MINUTES

TRAFFIC COMMISSION

Monday, March 22, 2010

City Hall, Room 310

5:30 pm

MEMBERS PRESENT: Cmdr Sterr, Chairperson Brad Hopp, Charles Karow, Mark Schuster

MEMBERS ABSENT: Vice Chairperson Matt Kuepers (excused), Bryan Lipke (excused), Alderman Andy Nicholson

OTHERS PRESENT: Alderman Tom DeWane, Mary Grosklaus (AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin)

GENERAL BUSINESS

1. Approval of the minutes from the February 22, 2010 Traffic Commission meeting.

A motion was made by Cmdr Sterr, seconded by C. Karow, and carried to approve the minutes from the February 22, 2010 Traffic Commission meeting.

INITIAL REQUESTS

2. Request by the Traffic Engineer to remove the existing parking restrictions on the closed segments of Cass and Van Buren Streets at the Bellin Hospital campus.

Dave Hansen, City Traffic Engineer, stated that Cass St from Van Buren St to Webster Ave, and Van Buren St from vacated Lawe St to Cass St was closed to public traffic in late 2009 and Bellin Hospital assumed control over these streets due to campus updates. The City no longer enforces these streets, therefore, the city parking and intersection control restrictions should be removed from ordinance.

A motion was made by C. Karow, seconded by M. Schuster, and carried to:

A. Remove the NO PARKING zone on both sides of Cass Street from Van Buren Street to Webster Avenue.

B. Remove the NO PARKING zone on the east side of Van Buren Street from a point 65 feet north of Cass Street to a point 230 feet south of Cass Street.

C. Remove the NO STOPPING OR STANDING zone on the east side of Van Buren Street from Cass Street to a point 277 feet south of Cass Street.

D. Remove the NO STOPPING OR STANDING zone on the east side of Van Buren Street from a point 424 feet south of Cass Street to a point 385 feet north of Porlier Street.

3. Request by the Traffic Engineer to remove the 2-WAY STOP condition on Cass Street at Van Buren Street.

D. Hansen stated that removal of STOP condition is needed for the same reasons explained in Item 2.

A discussion took place about:

· Street closure vs. street vacation

· Enforcement of traffic laws and crashes on closed streets

· The private road improvements already completed by Bellin

· FHWA requirement that private roads open to public travel will be held to the same signing and marking requirements as public agencies as soon as the State adopts the 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

A motion was made by M. Schuster, seconded by C. Karow, and carried to remove the 2-WAY STOP condition on Cass Street at Van Buren Street.

4. Request by Ald. Theisen on behalf of the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (445 South Adams Street) to:

A. Establish a loading zone on the north side of Chicago Street from a point 135 feet east of Adams Street to a point 180 feet east of Adams Street.

B. Remove the 2-HOUR MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 7 AM - 7 PM parking zone on the east side of Adams Street from a point 80 feet north of Chicago Street to a point 120 feet north of Chicago Street.

D. Hansen stated he spoke with both Ald. Theisen and the Director of the center prior to this meeting. He has no concerns with the parking zone requests.

A motion was made by M. Schuster, seconded by C. Karow, and carried that, on a 90-day trial, to:

A. Establish a NO PARKING LOADING ONLY zone on the north side of Chicago Street from a point 135 feet east of Adams Street to a point 180 feet east of Adams Street.

B. Remove the 2-HOUR MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 7 AM - 7 PM parking zone on the east side of Adams Street from a point 80 feet north of Chicago Street to a point 245 feet north of Chicago Street.

C. Establish a 2-HOUR MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 7 AM - 7 PM parking zone on the east side of Adams Street from a point 120 feet north of Chicago Street to a point 245 feet north of Chicago Street.

5. Request by Ald. Theisen to remove the NO PARKING restriction on the south side of the 600 and 700 blocks of Lawe Street.

