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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNOVEMBER 7, 2011 OFFICAL PROCEEDINGS COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TRAFFIC COMMISSION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2011 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Carlson at 5:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Members present: Carlson, Doty, Goodman, Olson, Tyler Staff present: Kathy Young, Assistant City Engineer Ted Fischer, Police Sergeant Sue Schmidtbauer, Public Works Secretary Council Liaison: Donna Schmitt APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motioned by Goodman, seconded by Olson to approve the minutes of August 1, 2011, as presented. Motion carried unanimously. OLD BUSINESS None. OTHER OLD BUSINESS None. NEW BUSINESS A.REQUEST TO INSTALL “YIELD” OR “STOP” SIGNS AT THE INTERSECTION OF ND WASHINGTON STREET AND 42 AVENUE Ms. Grace Lee of Washington Street and her neighbors have submitted a petition for yield nd or stop signs at the intersection of Washington Street and 42 Avenue. The neighborhood’s concern is the speed of traffic and safety of children on the block. The visibility at the intersection is good. There are sidewalks on both sides of Washington strd Street. On Washington Street, traffic yields at 41 Avenue and stops at 43 Avenue; on ndth 42 Avenue, traffic stops at 5 Street and Jefferson Street. Police Department staff researched the accident records and found three accidents within the last five years. There was one accident in each year of 2009, 2010, and 2011. The 2011 accident was quite significant where a car ended up in the front yard of a home and there was a personal injury accident in 2010 where cars went off the road and hit the home at 4201 Washington. Chairperson Carlson stated the intersection is wide open. There is a large pine tree on one side of the street. Traffic Commission Minutes – November 7, 2011 Page 2 Ms. Lee emphasized that cars come fast and hit hard and end up in yards or hit houses. Drivers do not know who has the right of way and you cannot see coming up the hill on Washington. Half of the homes on the block have children 10 and under. There are 20 kids on blockand a woman at the bottom of the hill runs an in-home daycare. Carlson asked if speeding was involved in the accidents. Sergeant Fischer guesses there was speeding involved. The driver in one accident never had a driver’s license so you need to question driving ability. Ms. Lee stated two large trucks are also parked on the street and cause an obstruction. Most residents on the block also park on the street. Carlson advised there is a six hour parking ban in the City of Columbia Height. Sergeant Fischer stated this is checked by complaint only. Doty said we cannot do anything about the tree or speeding. Olson asked Ms. Lee where she would you put the signs. She said on Washington Street. She feels drivers are using Washington instead of Jefferson because of all the stop signs on Jefferson. She stated the accidents happened because people didn’t slow down as they thought the other person was supposed to—drivers didn’t know who had the right of way. She also feels a stop sign would deter cars from coming down their street. Carlson said the two trucks blocking visibility may be a problem. Ms. Lee stated on National Night Out there were no cars and visibility was good but a car still went up and hit a house on the corner, so even without the trucks vehicles are driving quickly. Olson stated that just because signs are there does not mean people will heed them. There are already too many stop signs in the city and people do not stop.The Police Department checked the last five years for accidents. There have been three accidents in three years 2009, 2010, 2011; there were no accidents in 2007 and 2008. Ms. Lee stated there is a st new stop sign at Jefferson and 41 so people are driving on Washington instead of Jefferson causing more accidents. Tyler stated he has to go along with what the state says regarding signage. Intersections must meet certain criteria before a sign can be put up. The traffic volume on this street does not even come close to the 2,000 per day requirement. He does not see how a sign will solve the problem. There are accidents all over the city but putting up a sign does not deter them. Sometimes too many signs often cause the opposite effect. Carlson agreed and added this is why we oppose some stop signs, because people don’t obey the laws. Teenagers seem to be the biggest violators. Ms. Lee questioned how accidents at controlled intersections compare to uncontrolled intersections like hers. Carlson did not have those statistics available. Olson restated that the intersection does not fulfill the requirements for a stop sign. Ms. Lee asked if that means you are not allowed to put one up at all. Doty suggested that Ms. Lee can take her request to the City Council if it is denied by the Traffic Commission. Olson added that the commission is just an advisory committee. Councilmember Schmitt stated there were three fairly significant accidents at this intersection but having to stop at the top of the hill in winter is a problem. People will not stop because it is too hard to get going. These are just guidelines not mandates so they can be approved, but it also the position of the commission to follow the guidelines as closely as possible. Doty agreed with the problem nd of stopping at the top of hill.Ms. Lee stated that the peak of the hill is not right at 42 Traffic Commission Minutes – November 7, 2011 Page 3 and Washington; it flattens out a little before the intersection. Carlson agreed that the hill is not much of a problem, it does flatten out. However, the parked truck is a deterrent. He stated a stop sign will not solve the problem; it will just cause more problems. Ms. nd Lee asked if there are stop signs on 42 Avenue as that may be the problem and maybe that’s why cars are going