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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTRA BOARD MINUTES SEPTEMBER 2008O1HKOIH ox TxE wn~ TRAFFIC REVIEW ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES SEPTEMBER 9, 2008 4:00 P.M. PRESENT: Bryan Bain, James Kaprelian, Stan Kline, Gene Kubasta, Timothy Schuster and Don Seybold STAFF: Christopher Strong, Transportation Director Jennifer Weigand, Recording Secretary CALL TO ORDER Chairman Kaprelian called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Kline moved to accept the July 8, 2008 minutes. Mr. Kaprelian seconded the motion. Motion carried (6-O). 1. A POLICE DEPARTMENT REQUEST FOR NO PARKING ON RIPPLE ROAD, BOTH SIDES, BETWEEN WASHBURN STREET AND THE WEST CITY LIMITS. [CURRENT CONDITION: NO PARKING RESTRICTIONS]. Sgt. Matt Kroening, Oshkosh Police Department, explained how Ripple Road is a narrow rural road near the Ford Festival Grounds, which hosts the Country USA music festival. The Police Department has used temporary no parking signs, but they get destroyed. He felt it would be more practical to have permanent signage. Mr. Kubasta asked how many parking spaces would be eliminated. Sgt. Kroening replied approximately 80 spaces. Mr. Seybold questioned if the grounds had enough parking to accommodate attendees. Sgt. Korening replied they is ample parking on the grounds and a plan in place to shuttle attendees between the grounds and an off-site location if necessary. Mr. Kaprelian moved to accept the request. Motion seconded by Mr. Kline. Motion carried (6-O). 2. A CITIZEN REQUEST FOR THE INTERSECTION OF BENT AVENUE AND WISCONSIN TO BE DESIGNATED AS A FOUR-WAY STOP. [CURRENT CONDITION: TWO-WAY STOP SIGN CONTROL ON BENT AVENUE]. Ms. Sandy Gajewski, 504 Bent Avenue, was in favor of this request. She would like the Board to take into consideration that the traffic and speed data collected was done when the Wisconsin Street bridge is closed, UW-O was not in session and North High School was not in session. She believes all three of these factors should be considered. She noted that the segment of Wisconsin Street from New York Avenue to Murdock Avenue is seven blocks long without any traffic controls and vehicles tend to speed in this area. She would like to see the four-way stop put back at this intersection. Mr. Kubasta noted that stop signs are not put in to slow traffic down. Mr. Kline pointed out that there are only four through streets in the segment. He feels it is comparable to the other segments between traffic controls on Wisconsin Street. Mr. Kaprelian asked if this would be an appropriate place for a speed bump. Mr. Strong answered that traffic calming measures are used for non-arterial roads and Wisconsin Street is considered a secondary arterial, which is intended to carry some volume of traffic. Mr. Bain suggested collecting the data at a later date to take into consideration these three factors Ms. Gajewski mentioned.. TRA MINUTES Page 2 SEPTEMBER 9, 2008 Mr. Seybold asked how this area is patrolled for speeding. Sgt. Kroening replied that quite a bit of speed control is done in this area. He noted this street is a secondary arterial and will have speeding. Mr. Bain moved to layover this request until December. Motion seconded by Mr. Kaprelian. Motion carried (5-1 Kubasta). 3. A COUNCIL MEMBER REQUEST TO REMOVE THE STOP SIGNS AT ALGOMA BOULEVARD AT ITS INTERSECTION WITH DIVISION STREET AND AT HIGH AVENUE AT ITS INTERSECTION WITH DIVISION STREET. [CURRENT CONDITION: ALL-WAY STOP CONTROL]. Mr. Kline recommended against this request because of poor sight distances. Because some of the buildings encroach right up to the sidewalks, Mr. Kaprelian agreed with Mr. Kline. Mr. Bain moved to accept the request. Motion seconded by Mr. Kline. Motion lost (0-6). DISCUSSION ITEM: 1. PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL AT INTERSECTION OF ARBORETUM DR/SUMMIT AVE AND CONGRESS AVE. Mr. Strong gave a brief up-date on the recently installed pedestrian signal. He noted that motorists are not heeding the signal. Mr. Bain has observed vehicles not stopping when the signal is flashing and pedestrians were frustrated. He feels with the Wisconsin Street bridge closed, traffic has increased and complicates the issue. Mr. Schuster felt one of the problems is when eastbound traffic is stopped due to vehicles turning left onto Arboretum Dr. and vehicles swerving around these turning vehicles. Mr. Kapreilian felt that after the Wisconsin Street bridge is opened, it may help the situation. Mr. Strong said he wants to look into the whole system and get new data to see if some changes in lane configurations may make Arboretum Drive work better. STAFF ITEMS: 1. ONE-WAY STREETS WORKSHOP. Mr. Bain said the general consensus of the Common Council from the workshop was no one wanted to re- open this subject. 2. A REVIEW OF CRASH DATA AT THE INTERSECTION OF JACKSON STREET AND SMITH AVENUE. Mr. Strong said that from his analysis, he did not see any particular trend that could be easily remedied through engineering solutions. He believes that the installation of the medians would help improve safety in and near this intersection. AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING Mr. Schuster would like the lane configurations changed at the intersection of Jackson Street and Smith Avenue. When eastbound on Smith Avenue, there are only two lanes: one for straight and left turning vehicle and the other lane for right turn only. He would like Mr. Strong to look into this and see if a change may help. There being no other business to come before the Traffic Review Advisory Board, and upon being duly moved and seconded (Kline, Schuster), the meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.