car driveways, albeit legal driveways or not. He stated that in the past he has had a hard time renting out his units to satisfactory tenants because of the lack of on-street parking. Additionally, he stated that in the past, northbound vehicles have been responsible for various traffic incidents on Mohawk Street including vehicles who speed and those who mistakenly turn onto the adjacent railroad tracks instead of onto Mohawk Street. Also, he stated that numerous times southbound vehicles have had to steer out of the way of northbound vehicles and into parked vehicles on Mohawk Street causing significant vehicle damage. He stated that vehicles that park in the vicinity of Howard Street are parking on the sidewalk in an attempt to avoid being hit. Motorists are also having a hard time exiting their vehicles as they attempt to safely exit their vehicle and avoid being hit by speeding southbound vehicles. Mr. Schoonmaker felt that installing a Stop sign on Mohawk Street at the Howard Street intersection, and installing diagonal parking, would correct this concern. Additional concern was expressed at this point about the width of Mohawk Street in the vicinity of Pine Street. Chairman Johnston closed the floor to public comment at 3:17 PM. The Chairman stated that his research of City records details that there are 16 rental units within the 7 multi-story buildings on this block. This section of Mohawk Street is 30 feet in width. Allowing parking on both sides would reduce the usable travel lane width to 14± feet. This would be an unacceptable width for two lanes of traffic and would create a safety issue with alternating traffic having to yield to oncoming vehicles before proceeding. With the current no parking prohibition on the east side, which has been in effect since 1975, this safety issue is eliminated or minimized. This section of Mohawk Street is 415 feet long which should allow for parking by 17 vehicles on the west side, after subtracting out the parking prohibitions and the two driveways. This equates to approximately one vehicle per rental unit. There also are driveways for some of the houses off of Rock Alley.  Page 4 of 10 November 21, 2022 Widening of the street is not an option as there are privately owned railroad tracks to the east. Additionally, the Police Department provided the accident history for this section of Mohawk Street. There was only one documented accident in the last year. The reporting officer stated that the cause of the accident was vehicle malfunction and driver inattention. The Chairman stated that making this section of Mohawk Street one-way was undesirable and not prudent in that it is one of the main streets from 787 to downtown and the inner city and would create a circuitous route for motorists. He also stated that he requested an opinion from the Corporation Counsel who stated that it is not the City’s responsibility to create on-street parking, beyond what already exists, for landlords to supply to their tenants. Tenants with multiple vehicles should be, or should have been, made aware of the perceived parking situation beforehand by their landlords. The Chairman stated that he has field inspected this block numerous times and especially at times when parking on the street should be saturated as purported, only to routinely find 7± vehicles and one motorcycle parked on the southern end in the vicinity of #204 to #206 and none north of the first house, #188. The parking never was as saturated as detailed in the photograph attached to the agenda. Based on this information, the Chairman’s recommendation was to deny the request to allow parking on the east side, diagonal parking on the west side or making Mohawk Street one-way between Howard and Columbia Streets or to widen the street. Lieutenant Shanahan questioned Mr. Schoonmaker if his house had off street parking. Mr. Schoonmaker replied in the negative. The Lieutenant stated that he also had never seen any vehicles parked, either on the sidewalk or in the street, between Howard Street and #188. He concurred that there was not a need to make the street one-way and that it was not unreasonable to expect someone to have to walk from a parking space to their residence. Chief Fahd made a motion to deny the request to allow parking on the east side, diagonal parking on the west side, making Mohawk Street one-way between Howard and Columbia Streets or widening the street. Lieutenant Shanahan seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion to deny the request passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF ALL WAY SIGNS AT THE MASTEN AVENUE AND JOHNSTON AVENUE INTERSECTION  Page 5 of 10 November 21, 2022 This request was submitted by Chairman Johnston. Chairman Johnston stated that this intersection is a three-way, all way stop intersection. MUTCD details that All Way signs are required at intersections that are controlled by Stop signs in every direction. The Chairman’s recommendation was to install the All Way signs in accordance with Attachment “A” to the agenda. Lieutenant Shanahan made a motion to approve the request to install All Way signs at the Johnston & Masten Avenues intersection in accordance with Attachment “A” to the agenda. Chief Fahd seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF A STREET CLOSURE OF SENECA STREET, BETWEEN REMSEN AND MOHAWK STREETS, REMSEN STREET BETWEEN ONTARIO AND CAYUGA STREETS AND A TEMPORARY NO PARKING PROHIBITION ON MOHAWK STREET IN FRONT OF SILLIMAN PARK AND ON SENECA STREET FOR THE ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY This request was submitted by Kathleen LaBombard of the Mayor’s Office. Ms. LaBombard is requesting that Seneca Street between Remsen Street and Mohawk Street, Remsen Street between Ontario and Cayuga Streets be closed and a temporary parking prohibition on Mohawk Street in front of Silliman Park and Seneca Street be approved to permit the annual Cohoes Tree Lighting ceremony on Saturday November 26, 2022 between the hours of 4 PM to 7 PM. Chairman Johnston stated that the Traffic Commission has historically approved closures of streets for City endorsed events. Chairman Johnston’s recommendation was to again approve the request contingent upon CDTA being notified of the closures. Ms. LaBombard stated that CDTA had already been notified of the closures. Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request for the street closures of Seneca and Remsen Streets and the temporary no parking prohibition on Mohawk Street and Seneca Street on Saturday November 26, 2022 between the hours of 4 PM to 7 PM contingent upon CDTA being notified of the closures. Lieutenant Shanahan seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF VARIOUS STREET CLOSURES FOR THE COHOES TURKEY TROT This request was submitted by Ed Krajewski of the City of Cohoes’ Recreation Department. He is requesting that various streets be closed and parking prohibited on various streets to permit the Thursday November 24, 2022 running of the Cohoes Turkey Trot. The race would be run between the hours of 7 AM to 12:30 PM. Kathleen LaBombard explained that the following streets needed to be closed:  Page 6 of 10 November 21, 2022  Mohawk Street between New Courtland Street to Columbia Street.  Oneida Street at the Mohawk Street intersection.  Newcomb Street at the Mohawk Street intersection.  Pine Street at the Mohawk Street intersection.  White Street at the Mohawk Street intersection.  Canvass Street at the Mohawk Street intersection.  Howard Street the Mohawk Street intersection.  Ontario Street between Congress Street and Canvass Street.  Newcomb Street at the parking lot area by the Matchbox and Bye-I Brewing.  Seneca Street from Remsen Street to Mohawk Street. The following streets would require a temporary no parking prohibition:  No Parking on Mohawk Street from Ontario Street to Newcomb Street and in front of Silliman Park.  No Parking on Seneca Street.  No Parking on Remsen Street from Ontario Street to Seneca Street. Ms. LaBombard explained that the remaining streets that comprise the race route would not be closed to traffic and that the runners would run on the right side of the road and would share the road with traffic and BE assisted by flaggers at intersections. Chairman Johnston stated that the Traffic Commission has historically approved closures of streets for City endorsed events. Chairman Johnston’s recommendation was to again approve the request contingent on CDTA being notified of the closures. Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the aforementioned street closures and parking prohibitions on Thursday November 24, 2022 between the hours of 7 AM to 12:30 PM contingent on CDTA being notified of the closures. Lieutenant Shanahan seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF A RESIDENTIAL HANDICAP PARKING SIGN AT 93 HUDSON AVENUE This request was submitted by Irene Giammatei. Chairman Johnston stated that the application and the recommendation from the Center for Independence were both in order with the City’s MIRA policy. Mrs. Giammatei is requesting that the sign be installed near the entrance to her house on Park Avenue. The Chairman’s recommendation was to approve the request in accordance with Attachment “B” to the agenda. There was discussion amongst the members about the need for the handicap sign since there appears to be no problems with parking on this section of Park Avenue and the applicant has a garage and a driveway.  Page 7 of 10 November 21, 2022 Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request for a Residential Handicap Parking sign at 93 Hudson Avenue in accordance with Attachment “B” to the agenda. Lieutenant Shanahan seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE INSTALLATION OF A RESIDENTIAL HANDICAP PARKING SIGN AT 9 WILLOW STREET This request was submitted by Michelle Ryan. Chairman Johnston stated that the application and the recommendation from the Center for Independence were both in order with the City’s MIRA policy. The Chairman’s recommendation was to approve the request in accordance with Attachment “C” to the agenda. Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request for a Residential Handicap Parking sign at 9 Willow Street in accordance with Attachment “C” to the agenda. Lieutenant Shanahan seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER MAKING BROADWAY ONE-WAY BETWEEN COLUMBIA STREET AND YOUNGLOVE AVENUE The request was made by Jason Macchi of 75 Broadway. Mr. Macchi is requesting that Broadway, between Columbia Street and Younglove Avenue be made one-way because the street is too narrow to accommodate two-way traffic even with the no parking prohibition on the east side of the street and also while vehicles are parked on the west side. Chairman Johnston stated that this section of Broadway is 24± feet wide with a no parking prohibition on the east side which only allows for 16± feet for the two travel lanes. The east side parking prohibition was probably installed to permit two-way traffic on this section of Broadway. Though not an ideal width for two lanes of traffic, the low volumes of vehicles are able to safely navigate as they alternate and yield to oncoming vehicles. This situation, narrow streets and saturated parking, is typical of other city streets and areas and is not just unique to this section of Broadway. The Police Department states that there is no accident history on this section of Broadway. Typically, Broadway is not a street that generates high volumes of traffic. However, the volumes of traffic have increased in the past months as Broadway was utilized for the detour route for the Columbia Street storm sewer construction thereby exacerbating the perceived issue and concerns. With the construction completed, Broadway traffic should return to pre-construction volumes. Making the street one-way is undesirable and certainly not prudent as pre-construction; there was no reported or documented problem with traffic navigating this street satisfactorily.  