Board of Trustees

Regular Meeting

Deerfield, IL · April 17, 2017

Minutes

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE – Minutes of Meeting April 17, 2017 The Village Board met as a Committee of the Whole in the Council Chambers of the Village Hall at 8:25 p.m. on Monday, April 17, 2017. In attendance were: PRESENT: Village Board Staff Harriet Rosenthal, Mayor Kent Street, Village Manager Alan Farkas, Trustee Andrew Lichterman, Assistant Village Manager Thomas Jester, Trustee Barbara Little, Director of PW and Engineering Robert Nadler, Trustee Robert Phillips, Deputy Director of Public Works William Seiden, Trustee Brandon Janes, WRF Superintendent Dan Shapiro, Trustee Justin Keenan, Public Works Analyst Barbara Struthers, Trustee John Sliozis, Police Chief Eric Burk, Finance Director ABSENT: None Public Comment There was no public comment on non-agenda items. Discussion of Traffic Signal Operations: Lake Cook Road at Pine Street and at Embassy Way Trustee Farkas noted that he believes the proposal outlined in the staff memo sounds reasonable and makes sense. He believes it should be implemented. Deputy Director of Public Works and Engineering Bob Phillips presented a brief history of both intersections. He noted that in 1986 the area south of Lake Cook Road was redeveloped and the Village Board at that time prohibited through movements to prevent cut-through traffic. He noted that in 2010, a pedestrian signal was requested at Pine Street. Once the pedestrian crossing was installed, the “porkchop” island was removed as traffic cannot conflict with the pedestrian signal. He noted that the Village attempted to prohibit through-traffic, but Cook County removed village pavement markings. He reported the situation is not a cause of traffic accidents. Mr. Phillips recommended to rescind the ordinance prohibiting through movements so that Village regulations are consistent with current traffic patterns and to include more traffic light phasing for left turn arrows to be more efficient and clearer to drivers. He noted that the absence of turn lanes and arrows can confuse drivers regarding whether oncoming traffic will go straight or turn. Al Bromberg, 1139 Gordon Terrace, stated that he agreed it is a confusing intersection. If an apartment building is constructed near the Pine Street intersection, he believes they will use Pine as a cut-through and change the feel of the neighborhood. He noted the light is long on Lake Cook Road, but short on Pine, causing drivers to be aggressive trying to C.O.W; April 17, 2017 get through from north and south. He asked that the through movement prohibition be left in place. Trustee Jester noted that the pedestrian crossing is seldom used. He stated that people are careful about trying to turn off Pine because they are scared. He requested to conduct a traffic study of the intersection. He noted the intersection needs better directional paint on the road now. He indicated he would not vote for a change until there is a left turn lane installed and a traffic study. Mr. Phillips noted the Village would have to petition Cook County to install the turn lane. Mayor Rosenthal noted that the issue of not knowing if oncoming traffic at an intersection is going straight or turning happens at some other Village intersections. She stated that there seemed to be a consensus to conduct a traffic study. Trustee Jester inquired if the traffic study would use a camera. Mr. Phillips noted that it would. Trustee Jester recalled that Lake Cook Road was only two lanes when he moved to Deerfield in 1976. Trustee Shapiro inquired if the traffic study would present a timing issue, as there is a proposal for different land use just south of Lake Cook Road. Manager Street noted that there are always proposals in development that could alter traffic, but recommended moving forward. He noted that future petitioners would be required to do their own traffic studies. Mr. Street confirmed staff will complete a traffic study and then bring this matter back to the Board before petitioning Cook County. Adjournment Trustee Farkas made a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Trustee Nadler. The meeting adjourned at 8:46 p.m. Respectfully submitted, David Fitzgerald Management Analyst

