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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTRA_BOARD_MINUTES_JUNE_2008O1HKOIH ox TxE wn~ TRAFFIC REVIEW ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES JUNE 10, 2008 4:00 P.M. PRESENT: Bryan Bain, James Kaprelian, Stan Kline, Gene Kubasta, and Don Seybold ABSENT: AI Hartman and Timothy Schuster 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 May 13, 2008 minutes. Mr. Bain seconded the motion. Motion carried (5-O). Mr. Kaprelian moved to reconsider requests #1 through #4, Mr. Kline seconded the motion. Motion carried (5-O). Items #1 through #4 were discussed and voted on as one. 1. RECONSIDER A TRANSPORTATIONT~EPARTMENT REG2r~1EST FOR NO PARKING ON THE EAST SIDE OF OHIO STREET FROM W. 4 AVENUE TO W. 5 AVENUE. [CURRENT CONDITION: NO PARKING BETWEEN 5:00 A.M. TO 8:00 A.M., MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY]. 2. RECONSIDER A TRANSPORTATIONT~EPARTMENT REG2r~1EST FOR NO PARKING ON THE EAST SIDE OF OHIO STREET FROM W. 7 AVENUE TO W. 8 AVENUE. [CURRENT CONDITION: NO PARKING BETWEEN 5:00 A.M. TO 8:00 A.M., MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY]. 3. RECONSIDER A TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT REC~UEST FOR NO PARKING ON THE WEST SIDE OF OHIO STREET FROM 158 FEET SOUTH OF W. 9T AVENUE TO W. 10T" AVENUE. [CURRENT CONDITION: 2-HR. PARKING]. 4. RECONSIDER A TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT ~EQUEST FOR NO PARKING ON THE WEST SIDE OF OHIO STREET FROM 50 FEET SOUTH OF 10 AVENUE TO 200 FEET NORTH OF W. SOUTH PARK AVENUE. [CURRENT CONDITION: NO RESTRICTIONS]. Mr. Carl Sosnoski, 2475 Knapp Street, is owner of Players Pizza and Pub. He was disappointed that these requests were being brought back before the Board. He felt the additional information being presented today by Mr. David Patek and Mr. Tom Buchholz, WisDOT, should have been brought up at last month's meeting. Speaking for Player's Pub, he said on-street parking is very valuable and important to his business. If parking is removed, they will lose eight parking spaces on the east side of Ohio Street. He encouraged the Board to allow businesses to have on-street parking and pay the additional monies needed to do so. His tax money goes to support downtown businesses and he feels the Ohio Street merchants deserve the same type of support. He noted that parking is allowed after 6 p.m. on 9 h Avenue and he is asking for the same type of consideration. He believes money should not be an issue when making this decision. Mr. Strong clarified that it was his decision not to bring up the money issue because he wanted the Board to look at this issue from the perspective of safety, the City Comprehensive Plan and mobility. Mr. Tom Buchholz, Project Manager with WisDOT, said it is the state's operating procedure that the community pays for whatever parking it wants to have on state highways. He noted that the design phase of this project was done with the assumption there would be four lanes of traffic. Because there is Federal TRA MII~][JTES Page 2 JUNE 11, 2008 Highway Administration money involved, they have to make sure the level of service criteria are met; therefore, there would be a need to re-do some project documentation. In addition, reserving some of the road for on-street parking affects how the City is reimbursed on local road payments. Parking lanes would change the percentage of payout to the City for maintaining the roadway. Mr. David Patek, Director of Public Works, noted that an informational meeting was held on 11/18/2003, at which time there was talk about the removal of parking. On 1/30/2007, there was another informational meeting held where residents were given handouts noting the increase in traffic demands, widening of the street by one foot on each side, four lanes of traffic with no on-street parking and no exclusive left-turn lanes at the intersections. He wanted to make the Board aware that the residents have known for some time what was going to happen on this street. Mr. Kaprelian questioned if no parking would cause problems with South Park activities (Art Fair). Mr. Patek had proposed to the Parks Dept. to build a parking lot in the NW corner of South Park Avenue and Ohio Street. Money was put into the Capital Improvement Program. However, Mr. Patek indicated that the Parks Board, after looking into the proposal, preferred their operations be closer to Georgia Street. Mr. Bain, who