Page 8 of 10 November 21, 2022 Based on the aforementioned information, the Chairman’s recommendation was to deny the request to make Broadway one-way between Columbia Street and Younglove Avenue. Lieutenant Shanahan made a motion to deny the request to make Broadway one-way between Columbia Street and Younglove Avenue. Chief Fahd seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion to deny the request passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE MAKING IMPERIAL AVENUE ONE-WAY BETWEEN COLUMBIA STREET AND YOUNGLOVE AVENUE This request was made by Lieutenant John Shanahan and Keith Lettrick. They are requesting that Imperial Avenue be made one-way between Columbia Street and Younglove Avenue. Chairman Johnston stated that Imperial Avenue is 26± feet wide with parking allowed on both sides. The saturated parking lanes leave only 10± feet to accommodate both the northbound and southbound travel lanes. This width is insufficient for two lanes of traffic to safely pass and, accordingly, cars must yield the right-of-way, if they can, to pass. Also sight distance at the crest of the hill is substandard to see on coming vehicles. The Police Department reported that there were two accidents on Imperial Avenue in the last year. One was caused by a vehicle’s mechanical failure and the second was caused by two vehicles failing to safely pass each other. Research shows that, in the past, residents are most concerned during winter snow and ice season that exacerbates travel on this very steep street and further enhances the chance of an accident. Since most vehicles currently park in the southerly direction on both sides of the street, making the street one-way south will make this area safer for motorists. The Chairman’s recommendation was to approve the request to make Imperial Avenue one-way south in accordance with Attachment “D” to the agenda. Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the request to make Imperial Avenue one-way south and install One Way signs in accordance with Attachment “D” to the agenda. Lieutenant Shanahan seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE TENTATIVE DATES FOR THE 2023 TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEETINGS.  Page 9 of 10 November 21, 2022 This request was made by Chairman Johnston. He requested review and approval of the tentative dates for the 2023 Traffic Commission meetings that are detailed on the attachment to the agenda. The Chairman stated that although the meetings have routinely been held on the third Monday of the month, the Mayor and the Corporation Counsel informed him that there is no rule or regulation that the meeting has to be held on the third Monday. Multiple federal holidays on the third Monday have always necessitated holding the meetings on the fourth Monday. The attachment to the agenda details the 2023 proposed dates and shows that there are two holiday conflicts if the meetings are held on the third Monday and only one, Christmas, if the meetings are held on the fourth Monday. After some brief discussion, it was agreed that holding the meetings on the fourth Monday would be prudent and beneficial. Lieutenant Shanahan made a motion to approve conducting the meetings on the fourth Monday of the month and on the dates attached to the agenda. Chief Fahd seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. OLD BUSINESS DISCUSSION REGARDING THE INSTALLATION OF NO PARKING SIGNS ON SARATOGA STREET BETWEEN MAIN AND MOHAWK STREETS Chairman Johnston stated that at last month’s meeting there was discussion about the recent accident on this section of Saratoga Street where a motorist ran into a parked vehicle. The motorist questioned if this section of Saratoga Street was a no parking zone since there aren’t any No Parking signs visible. The 1973 ordinance that approved no parking on both sides of Saratoga Street has never been repealed. At last month’s meeting this issue was tabled for further research to determine if the signs and the no parking prohibition were still warranted or to determine if there was an alternate sign design that would accomplish the no parking prohibition without extensive signage on both sides of Saratoga Street. The Chairman stated that he had designed some larger signs, and because of that, reduced the number of required signs. Attachment “E” to the agenda is one proposal for an alternate sign design, and at minimal locations, using a limited amount of signs in lieu of the extensive number of signs that are normally required. Lieutenant Shanahan felt that an extensive amount of signs were not required and preferred the design presented by Attachment “E” in lieu of the null alternative. They also would provide a basis for enforcement of the prohibition.  Page 10 of 10 November 21, 2022 Chief Fahd made a motion to approve the installation of No Parking signs on Saratoga Street in accordance with Attachment “E” to the agenda. Lieutenant Shanahan seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. All were in favor. The motion passed unanimously. Since there was no further business on the agenda, Chairman Johnston stated that the next meeting of the Traffic Commission would be on December 19, 2022 at 3 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 3:41 PM.