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, November 28, 2023 8:00 PM Charles Robinson Jr. Town Hall, 127 Center St. South 1 Call to Order The Vienna Transportation Safety Commission (TSC) met in regular session on November 28, 2023 in the Vienna Town Hall Council Chambers, 127 Center Street S. Chairman Beth Eachus opened the meeting at 8:03 pm with the following members present: Vice Chairman Angela Sorrell, Commissioners Charlie Strunk, Ken Nahigian, Donna Smith, SallyJean Penna and Peter Hartogs. Commissioners Len Ignatowski and Loginn Kapitan were absent. Also present were Andrew Jinks, DPW, Sergeant Pat Kiley and Officer McElhattan, Vienna Police Department (VPD) and Jennifer Sigler, TSC Clerk. 2 Approval of the October 30, 2023 Meeting Minutes Commissioner Strunk made a motion to approve the October 30, 2023 meeting minutes. Vice Chairman Sorrell seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously, 7 – 0. 3 DPW Report Freeman Store Bridge - The detour has been removed and the trail is now back open adjacent to the Freeman Store. The bridge is now completed and once the punchlist is completed it will be opened to the public, most likely in early December. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 16th for the bridge, this is close to the time the Freeman Store opens for the season next year. 4 Receipt of Petitions and Communications from the Public Matthew DiFiore, 207 Owaissa Court SE, asked if more information could be included when the agendas are published. Chairman Eachus explained that the TSC learns DPW’s recommendations when DPW presents them to the Commission and the Public at the scheduled meeting. The TSC then discusses the recommendations as a Commission and with the public. These are non-action items for initial presentation only; three-minute time limit enforced. Town of Vienna Page 1 Printed on 2/13/2024 Transportation Safety Commission Meeting Minutes November 28, 2023 5 DPW's Traffic Study Findings and Recommendations for the intersection of Tapawingo Road and Glyndon Street SE DPW studied the volumes of both Tapawingo Road and Glyndon Street SE at the intersection of the two roadways from Thursday November 9th, 2023 to Thursday November 16th, 2023. The volumes do not meet the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) warrants for an all-way stop. The hourly volume average for the busiest 8-hour stretch was under 100 vehicles for both roadways; the all-way stop standard calls for a 300 hourly volume average for the main roadway and a 200 hourly volume average for the side street. The speeds were also studied and traffic calming is not warranted along Tapawingo Road or Glyndon Street. The 85th percentile speed for that date range was 26 and 27 MPH. The threshold for physical/vertical traffic calming (or speed tables) is 31 MPH or higher. DPW has no additional recommendations at this time for this intersection. Commissioner Penna asked if this related in any way to the crosswalk markings that were approved at the October TSC meeting. Mr. Jinks stated the motion made at the last meeting (to have one crosswalk painted and the associated signage installed and “no parking” signage installed) would not change. Based on the recent study, there were no additional recommendations. Commissioner Penna asked if Mr. Jinks planned to study the other intersections along Glyndon Street SE to see if any signage or pavement markings should be added to them. Mr. Jinks said he would be studying the Glyndon Street SE intersections of Talahi Road, Moore Avenue and Adahi Road, but it would take some time. Commissioner Nahigian asked if there were any other corner retail properties that do not have a 4-way stop or a traffic signal at the intersection. Mr. Jinks said he was not aware of any and pointed out that this location is unique. Mark Smith, 216 Tapawingo Road SE, asked if the police would provide the accident data for the intersection. He has concerns that the no-parking will just move the problem to another location. He would like to see a 4-way stop and 4 crosswalks at the intersection. He would also like to see the parking garage utilized by the residents and patrons. Doctor Christina Sheets, 212 Tapawingo Road SE, said Tapawingo and Glyndon is a busy intersection, and it’s downhill from the bike path all the way to Nutley Street SW. She has seen two accidents at Tapawingo and Glyndon in the last few years. You have to creep out to see what’s coming before you go across Tapawingo. Another problem is the sidewalk switches from one side of the road to the other. She hopes it doesn’t take somebody getting hurt in that intersection for people to realize that it does need some sort of provision to get people to slow down. Matthew DiFiore, 207 Owaissa Court SE, has lived on Owaissa Court for 45 years. He pointed out that the mixed-use building is only one quarter of the intersection. He believes there could be on-street parking (2 – 3 spaces) if the no-parking area is just 50’ in each direction. He does believe a 4-way stop is necessary and more crosswalk markings would help a great deal. Vice Chairman Sorrell asked Sergeant Kiley if he was able to assign officers to that intersection, and can he provide accident data for the intersection. Sergeant Kiley said there was only one accident at this intersection per State of Virginia