Transportation & Safety Committee

Village of Lombard Village Hall 255 East Wilson Ave. Lombard, IL 60148 villageoflombard.org Minutes Monday, June 10, 2013 7:00 PM Village Hall - Village Manager's Conference Rm Transportation & Safety Committee Trustee Reid Foltyniewicz - Chairperson Trustee Mike Fugiel - Alternate Chairperson Michael Corso, John Larkin, John Schwarz, Bob Corbino, Jerry Schaefer, Jennifer Perkins, Gary Cation and John Mullins Staff Liaisons: Deputy Chief Tom Wirsing - Police Department and Frank Kalisik - Public Works Department Transportation & Safety Committee Minutes June 10, 2013 1.0 Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Foltyniewicz at 7:00 p.m. 2.0 Roll Call Present 8 - Trustee Reid Foltyniewicz, Michael Corso, John Larkin Jr., John Schwarz, Bob Corbino, Jennifer Perkins, Gary Cation, and John Mullins Absent 1 - Jerry Shaefer Staff Present: Deputy Chief Tom Wirsing 3.0 Public Participation Anne Hoey, 1446 S. Fairfield Avenue Norma King, 1403 S. Fairfield Avenue Dawn Grana, 1455 S. Fairfield Avenue Barbara Glosson, 706 E. Maple Street 4.0 Approval of Minutes Amend Item #130140 to read: New Street at Hammerschmidt Avenue, Request to Modify a No Left Turn Restriction The modification will prohibit left turns from New Street on to Hammerschmidt Avenue School Days between 8 a.m.-9 a.m. and 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. (DISTRICT #6) A motion was made by Michael Corso, seconded by John Larkin, Jr., to approve the minutes as amended. The motion carried unanimously. 130284 Fairfield North of 16th Street A request for No Parking on the east side of the street. (DISTRICT #3) Ms. King, President of Fairfield Place Townhome Association, spoke regarding a long standing issue with people parking along a curve in the road at the end of Fairfield. When cars are parked on the curve it creates a blind spot for people coming around the curve. There are deaf children in the area. There have been a couple of accidents and we're concerned about the safety of residents as there is no sidewalk. Ms. Hoey explained that it has been a problem and residents have come to the Village before, but it has fallen on deaf ears. Last May a car flipped over. She was speeding and there were cars parked on Village of Lombard Page 1 Transportation & Safety Committee Minutes June 10, 2013 the east side. If she had come further she would have hit a car or ended up on the property. There is not a stop sign for the traffic coming northbound on Fairfield. People pick up momentum and zip down hill, the curve is a blind spot. If cars are parked there it's one lane. Ms. Gran added that they do have guest parking and there is no parking on the west side of Fairfield. Ms. King explained that the homeowners have driveways and the association has advised them not to have guests park on Fairfield, but just last week there were eight cars parked there, two of which were on the curve. Ms. Gran commented that the association has no way of telling them that they can't park there, but if there's no parking on both sides and the cops come through there on a regular basis people won't park there. Foltyniewicz asked if the residents understand that if they park there they will get tickets. Schwarz asked how long the street has been incorporated. Ms. Gran answered that it has been eight years, but the Village did not take responsibility for the street until three years ago . Corso asked where they are parking. Ms. Gran answered east side of Fairfield north of 16th. Corso stated that there is not enough information, he would like to table it and have Frank Kalisik get more information. Foltyniewicz asked if there is a particular time the cars are parked there. Ms. King replied that the association sent notices to residents asking them not to park there. They have been adhering to it, but we are constantly having to tell them not to park there. Foltyniewicz reiterated that they will have Frank Kalisik do a proper study. A motion was made by Jennifer Perkins, seconded by Michael Corso, that this Request be tabled . The motion passed by an unanimous vote. 130285 Maple Street A resident request for traffic control in response to speeding concerns . (DISTRICT# 1, 4 & 5) Ms. Glosson explained that she is new to Lombard as of September and between flooding and traffic on Maple Street she is disappointed so far. She has spoken with the Police Department, Frank Kalisik and her neighbors regarding the traffic. The nieghbors have complained about an increase in traffic over the last several years and have witnessed numerous near misses on Maple between Westmore and Grace. She went on to say that additionally she has heard from several neighbors that there have been severe accidents in years past. There have been a couple that have totaled cars. Speed does kill. Referencing Frank Kalisik's investigation results, changing the speed limit does not change how people drive. The majority of people drive 13 mph over. He also points out that during rush hour there are vehicle speeds over 40 mph. There are lots of children, parks and churches on Maple. It is important to improve safety and living conditions for people on Maple. Increased traffic equals increased Village of Lombard Page 2 Transportation & Safety Committee Minutes June 10, 2013 noise, odor and air pollution. To point out anything positive with that being a thru street, the negatives outweigh. The Village needs to do something about controlling that street. Frank's report mentions traffic calming measures. As a citizen she would recommend roundabouts which causes the drivers to slow down to manuever. She added that her first suggestion is speed bumps, but the community prefers not to do those. She is hoping that the Village will readdress speed bumps; emergency vehicles could take a different path. Schwarz commented that he was going to give it