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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/11/2006 • � Traffic Safety Advisory Committee � � City of Apple Valley January 11,2006 7:00 p.m. Municipal Center Minutes 1. Ca11 to Order � The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.by Chair Arthur Zimmerman. � Members Present: Craig Anglin, Dick Asleson, Linda Dolan, Harald Eriksen, Charles Grawe,Neal Heuer, Arthur Zimmern�an Members Absent: Consultants/Alternates Present: Tom Sohrweide Others Prese�t: Lisa Gilbertson, Jeannette Gunhus, Ann Peeters, Gwen Schroeder 2. Approval of Agenda Mr. Zimmerman stiiggested moving the election of officers to be after the 142"d Street concerns. MOTION:� Mr. Anglin moved, second by Mr. Asleson, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion passed 7—0. � 3. Approval of November 9, 2005 Minutes � MOTION: Mr. Heuer moved, second by Ms. Dolan, to ap�rove the minutes as presented. � Motion passed 7—0. � 4. Audience Items � � There were no audience items. 5. 142"`� Street Traffic Concerns Mr.Heuer said the City received communications from residents concerned over traffic on 142"d Street south of the Scott Highlands Middle School. Specific concerns were expressed about � vehicle speeds and the safety of students in the crosswalk. The City asked the consulting engineer to study the area. TSAC Meeting Minutes � � � � January 11, 2006 Page 2 Mr. Sohrweide said speed data was gathered using traffic counters in the area near the crosswalk. The average vehicle speed ranged between 30 and 33 miles per hour and the 85"'percentile speed was around 38 to 39 miles per hour. Speed data was also gathered using radar when children were present. The average vehicle speed ranged between 30 and 32 miles per hour and the 85"' percentile�speed was around 34 to 36 miles per hour. Mr. Sohrweide explained that crossing the street requires gaps in the traffic. The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) has recommendations for school crossings and provides a formula to calculate pedestrian delay. Mr. Sohrweide was on the site five different times. The pedestrian delay measure during these times ranged from 12 to 48 percent. The ITE guidelines would indicate a traffic control is necessary when the delay is 75 percent or greater. The crosswalk is marked and there is advance signing. There is an issue for the line of sight as vehicles approach from the west. Mr. Sohrweide explained that given the line of sight, the time needed for a pedestrian to cross to the middle of the street would require a 20 miles per hour approach speed of a vehicle. He said he would recommend a school speed of 20 miles per hour when children are present. Mr. Sohrweide said results of studies on flashing lights show different levels of effectiveness. When new signs are posted, flags are posted with the signs for 30 days. He said enforcement would also be required after making the change. Mr. Sohrweide was asked to explain how the delay is calculated. He provided an example of a ten-minute observation (600 total seconds observed). If the time during which gaps occurred was 200 seconds and the time in which there was no gap in traffic was 400 seconds, then the delay would be 66.7% (or 400 divided by 600). He noted that a "gap" must be a minimum of 15 seconds between vehicles for this application. During his 11 minute observation, he noted 13 � crossing opportunities, one as long as 52 seconds. In general, there was at least one gap per minute. � A resident aslced if the speed zone limit would apply during specific hours or when children are physically present. Mr. Heuer said he understands the speed to apply during school hours when children would be coming and going to school, not necessarily related to the physical proximity of a child. Mr. Heuer noted that the tree foliage had been trimmed along the street to remove potential obstructions. A resident asked about the use of speed infonnational signs. Mr. Heuer said the City is cunently studying the effectiveness of such signs on Garden View Drive. � MOTION: Mr. Asleson moved, second by Mr. Anglin, to recommend the establishment of a school speed zone of 20 miles per hour on 142"d Street as recommended by the City's consulting engineer. Motion passed 7—0. Mr. Heuer said he expected the recommendation to be before the City Council on January 26"'. Once approved, he estimated it would take approximately two weeks to receive the signs and have them installed. TSAC Meeting Minutes � � January 11, 2006 Page 3 6. � Election of Officers � MOTION: Ms. Dolan moved, second by Mr. Anglin, to appoint Mr. Zimmerman Chair and Mr. Eriksen Vice-Chair of the Committee. Motion passed 7—0. 7. Other Traffic Concerns Communicated to the Citv � a) Police Concerns—Mr. Anglin distributed an article on the�Safe and Sober campaign. He noted that the campaign utilizes a group of officers from multiple jurisdictians who are assigned to patrol in specific areas, even if outside their home jurisdiction. b) Public Works Concerns—Mr. Heuer said he received a concern about vehicle speeds on Foliage Avenue between County Road 42 and County Road 46. He noted that the speed limit is currently 45 miles per hour as set by the State. �He said the City might consider � requesting a new study once the area is fully built out. � Mr. Heuer said he received a concern about u-turn movements,but noted they are legal. Mr. Heuer noted that the County is working on reviewing the intersection of Counry � Road 42 and Garden View Drive. � c) Other Concerns—There were no other concerns presented. 8. Education Issues Mr. Grawe noted the City Council has requested a joint meeting with the Committee. Ms. Do1an asked that Mr. Grawe prepare the annual report for that meeting. Mr. Anglin said there might be an opportunity to have a youth alcohol round table discussion with State officials. � � 9. Adj ourn MOTION: Ms. Dolan moved, second by Mr. Heuer, to adjourn. Motion passed 7 — 0. Meeting was adjourned at 8:22 p.m.