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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES (2) TRAFFIC REVIEW ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES JUNE 9, 2009 4:00 P.M. PRESENT: James Kaprelian, Stan Kline, Gene Kubasta, Bob Poeschl, Dennis Rumlow and Don Seybold ABSENT: 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 April 14, 2009 minutes. Mr. Seybold seconded the motion. Motion carried (6-0). Item #4 was heard first. 4. A REQUEST TO REPLACE METERED PARKING WITH TIME-LIMITED PARKING ON ALGOMA BOULEVARD, ELMWOOD AVENUE, AND IRVING AVENUE IN THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN – OSHKOSH CAMPUS AREA. (CURRENT CONDITION: 15-MINUTE METERED PARKING ON ALGOMA BOULEVARD AND 30-MINUTE METERED PARKING ON ELMWOOD AVENUE AND IRVING AVENUE.) Mr. Tom Sonnleitner, Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services at UW-O, explained how they are trying to address the parking management issues at the university. This change would help them manage these parking spaces better versus the meter process that they have now. Mr. Kline moved to amend the request by adding “contingent on the meters being removed”. Mr. Poeschl seconded the motion. Motion carried (6-0). Mr. Kline moved to accept the amended request. Mr. Kaprelian seconded the motion. Motion carried (6-0). 1. A REQUEST TO DESIGNATE SIEWERT TRAIL AS A ONE-WAY STREET FROM OAK STREET TO HAZEL STREET FOR WESTBOUND TRAFFIC. (CURRENT CONDITION: ONE-WAY STREET, EASTBOUND TRAFFIC.) Mr. Jerry Schuhart, 842 Oak Street, appeared in opposition to the request. He has lived on the SE corner for several years and feels the current traffic direction is a much safer condition. If traffic were reversed, he noted several concerns: 1) city garbage trucks could no longer go east and would have to turn around at this corner, 2) Webster Stanley School garbage and recycling trucks come every day and would have to turn around at this corner, 3) the food delivery truck comes every day and would encounter problems, 4) vehicles turning onto Siewert Trail would cause traffic to back up on Hazel Street, and 5) due to loading zones, parking spaces would be reduced. He believes you would create more problems if the traffic flow were changed. He feels some motorists would go through the school parking lot, which would be unsafe. During Sawdust Days and when there are baseball games at the 2 TRA MINUTES Page JUNE 9, 2009 park, motorists would be racing down this street. He had talked to several residents in the area and they were all opposed to this request. Mr. Peter Nitz, 812 Oak Street, agreed with Mr. Schuhart and was opposed to the request. He said motorists would be using driveways to turn around when they realize Siewert Trail was a one-way westbound street. Mrs. Christine Gruettner, 836 Oak Street, was opposed to this request. She noted that children cut through the parking lot to get to the elementary School. She believes it would become a raceway. Officer Grubofski spoke on behalf of Principal Marcy Peters-Felice. Based on her observation, Principal Peters-Felice felt this would create a drop off area on the north side of the street, where students would be dropped off on the sidewalk and not have to cross the street. Mr. Charles Dake, 816 Oak Street, was opposed to this request. He doesn’t see a good solution other than keeping it the current direction. Ms. Roxanne Block, 822 Oak Street, noted there will always be children in this area and she was opposed to the change. Mr. Dan Becker, 847 Oak Street, lives on the SW corner. He said safety is the most significant issue. Inevitably, there will always be a vehicle or children in the area. The street is functional and works for the residents in the neighborhood. To reverse the flow of traffic poses far more problems than those that it might solve. Mrs. Sue Becker, 847 Oak Street, observes a lot of what goes on in this area. She likes the current situation because you now have a controlled intersection at Hazel Street. If changed, it would become an uncontrolled intersection. She did suggest possibly moving the bus stop, which could create a few more parking spaces on Hazel Street. She feels the Board should leave it as it is because parents and students know what to expect. Mr. Matt Gruettner, 836 Oak Street, was opposed to this request. He feels if the change were made, you would be turning Oak Street into a frontage road like Hazel Street. Mrs. Mary Schuhart, 842 Oak Street, was opposed to this request. She noted with Sawdust Days and baseball games, speeding is always a factor. Presently, everything is going so smoothly, why change it. Mr. Seybold asked if the change were made, would a “no through street” sign be erected in the area. Mr. Strong replied “Yes”. Mr. Poeschl said he was at a loss at how this change would solve congestion in any way. He said it doesn’t make sense unless Oak Street is made a one-way street. He was opposed to the request. Mr. Kline felt it would create more traffic congestion on Hazel Street, with vehicles waiting to turn west onto Siewert Trail. He doesn’t feel this is the solution to the problem. Mr. Kaprelian agreed with Mr. Poeschl and Mr. Kline. He could foresee the school parking lot becoming a semi-thoroughfare. Mr. Kline moved to accept the request. Mr. Kaprelian seconded the motion. Motion lost (1 Seybold-5). 