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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTRAB MINUTES FEB 2015Please contact the Traffic Review Advisory Board at TRAB@ci.oshkosh.wi.us with any questions or concerns. TRAFFIC REVIEW ADISORY BOARD MINUTES February 10, 2015 4:00 P.M. PRESENT: Dan Becker, Steve Haas, Steven Herman, Gary Ross, Timothy Schuster and Dan Scieszinski ABSENT: STAFF: Jim Collins, Transportation Director CALL TO ORDER Chairman Timothy Schuster called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Herman moved to accept the December 9th, 2014 minutes. Mr. Ross seconded the motion. Motion carried (6-0). NEW BUSNIESS 1. A REQUEST FOR NO PARKING ON WHEATFIELD WAY, EAST SIDE, FROM RUSHFIELD WAY TO 260 FEET NORTH OF RUSHFIELD WAY (CURRENT CONDITION: UNRESTRICTED PARKING) Mr. Collins said that this is a request from residents. There was a bad crash in December in this area. The crash wasn’t related to on street parking however; residents expressed concern about the difficulty of maneuvering when cars were parked on both sides of the street. Mr. Collins explained that the street is 30 feet wide which warrants removal of parking on one side of the street with a valid petition. He also explained that parking would be available on one side of the street for residents. Mr. Scieszinski noted that parking will still be available around the corner for these residents. Mr. Becker moved to accept item 1 and Mr. Herman seconded the motion. Motion carried (5-0). 2. A REQUEST FOR NO PARKING ON ONE SIDE OF CONGRESS AVENUE BETWEEN ELMWOOD AVENUE AND ALGOMA BOULEVARD (CURRENT CONDITION: NO PARKING, NORTH SIDE, FROM ALGOMA BOULEVARD TO 80 FEET EAST OF ALGOMA BOULEVARD AND NO PARKING FROM FOX RIVER TO 175 FEET EAST OF ALGOMA BOULEVARD, SOUTH SIDE) Mr. Collins explained that this a request from a resident concerned about getting larger vehicles through during events at the Paine. The street is 36 feet wide which under the city’s traffic warrants does not justify removing parking, there is also a speed hump in the area. Aaron Sherer, from the Paine Arts Center stated that he would like to keep the parking due to their limited parking. He also stated that allowing parking adds to traffic calming in the area. Art Rathjen from UWO spoke in favor of keeping on street parking due to the chancellor’s house being in this area and the need for on street parking when the chancellor is entertaining guests. Pete Gilliespie of 1435 Congress Ave. stated that removing parking TRA MINUTES 2 February 2015 Please contact the Traffic Review Advisory Board at TRAB@ci.oshkosh.wi.us with any questions or concerns. would be a big issue directly in front of their house. Mr. Becker asked if the request came in recently. Mr. Collins stated that it came in during the holiday period. He asked that Mr. Collins talk to public works about keeping snow tight to the curb. Mr. Herman moved to defeat item 1 and Mr. Becker seconded the motion. Motion lost (0-6). 3. A REQUEST FOR AUTISTIC CHILD SIGNS This item was removed for consideration at the request of the requesting party. Mr. Collins explained the department’s policy for these types of signs. 4. A REQUEST TO CHANGE THE ENDING TIMES FOR THE PARKING RESTRICTIONS TO 4:00 P.M ON KENTUCKY STREET, WEST SIDE (CURRENT CONDITION: NO PARKING, STOPPING, STANDING OR WAITING ON SCHOOL DAYS BETWEEN 7:30 A.M. TO 8:30 A.M. AND 1:30 TO 3:30 P.M. FROM NEW YORK AVENUE TO 375 FEET NORTH OF NEW YORK AVENUE AND NO PARKING ON SCHOOL DAYS BETWEEN 7:30 A.M. TO 8:30 A.M. AND 2:30 TO 3:30 P.M. FROM 375 FEET NORTH OF NEW YORK AVENUE TO NEVADA AVENUE Mr. Collins explained that the middle school dismissal time changed to 3:37 this year so the police department requested that the times on these restrictions be extended to cover dismissal. Mr. Ross asked if there were other signs out there that needed to be changed. Mr. Collins explained he tried to catch any that had a time earlier than 4. He also explained that the transportation is trying to standardize restrictions related to school dismissal to end at 4 p.m. Mr. Schuster moved to accept item 4 and Mr. Herman seconded the motion. Motion carried (6-0). 4A. A REQUEST TO CHANGE THE ENDING TIME FOR THE PARKING RESTRICTION TO 4:00 P.M. ON FLORIDA AVENUE, NORTH SIDE (CURRENT CONDITION: NO PARKING, STOPPING, STANDING, WAITING – BUS LOADING ZONE, FROM DELAWARE STREET TO 266 FEET WEST BETWEEN 2:30 P.M. TO 3:30 P.M. ON SCHOOL DAYS) Mr. Collins explained this is the same type of request as item 4. Mr. Schuster moved to accept item 4A and Mr. Herman seconded the motion. Motion carried (6-0). 