Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation

Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation/ City Interdisciplinary Transportation Team Meeting Wednesday July 9, 2014, 7:07 pm to 10:00 pm Meeting Minutes Attendance City Staff Present CACT Members Present 1. Mike Collins 1. Paul Baldino 2. Paul Stoddard 2. Andrea Caumont 3. Addison Heard Council and Planning 4. Steve Knight (arrived 7:13 pm) Commission Liaisons Present 5. Kent Taylor 1. Karen Oliver (arrived 7:50 pm) Agenda 1. Resident Petitions 2. Traffic Calming, Pennsylvania Avenue a. Review updated solutions provided by staff b. ACTION: CACT to formulate a specific proposal for traffic calming. The proposal will be distributed to the neighborhood via written survey for approval 3. Meeting Minutes Approval – June 2014 4. W&OD-related Projects a. Update on wayfinding and sharrows b. Update on plazas c. Concept for trail crossings 5. Miller House, referral from Council 6. Neighborhood Traffic Calming (NTC) Program http://www.fallschurchva.gov/ntc a. Review updates to Living Document b. Review Traffic Calming programs from walk-friendly communities c. Review other City programs for possible consolidation, including sign requests, parking restrictions, and enforcement requests Page 1 of 4 1. Resident Petitions None. 2. Traffic Calming, Pennsylvania Avenue Paul Stoddard described the history of the project, including the original resident request and the neighborhood meetings that have taken place. He further described that under the NTC Program, the next step is for the CACT to develop a single, specific recommendation for traffic calming and to distribute it to the neighborhood for their review. The CACT and members of the neighborhood discussed the updated staff recommendation for traffic calming. The recommended solution included a raised crosswalk at the intersection with Fulton Avenue and the removal of on-street parking along the bend leading to Great Falls paired with lane striping and advisory signs noting 15 mph as the maximum safe speed. The CACT, City staff, and neighborhood residents then discussed the recommendation. The following elements were discussed:  The potential to preserve existing trees and shrubs.  Ability to keep any construction within the publically owned right of way (ROW) and how to reconcile that some ROW is currently being used by neighboring property owners as front yard.  How to best align curb ramps and whether curb extensions would be needed to provide perpendicular ramps.  Broad support from the neighborhood to proceed with traffic calming, with lessened support for speed feedback signs and additional speed humps.  Neighborhood concerns about project costs and potential delay in implementation.  Possible loss of on-street parking due to raised crosswalk. The CACT approved the following motion by a vote of 4-0-1 with Andrea Caumont abstaining: Intersection with Fulton  Install a raised crosswalk crossing Pennsylvania on the north side of the intersection with Fulton  Engineer so as to preserve the mature Tupelo tree – crosswalk installation is contingent upon finding a solution that preserves the tree  Engineer to the extent possible, preserve on-street parking and other vegetation  Staff to research parking restriction near crosswalk before submitting to neighborhood for vote, restrictions to be included in information distributed to neighborhood Midway Measures  No control measures proposed for midway point between intersection with Fulton and curve Curve  Remove parking on both sides of the curve Page 2 of 4   Mark a center line  Mark edge lines to narrow streets  Install 15 MPH Advisory (yellow) signs 3. Meeting Minutes Approval – June 2014 The CACT approved the May 2014 minutes by a vote of 4-0-1 with Addison Heard abstaining. 4. W&OD-related Projects A. Update on wayfinding and sharrows Stoddard explained that the expected installation timeframe is now August 2014. B. Update on plazas Stoddard explained that the City staff is now working with the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA) to design the plazas. C. Concept for trail crossings Stoddard introduced a concept drawing for changing the street/trail crossings. The concept included concrete medians and additional landscaping. The idea behind the crossings is to change the feel of the crossings – instead of the park crossing the street, the street would cross the park. The CACT expressed strong support for the crossing concept. Members expressed concern about commitments to ongoing maintenance with the plazas and the crossings. 5. Miller House, referral from Council The CACT discussed Council’s referral of the Miller House project. Briefly, they discussed several transportation aspects of the project, including expanding use of the City’s Fare Wheels program and potential infrastructure to support taxi service. The CACT selected Heard to draft comments on the Miller House project for review and approval at the August 2014 CACT meeting. 6. Neighborhood Traffic Calming (NTC) Program A. Review updates to Living Document The CACT reviewed the living document and agreed that it accurately captures the state of the Program update. B. Review Traffic Calming programs from walk-friendly communities Paul Baldino conducted an extensive review of traffic calming programs in walk-friendly communities. Page 3 of 4 The CACT did not have time to fully discuss the program review. Instead, the CACT agreed to postpone the discussion until the August meeting. C. Review other City programs for possible consolidation, including sign requests, parking restrictions, and enforcement requests The CACT agreed that consolidating existing related programs would improve efficiency in responding to requests. Identified programs included: NTC, sign requests, striping requests, parking restrictions, enforcement requests, and education efforts. Additionally, the CACT noted that granting staff the authority to dismiss unwarranted requests would help improve program efficiency and allow the CACT to focus on areas of greatest need. The City of Falls Church is committed to the letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability call 703 248-5041 (TTY 711). Page 4 of 4