2. A REQUEST FOR UNRESTRICTED PARKING ON THE WEST SIDE OF EAGLE STREET BETWEEN MAPLE AVENUE AND BUCHANAN AVENUE. (CURRENT CONDITION: NO PARKING.) Mr. Dan Rothe, Environmental Service Manager at Evergreen Manor Community, explained how they wish to open up more parking in their parking lots for visitors. This would give their staff the opportunity 3 TRA MINUTES Page JUNE 9, 2009 to park on Eagle Street during normal business hours. He noted this change would open up parking for residents to park there after hours and during weekends. Mr. Kaprelian questioned how many parking spaces would be made available. Mr. Strong replied approximately six spaces. Mr. Kline moved to accept the request. Mr. Kaprelian seconded the motion. Mr. Kline seconded the motion. Motion carried (6-0). TH 3. A REQUEST FOR STOP SIGNS ON MICHIGAN STREET AT ITS INTERSECTION WITH 12 AVENUE. (CURRENT CONDITION: YIELD SIGNS ON MICHIGAN STREET.) Mr. Strong noted this intersection does meet the accident and sight distance warrants for installation of stop signs. Mr. Kaprelian noted the building on the northwest corner does present sight problems. Mr. Seybold felt as long as the building is on the corner, it seems necessary to make the change. Mr. Kline moved to accept the request. Mr. Kaprelian seconded the motion. Motion carried (6-0). 5. REVIEW OF REQUESTS FOR SIGNALIZATION A. HARRISON STREET AND MURDOCK AVENUE Ms. Jeane Klinker, 2407 Harrison Street, was in favor of this location. She noted motorists don’t stop at this intersection; they do rolling stops. Whenever there is a train, traffic congestion increases. Mr. Kubasta noted this is a wide open corner, so the sight distance is generally pretty good. Mr. Kline said the accident history has not changed over the past several years. Mr. Strong said this request has come up before the Board numerous times in the past. In his analysis, it doesn’t rise to the level from a congestion perspective or safety perspective, the frequency of crashes is within the normal crash rate, the crashes are of low severity due to the low speed of traffic, and there is presently less traffic volume than in the past. Mr. Kaprelian suggested placing flashing stop signs similar to the one at Prospect Avenue and Wisconsin Street. Mr. Kline moved to accept the request. Mr. Poeschl seconded the motion. Motion lost (0-6). B. JACKSON STREET AND PACKER AVENUE Mr. Strong noted this request has come before the Board several times in the past. He said two- thirds of the traffic is right-turning traffic from Packer Avenue. This intersection does not meet any of the signal warrants.. Mr. Kline moved to accept the request. Mr. Kaprelian seconded the motion. Motion lost (0- 6). C. MURDOCK AVENUE AND ELMWOOD AVENUE/VINLAND STREET Mr. Strong said this intersection is the hardest, but he didn’t think a signal is the answer. There have been a lot of accidents at this intersection but it is left-turning vehicles on Murdock Avenue 4 TRA MINUTES Page JUNE 9, 2009 failing to judge properly the oncoming traffic. It is not the side street traffic causing the accidents. Mr. Poeschl said he has witnessed accidents at this intersection and he would be in favor of a signal. Mr. Kline moved to accept the request. Mr. Kaprelian seconded the motion. Motion lost (1 Poeschl-5). TH D. OREGON STREET AND 29 AVENUE Mr. Mark Weaver, Fleet Safety DOT Manager at Oshkosh Corporation, 2307 Oregon Street, spoke in support of this request. They have identified that their employment growth has caused some issues. Their primary concern is at shift change when the volume of traffic creates problems. The company has tried adjusting shifts, and future development includes moving some manufacturing over to their Harrison Street plant. He said the traffic signal need only be active during shift change times, which are the only high volume times. At other times, he suggested the lights be in the flashing yellow mode to raise the awareness of motorists. Mr. Kaprelian like the idea of signalizing during peak times only. Mr. Kline noted this needs approval by the Winnebago County Highway Department before it can be enacted. Mr. Kline questioned if there is a potential the Oshkosh Corporation would help fund this signal. Mr. Weaver replied he could not answer that question especially in today’s economic environment. He reiterated their commitment is to their employees. He said they would support this to the best of their ability. Mr. Kline moved to proceed with the placement of a traffic signal at this location contingent upon the County’s approval. Mr. Kaprelian seconded the motion. Motion carried (5-1 Kubasta). STAFF STATEMENTS None. AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING: None There being no other business to come before the Traffic Review Advisory Board, and upon being duly moved and seconded (Kline, Kaprelian), the meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m.