MINUTES
TRAFFIC
COMMISSION
Monday,
June 28, 2010
City
Hall, Room 310
5:30
pm
MEMBERS PRESENT: Commander Lisa
Sterr, Chairperson
Brad Hopp, Alderman Andy Nicholson (arrived at 5:50 pm), Mark Schuster, and
Bryan Lipke
MEMBERS ABSENT: Vice Chair Matt Kuepers (excused),
Charles Karow (excused)
OTHERS PRESENT: Alderman Thomas DeWane; Recording Secretary and Traffic Engineer Dave
Hansen
1. Approval of the minutes from the May
24, 2010 Traffic Commission meeting.
A motion was made by M. Schuster,
seconded by B. Lipke, and carried that minutes from the May 24, 2010 Traffic
Commission meeting be approved.
The remaining items were taken in the
following order: 10, 3, 9, 6, 2, 4-5,
7-8, and 11-21.
2. Request by Ald. Wiezbiskie to install a
STOP sign at the exit of the new baseball complex on Finger Rd.
Dave Hansen, City Traffic Engineer,
stated that the work order to install the STOP sign has already been issued.
A motion was made by M. Schuster,
seconded by B. Lipke, and carried that the request to install a STOP sign at
the exit of the new baseball complex on Finger Rd be received and placed on
file since the sign installation work order has been issued.
3. Request by Sara Sand (256 Alpine Drive)
to install a BLIND CHILD AREA sign near her residence.
D. Hansen stated that he spoke with
Sara Sand about this request. She has a
10-year old son who is completely blind.
If sign is installed, it will go on the list of special warning signs
reviewed for need every 2 years.
A motion was made by M. Schuster,
seconded by B. Lipke, and carried to install BLIND CHILD AREA signs near 256
Alpine Drive.
4. Request by the AIDS Resource Center of
Wisconsin (445 South Adams Street) to adjust the NO PARKING HERE TO CORNER zone
on the north side of Chicago Street at Adams Street.
D.
Hansen stated that moving the existing NO PARKING HERE TO CORNER sign closer to
Adams St would allow more parking for people visiting the center. The existing NO PARKING zone is more than
long enough to accommodate proper intersection sight distance, and by
shortening it up to 40-ft from Adams St, intersection sight distance is still
maintained.
A
discussion took place about the length of time that the existing zone has been in
place, that one vehicle should be able to park between the NO PARKING sign and
the existing Chicago St driveway after sign relocation, and that the center is
considering removing the Chicago St driveway in order to add more onsite
parking stalls.
A motion was made by M. Schuster and
seconded by B. Lipke that, on a 90-day trial, to:
A.
Remove the NO PARKING zone on the north side of Chicago Street from
Adams Street to a point 90 feet east of Adams Street.
B.
Establish a NO PARKING zone on the north side of Chicago Street from
Adams Street to a point 40 feet east of Adams Street.
B.
Hopp voted no. Motion carried.
5. Request by Ald. Kocha to establish a
2-HOUR 7 AM TO 4 PM parking zone in the 1100 block of Crooks Street.
D. Hansen stated that Ald. Kocha has
requested to postpone this item until the next meeting.
A motion was made by M. Schuster,
seconded by B. Lipke, and carried that the request to establish a 2-HOUR 7 AM
TO 4 PM parking zone in the 1100 block of Crooks Street be postponed until the
July 26, 2010 Traffic Commission meeting.
6. Request by the New Community Shelter
(301 Mather Street) to establish a NO PARKING LOADING ONLY zone on the south
side of Mather Street in front of the shelter.
D.
Hansen stated that the New Community Shelter is in the process of constructing
an addition onto their building and modifying their parking lot. Due to their building expansion, the distance
from the drop off and pick up zone will increase. The shelter will install an ADA curb ramp
near the front entrance of their building at the carriage walk. The purpose of the curb ramp is to facilitate
wheel chairs from vehicles that are loading or unloading passengers staying at
the shelter. D. Hansen provided a letter
he received from Terri Refsguard, Executive Director of the New Community
Shelter, stating that the shelter has no intention of requesting a midblock
crossing at the new curb ramp.
A
discussion took place about curb cut construction costs being paid for by the shelter,
about other building access points post construction, if Mather St is wide
enough for the loading/unloading of disabled passengers, and about nearby land
uses.
Questions
about the shelter addition and space utilization were asked of shelter representatives
that were present at the meeting.
A motion was made by B. Lipke,
seconded by Cmdr. Sterr, and carried that, on a 90-day trial, to establish a NO
PARKING LOADING ONLY zone on the south side of Mather Street from a point 70
feet east of Alma Street to a point 110 feet east of Alma Street.
7. Request by Ald. Zima, on behalf of area
residents, to consider changing the 2-WAY YIELD condition on Waverly Place and
South Norwood Avenue to a 4-WAY STOP condition.
Items
7 and 8 were discussed and acted upon together since they are related.
D.
Hansen showed a map of the neighborhood, indicating locations and directions of
all intersection STOP and YIELD signs.
