MINUTES

TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEETING

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2007

Voting Members Present: Dennis Bidwell, Chris Gluck, Graham Kenneweg, Ken Martis, Roy Nutter, Don Spencer, Paul Steel,

Non-Voting Members Present: Terry Hough, Capt. Mike Lantz, David Purkey

Members Absent: Ron Eck, Peter Schuster, Buffy Vehse

MATTER OF BUSINESS:

Meeting was called to order by Vice Chairman Nutter. Minutes of the February 7, 2007 meeting were approved as distributed.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Before the meeting began Vice Chairman Nutter requested that the following items be added to next months agenda:

Monthly Updates, 705 Pedestrian update, Pedestrian Safety Board, DOH response to Kingwood Street, Sub-Committee of Traffic Commission, Rawley Avenue traffic calming.

Response from DOH regarding Spruce Street turning lane: Terry Hough indicated that she had received a response from the DOH stating that they were denying the request because of the present geometric and signing conditions of the intersection.

The request for the Stop Sign at Laishley Street and Dogwood Avenue was removed from the agenda because this request was made in October of 2006 and passed unanimously. Due to an oversight by the Engineering Secretary the request to install the signs was not given to the Signs and Signals Department. This request has now been made and the signs should be installed within the next week.

Terry Hough reported that the reason the Monthly Updates were not on the agenda for this month was because at the previous meeting she had indicated that the City Administration had requested that the Traffic Commission find an easier method to respond more quickly and effectively to the requests for traffic calming rather than tie them up waiting for study results.

Terry went on to say that the Sub-Committee has met and has determined that the Evansdale Area would be a good area to start with because it is an isolated area with only a few ways in and out of the area.

Discussion ensued.

Chris Gluck indicated that he spoke with members of the Evansdale Neighborhood Association and they would be interested in knowing what the Sub-Committee had planned before it goes to the Traffic Commission for approval.

Terry Hough stated that at the last meeting Dr. Eck stated that he and Terry had met with the DOH concerning the crosswalks on 705. Terry indicated that no further information had been received from the DOH.

Terry said that the DOH will be installing Pedestrian warning signs on East Brockway Avenue, but she wasn’t sure when.

Paul Steel asked if they would just be installed at the bridge going out of town, or would they also be installed going into town.

Terry stated that one would be installed at the end of the bridge going toward Sabraton and one would be installed near Kingwood Street going toward downtown.

NEW BUSINESS:

Install crosswalk on Rawley Avenue near entrance to Lincoln Hall: Request from Lt. Randy Friend, WVU DPS, that the Traffic Commission considers placing a crosswalk on Rawley Avenue near the entrance to Lincoln Hall to allow for the safe passage of pedestrians.

Chris Gluck stated that he attended a meeting with the Neighborhood Association, Students from WVU, and Dave Bruffy of Mountain Line. Everyone in attendance at this meeting was of agreement that painted crosswalks were needed on Rawley Avenue and on Oakland Street and Evansdale Drive where it intersects University Avenue.

Chris went on to say that Dave Bruffy indicated that Mountain Line and the University were working together in an attempt to put a bus pull off on the Tower Side of Rawley Avenue.

Roy Nutter asked if this would fit into the Sub-Committees plan.

Terry Hough stated that with the Sub-Committees plan to install speed humps, maybe they should meet with the Neighborhood Association to inform them of their plans, and include Mountain Line because of the buses.

Discussion ensued.

Chris Gluck indicated that a lot of the time people will park on the sidewalks, he said he spoke with Chief Roberts of WVU Dept. of Public Safety and the Chief told him that if the sidewalks were their property they could issue citations.

Terry indicated that the sidewalks were City property.

Lt. Lantz stated that if they are City property than the Police Department can issue citations for parking on sidewalks.

Place “No Right Turn on Red” sign at intersection of Walnut Street and SpruceStreet: Request from Dan Boroff, City Manager, that the Traffic Commission considers placing a “No Right Turn on Red” sign at the intersection of Walnut Street to Spruce Street.

Terry Hough reminded Traffic Commission members that Walnut Street and Spruce Street were State Highways and that all they could do was make a recommendation.

Terry also went on to say that at this intersection there is an Exclusive Pedestrian Light which means when the button is pushed everything goes red. Even when the pedestrian has the signal to go, those motorists on Walnut Street turning right onto Spruce Street have the right to proceed.

Motion by Paul Steel and seconded by Dennis Bidwell that the Traffic Commission recommend that the State Division of Highways place a “No Turn on Red” sign on Walnut Street where it intersects Spruce Street. Motion passed unanimously.

Anderson Avenue and Aspen Street: Request from Zoe A. Romero, 1361 Anderson Avenue, that the Traffic Commission considers placing a 4-Way Stop at the intersection of Anderson Avenue and Aspen Street.

Terry reminded the Traffic Commission of a previous request from the residents at Vista Place to put up stop signs that was denied by the Commission. She went on to state that it goes back to breeding contempt, that putting more signs up just causes people to ignore them more.

Discussion ensued.

Motion by Chris Gluck and seconded by Ken Martis to postpone action on this request until the Sub-Committee meets again. Motion passed unanimously.

