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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-6-11 Traffic & Parking Advisory Bd MinutesCommittee Name: Traffic & Parking Advisory Board Date: 6/11/19 City Hall, Room 404 1 1 *Attendees: Absent: Jim Collins, Transportation Director Bob Poeschl, Council William Christianson, Board Marlene Binder, Secretary Dan Scieszinski, Board Jim Stapel, Board Daniel Becker, Chairman Ross Wandschneider, Board Steve Haas, Vice-Chairman Topic Facilitator Discussion Actions Call to order Meeting Minutes Dan Becker Dan Becker called the meeting to order at 4:03 pm. The minutes from the 5/14/19 meeting were accepted and it was noted Kim Biedermann’s name was misspelled. 1st: Dan Scieszinski 2nd: Bob Poeschl Agenda Items Election of officers Jim Collins Dan Scieszinski Jim Collins said according to the Municipal Code, election of the chair and vice chairperson should be held each year. Dan Scieszinski made a motion to keep the same officers – Dan Becker, Chairman and Steve Haas, Vice-Chairman. 1st: Dan Scieszinski 2nd: Steve Haas Carried: 5-0 Committee Name: Traffic & Parking Advisory Board Date: 6/11/19 City Hall, Room 404 2 2 Topic Facilitator Discussion Actions A request for an alternate Board member Jim Collins Bob Poeschl Dan Becker Steve Haas Dan Becker Bob Poeschl Mr. Collins told the mayor has asked that all Boards and Commissions consider whether alternate members should be appointed to learn and fill in when Board members are absent to ensure a quorum at all meetings. He said with seven members, quorums haven’t been a problem for this Board. Bob Poeschl said the alternate would fill in any time a member was absent, not just when there wasn’t a quorum. Dan Becker said he had concerns about the alternate not having background on issues before the Board and sited the bike lanes agenda item on today’s agenda that was carried over from last month. He questioned if it is in our best interest to include a member that may be uninformed. Steve Haas said he thought serving as an alternate member may generate interest in the Board. He told that new Board members were in the same position as a new alternate member when they joined the Board. Dan Becker suggested that candidates attend 2 to 3 of the meetings to qualify to become an alternate member. Bob Poeschl said the minutes should reflect the Board did not have a concern with adding an alternate and in general found it beneficial but that there were outlaying issues that Mr. Becker had about alternates being up to speed. Committee Name: Traffic & Parking Advisory Board Date: 6/11/19 City Hall, Room 404 3 3 Topic Facilitator Discussion Actions A request for bike lanes on Oakwood Road from 9th Avenue to 20th Avenue (Current condition: No parking, both sides from 20th Avenue to 9th Avenue 5:00 a.m. – 6:00 P.m. on weekdays except on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day) Jim Collins Diane Steinert Erin Parker Mr. Collins explained this item was laid over from the last meeting. He told he counted the left turning vehicles during peak time before school started in the morning and again after school dismissal in the afternoon. He said there were more left turns in the afternoon than in the morning. He told he counted 36 left turns onto Ruschfield Drive in the morning but with the stop sign at 9th/Oakwood there were gaps in the oncoming traffic so the turning vehicle was not waiting very long. He said he counted 12 left turns heading west and 16 heading east on Newport Avenue. He recommended option #3 to better organize traffic, maintain parking for the residents and follow the recommendation of the Bike & Ped Plan. He mentioned from a traffic engineering prospective one lane in each direction is sufficient to handle the average daily traffic volume (AADT) of 5,200. He said for comparison the AADT is 9,500 on Murdock, 12,200 on 9th Avenue east of Reichow Street, and 4,900 on East Irving Avenue. Diane Steinert, of 1560 South Oakwood Road, said she opposes parking loss as there is limited parking in the driveways. Erin Parker, of 1730 South Oakwood Road, said she opposes parking loss and supports option #3. She said she opposes option #1 because she believes a 4 lane road would make it more dangerous for children in this residential area. Committee Name: Traffic & Parking Advisory Board Date: 6/11/19 City Hall, Room 404 4 4 Topic Facilitator Discussion Actions A request for bike lanes on Oakwood Road from 9th Avenue to 20th Avenue (Current condition: No parking, both sides from 20th Avenue to 9th Avenue 5:00 a.m. – 6:00 P.m. on weekdays except on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day) continued Gail Miller Jim Grover Ben Krumenauer Gail Miller, of 1735 South Oakwood Road, said she also opposes parking loss and would like the current restriction removed. She told her drive is not long enough for 2 cars to park end to end without encroaching on the sidewalk. Jim Grover, 1560 South Oakwood Road, said he owns a home and his son lives there. He said he thinks if Oakwood Road was one lane each direction, it would be difficult for a vehicle traveling south to turn left when traffic is heavier with cars leaving the factories. He also said the bikers he has seen are kids on Oakwood Road and he thinks it would be safer for them to ride on the sidewalk. He told he would hate to be the one that voted for the bike lane and then some kid is killed while riding in it. Ben Krumenauer, of 15 North Oakwood Road and Town of Algoma administrator, said he will provide some context of what the Town of Algoma is trying to do with its regional plan. He explained it is important to think from a regional standpoint and connectedness. He said the town does not have the luxury of having sidewalks and wide streets with curb and gutter, their stance is a more rural cross section approach with multi-purpose shared use facilities. He told they are seeing an increase of bike usage on their road systems and any new road will have accommodations. Mr. Krumenauer distributed a 2009 Park and Open Space Plan to Board