Transportation & Safety Committee

Village of Lombard Village Hall 255 East Wilson Ave. Lombard, IL 60148 villageoflombard.org Minutes Monday, November 11, 2013 7:00 PM NOTE: DIFFERENT LOCATION Village Hall North Landing 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 Matthew Lew - Public Works Department Transportation & Safety Committee Minutes November 11, 2013 1.0 Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Foltyniewicz at 7:00 pm. 2.0 Roll Call Present 8 - Trustee Reid Foltyniewicz, Michael Corso, John Larkin Jr., John Schwarz, Bob Corbino, Jerry Shaefer, Jennifer Perkins, and Gary Cation Absent 1 - John Mullins Staff Present: Deputy Chief Tom Wirsing, Police Department Frank Kalisk, Public Works Department 3.0 Public Participation Patty Bruzek, Resident Robert Biddle, Resident Fred Walker, Resident Mr. Biddle and Mr. Walker, representing themselves from the 800 block of south Charlotte, requested replacing the Yield signs on north and south bound Charlotte at Harrison Road with Stop signs. Both residents stated that vehicles travel at excessive speeds and children are in the area. Mr. Biddle stated the Village must install the stop signs to avoid an eminent accident resulting in someone’s death . Mr. Walker supported Mr. Biddle’s comments by stating the most recent accident, if circumstances were different, would have resulted in a child’s death. Both residents witnessed to numerous “near misses”. Chairperson Foltyniewicz rearranged the agenda to accommodate the residents in attendance. Item 130519 was discussed first followed by Item 130578. 130519 Charlotte Street at Harrison Road Resident request that existing Yield signs be changed to Stop signs . (DISTRICT #6) Perkins stated a bus stop exists at the NW corner of the intersection and stop signs should be implemented. Schaefer wondered if the stop Village of Lombard Page 1 Transportation & Safety Committee Minutes November 11, 2013 and yield sign locations should be switched between the Taylor and Harrison intersections to avoid placing stop signs at every intersection in the neighborhood. Corso wondered why a stop sign couldn’t be implemented at every intersection since all intersections in town have some type of traffic control. Schwarz posed the question as to why the Yield sign was originally installed and stated a more positive control would be prudent. A motion was made by Jennifer Perkins, seconded by Gary Cation, that this matter be recommended to the Board of Trustees for approval. The motion passed by an unanimous vote. 130578 Patrick Drive and Cimarron Road Intersection A resident request to install Yield or Stop signs. (DISTRICT #1) Ms. Bruzek, representing herself, from the 300 block of Cimarron Road, stated concern over the intersection of Patrick and Cimarron. Specifically, she has observed a significant number of cut through traffic from Pleasant Lane to Meadow Avenue since Patrick Drive was constructed this year. She stated there are 37 new multi-family units being constructed in the subdivision and another 29 dwellings on the other side of I-355 that are causing dangerous traffic conditions. Though no accidents have happened yet, she witnessed that the traffic is speeding and the drivers are not paying attention to the children in the area. She requested to have some type of control sign installed on Patrick Drive at Cimarron Road to make the neighborhood safer. Foltyniewicz initiated the discussion with the supposition that the committee, as a whole, is not confident with Yield sign effectiveness and that installation of a Stop sign would be a more realistic approach to the problem. Cation asked staff about Stop sign deployment requirements for new roadways. Kalisik stated the MUTCD continues to govern, requiring newly constructed roadways to fulfill, at a minimum, the traffic volume criteria for initial deployment. Though no traffic studies were conducted by staff, Kalisik believed the traffic volumes at this intersection were nowhere near the MUTCD warrants, approximately 6,000 Average Daily Traffic; thus, no stop sign was recommended for implementation at the time of platting/design of the subdivision. Discussion ensued. Perkins stated it would not be prudent to wait for an accident to happen and clarified there were possible visual barriers on Patrick Drive at the intersection. Corso clarified the other intersections in the subdivision did not have traffic controls at this time. Corbino wondered if staff should investigate the intersection further and look at warrants, while Schaefer stated the roadway appeared to be designed correctly with curves that keep traffic at reasonable speeds. He questioned why traffic would be using Patrick Drive instead of Pleasant Lane to get to Columbine Avenue. Ms. Bruzek stated Columbine Avenue is a 4 lane road at Village of Lombard Page 2 Transportation & Safety Committee Minutes November 11, 2013 Pleasant Lane but a 2 lane road at Meadow Avenue, resulting in easier access to make turning movements onto Columbine. When prompted by Cation, Kalisik stated a traffic study and history review would not provide any meaningful results since Patrick Drive is too new, and that implementation of any traffic control device on Patrick Drive at Cimarron was not warranted; thus, exposing the Village to liabilities. Schwarz verbalized that the MUTCD does allow room for engineering judgment and there are too many situations for the MUTCD to cover them all. Though there are good lines of sight today, there probably will be problems in 5 years. Schaefer concurred sight lines will be poor in the future. Perkins was impressed with recent Police efforts on Maple Street and requested enforcement, when available, at the subject intersection. Wirsing affirmed the Police Dept. would check traffic speeds in the near future. A motion was made by Gary Cation, seconded by John Larkin, Jr., that this Request be tabled. The motion passed by an unanimous vote. 4.0 Approval of Minutes A motion was made by Bob Corbino, seconded by John Larkin, Jr., that the Minutes of the October 15, 2013 meeting be approved. The motion carried unanimously. 5.0 Unfinished Business 6.0 New Business Chairperson Foltyniewicz presented a recent request to improve the existing temporary Stop signs on Berkshire Avenue at Charlotte Avenue that are currently posted by the Pleasant Lane School staff during am and pm hours with permanent signs. Chairperson Foltyniewicz stated the temporary nature of the Stop signs causes an inconsistency for drivers, resulting in a questionable ability for them to adhere to the traffic device. 7.0 Other Business Chairperson Foltyniewicz stated the next meeting would be in January, 2014. When prompted, Kalisik stated the Illinois Prairie Path crossing at Main Street was being researched as part of the standardization of all trail and roadway crossing by the DuPage County West Active Transportation Committee (WATC). Their results are expected in March, 2014. The Committee requested this information be publicized Village of Lombard Page 3 Transportation & Safety Committee Minutes November 11, 2013 in local media as soon as possible. 8.0 Information Only 130579 Letter from IDOT Regarding Raising the Speed Limit on Route 53 9.0 Adjournment A motion was made by Gary Cation, seconded by Jennifer Perkins, to adjourn the meeting at 7:59 p.m. The motion carried unanimously. Village of Lombard Page 4