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Home My WebLink AboutTPAB Minutes 6 12 18Committee Name: Traffic & Parking Advisory Board Date: 6/12/18 Location: City Hall 1 Attendees: Absent: Jim Collins, Transportation Director Director William Christianson, Board Deb Allison-Aasby, City Council Marlene Binder, Secretary Dan Scieszinski, Board Ross Wandschneider, Board Daniel Becker, Chairman Jim Stapel, 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 5/8/2018 TPAB meeting were accepted. 1st: Dan Becker 2nd: Dan Scieszinski Carried: 5 - 0 Agenda Items 1. Reconsideration of restricting left turns from Jackson Street onto New York Avenue from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday Jim Collins Jim Collins said Scott Nelson, of the WisDOT, attended the May TPAB meeting where he explained he and Jim explored many options and concluded 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. Jim said the crossing guard from the intersection of New York and Jackson attended the Council meeting for the first reading of this proposed ordinance. He said she suggested the restriction should start earlier (2:45 p.m.) so the elementary school release is covered and also expressed concerns about vehicles turning right and the visibility of the overhead pedestrian LED sign in daylight. Committee Name: Traffic & Parking Advisory Board Date: 6/12/18 Location: City Hall 2 Topic Facilitator Discussion Actions Reconsideration of restricting left turns from Jackson Street onto New York Avenue from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday continued Steve Herman Capt. Kaiser Jim Collins City Council member, Steve Herman, said City Council members had concerns that if this item passed and become an ordinance it would be confusing for motorists and very difficult to enforce. He told that council members did not have all the information and had concerns after the crossing guard spoke at the meeting. There was discussion about traffic volume being too high for a road diet and too little room for a designated left turn lane with two through lanes. There was also discussion that artificially lowering the speed limit could possibly result in more rear end crashes and make enforcement even more difficult. Captain Kaiser said public could be educated through social media and officer presence. Dan Scieszinski suggested parents of Merrill students be educated through school communications before school starts. There was more discussion that something needs to be done now rather than wait. Jim Collins recommends the left turn restriction be from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., which is when the majority of crashes occurred. Jim Collins mentioned that if a corridor study was performed, the cost would be expected to be around $30,000.00, which is the approximate cost of the 9th/South Park and Oshkosh Avenue studies. Committee Name: Traffic & Parking Advisory Board Date: 6/12/18 Location: City Hall 3 Topic Facilitator Discussion Action Reconsideration of restricting left turns from Jackson Street onto New York Avenue from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday continued Dan Scieszinski Jim Stapel Bill Christianson Jim Collins Bill Christianson Dan Scieszinski said if a corridor study were conducted, people conducting the study would probably consult with the same people we already contacted. Jim Stapel added he does not support the City spending $30,000 on a corridor study just to alleviate political pressure. Bill Christianson passed out a notarized sheet signed by Ross Wandschneider suggesting that red, amber and green turn arrows be installed on Jackson Street at New York Avenue. Ross Wandschneider wrote that he grants permission for Bill Christianson permission to cast his proxy yes vote for the turn arrows as well as other motions at this meeting. He explained he would like opportunity to participate in this manner but is out of town attending a funeral. Jim Collins said there are only about 20 vehicles per hour that turn left at peak hours and a designated turn lane with a green arrow would lower the level of service of this intersection for everyone and double que lengths. Mr. Collins added he is unsure if this would be permitted here, that he would need to check into this. Bill Christianson moved to amend the item to include the installation of left turn arrows on the traffic signals. There was no second. Bill Christianson moved to reduce the speed limit on Jackson Street, from Murdock Avenue to Church Avenue, to 25 MPH. There was no second. Amend to include installation of left turn arrows on traffic signals 1st: Bill Christianson No 2nd Recommendation to lower the speed limit on Jackson Street, from Murdock Avenue to Church Avenue 1st: Bill Christianson No 2nd Committee Name: Traffic & Parking Advisory Board Date: 6/12/18 Location: City Hall 4 Topic Facilitator Discussion Actions Reconsideration of restricting left turns from Jackson Street onto New York Avenue from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday continued Dan Becker Steve Herman Dan Becker Dan Becker said he has never encountered a request for proxy vote and was unsure of how to proceed. Steve Herman said proxy vote does not come into play unle ss there is not a quorum, since we have a quorum present his absence is not an issue. Dan Becker moved to restrict left turns on Jackson Street onto New York Avenue from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. 1st: Dan Becker 2nd: Steve Haas Carried: 5 - 0 Staff Statements Ninth Avenue road reconfiguration update Jim Collins Jim Collins told that the old markings on 9th Avenue will be scarified Thursday or Friday next week and the new lines will be painted after that. Mr. Collins said the intersection of Bowen and Murdock was painted during the first week of the season and Main Street near the new stadium is also completed. Jim Collins announced the July TPAB meeting will be cancelled unless an urgent matter arises as staff will be unavailable. Adjournment Dan Becker Meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m. Next meeting: August 14, 2018 at City Hall 1st: Dan Scieszinski 2nd: Bill Christianson