Traffic Committee

Traffic Committee Agenda DPW Conference Room 4243 Remembrance Rd. NW. Tuesday, May 9, 2023 2:00 PM Committee Members: Scott Conners, P.E., City Engineer / Travis Mabry, P.E., Assistant City Engineer / Gary Postema, DPW Director / Keith Mankel, Chief of Police / Darrel Schmalzel, City Manager / Frank Wash, Assistant City Manager / Melanie Grooters, City Commissioner Agency Representatives: Jason Cole, P.E., MDOT / Matt Van Dyke, Grand Rapids Traffic Signals Discussion Items 1. Follow-up Items: Minutes from the last Traffic Committee meeting will be reviewed. Discussion will occur on items that may require additional follow-up. 2. I-96 EB / 3 Mile Off-ramp: Deanna Deschler, 1722 Bristol Ridge, is concerned about driver behavior at the stop sign on the I-96 EB off- ramp at 3 Mile. She has observed crashes and experienced near misses at this intersection. The exiting I-96 vehicles stop, but they become impatient with the traffic on 3 Mile and choose too small of a gap to try to turn. 3. Parkside Mid-block Crossing: A DDA member has requested that a mid-block crosswalk be installed between The RAPID parking lot on the east side of Parkside and Shots restaurant on the west side of Parkside. 4. English Hills Mid-block Crossing: The English Hills development is proposing several mid-block crossings of Northridge. The Engineering Department will review the developer’s proposed plans and facilitate a discussion to obtain Traffic Committee input. 5. Informational Items: 1. Wilson / Leonard Traffic Signal: MDOT has started design work on the Wilson and Leonard traffic signal replacement. The new signal will include mast arms and left turn arrows. The project is tentatively scheduled for 2024. Page 1 of 31  2. Your Speed Signs: The Police Department has begun deployment of the new Your Speed signs. In addition to notifying motorists of their speed versus the posted speed limit, the units also collect volume and speed data. A picture of the Your Speed Sign in action, as well as results from the initial deployment locations of Kinney near Imperial, and Ferris near Miller are provided in the supporting documents. 6. Upcoming Meeting Schedule: 1. August 1, 2023 DPW Conference Room 2:00 p.m. 2. November 14, 2023 DPW Conference Room 2:00 p.m. Submitted by: Travis Mabry, P.E., Assistant City Engineer CC: City Commission / Deborah Goudy, City Clerk Page 2 of 31 1 - Follow-up Items Page 3 of 31  City of Walker Traffic Committee Meeting Minutes February 14, 2023 DPW Conference Room 2:00 p.m. Attendance: Scott Conners, P.E., City Engineer / Travis Mabry, P.E., Assistant City Engineer / Gary Postema, DPW Director / Keith Mankel, Chief of Police / Frank Wash, Assistant City Manager / Jason Cole, P.E., MDOT / Melissa Craigmile, P.E., MDOT / John Olson, 1042 Nixon Agenda items are listed in bold, with Committee discussion immediately following: 1. Follow-up Items: Minutes from the last Traffic Committee meeting will be reviewed. Discussion will occur on items that may require additional follow-up. MDOT continues to monitor the number and types of crashes at the Wilson and Remembrance roundabout. If discrepancies are noted in relation to other roundabouts throughout the state, MDOT will consider additional, potential modifications to the roundabout. 3 Mile between Wilson and Remembrance will remain posted as No Trucks. The Police Department will enforce accordingly. 2. Nixon Tucks / Speeding: John Olson, 1042 Nixon, is concerned about trucks utilizing Nixon. Mr. Olson is also concerned about vehicles speeding on Nixon. A detailed discussion on this topic was held. The narrow road width, 90-degree curve at Nixon, drainage ditches, utility poles, and lack of sidewalk, are all site conditions that present unique challenges. The pros and cons of how various traffic calming devices would function along this stretch of street was discussed. The need for sidewalk to increase pedestrian safety along this corridor was also discussed. The Traffic Committee recommended starting with a directed police patrol to address both the truck and speeding concerns. Insights from neighboring residents regarding times when these issues are typically present can help the Police Department to make the directed patrols as effective as possible. 