accident data. Officers have been out at the intersection and will write as many summonses as they can for violations. They will continue to be out there using unmarked vehicles. Vice Chairman Sorrell asked why DPW recommended only one crosswalk and not four, at the last meeting. Mr. Jinks said he wanted to have a crosswalk crossing the leg that was not associated with the stop sign, and it should be on the corner where the mixed-use development is. Vice Chairman Sorrell is in favor of the four crosswalks and associated pavement markings. Town of Vienna Page 2 Printed on 2/13/2024 Transportation Safety Commission Meeting Minutes November 28, 2023 Commissioner Nahigian stated he has concerns about putting in crosswalks if the data does not support it. Commissioner Smith pointed out the crosswalks are a sign to the drivers that there may be pedestrians present. Commissioner Strunk mentioned the new crosswalks at Tapawingo/Meadow/Kingsley are the high-visibility crosswalks and drivers do stop there much more than they used to. Vice Chairman Sorrell added the Plum/Cottage crosswalk is also helping to stop traffic when pedestrians are present. Commissioner Nahigian made a motion to make the intersection a 4-way stop. There was no second to this motion. Vice Chairman Sorrell made a motion to have a four-way crosswalk and associated pavement markings and signage installed at the intersection of Tapawingo Road SE and Glyndon Street SE. Commissioner Strunk seconded the motion. Motion carried 6 – 1. Town of Vienna Page 3 Printed on 2/13/2024 Transportation Safety Commission Meeting Minutes November 28, 2023 6 DPW's Traffic Study Findings and Recommendations for Ayr Hill Avenue NW DPW studied Ayr Hill Avenue NW between Lawyers Road and Center Street both before and during police enforcement. Before police enforcement, DPW studied Ayr Hill Avenue from Thursday September 28th, 2023 to Thursday October 5th, 2023. The 85th percentile speed for that date range was 27 MPH. During police enforcement DPW studied Ayr Hill Avenue from Thursday October 19th, 2023 to Thursday October 26th, 2023. The 85th percentile speed for that date range was 28 MPH. The threshold for physical/vertical traffic calming (or speed tables) is 31 MPH or higher. Given this, DPW does not recommend speed tables/humps but given the volumes along Lawyers Road and Ayr Hill Avenue, the large curb radii, and the length of the existing crosswalk across Ayr Hill Avenue DPW recommends bumping out the curb ramps located at the Ayr Hill Avenue leg of the Ayr Hill Avenue and Lawyers Road intersection. This improvement may also include adding some curb and gutter along Ayr Hill Avenue near the intersection, replacing/adding sidewalk, adding driveway aprons, and on-street parking lines where applicable. The exact scope of the design is still to be determined but at a minimum the existing pedestrian ramps will be replaced with bumped-out ramps. This will create a narrowing of Ayr Hill Avenue within the area of the intersection and also create a safer environment for pedestrians. While DPW does not have a schedule or budget for the proposed improvements just mentioned, we do anticipate the design process to begin sometime next year. The large-scale existing CIP project for sidewalk and drainage improvements from Lawyers Road to Dominion Drive (including improvements to Center Street and Ayr Hill Avenue) will still be moving forward but due to the anticipated costs and design complexities the design process will not begin until 2025/2026. Vice Chairman Sorrell asked if there was room for a median in the middle of Lawyers Road and if it would help slow down the speed of people turning onto Ayr Hill Avenue. Mr. Jinks replied a median at that location would require a lot of maintenance due to the constant impacts it would receive and there is likely not enough space for a median at that location. Commissioner Strunk asked if more information could be included with the traffic analysis. The new format is not showing everything the old format used to. Mr. Jinks said he can provide the additional information. Commissioner Penna asked if this proposal was like what was installed at Tapawingo Road and Meadow Lane. Mr. Jinks explained it was the same type of narrowing so that it reduces the pedestrian crossing distance, but also provides the narrowing effect to slow down vehicles turning from Lawyers Road. Michele Harris, 111 Ayr Hill Avenue NW, asked Andrew to go over the volume of traffic on Ayr Hill Avenue NW. Mr. Jinks said there is a decent amount of volume for being a local street, but remember Lawyers is connecting over to a large commercial and industrial area so there is going to be some significant volume utilizing Ayr Hill but the speeds did not show the warrant for any type of speed humps or speed tables. Town of Vienna Page 4 Printed on 2/13/2024 Transportation Safety Commission Meeting Minutes November 28, 2023 Ms. Harris asked about the no trucks issue. She stated she has observed many large trucks coming from Center Street onto Ayr Hill Avenue and they’re not supposed to be on Ayr Hill at all. Sergeant Kiley said he will increase police presence on Ayr Hill Avenue, with the help of Officer McElhattan, to focus on the large truck issue. Ms. Fritz Irwin, 302 Center Street N, asked what the recommendation for Ayr Hill Avenue