D. Hansen stated he spoke with Ald. Theisen about this request. Per the alder, the reason some residents want on-street parking on Lawe St is to reduce the amount of cut-through traffic on Lawe and Jackson Sts from southbound Monroe Ave motorists trying to avoid taking a left at the Monroe/Porlier traffic signal. D. Hansen stated that the north side of Lawe St in this segment is posted RESIDENT PERMIT ONLY parking. Clear roadway width of Lawe Street in this area is only 30 feet. Given parking lanes are 8-ft wide each, Lawe St is too narrow to allow parking on both sides, as a minimum of 20 feet is needed to accommodate two 10 ft travel lanes. He stated that if the neighborhood wants to reduce cut-through traffic that they should seek neighborhood traffic calming solutions through the City’s Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program.

A discussion took place about fire truck widths and narrow streets.

A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded by M. Schuster, and carried that the NO PARKING restriction on the south side of the 600 and 700 blocks of Lawe Street be denied.

6. Request by Ald. Kocha to address the possible need for YIELD or STOP signs on Saint Clair Street at North Irwin Avenue.

D. Hansen stated that the intersection is already a 2-WAY STOP (Irwin Ave stops for St Clair St). He stated that there is no crash history at the intersection. He spoke with Ald. Kocha who stated she received complaints of speeding on St Clair St. He stated that St Clair St could be eligible for the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program.

A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded by C. Karow, and carried that the request to address the possible need for YIELD or STOP signs on Saint Clair Street at North Irwin Avenue be received and placed on file.

7. Request by the Traffic Engineer to establish traffic signal control at the intersection of Western Avenue and Taylor Street.

D. Hansen stated that WisDOT requested that they install temporary traffic signals at Western/Taylor in order to manage traffic better during road closures due to US 41 reconstruction. Since temporary signals would be needed for multiple years, that a preliminary WisDOT analysis indicated the potential need for permanent traffic signals, and that the cost of 2 years of temporary signals is about the same cost as a permanent traffic signal, WisDOT offered to install permanent traffic signals if the City wanted them. D. Hansen studied the intersection to determine if it exceeded any of the MUTCD traffic signal warrants. It met both Warrant 1 (Eight-Hour Vehicular Volume) and Warrant 7 (Crash Experience) using 2016 forecasted traffic. He recommended the City request WisDOT to install permanent signals.

A discussion took place that a southwest bypass route of the Shawano/Taylor intersection will be temporarily constructed, generating more traffic on Taylor St. D. Hansen clarified that WisDOT will make other temporary improvements at the 41/29 interchange that will divert some of the traffic onto Dousman St that would have been destined to Taylor St.

A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded by M. Schuster, and carried that the request to establish traffic signal control at the intersection of Western Avenue and Taylor Street be referred to DPW to request to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) that WisDOT install permanent traffic control signals at the intersection of Taylor Street and Western Avenue prior to the onset of the US 41 reconstruction project.

8. Request by Ald. Deneys, on behalf of the South Fisk Street neighbors, to change the traffic control signals at Fisk Street and Western Avenue from a 4-WAY STOP condition (red-red flash) to normal signal operations (green-yellow-red) for the duration of the Military Avenue reconstruction project.

D. Hansen stated that Fisk St is experiencing additional traffic now that Military Ave reconstruction started last week. Alternate access signs have been installed, encouraging motorists to travel Taylor and Fisk Streets when destined to the Military Ave business corridor. He said the rule of thumb is to wait a week or two for traffic patterns to settle out after work zones are put in place before making significant intersection control modifications such as turning signals back on.

A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson to postpone the request to change the traffic control signals at Fisk Street and Western Avenue from a 4-WAY STOP condition (red-red flash) to normal signal operations (green-yellow-red) for the duration of the Military Avenue reconstruction project to the Monday, May 3, 2010 Traffic Commission meeting. Nobody seconded the motion and discussion continued.

M. Schuster questioned D. Hansen on how much signal equipment has been removed from the intersection. D. Hansen responded that there may be a pole down or some signal heads bagged, but basically all equipment is still in place. This was done intentionally in case the signal needed to be turned back on.

