Streets & Roads Commission

STREETS AND ROADS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH 7:00 PM VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE THIS MEETING WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE AT https://www.facebook.com/TownofMountAiry/ I. Call to Order and Pledge The meeting was called to order at 7:10pm. In attendance: Chairwoman Lynne Galletti, Councilwomen Patty Washabaugh, Mary Hushour, Luci Riegel, Mary Beth Obremski, Jonathan Samayoa. II. Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes: Minutes approved. Luci Riegel motioned to approve Mary Hushour seconded the motion. All voted to approve. III. III. Council Liaison Report Councilwoman Washabaugh reported that their meeting was held Monday November 2nd. Most of the Town Council meeting was dealing with amendments to the budget and bringing money into the next two years for projects. First thing they discussed was the Harrison-Leishear property that is north of the town but not in the town. They are reviewing the annexation of the property approx. 258 acres. County wants an employment campus. If we annex it into the town, we can have more control over the property. The traffic will be increased. This could be a big issue. Looks as though the Planning and Zoning Commission approved the recommending to the Town Council to annex into town. Now it is sent the Town Council, next up will be the public hearing. Please share where and when it is going to be. The 2nd thing was the town survey. They had a pretty good response 26% of the town responded. This was a great response. Thanks to the people who worked on the survey. The survey will be on the website for everyone to see. One thing that was clear was that people were most displeased with the roads in our town. Factors are speed and other issues. Traffic studies don’t show more than 85% of 10mph above the posted speed limits. These end up as code enforcement issues. This can be difficult for the town to do. Do we have other options to control the speed? The Hometown Heroes Banners are on display in town. Main Street, Center Street, and Cross Street. Very proud to have the people who have lived in our town and have served our country on display to honor them. They will up until the 1st week of December. Town wreaths will go up a little later. Next year the banners will be up Memorial Day until Veterans’ Day. *****Chairwoman Galletti wanted to thank Councilwoman Washabaugh, Suzanne Way, Mary Hushour and Melissa Thorn and the Department of Public Works for their hard work and dedication on this project. Councilwoman Washabaugh wanted to add a special thank you to Sparky Electric for supplying the bucket lift to hang them up. IV. IV. Public Comment pertaining to non-agenda items None as of 7:24pm None as of 8:31pm V. Old Business a) Speed and Traffic Studies 1206 South Main Came in through Mayor Rockinberg-this is by the Verizon building going toward the spa and Carter Que. Study shows not over the 85% over speed. Study shows 35 which is within the threshold. High speed was 66. Reigel asked the correct speed limit was at that point. It should be 30mph. Action: Chairwomen Galletti will check what the speed limit is there. Ridge Ave-South Bound Located down Ridge Ave. going toward Safeway at the four way stop sign. We talked at the last meeting and noted that there might be a sight issue. When going toward Safeway you need to move forward to see. This is an enforcement issue here. The study shows we are with the 85% of speed enforcement. Possible solutions repaint the lines. Action: Chairwoman Galletti will send information to Chief Reitz 2210 Kings Forest-Nottingham Kings Forest- Last Entrance into Nottingham and it is downhill. The study shows that they are within the 85% of the speed limit. Need to speak to town to see if there are any additional measures available. People wouldn’t like speed bumps because of emergency equipment and snowplows. Action: Chairwoman Galletti will send information to Chief Reitz *Washabaugh mentioned that is a hard fix. There is an issue in Twin Ridge as well. She would like to research and find any additional measures that might help with these situations. Calvary Rd. People are driving on residents’ yards and want it to be a one-way road. The study was done just to collect the data for town staff. Action: Information given to Town staff and they will decide what to do. Remove from Agenda. **** Beck Rd. should do one now and then again in the spring when the pool is open. *****Rising Ridge at the stop sign up by Leafy Hollow-Still waiting on information. b) Route 27 speed limit – status update – SHA report from Chief Not received any update. Chairwoman Galletti will take this to the Police Chief to ask what we need to do to get this report. Action Item: Galletti will follow up with the Chief. Councilwoman Washabaugh added the accident on 27 by Twin Arch was a terrible accident and the guardrail doesn’t