Streets & Roads Commission

Streets and Roads Commission Meeting Minutes July 9, 2019 I. Commission members in attendance: Cindy Dunigan, Lynne Galletti, Luci Riegel, Jennifer Smith, Councilwoman Washabaugh II. Call to Order and Pledge - The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m. III. Approval of Commission Meeting Minutes – Motion to approve the May 2019 minutes made by Luci Riegel, Motion second by Lynne Galletti, unanimous approval, minutes to be sent to town staff to publish. IV. Council Liaison Report – Councilwoman Washabaugh reported on the July Town Council Meeting. There has been an ongoing issue with traffic going down South Main street dead end extension attempting to get on 70, especially during festivals and large local events. The town took action during the last large event and placed a police car and new signs notifying drivers that it was a dead end. They also closed the street between 3-7 pm. During the next large event the weekend of 7/20 and 7/21 the town will again take measures to prevent traffic from going down the dead end at South Main Street, including the new VMS (Variable Messaging Signs) V. Community Concerns/Citizen Comments a. Lisa Lessin, S. Main Street – Regarding cars driving to the dead end area of S. Main Street - no issues during the last large event, she thanked the Town for taking measures that day - there is still a daily issue with cars coming down the dead end street and turning around in their driveways. She asked for the Town’s help for the next festival on 7/20-7/21. Councilwoman Washabaugh notified her that the Town is looking into steps to address that curve as it is a potentially dangerous intersection. The Town Engineer, Barney Quinn is drawing up a plan for a possible solution to that intersection. Councilwoman Washabaugh will reach out to the Town Engineer to find out if that is a state versus town road and to the Mayor regarding leaving a police car there and the new VMS signs for 7/20 and 7/21. VI. Old Business a. Sterling Glen Speeding Issue – A summary was compiled of the Traffic Speed and Volume studies done for the last 5 years. Jennifer Smith stated that in doing these studies, we look at the data to determine if there is an issue that can be addressed - whether or not steps need to be taken such as a structural change to the road, speed deterrent measures, enforcement measures, etc. The main criteria to look at in the data is whether or not 85% of the traffic is going 10mph over the speed limit. The Sterling Glen 1  data does not show this. It was agreed to remove this item from our agenda. b. Twin Arch Neighborhood Speeding Issue – See criteria in VI(a). The data for Back Acre Circle does not show an issue that warrants further steps. It was agreed to remove this item from the agenda. c. Back Acre Circle Parking Issue – Members conducted visual observations of the parking issue in front of the dance studio. Lynne Galletti reported that on Tuesdays, she had observed a few cars parking on the street but most cars were using the back parking lot. She did not observe any issues on Back Acre Circle. Cindy Dunigan goes by there every day and she said she does see cars parking in the front and there is an issue when larger vehicles park in the front as it causes cars passing to cross the double yellow line. Councilwoman Washabaugh reported that speeding did not seem to be an issue, she did see teenagers making illegal U turns, she saw equal use of the parking lot and the street parking – the only issue she saw was cars crossing the double yellow line due to cars parked in front – it becomes a more serious issue as it gets darker. d. Speed and Traffic Studies – The speed and traffic studies were put together in a spreadsheet. Lynne Galletti met with Chief Doug Reitz to go through the data and get the Police Department’s input. Chief Reitz agreed that a current study of Leafy Hollow Circle should be done. e. Requests for Temporary or Permanent on-street parking – Jennifer Smith handed out a prototype for a short-term request for on street parking in a no parking area. There were discussions regarding: attaching a sheet to the request with signatures of any parties affected (like the current block party signature page), requiring a 3 month turn around time, one all input and suggestions are made for the form – we will ask DPW, Town Engineer and Police Chief for their input. f. Speed Control Study request on Leafy Hollow – After reviewing the Traffic and Speed Studies done by the town and receiving input from Chief Reitz, it was agreed that a request would be made to do a study on Leady Hollow in the fall after school starts. g. Speed bump signage on Park ridge – The signs notifying drivers of the upcoming speed bumps have been up since June. It was agreed to remove this item from the agenda. h. Speed Limit Signs on Back Acre Circle – Councilwoman Washabaugh checked and confirmed that 2 speed limit signs have been installed. Councilwoman Washabaugh will contact the Town Engineer and Town Staff to determine if more speed limits signs have been ordered and will be installed. i. Industrial Traffic – Back Acre circle – A status update as to whether the town Staff contacted the industrial firms to relocate traffic to Aaron Drive rather than Century Drive was not received. Councilwoman Washabaugh will contact Mayor Rockinburg for a status update. j. Crosswalk Locksley and Kings Forest – The visual study was not received. The intersection was discussed as there is currently a bus stop 2  there but no crosswalk. A recommendation was made to ask Town Staff to contact Carroll County Public Schools to find out if this is an official bus stop and if so, to ask the Town Engineer what, if any, school crosswalk/signage needs to be installed. k. Entrance to Parrs Ridge – The no parking signs and no parking strips along the curbs were installed. It was agreed to remove this item from our agenda and to notify Chief Reitz for possible enforcement as cars are still parking on the no parking areas. l. Buffalo Road/North Main Street – The “do not enter” sign will be up and installed within the next 30 days. Hold for status update. VII. New Business a. Citizen Requests Through the Town Web Site i. Dougherty, Tall Oaks – Requested that the Town patch the cracks in the road at the entrance to Tall Oaks Estates. Councilwoman Washabaugh will contact the Town Engineer to see if this is a road that the Town maintains. Status update requested at next meeting. ii. Ferro – requested that a left turn signal be installed at Ridgeville Road intersection – as this is a SHA road, Councilwoman Washabaugh will email the citizen back with the SHA contact information. It was agreed to mark this request closed on the list. iii. Graziano – Route 27 speed limit through the town – As this issue keeps being brought up - Councilwoman Washabaugh will speak to the Town Engineer about possibly contacting the SHA District Engineer to find out if the issue of the speed limit on 27 through Mount Airy can be revisited. Status update at next meeting. iv. Harbison – Twin Arch Road between Century and Aaron Drive – Councilwoman Washabaugh will ask the Town Engineer to look at this section of road to determine if any improvements can be made based on the APFO due to the business park being added. Status update at next meeting. v. Graves – Leafy Hollow traffic study request – a study is being done per VI.d and VI.f above. Councilwoman Washabaugh will email the resident will status update. vi. Adamonis, Lee, Heitzman – Requests regarding the parking issue at Back Acre Circle. The Mayor had asked for a status update. Per VI.d. above – Commission members visual observations the last few months – Councilwoman Washabaugh will update Mayor Rockinberg with the findings of this Commission. vii. Cook – Councilwoman Washabaugh will contact the resident to determine a location for a traffic study. b. Master Plan Impementation Matrix – Councilwoman Washabaugh responded to Bill Butts tthat Streets and Roads does not have the authority, budget, ability to implement the action items on the Matrix. It was agreed that this commission does not have the budget nor authority to implement any of the initiatives. It was agreed that we could possibly, as 3  a Commission, reach out to Planning and Zoning with the continued concerns this Commission receives regarding parking issues when new developments are approved. It was also agree that this Commission will keep track of continuing issues we see and can inform Planning and Zoning. VIII. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm. Respectfully Submitted by, Lynne P. Galletti 4