Traffic Commission Meeting

URBANA TRAFFIC COMMISSION Tuesday, May 13, 2014 MEMBERS PRESENT: Michael Madigan, City Council Member, Ward 6, Chair Joe Smith, Senior Civil Engineer Pat Connolly, Chief of Police MEMBERS ABSENT: None OTHERS PRESENT: Craig Shonkwiler, Assistant City Engineer John Collins, Operations Manager Steve Fay, 2021 South Boudreau Drive Myra Stevens, 2021 South Boudreau Drive The meeting began at 4:00 p.m. Additions to the agenda: There were no additions to the agenda. Approval of Minutes: Pat Connolly moved to approve the minutes of the April 8, 2014 meeting. Joe Smith seconded the motion. The Commission voted 3-0 to approve the minutes of the meeting. Public Input Those present wished to speak to the Commission at the time the item was discussed. Unfinished Business Item #1- Discussion of parking on Main Street, Griggs Street and Coler Avenue. Norman Baxley sent an e-mail requesting that this item be placed on the agenda for the June 10, 2014 meeting.  Traffic Commission Minutes May 2014 Page 2 Item #2- Discussion of traffic control on Florida Avenue at Cottage Grove Avenue. Myra Stevens mentioned that she used to live at 1105 East Florida Avenue. She said that she had observed several incidents where students walking and biking from Cottage Grove Avenue to Wiley Elementary School were almost hit by cars. She added that many of the students were walking by themselves and that Cottage Grove Avenue and Florida Avenue was the only intersection without four-way stop signs. She also expressed concern about speeding on Florida Avenue. Joe Smith reported that the traffic counts for the intersection (1200 vehicles per day for Cottage Grove Avenue; 7000 for Florida Avenue westbound and 5200 for Florida Avenue eastbound) did not warrant the installation of four-way stop signs. He said that the preferred balance would typically be 60% to 40%. He added that there had been no accidents in 2012 or 2013 to warrant the installation of stop signs. He continued with information about traffic delays, of which there were no delays beyond 10 or 15 seconds. He concluded that the warrants established in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) were not met for the installation of a four-way stop at this intersection. He mentioned that as part of the safe walking route for Wiley Elementary School, it was recommended that students cross on Anderson Street at Florida Avenue and not cross at Cottage Grove Avenue. Steve Fay discussed said that most students have problems crossing on the south side of Cottage Grove Avenue from the east to the west in the morning. He said that motorists turning from Cottage Grove Avenue to Florida Avenue and from Florida Avenue to Cottage Grove Avenue do not always look for students when turning. He wondered if a crossing guard could be placed there for 15 minutes during the day. Joe Smith stated that specific guidelines needed to be met before stop signs could be installed. He said that the City would continue to monitor the intersections, but that he could not recommend stop signs on Cottage Grove Avenue at this time. Pat Connolly asked if any signage could be added. Joe Smith said that it would not be safe to encourage students to cross at Cottage Grove Avenue. Mr. Fay said that he was concerned about students crossing from one side of Cottage Grove Avenue to the other. John Collins said that the intersection was beyond the area where the school zone signage was in effect. Craig Shonkwiler asked about the process for placing school crossing guards. Joe Smith said that there needed to be a certain number of students crossing an intersection for crossing guards to be stationed there.  Traffic Commission Minutes May 2014 Page 3 Pat Connolly said that there was a collaborative effort between the school district and the police department to determine where crossing guards would be located. Joe Smith said that he didn’t believe there was any signage that would be appropriate but staff would look at possible signage. Pat Connolly said that there was a concern about eastbound traffic on Florida Avenue turning south onto Cottage Grove Avenue. He recommended that the speed trailer be set in the area to identify speeding concerns and to assist with the assignment of STEP detail. He would try to do it before school dismisses for the summer. Mr. Fay suggested that westbound traffic was more likely to be speeding than eastbound traffic. Michael Madigan reviewed the recommendations. Mr. Fay asked about placing the solar speed recording signs at that location. Pat Connolly asked about the cost for the signage. John Collins said that the signs cost about $2500. Pat Connolly reviewed the results of traffic speeds recorded by the speed trailer within the 400 block of West Washington Street. He reported that 65 out of 18000 vehicles went over the 30 mile per hour speed limit, which was a .4% violation rate. He did not recommend any further action other than routine monitoring. Craig Shonkwiler mentioned that the Police Department had reported that the installation of the solar speed recording signs at Prairie Elementary School, along with the inclusion of bicycle lanes on Washington Street, had reduced traffic speeds in that area. New Business There was no new business. The meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m. The next scheduled meeting will be held on June 10, 2014 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