He stated that a resident called him requesting multi-way STOP
conditions in order to slow down motorists on S Norwood Ave. He referred the caller to the City’s
Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy and Ald. Zima. D. Hansen stated that at each intersection, 2
crashes have occurred in the past 3 years, none of which were correctable by an
ALL-WAY STOP condition.
A
discussion took place that S Norwood Ave is being used as a cut-thru to Ninth
St for those motorists not wanting to wait for the Lombardi/Ashland traffic
signal.
D.
Hansen stated that he is hesitant to recommend studying the intersection for
ALL-WAY STOP control given that the traffic counts will not even come close to
warrant levels, the high number of YIELD and STOP signs at nearby
intersections, the low crash history, and that the request was made for speed
control (which is against the FHWA Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
(MUTCD) to install STOP signs for speed control).
A motion was made by M. Schuster,
seconded by Ald. Nicholson, and carried that the request to consider changing
the 2-WAY YIELD condition on Waverly Place and South Norwood Avenue to a 4-WAY
STOP condition be denied.
8. Request by Ald. Zima, on behalf of area
residents, to consider changing the 2-WAY STOP condition on Victory Boulevard
and South Norwood Avenue to a 4-WAY STOP condition.
See Item 7 for discussion summary.
A
motion was made by M. Schuster, seconded by Ald. Nicholson, and carried that
the request to consider changing the 2-WAY STOP condition on Victory Boulevard
and South Norwood Avenue to a 4-WAY STOP condition be denied.
9. Request by Randy LeDocq
of Masterpiece Construction to change the 2-WAY alley between
Dousman/Maple/Chestnut/Hubbard to a 1-WAY northbound alley.
D.
Hansen stated that the site located at the southeast corner of Dousman St and
Maple St is proposed to be redeveloped as a Subway restaurant with a drive-thru
lane that would exit onto Dousman St next to the 2-way alley. D. Hansen stated that he was concerned
initially with the mixture of ingress and egress traffic of the 2-way alley
combined with the egress only of the drive-thru exit combined into one curb
opening. Discussions between R. LeDocq and D. Hansen led to the request for a 1-way
alley. Residents that use that alleyway
spoke in favor of a 1-way northbound alley at a prior meeting. D. Hansen stated that a re-signing of the
alleyway for 1-WAY traffic would be required.
A
brief discussion took place about potential impacts to nearby Save-A-Lot store
and the parking lot behind Old Fort Square.
A motion was made by Cmdr. Sterr,
seconded by B. Lipke, and carried that, on a 90-day trial to begin after
redevelopment commences on the parcel located at 515-517 Dousman Street, to:
A.
Remove 2-WAY traffic in the alley between Dousman/Maple/Chestnut/Walnut
B.
Establish 2-WAY traffic in the alley between
Walnut/Maple/Chestnut/Hubbard
C.
Establish 1-WAY traffic in the alley between
Dousman/Maple/Chestnut/Hubbard
POSTPONED FROM
PREVIOUS MEETING
10. Request by Ald. DeWane
to allow overnight parking between the months of March and September.
Ald.
DeWane stated that the request was prompted from a
resident who received an overnight parking citation. The item can be received and placed on file.
A motion was made by M. Schuster,
seconded by B. Lipke, and carried that the request to allow overnight parking
between the months of March and September be received and placed on file.
11. Request
by Ald. Theisen for STATE LAW YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS WITHIN CROSSWALK signs at
four intersections:
(1) East Mason Street and Hartung
Street
(2) Webster Avenue and Grignon
Street
(3) Webster Avenue and Emilie Street
(4) Webster Avenue and Eliza Street
(1). D. Hansen stated there is a new
STATE LAW YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS sign that is intended for over-the-road
placement. Given the high volume of
traffic at this location, the vertical in-road type sign is not recommended due
to the likelihood that the sign will be damaged regularly from vehicles. Overhead mast arms with pedestrian warning
signs exist at this location. D. Hansen
recommended removing the 2 of 4 “WHEN FLASHING” signs on the overhead arms and
replacing them with the new horizontal STATE LAW signs.
A discussion took place about the
length of the flashing warning signs at this location, that the flash time was
too long. Concern was that most
pedestrians and bicyclists can cross in less time, leaving each blinker sign flashing
when it doesn’t need to, which leads to motorist confusion on whether a
pedestrian crossing is pending. D.
Hansen explained how flash times are computed, and that extra time was
programmed at this location due to the high volume of E Mason St traffic, not
providing immediate gaps for crossing pedestrians.
Discussion continued about using
countdown pedestrian signals. D. Hansen
stated that those are only allowed at signalized locations (flashing warning
signs are not considered signalized).
Discussion continued about alternate messages that could be used on the
overhead signs.
A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson,
seconded by B. Lipke, and carried to remove 2 of 4 “WHEN FLASHING” signs on the
overhead arms on East Mason Street at Hartung Street and replace them with
horizontal STATE LAW YIELD TO PEDESTRIAN signs.
(2)(3) and (4). D. Hansen stated that vehicle and pedestrian
counts should be taken before a decision is made, since the requested signs
should only be placed at locations with high pedestrian-vehicle activity.