5. A REQUEST FOR A ROAD DIET ON JACKSON STREET BETWEEN MURDOCK AVENUE AND THE RIVER (CURRENT CONDITION: FOUR LANE STREET) Mr. Collins explained that this was a request from residents who wrote a letter to the city and common council to consider this. He explained how road diets are becoming more popular. He explained that traffic counts on Jackson Street are approaching 15,000 which is the threshold for road diets. Other issues are there are over 100 driveways in the area and restricting traffic to one lane each direction could cause egress issues, Jackson St. is a truck route, arterial and was designed as such. The biggest concern he stated was that Jackson St. is alternate Hwy. 41. It also was not included in the bike and pedestrian plan. Mr. Ross asked if the DOT would have to approve based on it being Hwy. 45. Mr. Collins said the DOT would have input and their initial input was that there was a lot of traffic to consider a road diet on Jackson Street. Captain Schoeni from the Oshkosh PD stated that his biggest concern with a road diet was the detour when Hwy. 41 is closed. He stated that is an all hands on deck scenario which he has experienced. Chloe and Ross Wandschneider, 809 Jackson Street stated that they thought an alternate TRA MINUTES 3 February 2015 Please contact the Traffic Review Advisory Board at TRAB@ci.oshkosh.wi.us with any questions or concerns. route could be devised north-south if Hwy. 41 was closed. Mr. Wandscheider questioned how often a detour was needed for Hwy. 41. Chole asked if the center two way center turn lane could be used as a through lane in the event of an emergency. Mr. Collins explained that Jackson Street is the only major north south street in the city that could handle the volume if Hwy. 41 was closed. He explained how Algoma Blvd would not work as it is too close to the bridge. Capt. Schoeni explained how there was an accident in December where the Butte Des Morts bridge was closed and that Jackson Street worked very well as an alternate route. It functioned very well as designed. Mr. Schuster explained how the center turn lane could not be used as a through lane if it is painted as a shared left turn lane with solid lines. Mr. Collins agreed that, that would not be feasible as it would violate motorist’s expectations. Mr. Herman stated that the key thing is that Jackson Street was built, designed and designated as a major arterial. He said the key points to address the concerns are to control the speed on the street with increased police presence and enforcement. He also explained with the funding we receive and for traffic needs, it is important to all the citizens to keep the street as is. It was designed and is important to the city as a major thoroughfare. Mr. Wandschneider expressed the need for traffic calming on Jackson Street. He also discussed the increase of rental units in the area. Mrs. Wandschneider discussed how there were a lot of higher crash intersections in Jackson Street and Murdock Avenue corridor. Mrs. Wandschneider asked what can be done to make the neighborhood more livable. She said you have to get out there and live it to appreciate the issues. Captain Schoeni explained what the police department is doing in this area. He explained how they have a heavy presence in the area. He explained how he encourages his officers to get out in the neighborhood in order to better appreciate the issues and utilize their neighborhood policing. He explained how they would continue to have a heavy presence in the area. Mr. Wandschneider thanked the police for their increased enforcement. Mr. Becker moved to call to question item 5 and Mr. Herman seconded. Call to question carried (5-1). Motion lost (0-6) STAFF STATEMENTS Mr. Collins explained that the board had previously approved a road diet on Murdock Avenue and that he had brought preliminary sketches of the layout if the board would like to look at them. He explained that a public meeting would be scheduled for March or April with a planned implementation of this summer. There being no other business to come before the Traffic Review Advisory Board, and upon being duly moved and seconded (Herman, Becker), the meeting adjourned at 5:03 p.m. Motion carried (6-0).