MINUTES

 

TRAFFIC COMMISSION MEETING

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2007

 

Voting Members Present: Ron Eck, Chris Gluck, Graham Kenneweg, Ken Martis, Roy Nutter, Peter Schuster, Don Spencer,  Paul Steel, Buffy Vehse

 

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

 

Members Absent: Dennis Bidwell,

 

 

MATTER OF BUSINESS:

 

Meeting was called to order by Chairman Eck.  Minutes of the December 6, 2006 meeting were approved as distributed.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

 

Monthly Updates Traffic Studies:  Paul Steel asked what Awaiting More Information meant?

 

Terry Hough stated that after the data is collected there are other areas such as sidewalks, schools, and crash data which must be collected and analyzed.

 

Peter Schuster asked about the study data on Eastern Avenue being invalid.

 

Dave Purkey indicated that the data collected was incomplete, however new data has been collected.

 

705 Pedestrian Study update from DOH:   Chairman Eck reported that he and Terry Hough, City Engineer met with Travis Miller of the Traffic Engineering Department of the Division of Highways.  He stated that he and Terry took Mr. Miller to key locations throughout the corridor and discussed the options available.

 

Chairman Eck stated that Mr. Miller felt that placing delineator posts and making a refuge area for pedestrians to stand may be doable.

 

Terry Hough stated that updating pavement markings, pedestrian sign heads and placing additional signage could also be done.

 

Don Spencer stated that he wasn’t confident that this idea would work because of the past issue of placing the pylons on High Street.

 

Chairman Eck stated that it would not be pylons being placed; it would be the delineator sticks.

 

Terry Hough indicated that Mr. Miller looked favorably upon this idea.

 

Motion by Don Spencer to have signalized crosswalks placed at Laurel Street and Patteson Drive; Patteson Drive and University Avenue; and Patteson Drive at the Drummond Chapel.  Motion died for lack of a second.

 

Discussion ensued.

 

Traffic Commission Mission Statement:  Request from Commissioner Spencer that the Traffic Commission review the attached mission statement.

 

Don Spencer stated that the mission statement was approved about 3 years ago, and that the mission of the Traffic Commission was not just movement of cars, but also the safe movement of pedestrians and cyclists. 

 

Mr. Spencer indicated that 16% of Morgantown residents walk to work.

 

Mr. Spencer asked that the members of the Commission consider appointing a Pedestrian Safety Board.

 

Report on Letter to DOH concerning pedestrian safety along WV Route 7:  Request from previous meeting.

 

Chairman Eck stated that before Christmas about the 18th or 19th of December he met with the Department of Highways concerning the placement of crosswalks on Route 7.

 

Dr. Eck stated that the crosswalks would be appropriate at the start of the curve into town and mid block, however, the Department of Highways would not install crosswalks at these locations because of liability issues.

 

Dr. Eck stated that the Department of Highways would install signs stating “Pedestrian Warning next 300 – 400 feet” below Kingwood Street and at the end of the bridge.

 

Stop Sign Bottom of Darst Street:  Request from Dolie Hoy, 266 Darst Street that the Traffic Commission reconsiders the removal of the Stop Sign at the bottom of Darst

Street.

 

Terry Hough stated that at the last meeting the Traffic Commission voted to install a 3-Way stop at the top of Darst Street and to remove the sign at the bottom of Darst Street.

 

Roy Nutter stated that if he remembered correctly that stop sign at the bottom of Darst Street was placed there for traffic calming purposes.

 

Mr. Nutter inquired as to whether a  traffic calming speed hump could be placed there.

 

Discussion ensued.

 

Motion by Graham Kenneweg and seconded by Ken Martis to deny the request of Mrs. Hoy to replace the stop sign.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Remove parking on James Street between Ridgeway Avenue and Louise Avenue:  Request from Louise Kopnski, 745 Ridgeway Avenue that the Traffic Commission considers removing parking on James Street from Ridgeway Avenue to Louise Avenue because of damage being done to her property.

 

Terry Hough indicated that the stop signs on James Street were placed there with respect to a request for traffic calming.  Ms. Hough stated that with the topography of the area given and the width of the street the parking should be removed from James Street.

 

Roy Nutter asked for clarification purposes if the parking in question was on the right side of the road going up the hill.  The answer was yes.

