Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation

Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation November 9, 2016- 7:00 pm- 10:00 pm Draft Meeting Minutes Attendance CACT Members Member Present City Staff Paul Baldino (Chair) Yes 1. Stephanie Rogers 2. Jeff Sikes Hal Morgan (Vice-Chair) Yes Bill Ackerman Yes Andrea Caumont No Doug Devereaux Yes Addison Heard No Steve Knight Yes Liaisons Liaison Present Karen Oliver Yes (City Council) Russ Wodiska No (Planning Commission) Bhaskar Singhvi Yes (Youth Representative) Agenda 1. Public Comment 2. Minutes Approval- Action to approve minutes of the July and October 2016 CACT meeting 3. Committee Members Reports 4. Staff Reports- Traffic calming, Lincoln Ave and Walkability survey 5. Discussion Item: CACT 2016 Priorities-tracking sheet 6. Discussion Item: CACT Annual Report to Council- Recommendations, Accomplishments and 2017 Priorities 7. Traffic Calming Report a. Pennsylvania Ave. b. N. Maple Ave. 1. Public Comment: A DPW staff member and a resident addressed the CACT about Streetscape and the work of the task force. They supported raised planting beds for trees and appealed to the CACT to change their position on the issue of flush vs raised planting beds. The CACT had previously voted to recommend that flush tree planting strips be adopted since these would provide a wider space for pedestrians. To provide guidance to CACT Streetscape Task Force representatives, the CACT took a vote to reaffirm their position on flush vs. raised tree planting beds. The vote was 4-1 in favor of the previous position. 2. Minutes Approval for the July and October 2016 Meetings: The minutes for the July and October 2016 CACT meetings were approved with no changes by a vote of (5-0). 3. Committee Members Reports • Chairman Baldino reported the City Council approved using $200,000 of FY16 unspent funds ($921,000) to fund the traffic calming program at the November 24th Council meeting. At the same meeting a number of residents and their children approached Council with a request for a safe crosswalk on Lincoln Ave at Meridian Street. • Bill Ackerman commented on the Lincoln Ave-Meridian Street crosswalk request. He also asked if something could be done to improve pedestrian safety at the S Washington Street/Annandale Road intersection. (Stephanie commented that DPW is looking into temporary pedestrian signal here). • Steve Knight commented that the Streetscape Task Force is now looking at side street streetscape in addition to the major streets. The group is also suggesting that more crosswalks be installed, perhaps every 200 feet along the major streets. He also commented on the Walkability Survey which is to conclude on November 18, but may be extended. Staff will report results at the December CACT meeting. 4. Staff Report • Stephanie reported that there is a request for traffic calming along N. West Street from Great Falls Street towards the west. She also spoke about a project at the intersection of N West Street and Great Falls Street that will rebuild the traffic signals and provide a sidewalk along the north side of West Street east of Great Falls Street. The project would be constructed by Fairfax County with City input. • Jeff reported on the Lincoln Ave request for a crosswalk at Meridian Street. He stated it was unclear if all that is being requested is a crosswalk and accessible ramps or a full traffic calming effort, but would check with the resident. • He also reported that the City had applied for a traffic calming grant of $600,000 through the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). We should hear in the spring if the grant has been approved. • In terms of the use of the $200,000 allocated by Council, staff proposes that these funds be used to implement light solutions on the several cases we are currently working on and use the potential grant funding to construct heavy solutions for these cases. • Jeff also reported the scope of work had been developed for engineering services for the N Maple Ave project and DPW had requested a proposal from one of the on-call contractors. Finally, he reported that the Winter Hill permit parking signage was in place except for a few signs along Annandale Road, which will be installed in a few weeks. 5. Discussion Item: CACT 2016 Priorities Tracking Sheet: The 2016 Priorities Tracking Sheet has been updated to reflect recent activities. 6. Discussion Item: CACT 2016 Annual Report to City Council: The CACT will submit its annual report to the City Council in January indicating the accomplishments of 2016 and CACT priorities for 2017. Chairman Baldino agreed to draft the report and asked for suggestions as to 2017 priorities. Accomplishments suggested included Bike to work Day, Winter Hill Zone Parking, Pennsylvania and Maple Ave traffic calming, and new project to be selected in December. 7. Traffic Calming Project Report: a. Pennsylvania Ave.- Construction is complete except for some landscaping. Data will be collected in December and an after study report will be provided early next year. b. Maple Ave- Staff has developed a scope of work for the project and asked for a quote from one of our on-call contractors for survey and design services. Survey should begin in December. Data will be collected in December to determine effectiveness of the light solutions implemented in the summer. A report will be issued early next year.