MINUTES
TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEETING
OCTOBER 3, 2001
6:30 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
Voting Members Present: G. Kiral, S. Semans, R. Bane, R. Eck, R. Nutter, J. Lattanzi,
P. Shuman, R. Justice
Non-Voting Members Present: C. Williamson
Members Absent: T. Hough, A. Dalzot, K. Gleitzman, A. Leonette
MATTERS OF BUSINESS: Minutes of the September meeting were approved as presented.
OLD BUSINESS: None
NEW BUSINESS:
Traffic Light Modification and "No Turn on Red" Sign on Patteson Drive: Request by
Bennett Tower Hall Council to reconfigure the traffic light that if the pedestrian walk signal
is activated, all traffic will have a red light. Also, request for a "No Turn on Red" sign for
traffic exiting Eat n Park parking lot and for north-bound traffic on Patteson Drive.
C. Williamson stated that there have been a large number of accidents at this intersection. He recommended that the timing be adjusted on the light. He said he spoke with the City Engineer
about this, and she said the State would have to be notified.
J. Lattanzi made a motion to ask the State that the timing be adjusted.
R. Justice seconded his motion.
J. Lattanzi clarified that his motion is to first contact the state for approval on adjusting the timing of the light.
P. Shuman asked how changing the timing sequence will make a difference.
C. Williamson said if there are pedestrians in the crosswalk, they have the right-of-way, and it would be a violation to turn right on red.
R. Justice said the "Yield to Pedestrian" signs should also be put up.
C. Williamson said that there is only a problem at this location at certain times of the day.
Amendment was made to the motion to also add installation of "Yield to Pedestrian" signs.
Motion passed unanimously.
Intersection of Collins Ferry Road and Lawnview Drive: Request by resident for yellow curbing in front of the four-unit apartment building at Lawnview Drive and Collins Ferry Road.
R. Nutter asked what the traffic code says about the distance of yellow curbs from an intersection.
Discussion about whether the code is 15 ft. or 30 ft. Will need to check with City Engineer.
C. Williamson stated that when he was there, there were no cars parked on the street, and that most homes have off-street parking. Cars that are parked on the street are probably residents of the apartments or visitors.
R. Eck stated that there was a parking lot for the apartment building, but some would still park on the street because it was closer for them.
P. Shuman made a motion to paint yellow curb approximately one car length.
Motion was seconded.
Motion passed unanimously.
Signage on Dead-End Section of West Virginia Avenue: Request by resident for a "15 mph"
speed limit sign and to replace a "Slow - Children at Play" sign on the dead-end section of
West Virginia Avenue.
R. Eck explained that the Commission's position on "Children at Play" signs is not to approve their installation because it has been proven that they do not work and it may give children and their parents a false sense of security that is okay to play in or near the street.
R. Justice stated that if 15 m.p.h is not the normal speed limit for this street, it really can't be changed without going through the ordinance process.
C. Williamson said he doesn't ever remember getting a complaint on speeding in this area.
R. Justice said it could be added to the list of streets to be researched for possible calming devices.
G. Kiral said that the dead-end section of West Virginia Avenue is a very small block of the street.
J. Lattanzi made a motion to deny this request.
R. Nutter seconded motion.
R. Bane asked about current "Children at Play" signs. Do we remove them?
R. Eck said that we have never removed one, but the Commission's position is to not approve any new requests.
R. Justice asked to amend motion to add West Virginia Avenue on the list of streets to be considered for some sort of calming device.
Motion passed unanimously.
Vandalia Avenue /South Hills Drive/Augusta Avenue: Request by resident for speed limit signs and "Children at Play" signs on these streets. Also, a request to eliminate on-street parking.
G. Kiral stated that the "Children at Play" signs request has already been addressed.
C. Williamson stated that there are several visible 25 mph signs already in place. There is
currently no yellow lines on these streets. There are some "blind spots" where people park
that make it difficult to see. He feels that may be what they are talking about.
R. Justice made a motion that this issue be tabled until Police Dept. and Engineering check and make a recommendation on taking away parking.
J. Lattanzi seconded motion.
Motion carried unanimously.
P. Shuman made a second motion to deny any additional signage, but to have the public works department check to make sure the signs that are supposed to be there are still existing, and to replace any that need to be replaced.
G. Kiral seconded motion.
Motion passed unanimously.
Richwood Avenue: Request by resident for a crosswalk at the entrance to Whitemore Park, across Richwood Avenue. Also, a request to lower speed limit to 15 m.p.h. for the three hundred ft. strip that borders Whitemore Park.