back to Frank to look at some traffic calming. It was probably great when construction was going on there. Ms. Glosson answered that it made a noticeable difference. Schwarz continued, saying that he likes the idea of a traffic calming solution, although not all are what they're stacked up to be. The Village could look at narrowing the street by marking out bike lanes. He also gave an example that the City of Elgin on Villa Ave. remarked the street, put in a center left turn lane and marked bike lanes. It has really slowed down traffic. We're always looking for ways of directing bikes anyhow. The width of the street, for the most part is 30' or more, so there is probably enough room. Wirsing added that although, several studies have been done there, he is unsure that there is enough room or money for roundabouts. Glosson added that she is not sure that bike lanes would work. She believes that the most effective solution would be some sort of altering of the street itself . Foltyniewicz commented that we have to find a middle ground, a cheaper alternative. We can't tell residents that we're going to spend money on roundabouts when people still flood. Even if it passed this committee, it probably would not pass at the Board. Glosson said that on streets as busy as Maple property values can decrease by as much as 12%. Perkins stated that she doesn't ever see the Police clocking there. Wirsing replied that the Police Department can certainly get a traffic unit out there to do some enforcement. Glosson responded that in the Fall somebody at the Police Department did arrange to put up a radar sign. You could hear cars speeding up and then braking when they saw the sign, so that could be helpful. A motion was made by John Larkin, Jr., seconded by Gary Cation, that this Request be tabled . The motion passed by an unanimous vote. 5.0 Unfinished Business 130211 School Bus Parking in Residential Neighborhoods A resident request to prohibit school bus parking on residential streets . (DISTRICT #5) Chairperson Foltyniewicz said that he is still not in favor of restricting it. It would mean if someone brought home a company truck they couldn't park on the street. Larkin added that it could be an enforcement problem and you don't want to burden the Police Village of Lombard Page 3 Transportation & Safety Committee Minutes June 10, 2013 Department. He also inquired if we would have to post every entrance to the village. It would be difficult to enforce this. Even if it's stipulated that they can only park in front of their house, then the Police have to go ring doorbells. Cation pointed out that it would be difficult to know who the driver is. Mullins suggested that it could be restricted by weight or by the type of license plate. Foltyniewicz reiterated that if it were a safety issue it would be a bigger problem, but this is about aesthetics. It's probably best to review on a case by case basis. Wirsing agreed. A motion was made by John Schwarz, seconded by John Larkin, Jr., that this Request be denied . The motion passed by an unanimous vote. 6.0 New Business 130283 17th Street & LaLonde Avenue A request for a 4-way Stop or modification of the existing 2-way Stop. (DISTRICT #3) Foltyniewicz reviewed the issue. In this area almost every single house has a defeated attitude that the Village isn't willing to help them with an issue. Once you pass the curve at Stewart and 17th, it's a straightaway which the Montini kids are flying through as well as some adults. That is a cut-through to get to Highland or the Fairfield/22nd intersection. Mullins added that if the Police are sitting there the first kid sees him and lets everyone else know. The Police should sit where they can't be seen. You would only have to give one kid a ticket and they'll all know. By Montini the County Sheriff hides and all the kids know not to speed in there. Foltyniewicz added that people also asked for striping a lane marking through the curve. Schwarz explained that because the significant traffic is on 17th, you stop the minor street, that's why LaLonde has the stop sign. There was a consensus to have Frank Kalisik bring a study for the committee to review. A motion was made by John Schwarz, seconded by Gary Cation, that this Request be tabled . The motion passed by an unanimous vote. 130286 Jackson Street East of Westmore-Meyers Road Recommendation from the Transportation & Safety Committee to amend the Lombard Traffic Code with regard to No Parking on the south side of Jackson Street east of Westmore-Meyers Road. (DISTRICTS #5 & #6) Schwarz pointed out that the Health Department has a parking lot that they should be using. Corso added that there were a lot of cars and there are two driveways for Eastgate right there. A motion was made by Michael Corso, seconded by John Mullins, that this Request be recommend to the Board of Trustees for Approval . The motion Village of Lombard Page 4 Transportation & Safety Committee Minutes June 10, 2013 passed by an unanimous vote. 7.0 Other Business Foltyniewicz asked the committee members what their thoughts were on the suggested term limits for committee members. He added that he is all for term limits for elected officials, but not with committees since it's volunteers helping out the community. It's not like there is a waiting list of peole that want to help out. He further added that he believes there needs to be a good combination of experience and new blood. If there's an attendance problem, that might be an issue, but not just because of years of service. Cation pointed out that the trustees ask people back too. Corso said it should be up to the trustees to pick the best people for that committee. 8.0 Information Only 9.0 Adjournment A motion was made by Gary Cation, seconded by John Larkin, Jr., to adjourn the meeting at 8:25 p.m. The motion carried unanimously. Village of Lombard Page 5