so fast. Carlson stated there is a stop sign around Quincy Street. ndth Young stated a stop sign stops traffic on 42 and there is also one on 5 Street. Sergeant Fischer stated two of the three drivers in the accidents were cited for driving after suspension. Carlson added so they weren’t supposed to be driving in the first place. nd Motioned by Tyler, seconded by Doty to deny the request for a stop sign at 42 and Washington. Motion carried. TH B.REQUEST TO INSTALL “STOP” SIGNS AT THE INTERSECTION OF 6 STREET RD AND 43 AVENUE thrdth Ms. Dorothy LaHoud of 4209 6 Street has requested stop signs at 43 Avenue and 6 Street. The concern is the blind spot at the intersection. The visibility at the intersection is somewhat limited on the south side of the intersection because of the hills. ththnd Sidewalks are available on both sides of 6 Street. On 6 Street traffic stops at 42 thrdth Avenue and 44 Avenue; on 43 Avenue traffic stops at 5 Street and Jefferson Street. rdthrdth Staff discussed the accidents at 43 Avenue and 6 Street and at 43 Avenue and 7 Street. rdth Carlson stated he does not find the visibility very good on 43 and 7. Ms. LaHoud said many people shoot through intersection without looking. You cannot see until you get right up to intersection because of the bank on the house. Ms. LaHoud stated she has had many close calls at that intersection and is only here today because she is a careful driver. Had planned on bringing this to the attention of the Traffic Commission a long time ago. Many people do not like this intersection. Carlson asked if she thought a stop sign would deter speeding. Ms. LaHoud stated absolutely. Sergeant Fischer stated the city has a lot of stop signs but accidents will still occur. The controlled intersections just make it easier to determine who is at fault and take affirmative action that way. Ms. LaHoud stated rdth there is a stop sign on 43 and 5 Street even though there is no blind spot. Carlson advised that this stop sign was put up for an emergency route. Carlson said he questions th 7 Street because of the high hill but he has no concerns about the other intersections. Rdthrdth Ms. LaHoud does not think 43 and 7 Street has any less traffic than 43 and 6Street. She is concerned about the blind spot. Drivers do not look, they just shoot through. Carlson asked if there are more teenagers in that area and Ms. LaHoud said no. Olson asked about the recommendation for a yield sign. Young said it was based on the th topography of the area. Young suggested we table this item and look at 7 Street since there have been more accidents at that intersection. We need to check which intersection would be best for a sign. Olson stated we are overrun with stop signs but a yield sign may be an answer for this situation. Doty felt a yield sign might provide a false sense of Traffic Commission Minutes – November 7, 2011 Page 4 security to drivers and they may just plow right through the intersection. Goodman said Rd the yield sign on 43 and Quincy Street does no good. He feels the sign is useless. Goodman questioned if there were enough accidents to put up a stop sign and Young read the MUTCD guidelines. There have not been five accidents in a three-year period or three crashes in a two-year period so this intersection does not meet the criteria. Doty stated also that with the slippery slush and ice a stop sign will do no good, vehicles will slide through the intersection. Tyler stated that he does not think the placement of signs will th improve the type of situation we are talking about. However, he agrees with looking at 7 th Street, this may alleviate the problem on 6 Street. He did note the visibility problem but he does feel signage will not correct the amount of problems we see. Goodman agrees to th table this item and check on 7 Street. Doty requested a traffic count. Young will have them do this but it is weather dependent. The traffic counter cannot be used if there is snow due to the plows. She suggested the speed trailer but Sergeant Fischer said the street may be too hilly and will not catch the speed until the vehicle is right there. Young will check into setting up the traffic counter. This item should be put on agenda for next th month. Motioned by Goodman, seconded by Tyler to table this item and check on 7 Street and obtain a traffic count. Motion carried. Olson advised Ms. LaHoud that we need more data so we can make a decision on how to pursue the matter. Item will be put on the agenda for the next meeting. C.CHANGE MEETING TIME TO 5:30 PM The regular Traffic Commission meeting will be held on the first Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m. OTHER NEW BUSINESS None. REPORTS A.CITY ENGINEER th A parking sign for persons with disabilities was installed in front of 4914 5 Street NE at the request of the property owner. B. POLICE CHIEF None. C. COMMISSIONERS Olson stated that traffic still cannot get out at 53rd Avenue and Central because the light cycle is so short. The Public Works Director was going to check on this. Doty stated the bus shelter on 45th and Central is only one foot from the street. Thinks this may get blown out during snow plowing season. Traffic Commission Minutes – November 7, 2011 Page 5 Carlson drove through ALDI’s. He feels there is a problem with the ingress and egress. When he th drove in he wanted to go south so had to make a big turn in parking lot. The traffic light on 50 is fast. Kathy informed him that the state controls the traffic lights. Schmitt went to the traffic meeting on high speed buses. They may be adding a high speed bus to the #10 route on Central Avenue and will get the authority to change the lights. Residents are complaining about east-west traffic and crossing Central Avenue. All MnDOT said was that they would look into it. MnDOT will be making changes in 2013 now instead of 2012. ADJOURNMENT Motioned by Olson, seconded by Tyler to adjourn meeting at 6:30 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.