The motion was seconded by C. Karow, and carried.

9. Request by Ald. Vander Leest to establish a NO PARKING zone on the north side of Seventh Street across from the day care center (1649 Seventh Street).

D. Hansen stated he discussed this request with Ald. Vander Leest, who reported that snow banks narrow the street during the winter which makes it difficult to maintain safe two-way travel on Seventh St. D. Hansen visited the site and reported that Seventh St has a clear roadway width of 40 feet near the day care center. With vehicles parked on both sides of the street, this allows for two 12 foot travel lanes, which are plenty wide to safely accommodate safe all-season travel. D. Hansen stated that a NO PARKING zone exists just west of the bridge on the north side of Seventh St. This location is across the street and just west of the day care center. This zone was established due to Broadway dealership vehicles being parked there, which created problems for one resident. D. Hansen stated that if the area residents want the restricted zone that he had no reason to oppose it.

A discussion took place about establishing parking zones that are not needed, and about available day care center off-street parking.

A motion was made by C. Karow, seconded by Cmdr Sterr, and carried that the request to establish a NO PARKING zone on the north side of Seventh Street across from the day care center (1649 Seventh Street) be denied.

10. Request by Ald. Vander Leest to change the 1-WAY YIELD condition on Liberty Street at Saint Agnes Drive to a 1-WAY STOP condition. 

D. Hansen stated that given the proximity to the Pilgrim Lutheran School, which experiences heavy pedestrian traffic during school times, and that Liberty St intersects St Agnes Dr on its curve, that it is appropriate to upgrade the intersection from YIELD to STOP control.

A motion was made by C. Karow, seconded by Ald. Nicholson, and carried that, on a 90-day trial, to:

A. Remove the 1-WAY YIELD condition on Liberty Street at Saint Agnes Drive

B. Establish a 1-WAY STOP condition on Liberty Street at Saint Agnes Drive

11. Request by Ald. Vander Leest to conduct a parking and traffic study of Saint Agnes Drive near Pilgrim Lutheran School. 

D. Hansen stated that the church/school has plenty of parking within their own parking lots. He stated that he asked the alderman if he contacted the school to ask if their teachers can park in their parking lots rather than the street. He said he did not. D. Hansen recommended this approach as it would not restrict the residents from parking on-street next to their homes.

A motion was made by C. Karow, seconded by M. Schuster, and carried that the request to conduct a parking and traffic study of Saint Agnes Drive near Pilgrim Lutheran School be postponed to the Monday, May 3, 2010 Traffic Commission meeting.

12. Request by Ald. Weber for a traffic study to determine what measures can be implemented to calm traffic on West Point Road and what can be done to help with compliance of the STOP sign on LaCount Road at West Point Road.

D. Hansen stated that the W Point Rd corridor has many multi-way stops, potentially unwarranted and could be contributing to the reports of speeding (motorists trying to make up for lost time). He stated that the W Point Rd / LaCount Rd intersection was studied once for a multi-way STOP condition because of speeding concerns on W Point Rd. Although unwarranted, one was established on a 90-day trial basis. It lasted only a few days, as its location (at the bottom of the hill for eastbound W Point Rd motorists) and a crash led to its removal.

M. Schuster lives in the area and drives it regularly. He has not witnessed motorists running the STOP sign.

D. Hansen continued that the STOP sign should be checked for proper placement and reflectivity. If those are okay, then enhancing/adding signs and markings could improve STOP compliance. He stated that W Point Rd is classified as a collector street. It carries roughly 6000 veh/day. Traffic calming devices may not function well on this street. He stated that a W Point Rd speed survey near the intersection would determine if speeding occurs.

A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded by C. Karow, and carried that the request for a traffic study to determine what measures can be implemented to calm traffic on West Point Road and what can be done to help with compliance of the STOP sign on LaCount Road at West Point Road be referred to DPW to:

A. Evaluate the West Point Road and LaCount Road intersection for adequate STOP sign condition and placement and adjust as needed.

