Transportation Safety Commission

Town of Vienna 127 Center Street South Vienna, Virginia 22180 p: 703.255.6341 TTY 7111 Meeting Minutes Transportation Safety Commission Tuesday, January 31, 2023 8:00 PM Vienna Community Center, 120 Center St. South 1 Call to Order The Vienna Transportation Safety Commission (TSC) met in regular session on January 31, 2023 in the Vienna Community Center Auditorium, 120 Cherry Street SE. Chairman Beth Eachus opened the meeting at 8:00 pm with the following members present: Vice Chairman Angela Sorrell and Commissioners Charlie Strunk, Donna Smith, Loginn Kapitan, SallyJean Penna, Ken Nahigian and Peter Hartogs. Commissioner Leonard Ignatowski was absent. Also present were Andrew Jinks, Department of Public Works (DPW), Sergeant Pat Kiley, Vienna Police Department (VPD), and Jennifer Sigler, TSC Clerk. 2 Approval of the November 29, 2022 Minutes Commissioner Kapitan made a motion to approve the November 29, 2022 meeting minutes. Commissioner Hartogs seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously, 8 – 0. 3 DPW Report Maple and Nutley Signal Upgrades The design is wrapped up and the project team is developing the advertisement documents now. DPW will be submitting the final documents for advertisement for VDOT review within the next two weeks. Once VDOT provides the final approval, the project will be advertised. Actual construction should begin in later 2023 or early 2024. This project not only upgrades some of older signal equipment at a few of our intersections but will also provide new communication equipment for all signals along Nutley Street and Maple Avenue. This communication equipment will provide staff the ability to set all signal timings from one location and thus the ability to make real time adjustments during various traffic conditions. The new technology will also automatically self-adjust signal timings proactively utilizing analyzed performance and trends. More information regarding the upgrade can be found on the Project webpage. In a search engine, search Town of Vienna Nutley and Maple Signage Upgrades and it should be one of the first links. 4 Receipt of Petitions and Communications from the Public NONE These are non-action items for initial presentation only; three minute time limit enforced Town of Vienna Page 1 Printed on 3/27/2023 Transportation Safety Commission Meeting Minutes January 31, 2023 5 Petition – Echols Street SW between Follin and Branch: DPW Recommendations for Traffic Calming Andrew Jinks, DPW Transportation Engineer DPW studied Echols Street SE between Branch Road and Follin Lane. The speed and volume data gathered along Echols Street from Thursday November 3rd, 2022 to Thursday November 10th, 2022 shows that the 85th percentile average speed was 31 MPH. With the 85th percentile speed meeting the 31 MPH threshold, DPW recommends vertical traffic calming mitigations or in this case speed tables. DPW proposes three speed tables be installed along Echols Street SE between Branch Road and Follin Lane. One to be installed between the bridge and 400 Echols Street, another installed between 507 and 509 Echols Street, and the third installed between 601 and 613 Echols Street. DPW also recommends adding parking lane pavement markings (solid white line) along both sides of the roadway. This will provide official markings for the on-street parking and provide a traffic calming aspect as a road narrowing effect. Also, the word “STOP” pavement marking to be added just before the stop bars at the Berry Street and Echols Street intersection. Based on the traffic volumes, no new all-way stop situations are recommended. According to the MUTCD standards, stop signs along Echols Street at the intersections with Delano Drive SE and East Street SE are not warranted. Also based on the traffic volumes, stop signs along Branch Road SE at Echols Street are not warranted. DPW does not recommend adding a crosswalk at the Echols Street and Berry Street intersection. There are no pedestrian ramps and no sidewalk along Berry Street. DPW will continue to evaluate the need for crosswalks and pedestrian ramps at this location. There is potential for these additions in the future. Russell Vaughn, 505 Echols Street SE, asked Mr. Jinks how long it would take to implement the recommendations. Mr. Jinks stated it should be implemented before winter 2023. Jessica Fisher, 421 Echols Street SE, doesn’t want to wait that long. There are so many rolling stops and it’s dangerous now. Mr. Jinks explained Council must approve the recommendations first; then, when our contractor is in Town to do other asphalt projects, this project would be included in that asphalt work. Sergeant Kiley agreed to additional enforcement of the stop sign at Echols Street and Berry Street SE to help reduce the rolling stops problem. Vice Chairman Sorrell made a motion to accept DPW’s recommendations as stated. Commissioner Strunk seconded the motion. Motion passed 7 – 1 . Town of Vienna Page 2 Printed on 3/27/2023 Transportation Safety Commission Meeting Minutes January 31, 2023 6 BAC Report The BAC and PAC met jointly, topics discussed included: • Walk and Roll Campaign (from Earth Day 4/22/23 to Memorial Day 5/29/23) • Eye to Eye Campaign • Bike Rodeo • Bingo for Walking/Riding to local businesses • Walk/Bike to School Week (5/1 – 5/5) • National Bike Day (5/7) • Bike to Work Day (5/19) • “Kidical Mass” Bike Ride (a family bike ride, potentially May 21st) • Adult Biking Class (4/29) • Mayor’s Fitness Challenge • League of American Bicyclists (LAB) videos 7 PAC Report The BAC and PAC met jointly, topics discussed included: • Walk and Roll Campaign (from Earth Day 4/22/23 to Memorial Day 5/29/23) • Eye to Eye Campaign • Bike Rodeo • Bingo for Walking/Riding to local businesses • Walk/Bike to School Week (5/1 – 5/5) • National Bike Day (5/7) • Bike to Work Day (5/19) • “Kidical Mass” Bike Ride (a family bike ride, potentially May 21st) • Adult Biking Class (4/29) • Mayor’s Fitness Challenge • League of American Bicyclists (LAB) videos 8 Reports of the Commissioners Newly appointed commissioner, Ken Nahagian, introduced himself. Commissioner Hartogs asked why the signal on Maple Avenue at the W&OD Trail was turning red when nobody was waiting to cross. Mr. Jinks explained during Covid, the signal was adjusted to be timed with the other lights on Maple Avenue. Now that the signals on Maple and Nutley are going to be upgraded, this signal included, the on-demand red will be reinstated. Commissioner Strunk asked to have the blinking lights on the yield sign on Park Street SE at the roundabout checked – he did not see it flashing when he last drove by. 9 Report of the Chairman NONE 10 Adjourn 9:30pm Town of Vienna Page 3 Printed on 3/27/2023 Transportation Safety Commission Meeting Minutes January 31, 2023 THE TOWN OF VIENNA IS COMMITTED TO FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT STANDARDS. TRANSLATION SERVICES, ASSISTANCE OR ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS FROM PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE TO BE REQUESTED NOT LESS THAN 3 WORKING DAYS BEFORE THE DAY OF THE EVENT. PLEASE CALL (703) 255-6304, OR 711 VIRGINIA RELAY SERVICE FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED. Town of Vienna Page 4 Printed on 3/27/2023