 

Buffy Vehse stated that the cars parking there actually helped to slow down the traffic in that area.  She also went on to state that she asked at a Neighborhood meeting if anyone was interested in having parking removed from James Street and the general consensus was not to have it removed.

 

Jeannette Shahan, 800 Ridgeway Avenue, stated that parking on James Street provides for over flow parking for people who live on Ridgeway Avenue.  She also stated that the stop signs have slowed down traffic.

 

Joel Halverson, 801 Ridgeway Avenue stated that he lived next to Mrs. Kopnski and he has never seen a car go into her yard.  Mr. Halverson said at times there are no cars parked on the street.

 

Paul Steel stated that he spoke with 4 different people on the subject, and he went by Mrs. Kopnski’s today there were 2 cars parked on the street, but on Saturday and Sunday there were no cars parked there.  Mr. Steel asked if maybe the yellow line could be made a little longer at the intersection.  He also stated that he felt the majority of the speeding in that area was UHS students and since UHS is closing perhaps the Commission should wait until it closes to make a decision.

 

Terry Hough stated that the yellow line could only be 30 feet from the Stop Sign according to state laws.

 

Discussion ensued.

Motion by Don Spencer and seconded by Buffy Vehse that parking and stop signs be retained on James Street.  That there be a period of observation by the Public Works department to address any danger to Mrs. Kopnski’s home or other properties in the area.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

 

Modified Traffic Calming Policy:  Request from Public Works Director, Terry Hough, that the Traffic Commission considers modifying its current Traffic Calming Procedures.

 

Terry Hough stated that she was approached by City Administration about the traffic calming policy, and how we may better serve the citizens.

 

Terry indicated that the Public Works department has a very busy work load and that perhaps, eliminating the need for traffic studies could help alleviate this load.

 

Terry recommended the following:

1)                  Formal traffic studies for more complex issues.

2)                  Neighborhood input.

3)                  Trial period using traffic calming procedure for 90 days.

4)                  Final evaluation.

 

Roy Nutter stated that he was not in favor of eliminating traffic studies.

 

Terry indicated that with only 8 counters and 1 intern it was somewhat difficult to keep up with all the studies requested.

 

Discussion ensued

 

Roy Nutter stated that he supported the use of speed humps on a trial basis.

 

Don Spencer felt that this was a step in the right direction in attempting to protect neighborhood safety.

 

Buffy Vehse asked if something besides speed humps could be used temporarily.

 

Terry Hough stated that yes other tools besides speed humps could be used.

 

Discussion ensued.

 

Motion by Don Spencer and seconded by Roy Nutter that the Chairman appoint a committee to identify traffic calming options for each project on the Traffic Study report and to bring those recommendation back to the Traffic Commission for discussion and review by the Traffic Commission and the Engineering Department staff.  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.

 

He indicated that the report was a summary of the visions and goals the Bike Board has set.  He stated that the main emphasis was on Infrastructure and Education.

 

Greg Good, member of the Bike Board gave a power point presentation on the 6 goals of infrastructure that the Bike Board is hoping to obtain.

 

Chairman Gmeindl, asked that the report and membership issues be placed on next months agenda of the Traffic Commission.

 

COMMISSION COMMENTS:

 

Buffy Vehse asked if there had been a review of the efficiency of the Traffic Control project which was done at Protzman, Stewart, and Van Gilder.

 

Terry Hough stated that she had not received any negative reports.

 

Paul Steel stated that the Stop Sign that was to replace the Stop except right turn Sign at the intersection of Grand Street and Cobun Avenue had not been changed yet.

 

Don Spencer asked that the Stop Sign at the intersection of Laishley Street and Dogwood Avenue, and the Center lane from straight thru only to straight thru and left turn on Spruce Street be placed on next months agenda.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS: 

 

Sheila Saab, Oakland Street, on behalf of the Evansdale Neighborhood, thanked the Traffic Commission for all their help and assistance.  Ms. Saab went on to say that the Neighborhood Association would be having a meeting on February 18th and asked if someone from the Engineering Department might be able to give a presentation on how traffic studies are conducted.

 

Ms. Saab went on to state that in the Evansdale area, fixing a problem on one street will result in a trickle down effect on others. 

 

Ms. Saab stated she agreed with Ms. Hough in that neighborhood associations should be included in traffic calming solutions.

 

ADJOURNMENT:   7:27 P.M.