lives in the area, noted the on-street parking already spills over onto surrounding streets, when large activities are held in the park. Mr. Kubasta noted there is parking available at South Park Middle School. Mr. Lee Florian, owns the properties at 413, 421 and 425 Ohio Street, was opposed to these requests. He noted that the direct access parking spaces are valuable to their businesses. Mr. Kubasta questioned if one of the reasons for building afour-lane bridge would be to have four lanes run through town. Mr. Buchholz said with or without parking, they would still build afour-lane bridge because it is the highest traffic volume bridge in Oshkosh. Mr. Kline noted he had been on this Board when the 9th Avenue parking issue came up and there was a lot of contention at that time. He recalls the Board voted against parking but the Common Council voted to allow parking. Because parking is allowed, the street cannot be striped, except for the centerline. As long as he has been on the Board, they have talked about having four lanes of traffic on Ohio Street, when this street was redone. Ohio Street has been determined to be an arterial. This will allow two through lanes at each intersection and proper striping of the streets. He is in favor of removing parking. Mr. Kaprelian asked if parking were allowed only between 4th Avenue and 5th Avenue, would this make matters worse. Mr. Strong replied this would give motorists the sense there would be only two lanes of traffic in each direction. He added that the traffic volumes are higher on the northern portion of the roadway versus the southern end. Mr. Kubasta believes roads are made to get from point A to point B, not for parking. He said people walk further to a business when parking at the mall, in a church parking lot or at Wal-Mart. He believes that if it's a good business, the customer will find them, no matter where they have to park. Mr. Bain asked when earlier decisions were made to remove sections of on-street parking on Ohio Street. Mr. Strong noted that at least one of the decisions was made back in 1998. Mr. Kaprelian moved to accept requests #1 through #4, Mr. Kline seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-2 (Seybold, Kaprelian). 5. CITIZEN REQUESTS FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS AT: A) MURDOCK AVENUE/ELMWOOD AVEN~~/VINLAND STREET, B) MARKET STREET AND PEARL AVENUE AND C) WESTHAVEN DRIVE AND 9 AVENUE. Mr. Strong said the only one that met the warrants was Murdock Avenue/Elmwood Avenue/Vinland Street. Mr. Kaprelian didn't think any of the intersections deserved a signal. Mr. Kubasta said the Board has visited each of these requests in the past and he feels signals are not justified. Mr. Kline felt the intersection of Murdock Avenue and Vinland Street involves numerous right-turn movements. He felt the number of right-turn movements is much higher than through movements. A traffic signal would not help much with right-turn movements. He noted that since the intersection was changed to afour-way intersection, the number of accidents have been down considerably. TRA MII~][JTES Page 3 JUNE 11, 2008 Mr. Kaprelian felt the only bad turn at this intersection is the left turn off Elmwood Avenue onto Murdock Avenue. He can't see any of these requests warranting a signal at this time. Mr. Bain requested traffic counts be conducted at Murdock Avenue and Vinland Street, noting turning movements. It would be interesting to see how the numbers differ between the summer months versus the school months. Mr. Bain moved to accept the requests, Mr. Kline seconded the motion. Motion lost (0-5). ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN. Mr. Kline nominated Mr. Kubasta. Mr. Kubasta declined. Mr. Kaprelian nominated Mr. Kline, Mr. Bain seconded the nomination. Motion carried unanimously. AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING: Mr. Kubasta would like Mr. Strong to look into the possibility of cut-outs for right-turn lanes on Witzel Avenue (westbound) at Campbell Road and at Sawyer Street. Mr. Kaprelian was also in favor of examining this at the intersection of Witzel Avenue and Sawyer Street. Mr. Kline would like to have Mr. Strong look into the possibility of a left-turn lane on Jackson Street onto New York Avenue. STAFF STATEMENTS None. There being no other business to come before the Traffic Review Advisory Board, and upon being duly moved and seconded (Kline/Bain), the meeting adjourned at 4:47 p.m.