Terry indicated that this would allow Lt. Lantz time to compile crash data also.

Forest Avenue between High Street and Spruce Street: Request from Terri Cutright, Director, Mainstreet Morgantown, 201 High Street, that the Traffic Commission considers closing Forest Avenue from High Street to Spruce Street to vehicular traffic.

Dennis Bidwell stated that he recalled the Police Department requesting this be changed to one way from Spruce Street to High Street, and that the Traffic Commission postponed any action until the Streetscape Project was completed. He asked if anything had been done pertaining to this request.

Terry Hough stated that she attempted to enter High Street from Forest Avenue, she indicated that with the bump outs traffic would have to be eliminated for a safe line of sight. She went on to say that she would not recommend the change the Police Department was requesting.

Terry stated that her main concern with the request from Mainstreet Morgantown, was accessibility of Fire Trucks if Forest Avenue is closed to vehicular traffic. She also indicated a concern about ingress and egress to the parking lot that fronts on Spruce Street.

Discussion ensued.

Terry indicated that if the Traffic Commission intends to change the use of a street they must hold a public hearing. She also indicated that once the recommendation is sent to City Council they would hold a public hearing also.

Motion by Ken Martis and seconded by Dennis Bidwell to table to the next meeting of the Traffic Commission to allow time to get needed information from the Fire Department about accessibility, and to hold a public hearing regarding closing a portion of Fayette Street. Motion passed unanimously.

BIKE BOARD:

Frank Gmeindl, Chairman of the Bike Board gave a brief summary of the report that he handed out to the Traffic Commission at the last meeting, and informed the Traffic Commission that he had received permission from the City Manager for himself and another member of the Bike Board to attend training to become League of American Bicyclist (LAB) certified Cycling Instructors (LCI).

Request from Bike Board for funding of 4 members to become LAB certified Cycling Instructors (LCI).

Mr. Gmeindl asked that the Traffic Commission make a recommendation to the City Manager to cover expenses to send 2 more members for training. Mr. Gmeindl stated that these training seminars are held throughout the country and that the Bike Board is attempting to keep the cost down by attending seminars closer to Morgantown.

Dennis Bidwell stated that he felt that since taxpayers’ dollars were being used, is there any assurance that these instructors would have an obligation to the City.

Motion by Chris Gluck and seconded by Ken Martis that the Traffic Commission recommend to the City Manger $2,300.00 funding for LAB Certified Instructors. Motion passed unanimously.

Request from Bike Board that the Traffic Commission ask the City Manager to submit a grant to the DOT, Section 402 for $10,000 to support LCI, purchasing, developing and delivering training.

Frank Gmeindl indicated that the monies from this grant would be used to pay for materials need to teach and tailor materials to the needs of our community.

Discussion ensued.

Terry Hough indicated that there would be no problem with the Traffic Commission recommending the application for the Grant.

Motion by Paul Steel and seconded by Chris Gluck that the Bike Board work with City Administration to develop one or more grants related to effective cycling training. Motion passed unanimously.

Greg Good member of the Bike Board gave a brief description of the 6 infrastructure goals and 13 pilot projects.

Mr. Good stated that the project they would like to get started on is the signage on the streets. He stated it would be something inexpensive. It would be a paint application on the streets or signs made by the Signs and Signals Department. Mr. Good indicated that the Bike Board was open to suggestions for which streets to begin with, and asked that any new projects that the City plans include bicycle friendly infrastructure.

Mr. Good commented on signs that are placed directly on the street showing cyclist where they are to be on that street.

Chip Wamsley state that he spoke with a local vendor and the cost per symbol (sign) to be placed on the street would be $120 per symbol.

Roy Nutter asked if the Bike Board could give a sequential plan of streets.

Discussion ensued

COMMISSION COMMENTS:

Paul Steel stated that quite a few people were unaware of the Stop Sign change at the bottom of Grand Street. Mr. Steel went on to say that the Police Department was on hand to make motorists aware of the changes.

Discussion ensued.

Chris Gluck stated that although City Administration has asked that we not hinder traffic calming with traffic studies, in light of all the new equipment that was just purchased he feels that the data collected is vital in making traffic calming decisions.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Frank Gmeindl, 491 Wilson Avenue, stated that he has lived in 2^nd ward for quite some time and he feels that a “Yield to Pedestrians in Crosswalk” sign would work more effectively than a “No Right Turn on Red” because the “No Right Turn on Red” sign would cause traffic backup on the Walnut Street Bridge.

Nick Hein, 433 Devon Road, stated that he lives in the 7^th Ward and wanted to comment to a question that Commissioner Gluck had about the State DOH interaction with the Cycling League. Mr. Hein said that they are very dedicated.

Mr. Hein went on to say that he did not feel there were enough Stop Signs at the intersections with University Avenue, particularly Rotary Street.

Tyler Pearson, WVU Student, Dadisman Hall, stated that in Virginia at crosswalks which have pedestrian crossing lights there are flashing lights that alert motorists to the presence of pedestrians.

ADJOURNMENT: 8:40 P.M.