A discussion took place about the
existing traffic count information available but that pedestrian counts are
also needed, and if traffic counts could be finished by the next meeting.
A second motion was made by Ald.
Nicholson, seconded by B. Lipke, and carried that the request for STATE LAW
YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS WITHIN CROSSWALK signs at Webster/Grignon, Webster/Emilie,
and Webster/Eliza be referred to staff for study.
12. Request by Ald. Theisen to consider
establishing parking restrictions on the 700 block of South Madison
Street. (Original motion to receive and place on file since it is anticipated
that Ald. Theisen will place a new request for 4-HOUR parking to encompass a
larger area.)
D. Hansen stated that Ald. Theisen
would like to try a 4-HOUR zone in the short area just north of the church, and
if that works out, then expansion of the 4-HOUR zone into other areas could be
considered. A NO PARKING HERE TO CORNER
zone was also requested by Ald. Theisen via phone call to D. Hansen.
A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson,
seconded by M. Schuster, and carried that, on a 90-day trial, to:
A.
Establish a 4-HOUR 7 AM TO 4 PM parking zone on the west side of South
Madison Street from a point 215 feet north of Lawe
Street to a point 50 feet south of Cass Street.
B.
Establish a NO PARKING zone on the west side of South Madison Street
from a point 50 feet south of Cass Street to Cass Street.
13. Request
by Ald. Sortwell, on behalf of Dallas Gunderson (1831 Smith Street), to convert
the southbound curb lane on Webster Avenue approaching East Mason Street into a
right-turn only lane.
A brief discussion took place about
the number of lanes on the southbound approach.
D. Hansen summarized the memo he
prepared for the Commission:
1. Although creating an exclusive southbound right-turn
lane has a positive effect on the Level of Service and decreases the wait times
for southbound to westbound right-turning motorists, it produces many negative
effects on other movements at the intersection.
2. The southbound thru movement would realize an increase
in wait time, reduction in Level of Service, and an increase in southbound
sideswipe crashes.
3. The northbound to westbound left turn would also be
negatively impacted by the southbound curb lane conversion in that available
gaps in southbound traffic would make it more difficult than it already is to
make a permissive left turn, thereby likely increasing left-turn angle crashes.
4. It is not recommended to reduce the number of lanes
from 2 to 1 in one location within the 6.5 mile length of Webster Ave, a major
arterial.
5. No changes are recommended to the southbound lane
configuration.
A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson,
seconded by B. Lipke, and carried that the request to convert the southbound
curb lane on Webster Avenue approaching East Mason Street into a right-turn
only lane be denied.
REFFERED BACK FROM
COUNCIL
14. That the request for a sidewalk study on
Farlin Avenue from Danz Avenue to Turek Street be
received and placed on file with a recommendation to the Improvement &
Service Committee not to pursue sidewalk installation at this time.
A brief discussion took place that
the pedestrian volumes are very low and that it would be difficult to install
sidewalk on the south side of Farlin Ave.
A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded by B.
Lipke, and carried to approve the initial motion that the request for a
sidewalk study on Farlin Avenue from Danz Avenue to Turek
Street be received and placed on file with a recommendation to the Improvement
& Service Committee not to pursue sidewalk installation at this time.
TERMINATION
OF TRIAL PERIODS
15. That, on a 90-day trial, to 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.
A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson,
seconded by Cmdr. Sterr, and carried that 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 be established and adopted by ordinance.
16. That, on a 90-day trial, to 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.
A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson,
seconded by Cmdr. Sterr, and carried that 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 be established
and adopted by ordinance.
17. That, on a 90-day trial, to 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.
A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded
by Cmdr. Sterr, and carried that 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 be established and
adopted by ordinance.
18. That, on a 90-day trial, to remove the
1-WAY YIELD condition on Liberty Street at Saint Agnes Drive.
A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded
by Cmdr. Sterr, and carried that the 1-WAY YIELD condition on Liberty Street at
Saint Agnes Drive be removed and adopted by ordinance.
19. That, on a 90-day trial, to establish a
1-WAY STOP condition on Liberty Street at Saint Agnes
Drive.
A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded
by Cmdr. Sterr, and carried that a 1-WAY STOP condition on Liberty Street at
Saint Agnes Drive be established and adopted by ordinance.
20. 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.
A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded
by Cmdr. Sterr, and carried that a NO RIGHT ON RED WHEN PEDESTRIANS ARE PRESENT
condition at East Mason Street and South Webster Avenue be established and
adopted by ordinance.
21. That, 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.
A motion was made by Ald. Nicholson, seconded
by Cmdr. Sterr, and carried that a NO PARKING zone on both sides of Mech Street from Basten Street
north to a point 60 feet north of Basten Street be
established and adopted by ordinance.
There
being no other items of discussion, a motion was made by Ald. Nicholson,
seconded by B. Lipke, and carried to adjourn from the regular orders of
business. The meeting ended at 6:12
P.M. The next Traffic Commission meeting
is scheduled for Monday, July 26, 2010, in Room 310 at 5:30 P.M.