Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation

Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation/ City Interdisciplinary Transportation Team Meeting Wednesday September 10, 2014, 7:06 pm to 11:25 pm Meeting Minutes Attendance CACT Members Present City Staff Present 1. Paul Baldino 1. Captain Rick Campbell 2. Andrea Caumont 2. Mike Collins 3. Doug Devereux 3. James Mak 4. Addison Heard 4. Paul Stoddard 5. Steve Knight 5. Stephanie Taylor Council and Planning Commission Liaisons Present 1. Karen Oliver Agenda 1. Resident Petitions 2. Meeting Minutes Approval a. July 2014 b. August 2014 3. Traffic Calming, Pennsylvania Avenue a. ACTION: recommendation to City Manager 4. Broad & West / Mason Row a. Developer Presentation b. Question and Answer c. CACT Discussion and draft comments d. ACTION: select CACT member(s) to finalize comments 5. Youth Representatives 6. Parks Chapter a. Introduction b. ACTION: select CACT member(s) to prepare comments 7. Neighborhood Traffic Calming (NTC) Program http://www.fallschurchva.gov/ntc a. Review new draft program Page 1 of 4 1. Resident Petitions Ms English of Grove Ave regarding Mason Row Proposal • Concern about “pork chop” at Grove & West limiting automobile accessibility of residents • Concern about “pork chop” limiting accessibility of emergency vehicles • Concern about possible storm-water problems created by development 2. Meeting Minutes Approval 2.a July 2014 Approved 4-0-1 with Mr. Devereux abstaining. 2.b August 2014 Approved 5-0. 3. Traffic Calming, Pennsylvania Avenue Mr. Stoddard described the process followed to date, including the resident petition, community meetings, and community survey. Mr. Stoddard then presented the survey results, which showed 26 of 34 households agreed with the proposed solution, exceeding the required minimum of 67 percent. The CACT voted 4-0-1 with Ms. Caumont abstaining to recommend the following traffic calming to the City Manager. 1. Raised Pedestrian Crosswalk A raised pedestrian crosswalk would be installed at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue & Fulton Avenue contingent upon the development of a design that preserves the tupelo tree on the east side of Pennsylvania. Some important points for consideration: • Possible Curb Extension: Engineering the raised crosswalk to preserve the tupelo tree may necessitate a curb extension into Fulton Avenue. • On-Street Parking and Vegetation: To the extent possible, the raised crosswalk will be engineered to preserve on-street parking and other vegetation. • No On-Street Parking Buffer Requirement: On-street parking will be prohibited within the raised crosswalk, but there will be no parking buffer required on either side of the crosswalk. 2. No Parking, Striping and Signage Along the Curve The following changes would be implemented at the curve leading to/from Great Falls Street: • Removal of on-street parking from both the inside and outside of the curve. This would remove approximately 9 spaces, 4 along the inside of the curve and 5 along the outside of the curve; • Painted center line (yellow) for the duration of the curve; Page 2 of 4  • Painted edge lines (white) for the duration of the curve; and • Posted 15 MPH Advisory (yellow) signs leading into the curve. 4. Broad & West / Mason Row The developer team presented information about the proposed project including the following: • Land Uses: o 48,000 square feet of retail o 150 hotel rooms o 320 dwelling units • Access points at site reduced from 13 to 5 • Anticipated increase of 3,106 trips over existing conditions The CACT had the following questions about the proposal: • Connections to the W&OD Trail • Turn restrictions at the intersection of Grove Ave & West St • Bicycle acces to the West Falls Church Metro Station • Missing TDM plan • Sidewalk width • How parking reduction from code is distributed across land uses • Location of bicycle parking • Potential for overflow parking onto Park Ave • Impacts of ramp access onto Park Ave • Site entrance along N West St • Shuttle service to Metro stations The CACT voted 5-0 selecting Mr Devereux and Ms. Caumont to prepare final comments on behalf of the CACT. 5. Youth Representatives The CACT voted 5-0 in support of including youth representatives on the CACT. 6. Parks Chapter Mr. Stoddard provided a brief introduction to the history of the draft chapter, including kickoff meetings, and community meetings. In response to questions from the CACT about the purview of their review, Mr. Stoddard recommended that the CACT look for connections between the City’s parks and the mobility goals identified in the transportation chapter of the comprehensive plan. In that light, the CACT made the following comments: • City should use paper streets to provide more pedestrian access and connections • Where footing is uneven or unstable boardwalks should be considered Page 3 of 4  • Safety and accessibility should be considered for all groups, including women and the elderly. This could include lighting and visibility • The W&OD Trail could provide additional amenities, such as playground equipment, gardens, and public art The CACT voted 5-0 selecting Mr. Heard and Mr. Knight to prepare comments. 7. Neighborhood Traffic Calming (NTC) Program Mr. Stoddard presented a draft framework for the updated NTC Program. The draft framework includes an estimated timeline for responding to requests and incorporates information from the planning process including responses to identified problems in the existing program and the review of program elements to borrow from other programs. The CACT agreed to discuss the draft framework at the October meeting. 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