B. Conduct a speed study along West Point Road near LaCount Road.

POSTPONED FROM PREVIOUS MEETING

13. Request by Ald. Theisen to establish a NO RIGHT ON RED WHEN PEDESTRIANS ARE PRESENT condition at East Mason Street and South Webster Avenue.

D. Hansen stated that the City will salvage taller poles from the Military Ave project and re-install at Mason/Webster to accommodate the sign installation. He stated that a total of 8 signs could be installed (one near right, one far right) for each approach.

A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded by M. Schuster, and carried that, on a 90-day trial, to establish a NO RIGHT ON RED WHEN PEDESTRIANS ARE PRESENT condition at East Mason Street and South Webster Avenue.

14. Request by Ald. Kocha to address ongoing speeding concerns on Morrow Street near Forest Street (Motion to conduct an intersection control study at Morrow and Forest Streets and to review the feasibility of allowing on-street parking to one or both sides of the 1500 block of Morrow Street around the curve.)

D. Hansen stated that Ald. Kocha would like to postpone this item until next meeting.

A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded by C. Karow, and carried that the request to address ongoing speeding concerns on Morrow Street near Forest Street be postponed until the Monday, May 3, 2010 Traffic Commission meeting.

15. Request by Ald. Kocha for time-limited parking zone on Mech Street, north of Basten Street.

D. Hansen stated that the reason for the request was to allow buses to turn from Basten St to Mech St. Currently with no parking restrictions on Mech St, it is difficult for this maneuver. He stated that the alder agreed that a pair of NO PARKING HERE TO CORNER zones should resolve the issue.

A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded by C. Karow, and carried that the request for time-limited parking zone on Mech Street, north of Basten Street be resolved by, on a 90-day trial, to establish a NO PARKING zone on both sides of Mech Street from Basten Street north to a point 60 feet north of Basten Street.

16. Request by Ald. Deneys, on behalf of Frank Jakubiec, to allow overnight parking on weekends throughout the City.

D. Hansen stated that at the last meeting, Ald. Deneys asked that this item be postponed so that Mr. Jakubiec could attend. Mr. Jakubiec was not in attendance at tonight’s meeting.

A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded by C. Karow, and carried that the request to allow overnight parking on weekends throughout the City be denied.

17. Request by Ald. Weber to place flashing yellow warning lights at the crosswalks by Southwest High School during times when students are out of school for noon, start, and after school (Motion to postpone so that DPW can seek Federal and State Interim Approval to install Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) and estimate costs to furnish and install RRFBs.)

D. Hansen stated that he submitted a letter to FHWA for RRFB interim approval and has not received a formal approval letter. He stated that the FHWA engineer who approves the applications would approve the City’s application and that written approval would be sent after our application is reviewed. The interim approval would give the City a blanket jurisdiction-wide approval for the potential use of RRFBs on City-maintained highways and streets. D. Hansen stated he learned from the WisDOT State Traffic Signal Engineer that WisDOT recently received FHWA approval for RRFB installation on their highways. No State approval would be necessary for the City to install RRFBs. D. Hansen stated that preliminary estimated costs to furnish and install a RRFB system consisting of 4 post-mounted signs and lights would be about $10,000-20,000. He stated that since city electricians would install city RRFB systems that the costs would be lower and likely close to $8500 - the historic cost for the city to purchase an LED flashing blinker sign system. D. Hansen stated that since Packerland Dr is a county highway that the City would need to seek their approval of installing an RRFB system on their highway. Furthermore, the County most likely will also need to seek FHWA approval to install RRFBs if the Packerland/Trojan location is further considered for RRFBs.

