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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTPAB Minutes 5 8 18 finalCommittee Name: Traffic & Parking Advisory Board Date: 5/8/18 Location: City Hall 1 Attendees: Absent: Jim Collins, Transportation Director Director William Christianson, Board Jake Krause, City Council Marlene Binder, Secretary Dan Scieszinski, Board Scott Nelson, NE WIDOT, Green Bay Jim Stapel, Board Daniel Becker, Chairman Ross Wandschneider, Board Steve Haas, Vice-Chairman Topic Facilitator Discussion Actions Call to order Meeting Minutes Daniel Becker Daniel Becker called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. The minutes from the 4/11/2018 TRAB meeting were accepted. Carried: 6 - 0 Welcome Jim Stapel Jim Stapel Jim Collins welcomed Jim Stapel to the Board. Jim told that Mr. Stapel owns and operates Kitz & Pfeil and that he previously served on the Parking Utility Board. Agenda Items Parking Utility Financial Snapshot Jim Collins Jim Collins explained that parking lot capital improvements are now funded through the city capital budget however; previously those were funded by the Parking Utility. The amounts owed are listed under long term debt balance and due to general fund at the bottom of the Income Statement. There was discussion about exploring the implementation of a written contractual agreement with the BID to ensure continual payment to the parking utility to support the free parking downtown. Committee Name: Traffic & Parking Advisory Board Date: 5/8/18 Location: City Hall 2 Topic Facilitator Discussion Actions Jackson Street Speed Sutdy Jim Collins Scott Nelson Jim Collins Jim Collins introduced Scott Nelson, safety engineer of the Northeast DOT Office in Green Bay. He said he and Scott explored many options for the Jackson Street / New York Avenue intersection. He told they decided the best option was to restrict left turns from Jackson Street onto New York Avenue from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. There was discussion about expanding the times for no left turns from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Scott, of the DOT, stated he realizes this restriction will be an inconvenience so they tried to make the inconvenience as small as possible . He explained crash data was analyzed and it was determined that the vast majority of crashes here were from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. He pointed out there was only one crash in five years that occurred in the 3:00 p.m. hour. Jim Collins said they did not want to make it inconvenient for parents to get to Merrill School. Jim Collins said his original thought was to implement this on a trial basis however; after speaking with the city attorney in order to enforce the restriction an ordinance needs to be created by Council. He explained that if the restriction doesn’t work as intended. he wi ll bring the issue back to the Board for a recommendation to Council to rescind the ordinance. Amending Item 2 restricting left turns from Jackson onto New York from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday -Friday 1st: Bill Christianson 2nd: Ross Wandschneider Carried: 6 – 0 Amended Item 2 Carried: 6– 0 Committee Name: Traffic & Parking Advisory Board Date: 5/8/18 Location: City Hall 3 Topic Facilitator Discussion Action Staff Statements Jackson Street Speed Study Jim Collins Jim Collins said the Oshkosh Police Department (OPD) did a speed study at the Jackson/New York intersection and the results were similar to the last speed study done a couple years ago. He said the average speed traveling southbound was just below 30 mph and the average speed traveling northbound was mid 30’s, He explained the 85th percentile was about 33 mph. Bill Christianson distributed a photo of the tubes used for the study and said he respectfully takes exception to the results of this study because of the placement of the tubes. He said the tubes were placed near the traffic light and by the 15 mph school zone sign therefore the results did not accurately reflect the speeds vehicles travel. He suggested placing the tubes on Jackson between Murdock and New York and between New York and Irving. Capt. Kaiser replied the tubes were placed there since this intersection was being evaluated. Jim Collins replied there were speed studies done a few years ago with the tubes near the locations suggested and the results were similar. He said another study could be done with the tubes in a different location but questioned the purpose. He recommended this be considered in conjunction with a holistic corridor study. Jackson Street Corridor Study Jim Collins Jim Collins said a Jackson Street Corridor Study from north of Murdock to Church or the bridge is being considered. He said there may be funds from a neighborhood grant to cover these expenses so it may be possible a request for proposal (RFP) be submitted by the end of summer. He explained the goal of this study would be to examine the corridor as a whole. Jim explained this process would take time. Committee Name: Traffic & Parking Advisory Board Date: 5/8/18 Location: City Hall 4 Topic Facilitator Discussion Actions Jackson Street Corridor Study Continued Scott Nelson There was more discussion about a possible Jackson Street expansion and/or road diet. Jim told that traffic counts on Jackson Street are at the upper limit for a road diet. Scott Nelson, of the DOT, explained the focus of the DOT department is on maintaining existing highways, not expanding. He said any good pavement that the DOT hasn’t got their investment back out of will likely be maintained for a long time before they would consider alternatives. It was mentioned that if a road diet were implemented here, the level of service declines; delays increase at the New York intersection for example from the current 13 seconds to 25 seconds and traffic back up would increase from the current 200’ to 600’ which then may increase the likelihood of rear end crashes. However; there are also many benefits to road diets. He agreed the corridor needs to be examined holistically to decide what is best for community. Adjournment Dan Becker Meeting adjourned at 5:08 p.m. Next meeting: June 12, 2018 at City Hall 1st: Dan Becker 2nd: Ross Wandschneider