Traffic Commission Meeting

URBANA TRAFFIC COMMISSION Tuesday, June 10, 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 Cory Koker, Police Sergeant Nicole Allen, 23 Montclair Road Steve Summers, 24 Montclair Road The meeting began at 4:01 p.m. Additions to the agenda: There were no additions to the agenda. Approval of Minutes: Joe Smith moved to approve the minutes of the May 13, 2014 meeting. Pat Connolly 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 July 8, 2014 meeting.  Traffic Commission Minutes June 2014 Page 2 Item #2- Discussion of traffic control on Montclair Road. Joe Smith discussed a possible traffic calming design for Montclair Road. He proposed a chicane be added to restrict traffic to two ten foot paths in the middle of the length of Montclair Road. He said that the street was shifted to deal with the properties at 13, 17, 16, and 18 so they would have access to their driveways. He added that the properties at 14, 16, 18, 13, and 17 would not have any on-street parking, if installed. He said that the proposed design would need to be reviewed by public safety and public works to make sure that the configuration would work for emergency response. He estimated the cost of the chicane to be around $12,000. He continued by saying that this design still needed to be approved and a policy developed and approved by Council to provide consistent traffic control throughout Urbana. He said that the City had no funds available at this time for a chicane. Nicole Allen said that she had talked to several residents about the idea and they seemed in favor of it. Steve Summers said that he would talk to residents about this design. Joe Smith said that it was something that could possibly be tried on a temporary basis using barricades and traffic cones. He recommended checking traffic speeds before the installation and following the installation since the device would be experimental. Nicole Allen asked if any other community was using this type of traffic control. Joe Smith said that ideally the design should include two separate chicanes, but he felt that one would work as an initial trial. In most areas, he said that the chicanes would be installed every 600 feet. Pat Connolly said that he had heard residents express concern about accessibility to driveways near the area where the chicane would be located. Joe Smith said that the area would not be raised where the driveways are located so there should not be problems with driveway access. Steve Summers thanked the City for keeping the cost to a reasonable amount. Craig Shonkwiler noted that the process would be slow and that it would involve developing a policy for traffic calming devices that would need Council approval. He confirmed that there was no money available in the budget at this time to fund the project. Steve Summers said that he would circulate a petition to the residents and present it to the Mayor and City Council.  Traffic Commission Minutes June 2014 Page 3 Craig Shonkwiler recommended talking to the residents on an informal basis to let them know what is planned to control traffic. He suggested that the policy be developed and approved before asking residents to approve a neighborhood assessment. Steve Summers said he would be glad to discuss with the residents to reach consensus. Craig Shonkwiler mentioned that in the city of Champaign, the chicane was not allowed as a method for traffic calming. He said many times enforcement would be the first step in conjunction with the installation of signs. Steve Summers said that signs were installed after meeting with the Traffic Commission years ago. This item will be placed on the future list for further discussion. New Business Item #3- Discussion of time limit for meter #50427 located in the 200 block of West Main Street. John Collins informed the Traffic Commission that the time limit for meter #50427 would be reduced from a two-hour limit to a 15-minute limit to provide more turn over allow customers to drop off equipment. He added that this was in response to the installation of a Curbana in front of 208 West Main Street, which would prohibit the use of two parking spaces during the season. Pat Connolly questioned how items were placed on the agenda. The Recording Secretary said that this item was added to inform the Traffic Commission of the change in times for the parking meters. Joe Smith recommended reducing the time limit to accommodate the needs of the adjacent business. Pat Connolly seconded the recommendation. Mike Madigan recommended approving the time restrictions requested by Courson Guitar Store. The Mayor and City Council will be informed of the change.  Traffic Commission Minutes June 2014 Page 4 Item #4- Discussion of the installation of stop signs at Church Street and Busey Avenue. Item #5- Discussion of the installation of stop signs at Church Street and Coler Avenue. Joe Smith recommended discussing both items at the same time. He stated that Carle Clinic had requested these stop sign installations occur after the construction of the Heart Institute was completed. The Church Street and Busey Avenue intersection is the main exit for their parking lot. The Church Street and Coler Avenue intersection has a 3-way stop and a number of pedestrians use the intersection to cross when walking to and from the shuttle lot. He observed that the current traffic numbers did not warrant any additional stop signs at either intersection. Mr. Smith recommended that these intersections be placed on the pending list and reviewed periodically to see if traffic volumes, both pedestrian and vehicular, had increased enough to warrant stop signs. He recommended that no multi-way stops be installed at Church Street and Busey Avenue and that no additional stop signs be installed at Church Street and Coler Avenue. He also recommended that staff continue to monitor Church Street and Coler Avenue to determine if the intersection should be changed from a 3-way stop to a one-way stop for southbound Coler Avenue. Pat Connolly said that Carle wanted stop based upon anticipated traffic. Joe Smith said that the traffic has not reached the numbers to warrant the stop sign, but he recommended that it be monitored. No Council action required. The meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m. The next scheduled meeting will be held on July 8, 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