3. Parkside Parking: The DDA would like the topic of parking on Parkside, north of Lake Michigan discussed. With the recent expansion of the RAPID parking lot on the east side of Parkside, pedestrians have been crossing Parkside to the west, north of the crosswalk, to get to Shots. With vehicles additionally parked on both sides of Parkside, this is resulting in pedestrians surprising drivers as they enter the street from behind parked vehicles. A request was made to consider marking Parkside, north of Lake Michigan, as “No Parking.” An additional request was made to consider signage to direct pedestrians to cross at the crosswalk versus mid-block. Page 4 of 31  The internal sidewalk network of the RAPID parking lot was designed to lead pedestrians to cross at the crosswalk at Parkside and Lake Michigan. However, human nature is to take the path of least resistance. Therefore, some pedestrians are choosing to cross Parkside north of the crosswalk. The Traffic Committee did not feel that signs directing pedestrians to cross at the crosswalk would be effective. However, the Traffic Committee did agree that removing vehicles parked along Parkside was a good idea. This has the double benefit of 1) making pedestrians crossing Parkside north of the crosswalk more visible; and 2) providing sufficient width for vehicles traveling northbound and sounthbound on Parkside to pass each other, without being blocked by parked vehicles. The east side of Parkside, from Lake Michigan to Chesterfield, is current signed for No Parking from 6:00 pm - 3:00 am. The Traffic Committee recommended extending this No Parking restriction on the east side of Parkside to No Parking at Any Time. A Traffic Control Order will be drafted to make this adjustment. 4. Marlin Ct Parking: Carla Cook - Metal Tech, 2860 Marlin Ct, has requested that the east side of Marlin Ct be marked as “No Parking,” from their southern property line to the northern road terminus. Metal Tech has had problems with their neighbor to the south, GRapids Heating and Cooling, continuing to park in this area, which is blocking trucks from being able to access the Metal Tech loading docks. This issue largely occurs on Wednesday mornings, when GRapids has an employee meeting. Metal Tech has discussed this issue with GRapids, and GRapids has largely accepted Metal Tech’s offer for GRapids vehicles to utilize the Metal Tech parking lots for their weekly employee meetings. But some GRpaids vehicles continue to park along Marlin Ct, which is limiting Metal Tech’s access to their truck docks. The Department of Public Works visited Marlin Ct. on a recent Wednesday morning and noticed that GRapids vehicles were parked not only in the Metal Tech area of concern, but also near the intersection of Marlin Ct and 3 Mile. The Police Department offered to reach-out to GRapids to discuss this issue further, and to remind GRapids that all parking needs to be conducted in a safe and legal manner. If parking problems remain after this outreach effort, No Parking signs can be considered. 