members. He explained this map shows where their network is and how it connects with the region. He stated the town and the city have shared jurisdiction of Oakwood Road from 9th Avenue to Witzel Avenue and the town wants to be consistent with the City of Oshkosh. Committee Name: Traffic & Parking Advisory Board Date: 6/11/19 City Hall, Room 404 5 5 Topic Facilitator Discussion Actions A request for bike lanes on Oakwood Road from 9th Avenue to 20th Avenue (Current condition: No parking, both sides from 20th Avenue to 9th Avenue 5:00 a.m. – 6:00 P.m. on weekdays except on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day) continued Kim Biederman James Grover Bob Poeschl Alexa Naudziumas Bob Poeschl Kim Biederman, of East Central Regional Planning Commission located at 400 Annex Street, Menasha, said an Urban Bike and Pedestrian Plan was adopted in 2014 for Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago Counties. She said they look at the regional connectivity and how to move people beyond just vehicles. She stated they looked at what other municipalities have done, traffic counts and various studies to determine where the best routes for regional connectivity would be and parts of Oakwood Road were identified as such. James Grover, 1650 South Oakwood Road, stated he is a retired state trooper who enforces the laws. He said he has watched cyclists running through stop signs and red light without stopping and it bothers him that police do not enforce it. Bob Poeschl said he prefers option #3 because it conforms to the plans staff embarked upon. He told when he was on Council 10 years ago a plan was created and now it is good to see the plan implemented. He inquired if the number of cyclists have been counted. Alexa Naudziunas, City of Oshkosh Associate Planner, said the City does not have any bike counters, but uses the counts from East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning. Bob Poeschl said he wants to focus on the adult or intermediate and expert cyclist who really need the bike lanes on the road as their place is not on the sidewalks. He stressed the importance of young children using the sidewalks to bike to gain the necessary skills. He said he supports option #3 because it provides bike lanes for cyclists and parking without restrictions for the residents. He went on to say he had a concern about people opening car doors into the bike lane. Committee Name: Traffic & Parking Advisory Board Date: 6/11/19 City Hall, Room 404 6 6 Topic Facilitator Discussion Actions A request for bike lanes on Oakwood Road from 9th Avenue to 20th Avenue (Current condition: No parking, both sides from 20th Avenue to 9th Avenue 5:00 a.m. – 6:00 P.m. on weekdays except on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day) continued Jim Grover Dan Scieszinski Steve Haas Ross Wandschneider Dan Becker Dan Scieszinski Dan Becker Jim Collins Dan Scieszinski Mr. Grover said he thinks option #3 is the best solution in some respects but has concerns about a motorist opening the door of their vehicle into a cyclist. Dan Scieszinski said he agreed with Mr. Poeschl about option #3 with the parking restriction removed. Steve Hass said he also supports that option. Ross Wandschneider said he believes it is a good option. Dan Becker said state statute allows cyclists to use any stretch of road they choose and they have the right to use the full lane. He told he believes option #3 would make travel less safe for cyclists because he fears motorists will swerve into the bike lane to go around left turning vehicles even though that is illegal. He continued to explain he was concerned cyclists may be “doored” by someone exiting their vehicle. He said he prefers option #1 but feels some responsibility to the home owners so he supports option #4 status quo. Dan Scieszinski said he has seen bike lanes in the center of the road. Dan Becker said that option is fraught with all kinds of problems. Jim Collins explained that from a traffic engineering standpoint, option #3 better organizes traffic; shows where to park, designates where driving lanes are and where to bike. Dan Scieszinski moved to bring option #3 with the parking restrictions removed forward for a vote. Committee Name: Traffic & Parking Advisory Board Date: 6/11/19 City Hall, Room 404 7 7 Topic Facilitator Discussion Actions A request for bike lanes on Oakwood Road from 9th Avenue to 20th Avenue (Current condition: No parking, both sides from 20th Avenue to 9th Avenue 5:00 a.m. – 6:00 P.m. on weekdays except on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day) continued Bob Poeschl Jim Collins Mr. Poeschl asked to clarify that the restriction being lifted was the no parking during the day on weekdays. Jim Collins clarified that no parking from 2:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. would remain. Bob Poeschl said he encourages staff to gauge what parking is like for the first six months to see if it is an issue. Jim Collins explained that normally if a citizen contacts the City with a concern then staff monitors the situation. 1st: Dan Scieszinski 2nd: Steve Haas Carried: 4 – 1 (Becker) Staff Statements Jim Collins Jim Collins said Westhaven Drive was recently restriped to allow parking on one side of the street. He explained traffic paint is meant to be permanent and the most common method to remove it is to scarify or cut off a bit of the pavement which leaves a scar. He told this will be noticeable for some time just like Sawyer Street was. Mr. Collins told traffic counts are being conducting at various locations throughout the City of Oshkosh. He said the state hires a contractor to conduct traffic counts every three years and those are being now. He went on to say the data collected is available on the DOT’s website. Committee Name: Traffic & Parking Advisory Board Date: 6/11/19 City Hall, Room 404 8 8 Topic Facilitator Discussion Actions Adjournment Dan Becker The meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m. The next meeting will be held June11, 2019. 1st: Dan Scieszinski 2nd: Ross Wandschneider