A discussion took place about:

· Obtaining grant money to pay for RRFBs

· Requesting other agencies to assist in cost sharing

· “Test plotting” with available manufacturers to reduce costs, as they may need more test sites to help them market their product

· RRFB maintenance

A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded by C. Karow, and carried that the request to place flashing yellow warning lights at the crosswalks by Southwest High School during times when students are out of school for noon, start, and after school be postponed until the Monday, May 3, 2010 Traffic Commission meeting so that DPW can contact the Brown County Highway Department to determine if Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) would be allowed on a county highway.

REFFERED BACK FROM COUNCIL

18. Request by Ald. Vander Leest for a follow-up on plans for Hazelwood Lane and Wood Lane intersection for curb and sidewalk installation.

D. Hansen reported the Village of Ashwaubenon summary of the discussion that took place at a City/Village meeting at the intersection last month.

1. The cross walk location would be on the eastern side of the intersection

2. The Village has no plans for sidewalk in the area

3. The Village has no sidewalk maintenance activities (plowing/salting) in this area

4. The City requires pedestrian landings be constructed in order to put in crosswalks

5. Since the southern pedestrian landing would be in the Village, approval was going to be requested should the project move further

6. The Village stated that if this project were to move along further, that a concept plan of the proposed project be sent to the Village and that they would run it through their committee

7. The Village stated at the on-site meeting that it will not do any maintenance on any proposed work. However, the Village was agreeable to discuss the proposed project at committee level in terms of agreeing to allow the construction of the pedestrian landing.

8. The Village was waiting to hear back from the City as to if the project was indeed viable and moving forward and then getting a “concept sketch” so they could bring through committee.

A discussion took place about the cost sharing and the maintenance of items with the Village such as the installation of curb ramps and crosswalk markings.

A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson that DPW forward a concept sketch to the Village of Ashwaubenon of the proposed crosswalk installation crossing the east approach of the Hazelwood Lane and Wood Lane intersection.

Discussion continued about looking at the big picture when it comes to future sidewalk in this area. The proposed sidewalk locations as part of the WisDOT project to reconstruct US 41 at Lombardi Ave need to be finalized to determine how the proposed crosswalk at Hazelwood/Wood would connect into this system. The John Muir sidewalk neighborhood connection has been eliminated from further consideration. The entire 41/Lombardi interchange is located in the Village. No property owner fronts the proposed sidewalk location, therefore resulting in sidewalk plowing/salting responsibility being placed on the municipality.

B. Hopp stated there is a motion on the floor. Motion failed by lack of a second.

A motion was made by C. Karow, seconded by Ald. Nicholson, that the request for a follow-up on plans for Hazelwood Lane and Wood Lane intersection for curb and sidewalk installation be referred to DPW to study the final sidewalk plan of the US 41 and Lombardi Avenue interchange from Wood Lane to Argonne Drive and determine the proper crosswalk application at the intersection of Hazelwood Lane and Wood Lane that fits best with that sidewalk plan.

B. Hopp voted no on the motion. Motion carried.

19. Request by the Neighborhood Division for a traffic study of the Walnut Street and Baird Street intersection.

D. Hansen stated that DPW was approached by the Neighborhood Division to discuss the proposed intersection enhancements to Walnut/Baird. They are proposing decorative crosswalks. The Division questioned DPW if we had any pedestrian and vehicle traffic concerns at the intersection, as they don’t want to spend enhancement funds at a location that may need immediate or future safety upgrades. D. Hansen stated that the intersection is near East High School and Joannes Park, where Green Bay Bullfrogs home games are played. Both school and game activities generate large volumes of short-lived traffic and pedestrian volumes. He recommended that the intersection be studied for traffic flow and safety concerns prior to the Neighborhood Division spending money on intersection aesthetic enhancements.

A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded by C. Karow, and carried that the request for a traffic study of the Walnut Street and Baird Street intersection be referred to DPW for study.

There being no other items of discussion, a motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded by C. Karow, and carried to adjourn from the regular orders of business. The meeting ended at 6:21 P.M. The next Traffic Commission meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 3, 2010, in Room 310 at 5:30 P.M.