5. English Hills Mid-block Crossing: The English Hills development is proposing several mid-block crossings of Northridge. The Engineering Department will review the developer’s proposed plans and facilitate a discussion to obtain Traffic Committee input. The Traffic Committee suggested that pedestrian refuge islands with appropriate street lighting should be considered for the proposed mid-block crossing locations. Care should be taken in areas near curves to make sure that adequate vehicle to pedestrian site distance is provided. Pedestrian refuge islands should also be placed away from intersecting driveways and roads, so that vehicles can stack in the center turn lane and have room to turn left. The Engineering Department will meet with the Police Department and the Department of Public Works to discuss the details of this issue further. Page 5 of 31  6. Informational Items: a. Wilson / Richmond Center Turn Lane: MDOT Grand Rapids was notified that their most recent application for an Operations grant to add a center turn lane on Wilson at Richmond was not selected by MDOT Lansing. b. Residential Speed Limits: The state law with sets residential speed limits is slated to expire at the end of 2023. Discussions are beginning to happen in Lansing regarding whether the current law, which allows local roads in areas zoned as residential to be prima facia 25 mph, should be extended or modified. 7. Upcoming Meeting Schedule: a. May 9, 2023 DPW Conference Room 2:00 p.m. b. August 1, 2023 DPW Conference Room 2:00 p.m. c. November 14, 2023 DPW Conference Room 2:00 p.m. (Please note that the August meeting date has changed, due to a conflict with elections.) Submitted by: Travis Mabry, P.E., Assistant City Engineer CC: City Commission Deborah Goudy, City Clerk John Olson, 1042 Nixon Carla Cook - Metal Tech, 2860 Marlin Ct Page 6 of 31 2 - I-96 EB / 3 Mile Off-ramp Page 7 of 31 Page 8 of 31 I-96 EB / 3 Mile Off-ramp 3 - Parkside Mid-block Crossing Page 9 of 31 Page 10 of 31 Parkside Mid-block Crossing 4 - English Hills Mid-block Crossings Page 11 of 31  SWINLEY FOREST DR. (PRIVATE) C) NORTH I U BL (P NW DR. E I DG R R TH NO POND "G" . (PRIVATE) GANTON DR POND "AA" POND "A" POND "B" SWINLEY FOREST DR. (PRIVA TE) Page 12 of 31 ATE) ORES T DR. (PRIV SWINLEY F POND "C" POND "BB" ) C DR. NW (PUBLI ROYAL B IRKDALE DR. NW (P RIVATE) Design Accepted SUNNING NORTHRIDGE IVATE) DALE DR (PRIVATE . T. GEORG ) E DR. (PR WOLVERINE Engineers & Surveyors, Inc. ROYAL S POND "D" POND "CC" OVERALL SITE PLAN WE ST S IN USS NORT EX HRIDG E DR. DR. (PR NORTHRIDGE DRIVE NW (P IVA UBLIC TE) ) WENTWORTH DR. (PRIVATE) POND "E" (ENGLISH HILLS DEVELOPMENT) POND "EE" TBD AA 45  E ROYAL S T. GEORG SUNNI NGDA LE DR. (P V T.) NORTH D R. ( PVT.) R GE ST. GEO NORT HRIDG E DR. NW (P UBLIC ) WENT WORT H DR. (PVT.) POND "B" S T DR. (PVT.) EY F O R E SWINL NORTH .) OY A L B IR K D ALE DR. NW (PVT R WE STS US SE XD Page 13 of 31 R. (P VT R. NW (P UBLIC) .) NORTHRIDGE D D ROA IL E 4 M CO E RD Design Accepted SA R. (PVT.) H VE GANTON D R T NU NO E NOR THR WOLVERINE IDG ED AD Engineers & Surveyors, Inc. R. N R O W( E PUB IL LIC ) 4M PAVEMENT MARKING IN NORTHRIDGE DRIVE PO ENGL ISH H ND ILLS DR. ( PVT.) "G " (ENGLISH HILLS DEVELOPMENT) TBD 43 45 5b - Your Speed Signs Page 14 of 31 Page 15 of 31 Your Speed Signs SB Kinney - South of Imperial  Charts Report Printed 5/4/2023 Page 1 of 4 Page 16 of 31  Charts Report Printed 5/4/2023 Page 2 of 4 Page 17 of 31  Charts Report Printed 5/4/2023 Page 3 of 4 Page 18 of 31  Charts Report Printed 5/4/2023 Page 4 of 4 Page 19 of 31  Charts Report Printed 5/4/2023 Page 1 of 4 Page 20 of 31  Charts Report Printed 5/4/2023 Page 2 of 4 Page 21 of 31  Charts Report Printed 5/4/2023 Page 3 of 4 Page 22 of 31  Charts Report Printed 5/4/2023 Page 4 of 4 Page 23 of 31  Charts Report Printed 5/4/2023 Page 1 of 4 Page 24 of 31  Charts Report Printed 5/4/2023 Page 2 of 4 Page 25 of 31  Charts Report Printed 5/4/2023 Page 3 of 4 Page 26 of 31  Charts Report Printed 5/4/2023 Page 4 of 4 Page 27 of 31  Charts Report Printed 5/4/2023 Page 1 of 4 Page 28 of 31  Charts Report Printed 5/4/2023 Page 2 of 4 Page 29 of 31  Charts Report Printed 5/4/2023 Page 3 of 4 Page 30 of 31  Charts Report Printed 5/4/2023 Page 4 of 4 Page 31 of 31