Traffic Commission Meeting

URBANA TRAFFIC COMMISSION Tuesday, October 8, 2013 MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Connolly, Police Chief Craig Shonkwiler, Senior Civil Engineer for Joe Smith MEMBERS ABSENT: Michael Madigan, City Council Member, Ward 6, Chair OTHERS PRESENT: Bill Gray, Public Works Director John Collins, Operations Manager The meeting began at 4:07 p.m. Additions to the agenda: There were no additions to the agenda. Approval of Minutes: Craig Shonkwiler moved to approve the minutes of the September 10, 2013 meeting. Pat Connolly seconded the motion. The Commission voted 2-0 to approve the minutes of the meeting. Public Input There was no public input Unfinished Business None New Business Item #1- Discussion of parking restrictions on Lincoln Avenue from Somer Drive to the end of Lincoln Avenue. Craig Shonkwiler asked if there were any current ordinances that prohibited parking in that area. Barb Stiehl said that there were no restrictions. She explained the concern was expressed by one of the police officers following an accident that occurred at that location. According to the officer, Supervalue was directing semis to park in the northernmost part of Lincoln Avenue when they arrived before their scheduled time for delivery. During one of the times, the semi was hit  Traffic Commission Minutes October 2013 Page 2 by a motorist when the motorist was unable to see the semi, which did not have on running lights. The parked semi obstructed the view of the barriers at the end of the street. Craig Shonkwiler explained that Lincoln Avenue would be extended to Olympian Drive in the future. Bill Gray said that the new alignment would have the curve removed. John Collins said that he could place “No Parking Either Side” signs in that area. Barb Stiehl stated that for the parking restrictions to be enforceable they would either have to be by ordinance or on a temporary 90-day basis. Pat Connolly asked where the semis were parking. John Collins explained that the semis were parking at the northern end of Lincoln Avenue. Craig Shonkwiler stated that those restrictions would need to be placed on Lincoln Avenue at some time. He asked if there were any restrictions on Lincoln Avenue north of the Interstate. Barb Stiehl indicated that there were none listed in the Schedule of Local Traffic Code. (Upon further review it was discovered that there were restrictions on Lincoln Avenue between Interstate 74 to Somer Drive.) Pat Connolly asked where the semis would park if they didn’t park in that location. Barb Stiehl mentioned that there had been problems with the semis parking on the access ramps to Interstate 74. John Collins said that semis had been parking in that section and, in some cases, leaving the trailers there. Craig Shonkwiler asked if the barriers could be moved to Saline Court to keep vehicles from parking on Lincoln Avenue. John Collins was concerned that he would need to move the “No Outlet” sign farther south and that more motorists would hit the barriers if they were moved closer to the Old Lincoln Avenue intersection. Craig suggested that a “Road Closed” sign be installed. He asked that Public Works look at moving the barriers and passing an ordinance to restrict parking from the southern edge of the restrictions to the end of Lincoln Avenue. Pat Connolly said that he would check with the officer and obtain more information about the accident and the frequency of semi parking in that area. He asked that this item be placed on the agenda for the November 12, 2013 meeting.  Traffic Commission Minutes October 2013 Page 3 Item #2- Discussion of the installation of stop signs at Church Street and Busey Avenue. Pat Connolly moved to defer the installation of stop sign on Church Street and Busey Avenue until traffic patterns could be determined. Craig Shonkwiler seconded the motion. The motion was passed 2-0. Item #3- Discussion of the installation of stop signs at Church Street and Coler Avenue. Pat Connolly moved to install stop signs for eastbound and westbound traffic on Church Street at Coler Avenue. Craig Shonkwiler mentioned that there was a stop sign on Coler Avenue before the temporary installation of stop signs on Church Street. He asked what warrants would be used to install stop signs on Church Street. John Collins said that it would not be necessary to install stop signs on Church Street at that location. Bill Gray said that the stop signs were installed temporarily while construction was occurring on the Carle campus. He said that he did not know what warrants would be found, but he recommended that a study by conducted. Pat Connolly withdrew the motion. Craig Shonkwiler suggested studying both the installation of stop signs at Church Street and Busey Avenue and at Church Street and Coler Avenue. The meeting adjourned at 4:49 p.m. The next meeting will be held on November 12, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. at the Urbana Public Works Department, 706 South Glover Avenue, second floor conference room. Respectfully submitted, Barbara Stiehl Recording Secretary