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Home My WebLink About09/13/2007 . • � `Traffic Safety Advisory Committee City of Apple Valley September 13, 2007 7:00 p.m. Municipal Center Minutes l. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Chair Arthur Zimmerman. Meinbers Present: Dick Asleson, Linda Dolan, Charles Grawe, Neal Heuer, Michael Marben,Arthur Zimmennan Members Absent: Harald Eriksen - Consultants/Alternates Present: Tom Sohrweide Others Present: Corinne Johnson 2. Approval of A eg nda ' MOTION: Mr. Aslesoninoved, second by Ms. Dolan,to approve tl7e agenda as presented. Motion passed 6-0 - 3. Approval of July l l, 2007 Minutes Mr. Sohrweide and Mr. Heuer requested deleting the secoild sentence of the fourth paragraph for Item 7 and replacing it wit11 a sentence that Mr. Sohrweide confirmed that signs would be appropriate for both directions: MOTION: Mr.Asleson moved,Mr. Heuer seconded, to approve the Minutes of July l l, 2007 as amended. Motion passed 6-0 4. Audience Items There were no audience items presented. 5. Traffic Studyfor Traffic Concerns Around Aliina�,net Park Mr. Heuer said that in October of 2006, the City Council directed staff to conduct a traffic stud in the area o f Alima et Parlc throu hout t11e suminer Y � g of 2007: For the study, traffic counts were talcen on weelcdays, weekends,and specifically on Monday evenings. � . � .. . . . . . � .. . . . . . . � . � . . . . . . � .. � t.. .� . � .� � .� .. � � � � � .� . Mr. Heuer said the development in the area south of the Park dates back to the early 1960's. The homes were originally constructed with septic systems. When City sewer and water were brought to the homes in 1969, the streets were reconstructed. The streets have a 60 foot right-of-way; a measurement consistent with similar streets in other areas of the City. The typical home is set back 30 feet from the street,which is also a standard measurement in other neighborhoods. The street surfaces in the area measure 30 feet from back of curb to bacic of curb. This is slightly narrower than some other areas in the City that have streets with 34 foot wide streets, but smaller Uoulevard areas. Trie streets in the area were designed to handle at least 3,000 vehicle trips per day. The streets in the area are classified as local streets which carry up to : 1,500 vehicle trips per day. M:r. Heuer presented traffic counts for the area taken in August of 2000. The counts showed 653 vehicle trips per day on Walnut Lane between Ridgeview Drive and Garden View Drive. He noted that the Park and Recreation De,partment had a policy to lock the gate to Alimagnet Park during this time. Mr. Heuer presented traffic counts taken in April of 2006, and September of 2006. The 2006 counts showed similar traffic volumes to 2000, with specific daily counts of 508, 603, and 408 vehicles trips per day at the same location. Ms. Johnson suggested that while the daily total of the traffic counts did not change much, it could be that the distribution of the traffic has changed so that more of the traffic is on the streets in the late afternoon when the neighbors notice it more. Mr. Heuer presented traffic counts for the area taken throughout 2007. The weekend counts were generally a bit lower than the weekday counts,but all counts were within the design and classification st�ndards for the streets. Ms. Johnson said that some vehicles using Ridgeview Drive run the stop sign at Walnut Lane and others race up the streets side by side. Mr. Heuer presented speed study results taken far the area. The speed study was conducted by Public Works employees in a vehicle intended to blend into thf,general neighborhood and not draw attention. The speed studies were conducted on Monday evenings as that is the time of the disc golf leagues in thf.Park. The study showed that the average vehicle speeds for all vehicles on Walnut Lane (both going straight and turning) were between 25 and 27 miles per hour. The 85t�'percentile speeds were between 30 and 32 miles per hour. These observed speeds on Walnut Lane were somewhat lower than what is of�en found on other typical residential streets. The study also showed that the average vehicle speeds for only vehicles going straight on Walnut Lane were between 28 and 29 miles per hour. The 85th percentile speeds for straight : traffic were between 31 and 33 miles per hour. Mr. Heuer said he suspects th��t the slightly narrower street design contributes to the slightly lower speeds th��n often found in other neighborhoods. The fastest vehicle observed during thE� study was a motorcycle going 41 miles per hour. , � ', � i � Mr. Heuer said he is also working on solutions for a child in the neighborhood who is both deaf and blind. Ms. Johnson noted that there is a second child in the neighborhood that has a handicap requiring a wheel chair. Mr. Asleson said the study indicates that traffic is not an issue in the area. Mr. Johnson said that traffic is one issue,but neighbors have other concerns about the protection of the trees in the Park and use of alcohol in the Park. Mr. Marben presented a second speed study that was conducted by the Police Department,not Public Works. For varying time periods on days between July 27, 2007, and August 9, 2007, there were 360 vehicles observed in this study. Of the 360 vehicles, only 11, or 3.05 percent, were at speeds exceeding the speed limit. Of the vehicles exceeding the speed lirnit, eight, or 72.7 percent, were registered to individuals who reside within the neighborhood. Mr. Asleson said it appears that the concerns about the traffic in the area relate to disc golf. He asked if there was a means to connect the parking lot in the Park to the street system using Park Lane. Mr. Heuer said such a connection is probably not feasible due to the steep grade between Park Lane and the parking lot. Mr. Heuer noted that the Committee's charge is to examine traffic issues. TheFarks and Recreation Advisory Committee examines activities within the Park. He noted that the report presented to the Traffic Safety Committee would be combined with additional reports to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and submitted to the City Council on October I1`h. Ms. Dolan asked ifthe neighborhood had conducted any internal educational efforts to educate residents about speeding and traffic safety. Ms. Johnson said the neighborhood had not done so,but noted that vehicles originating from outside the neighborhood were the problem: Ms. Dolan noted that the Park is a neat public place in the community. Mr. Sohrweide noted that neighbors can influence other traffic by driving slower themselves`as any cars behind them are essentially also forced to drive slower. MOTION: Mr. Asleson moved, seconded by Ms. Dolan,that the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee concludes that the traffic volumes and speeds observed on streets in the area around Alimagnet Park are within the normal range of volurnes and speeds observed in other neighborhoods within the City; and that the observed volumes and speeds on the streets around Alimagnet Park are within the normal ranges for the street designs and classifications of those streets. Motion passed 6—0. • � • � 6. ' Other Traffic Concerns Communicated to the Ci ,t��le Valley Police Concerns Mr. Marben noted that August statistics are not yet available due to the conversion to new a new computer aided dispatch system. He distributed statistics through July 31, 2007. Public Works' Concerns Mr.Heuer reported that he received a request for signage noting no U-turns on Redwood Court which is a cul-de-sac. Mr. Heuer received a complaint about the number of bicycles using the pathways and sidewalks near Galaxie Avenue and 153rd Street. He noted that for public safety reasons, it is preferred that bicycles share the paths and sidewalks with pedestrians, rather than contending with the vehicle traffic in that area. Mr. Heuer said he received a complaint about vehicle speeds from Fordham Avenue. As there is no incentive for cut-through traffic in this neighborhood, the drivers creating the cause of the complaints are most likely from within the neighborhood. 7. Education Issues Ms. Dolan said an article on roundabouts appeared in the local paper. : 8. Adj ourn MOTION: Mr. Grawe moved, Mr. Asleson seconded, to adjourn. Motion passed 6 - 0. Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m..