come to the intersection. The gap has a utility box for the lights. Someone cut someone off and then the car veered off and hit the box. She is asking Town Engineer Barney Quinn and Police Chief Doug Rietz how we can make improvements to the intersection. Member Mary Hushour mentioned that 27 and 70 intersection is dangerous as well. We have asked for a turn signal there but have not gotten any approval from the state. Washabaugh mentioned that once we make the changes because of Chick Fil they will be discouraged to make the left onto 27 North. This has been an ongoing problem. Chairwoman Galletti will follow up about this as well. Chairwoman Galletti reported that the chief has asked about not having the light blink there. Councilwoman Washabaugh said we need to be very firm and let them know how much change is coming and we need help at those intersections. Member Luci Riegel asked if we could put a “no right turn of red” coming from Jiffy Lube toward the post office no right turn on red going onto 27 north. Councilwoman Washabaugh said we need to reference where the accidents are happening to see if that is problem. Member Luci Riegel asked if we need to have a left turn onto 27 north coming from McDonalds because of the dangerous intersection. Can we make it a no left turn or is it all controlled by Main Street? The State’s response was to put a sign directing turns onto 27 North. Councilwoman Washabaugh wasn’t sure that they could do that but will add that to the list of questions for Chairwoman Galletti to ask Chief Reitz. Action: Chairwoman Galletti will add all these items to the list to talk to the Chief Reitz.  c) Buffalo Road Speeding follow up We don’t own the road. Councilwoman Washabaugh didn’t get any information back. Action Item: Chairwoman Galletti will talk to Town Engineer Barney Quinn about this. d) Hood Street Staff would not do a study because they looked at the site and the town staff decided to put a yellow line down the street which breaks the road into two. The intent was to show two passing lanes. Action Item: Take off agenda e) 4 way stop request on Main Street at MAVFC Town Road does not quality Action: Take off agenda f) E. Ridgeville Blvd study (Members Mary Beth Obremski and Luci Riegel) The study was done by members Luci Reigel and Mary Beth Obremski and they talked to most of all the businesses on Ridgeville between Happy Dog and Fleming Furniture. The main issue is the entrance to the Direct Electric Services/Mt. Airy Motor and the WesBanco Bank Building. There is a site problem. Business owners reported that this area does cause a concern. We should consider a NO PARKING on the small stretch of road. We can make a recommendation just for this small portion. Action Item: Chairwoman Galletti will give to town staff and recommend the small No Parking area between Direct Electric Services/Mt. Airy Motor and the WesBanco Bank Building. VI. New Business a) Citizens requests – Crosswalk @ Old MAMS Back Entrance, Ask town staff to remove the bottom crosswalk signs in the county. Find out how to remove the crosswalk paint on the road. Member Mary Beth Obremski will find out who must remove paint on the road. Action: Chairwoman Galletti will to Town Engineer about removing the signs. Crosswalk @ Prospect and Rising ridge Cross walk at Rising Ridge near American Legion and how do we get a crosswalk added there. Would we need a stop sign or just a crosswalk? Member Luci Riegel asked If this is our road then why couldn’t we have a 3 way stop sign? Chairwoman Galletti noted that there have been many studies here and there has been enforcement here as well. Member Mary Hushour asked if we could have a slowdown sign instead of jumping to a stop sign. Chairwoman Galletti said that we did studies here and they were within the stated speed. There have been high speeds here for a long time. Action Item. Discuss with Town Engineer Barney Quinn what to do at the intersection. Ask what the options are. Rising Ridge Court & Village Gate Dr. Traffic with people coming down Rising Ridge and coming down toward Prospect. The police have been here, and they build up speed easily. We will add a traffic study here at Rising Ridge Court and Village Gate Drive. Also ask for Deer Hollow and Rising Ridge. Action: Chairwoman Galletti will add traffic study at Rising Ridge Court & Village Gate Dr. Also, Deer Hollow and Rising Ridge Court. and will talk with Barney Quinn about the history of this stretch of road. b) Town Survey All committee members have a copy to look at. **Veteran’s Day ceremony and a food truck for Veteran’s Day. 4pm at the Pop-Up Park. Weather permitting. **Chairwoman Galletti wanted to thank the town for the Halloween event on Main Street. There are many events coming up for downtown. Great place to socially distance. VII. Adjournment – next meeting: January 5, 2021 7:00 p.m. Meeting adjourned at 8:30 Motioned by Mary Hushour and Luci Riegel 2nd the motion.