and Center Street was. Mr. Jinks said there was already a CIP project to reconfigure that intersection, which includes some complicated drainage issues. The design process should begin in 2025 or 2026. Ms. Irwin asked that the idea of a raised crosswalk at Ayr Hill Avenue and Center Street be considered along with the reconfiguration. Bill Shields, 107 Ayr Hill Avenue NW, asked about the 31 MPH threshold for traffic calming. Mr. Jinks explained it comes from VDOT and the Federal Highway Administration and that Vienna follows those guidelines for traffic calming, especially speed tables. Francis Bordelon, 114 Ayr Hill Avenue NW, pointed out that the GPS systems on the phones and in the cars will direct people down Ayr Hill Avenue instead of to Maple Avenue. More focus on the truck traffic would help as well. Susan Shields, 107 Ayr Hill Avenue NW, mentioned the speed device was hung on the “No Truck” sign in front of the second house off Lawyers Road, which was obvious and not far enough down Ayr Hill to capture top speeds. She also asked about the possibility of a four-way stop at Lawyers Road and Ayr Hill Avenue. She asked that the existing crosswalk markings be repainted because they are faded. Craig Burns, 301 Center Street N, would like to see the center median installed on Lawyers Road. Thomas Aly, 1820 Prelude Drive, suggested that Ayr Hill Avenue’s speed limit be reduced to 20 MPH. He said his friend would like to see a crosswalk across Lawyers Road from West Street to Ayr Hill Avenue. Susan Shields, 107 Ayr Hill Avenue NW, said there is a yellow and black chevron sign that was to protect drivers from driving into the storm trench and was constantly being knocked down. It has been relocated to the other side of the trench where it is not doing any good. Also, as you approach the crosswalk on Lawyers Road, there is a telephone pole that is blocking the view of the pedestrian waiting to cross. There needs to be better signage to alert people that there are pedestrians. Jing Sun, 110 Ayr Hill Avenue, NW, requested turn restrictions from Lawyers Road for certain times of day. Additional signage would help as well. Commissioner Strunk asked if there was room for a center median or pedestrian refuge area on Lawyers Road. Mr. Jinks said things would have to shift to make room for a center median. Town of Vienna Page 5 Printed on 2/13/2024 Transportation Safety Commission Meeting Minutes November 28, 2023 Commissioner Smith suggested painting “STOP” on the street before the stop signs may help with the problem of people running the stop signs. Chairman Eachus asked Mr. Jinks to explain how the speed device works, since one of the citizens thought it was too close to Lawyers Road to be effective. Mr. Jinks said the way it was set up, it was taking the readings from the center of the block between Ayr Hill Avenue and Lawyers Road. Commissioner Smith made a motion to restripe the crosswalks at Ayr Hill Avenue NW and Center Street N, and to add the word “STOP” to the roadway approaching the stop sign. Commissioner Hartogs seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously, 7 – 0. Vice Chairman Sorrell made a motion to accept DPW’s recommendation of bumping out the curb ramps located at the Ayr Hill Avenue leg of the Ayr Hill Avenue and Lawyers Road intersection. This improvement may also include adding some curb and gutter along Ayr Hill Avenue near the intersection, replacing/adding sidewalk, adding driveway aprons, and on-street parking lines where applicable. Commissioner Strunk seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously, 7 – 0. 7 BAC Report BAC Vice Chairman Strunk said the BAC has some questions about liability and indemnification when it comes to their community bike rides. The BAC has received a response back from the state, and the two attorneys that serve on the BAC will be reviewing the response and will give their interpretation at the January or February meeting. The Tour de Hunter Mill has been scheduled for Sunday, May 5, 2024. Vice Chairman Strunk expects to receive emails on the routing and details sometime in January 2024. Kevin Romance from FABB (Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling) will be attending the January 30th 2024 BAC Meeting. There will be a joint meeting with the BAC, PAC and NOVA Parks on February 27, 2024 from 7:00 – 8:00 PM to discuss dual use paths on the W&OD Trail. Vice Chairman Strunk volunteers with the Committee for Helping Others (CHO) who had their annual bike drive where they were able to refurbish and distribute 17 bikes to Madison High School, and 90 bikes for the year. The next bike distribution will be at Our Lady of Good Council (OLGC) School. 8 PAC Report PAC Chairman Sorrell said the joint meeting with NOVA Parks would focus on their plan for the W&OD Trail and what their vision is and what the trail would look like. Town of Vienna Page 6 Printed on 2/13/2024 Transportation Safety Commission Meeting Minutes November 28, 2023 9 Reports of the Commissioners Commissioner Strunk mentioned that VDOT releases their annual traffic volumes online. He noted that Highland Street NW is consistently reported by VDOT, which is strange since it is not a main road at all. 10 Report of the Chairman NONE 11 Adjourn 9:32 pm 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 7 Printed on 2/13/2024