R. Justice stated that entrance to park is hidden. There needs to be some sort of a designated entrance. The sign that is there is very small.
G. Kiral asked where the crosswalk would be located.
Discussion about the location of the crosswalk and the need for signage for the park.
C. Williamson suggested a blinking yellow caution light at night. He said 11 speeding tickets have been issued in this area recently.
G. Kiral made a motion that the placement of the crosswalk (location) should be determined by the Police Dept. and City Engineer, along with any proper traffic control devices.
S. Semans seconded motion.
Motion passed unanimously.
R. Justice explained reason for 15 m.p.h signs in parks: The reason that Marilla Park and White Park have 15 m.p.h signs is that the streets go through the parks. This is not a "through" street..
Red Light on Spruce and Pleasant Street: Request by Councilor Byrne to review the "No Left Turn on Red" sign at the intersection of Spruce and Pleasant Street. Also, a request to review the number of accidents and/or approval rate since the changes have been enacted.
C. Williamson stated that he is not aware of any civilian pedestrian complaints since the signs went up. The accident rate has decreased approximately 50%. There were 8 accidents reported at this intersection from January until the signs were installed, and 0 accidents reported from the time the signs were installed until the present. There were 92 moving violations (tickets) recorded from June, 2000 to December 2000. Since the signs were installed (May) there have been 43.
J. Lattanzi asked C. Williamson to state his opinion of whether or not the signs should stay up.
C. Williamson said "yes".
J. Lattanzi made a motion to deny this request.
Councilor Jim Manilla, 2nd Ward, said he has had only one complaint about the signs, but that person was not from his ward.
R. Justice suggested re-evaluating this situation after the S. High bridge re-opens.
Councilor Manilla said that he doesn't feel that crosswalks are effective in this area; in fact he
feels they are dangerous, because people don't pay attention to them.
J. Lattanzi said that obeying traffic laws is a problem all over town in regards to crosswalks, stop signs, and speed limits.
R. Bane made a motion to review this situation in approximately 90 days - after S. High bridge re-opens..
R. Justice seconded and added that the City Engineer check the timing of the lights.
Motion passed unanimously.
OTHER BUSINESS:
G. Kiral expressed concerns about people blocking intersections during traffic light changes,
particularly at Walnut and University Avenue intersection. He inquired as to whether signage
would be appropriate ("Do Not Block Intersection").
C. Williamson stated that tickets have been issued for this violation, particularly during the lunch hour. He is not sure a sign would help the situation. He said it could be a full-time position for a police officer to patrol intersections for this problem, but they will continue to place officers there during key hours of the day.
R. Bane expressed concern about the steel pipes acting as a guardrail on Dorsey Ave. at Hite St.
They need to be repaired. He requested referring this to the Street Department.
J. Lattanzi addressed the Willowdale Road speeding issue. He suggested placing signs that state "Radar in Use - Strictly Enforced".
R. Eck said he did not think the signs would have any effect. He said the real deterrent is the presence of an officer.
Bryant Hall, resident of Willowdale Road, stated that speeding is a real problem on this road.
He said the recent painting of the yellow lines (to make the lanes appear smaller)has had no effect. Drivers ignore them, just like they ignore signs. He stated that he doesn't have the answer, but something definitely needs to be done to deal with speeding. He doesn't want this issue to be ignored. He requested that this issue be discussed again next month, when the City Engineer is present.
R. Justice said that Council has approved the budget appropriations ($34,000) for traffic calming devices.
J. Lattanzi referred to Marion County and the fact that traffic calming devices have proved to make a difference.
G. Kiral, who also lives on Willowdale, said he feels that Willowdale Road wasn't constructed in a way to handle the amount of traffic that it currently experiences.
Councilor Manilla spoke on the issue of speeding around the high schools.
He inquired as to whether these areas are more heavily patrolled during the morning and afternoon hours.
C. Williamson said that they are. He also stated that U.H.S. has a full-time officer who patrols
traffic.
Councilor Manilla also addressed signage at Morgantown High on Edgewood. He said that kids are exiting the parking lot and driving out Cobun. Morgantown High has added another exit, and are going to cut the curb. There will be a gate that will be open and shut by school personnel, but he suggested that adding signage might help the situation.
Discussion ensued about the general speeding problem in Morgantown, and how it seems to be a growing problem year by year.
C. Williamson said there has always been the problem of people trying to go 10-15 m.p.h. over the speed limit.
Meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.