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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTRAB MINUTES JULY 2015Please contact the Traffic Review Advisory Board at TRAB@ci.oshkosh.wi.us with any questions or concerns. TRAFFIC REVIEW ADISORY BOARD MINUTES JULY 14, 2015 PRESENT: Dan Becker, Steve Haas, Steven Herman, Gary Ross, Timothy Schuster, Dan Scieszinski and Ross Wandschneider STAFF: Jim Collins, Transportation Director Marlene Binder, Secretary CALL TO ORDER Chairman Timothy Schuster called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Becker moved to accept the May12, 2015 minutes. Mr. Herman seconded the motion. Motion carried (7-0). OLD BUSINESS 1. A REQUEST TO MODIFY THE PROPOSED MURDOCK AVENUE ROAD RECONFIGURATION TO NOT INCLUDE BIKE LANES. Mr. Collins said the proposed Murdock Avenue road reconfiguration with bike lanes was laid over by City Council and they asked the Bike and Pedestrian Committee and TRAB to look at different options and evaluate the corridor east and west of Jackson Street. He explained there are 25% more crashes on Murdock Avenue west of Jackson Street than east of Jackson Street. He showed two video clips demonstrating the road diet concept on Commercial Street in Neenah and Oakwood Road between Witzel Avenue and Hwy. 21. Scott Nelson, Professional Safety Engineer with Wisconsin DOT, told he has 20 years experience with traffic engineering, 13 of those with traffic safety. He said any time a road is reconfigured from 4 lanes to 3 lanes there is always a safety benefit. He explained that with the present proposal, without a designated bike lane, because it is a public street, cyclists still can and probably will ride here. He also stated the left turn lane eliminates a vehicle from shadowing another oncoming vehicle thus eliminating this type of t- bone crashes. He used the example of Hwy. 45/Main St. in Fond du Lac north of Hwy. 23. A road diet was implemented a few years ago there. This corridor has similar characteristics to Murdock Avenue. Traffic counts are around 10,000 and there is a similar commercial/residential mix. He said that Fond du Lac has been satisfied with the results. He also stated that he has been involved with the Murdock Avenue proposal since 2012 and believes that Murdock Avenue can handle the volume of traffic with one less lane without affecting the level of service. Mr. Collins explained with this proposal there would be a 12 foot driving lane in each direction with a 14 foot turning lane in the center and 5 feet extra space on both sides of the street. Chief Greuel stated he supported the reconfiguration because it achieves the safety goals and can be implemented with minimal cost. He said in his experience environmental factors were more effective than enforcement. He told that this concept was effective on Oakwood Road, but admitted occasionally a TRAB MINUTES 2 JULY 14, 2015 Please contact the Traffic Review Advisory Board at TRAB@ci.oshkosh.wi.us with any questions or concerns. vehicle passes illegally on the right. He explained that the extra 5 feet of space on Murdock Avenue would not be enough space for a vehicle to pass on the right. Tom Karrels, of 2725 Shorewood Drive, questioned why Jackson Street and New York Avenue had no designated left turn lane. Mr. Collins explained there had been a left turn lane in the past but it was eliminated when Jackson St. was reconstructed by the WISDOT. Mr. Collins said Jackson Street has 15,000 vehicles per day while Murdock Avenue has only 10,000 vehicles per day. Mr. Karrels asked if Jackson Street had been considered for a road diet and what the benefit would be for the neighborhood. Mr. Collins explained that Jackson Street had been considered, but it was rejected by the TRAB previously mainly because it is an alternative route when Hwy. 41 is closed. He told the benefits of the road diet concept is that it calms traffic, lowers the number of crashes and makes it easier for bikers and pedestrians to cross. Mr. Karrels inquired if a left turn signal could be installed at Wisconsin Street at Murdock Avenue. Mr. Collins said that was part of the proposal and then went on to say this proposal also addresses safety concerns for the entire corridor. Mr. Karrels went on to say that he understood that the proposal may make the roadway safer but at what cost. He continued that visibility is obstructed by a tree at the corner and a dip in the road west of Elmwood Avenue obscures oncoming traffic. He wondered if younger, inexperienced drivers were contributing to the higher number of crashes in this area. He requested the factors contributing to the statistical accidents be studied. There was discussion about various options. Mr. Becker moved to amend item 1 to "A request to modify the proposed Murdock Avenue road reconfiguration to not include bike lanes and be re-evaluated 7/1/2017 if implemented. Mr. Herman seconded the motion. Motion carried (7-0). Mr. Herman moved to accept the amended item. Mr. Haas seconded the motion. Motion carried (7-0). NEW BUSINESS 2. A REQUEST FOR A MIDBLOCK CROSSING WITH A PEDESTRIAN HYBRID BEACON (HAWK SIGNAL) ON OREGON STREET 500 FEET NORTH OF 6TH AVENUE PENDING AVAILABLE GRANT FUNDING (CURRENT CONDITION: CLOSEST CROSSING IS AT SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION 6TH AVENUE AND OREGON STREET) Mr. Collins told this HAWK signal is the highest level of traffic control for a crosswalk and that the only one currently in the city of Oshkosh is on High Avenue in the university area. He explained the HAWK signal was included in a grant for the river walk. He explained the warrant to be at least 300 feet from an intersection is met but the area currently falls shy of the 40-50 crossings daily. It is unknown what the number of crossings will be in the future. He said the Wisconsin DOT did not have any issue with the signal being installed where proposed near the drawbridge. Mr. Collins explained the different levels of pedestrian safety beginning with drivers yielding to pedestrians as being the lowest level, marked intersections next, then pedestrian flashing lights, RRFB after that, and HAWK signal is the highest level, similar to a traffic stop light. There was discussion about this being grant funded and the benefits and potential drawbacks. Mr. Herman moved to accept the item. Mr. Becker seconded the motion. Motion carried (7-0). TRAB MINUTES 3 JULY 14, 2015 Please contact the Traffic Review Advisory Board at TRAB@ci.oshkosh.wi.us with any questions or concerns. 3. PRESENTATION AND REVIEW OF 2014 ANNUAL ACCIDENT DATA Mr. Collins highlighted some of the data from the 2014 Accident Study. He told Board members he is open to further discussion about any item at a future meeting. There being no other business to be brought before the Board, it was duly moved and seconded (Mr. Sceiszinski, Mr. Ross) to adjourn at 5:25 p.m.