Agenda

March 13, 2017 NOTICE The undersigned, Harriet E. Rosenthal, Mayor of the Village of Deerfield, pursuant to the provisions of Section 2-24 of the Municipal Code of the Village of Deerfield and 5 ILCS 120/2.2, does hereby call and give notice that the Mayor and Board of Trustees will meet as a committee of the whole immediately following the regular Village Board meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 17, 2017, in the Council Chambers of the Village Hall, 850 Waukegan Road. An agenda for the committee of the whole is attached to this notice. The village clerk is hereby directed to: (1) forthwith deliver a copy of this notice to all village trustees; (2) post a copy of this notice of said special meeting not less than 48 hours prior to said special meeting at the village hall; and (3) supply copies of this notice to any news media which has filed an annual request for such notices. HARRIET ROSENTHAL, Mayor Committee of the Whole Meeting April 3, 2017 Franz Council Chambers Immediately Following 7:30 p.m. Regular Meeting 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Public Comment 4. Discussion of Traffic Signal Operations: Lake Cook Road at Pine and at Embassy Way 5. Adjournment Memorandum Public Works & Engineering Department To: Kent Street cc: Barbara Little, P.E. Village Manager From: Robert Phillips, P.E. Deputy Director of Public Works and Engineering Date: March 14, 2017 Subject: Traffic Signal Operations Lake Cook Road at Pine Street Lake Cook Road at Embassy Way(formerly Heuhl Road) and Birchwood Avenue Background: In September of 1986 the Village Board approved a recommendation to limit turning movements at the intersections of Lake Cook Road at Pine Street and Lake Cook Road at Birchwood Avenue/Embassy Way (formerly Heuhl Road)-See attached Ordinance. The ordinance was designed to prohibit traffic from making a through movement at either intersection in the northbound or southbound directions. Essentially, only allowing vehicles to make a right turn or left turn movement from the side streets onto Lake Cook Road. At the time the ordinance was enacted, the intersection of Lake Cook Road at Embassy Way was under stop sign control. It should be further noted that this intersection was a “two way stop”, whereas Lake Cook Road was not required to stop. Since there are few gaps in traffic it would be difficult to exit the side street and cross a five lane highway under stop sign control. Therefore, for safety purposes the through movement prohibition was likely warranted at the time. The traffic signal at Pine Street was either already installed or was pending installation when the ordinance went into effect. Therefore, it is assumed that the impetus for the through movement prohibition was related to the potential for increased neighborhood cut though traffic resulting from a new development on the south side of Lake Cook Road. At the time, access to the Illinois Tollway was limited, and neither the Pfingsten Road extension nor the Lake Cook Road RR grade separation were in place. Therefore, it is logical to believe that traffic would cut through the neighborhood to access the Illinois Tollway (Deerfield Road interchange), eastbound Deerfield Road, or to avoid traffic delays on Lake Cook Road. Intersection Characteristics: Pine Street: Prior to the reconstruction of Lake Cook Road, 2012, the intersection had regulatory signs and pavement markings to identify the through movement prohibition as required by the 1986 ordinance. The south leg also had a physical barrier (porkchop island) as an impediment to through traffic. Upon completion of the highway improvement the County would no longer support regulatory signs or the physical barrier within their ROW. Therefore, the “pork-chop” island, regulatory (through movement prohibition) signs, and pavement marking were removed by the CCHD. Later, the Village installed the proper striping, outside of the County ROW, that would indicate a “left turn only” and “through-right” as possible movements. Though the ordinance prohibiting the through movement remains in place, staff feels that clear pavement markings that indicate the available movements are necessary. Currently, the intersection can accommodate all eight traffic phases, meaning that the geometrics support left turning and through movements on all four legs. Though the centerlines of the north leg and south leg of the intersection do not line up directly (are slightly offset), making the northbound through movement somewhat awkward, it does not appear to be problematic. The traffic signal does not currently have exclusive left turn movements for north and south legs of the intersection but could likely be modified by the Village, under permit with Cook County, to accommodate the left turn phasing. The lack of left turn phasing for the north and south legs of the intersection appears to cause motorists to hesitate when entering Lake Cook Road. This is likely due to the uncertainty of the next move of opposing traffic, through or right turn. The uncertainty may be causing side street traffic movements to be less efficient. A review of accident data between 2014 and 2017 identified 41 vehicular accidents at this location, none of which can be attributable to the north-south through movement. Therefore, any improvements completed by the Village at this intersection are strictly for the purpose of improving capacity, rather than safety. Birchwood Avenue/Embassy Way (formerly Heuhl Road): The intersection of Lake Cook Road and Birchwood Avenue/Embassy Way was originally designed as a two way stop, stopping side street traffic. In 2008 the Illinois Tollway implemented a widening project . The project impacted the overpass bridge and the intersection of Lake Cook Road at Wilmot Road (reconstructed as part of the Tollway’s efforts). At that time the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways installed a temporary traffic signal at the Birchwood Avenue/Embassy Way intersection to assist traffic exiting the business park during construction of the Illinois Tollway widening project. The temporary traffic signal remained in place until 2010. At that time the County implemented a project on Lake Cook Road that included construction of permanent traffic signals at this intersection. The geometrics at this intersection do not currently support exclusive left turn phasing for the north and south legs. To provide the left turn phasing the Village would need to acquire property for the construction of left turn lanes and reconstruct the traffic signal, a process that would need to be approved by the County. Conclusion and Recommendation: The intersection of Lake Cook Road at Pine Street will accommodate all eight traffic phases, through traffic and left turn movements on all four legs. The operation of the current traffic signal is somewhat confusing, leading to undesirable traffic delays. The traffic pattern no longer appears to warrant a prohibition of through traffic. Traffic data does not exhibit an accident problem stemming from north- south through traffic. Staff recommends that the ordinance prohibiting through traffic be rescinded. Staff further requests to be given the authority to pursue the addition of left turn phasing for the north and south legs of the intersection, through the Cook County permit process. The intersection of Lake Cook Road at Birchwood Avenue/Embassy Way appears to be operating fairly well. The geometrics of the intersection will not permit left turn phasing for the north and south legs without land acquisition and the complete reconstruction of the current traffic signal. Staff requests that the ordinance for the through traffic prohibition be rescinded and the traffic signal be allowed to remain as-is.