Traffic Safety Commission - Agenda Thursday, September 26, 2002
Ashland Traffic Safety Commission
Minutes
September 26, 2002
Members Present:
David Dotterrer, George Fardlemann, Robert Joseph, William Snell, Doris Mannion
Staff Present: Jim Olson, Dawn Lamb, Scott Flueter
Members Absent: William Lambe, John Morrison, Keith Massie, Patti Busse
(Official Meeting started at 7:15 PM when quorum was reached)
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: August 22nd Minutes approved with changes.
III. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION:
A. PUBLIC FORUM ITEMS:
1) Walker Avenue Congestion
Robert Joseph, commissioner and school bus driver wanted to bring attention to a problem on Walker Avenue during drop-off and pick up times. The intersection of E. Main and Walker becomes very congested especially with drivers trying to turn left onto E. Main from Walker Avenue. Staff will research the request and bring it back to the October meeting.
B. REVIEW OF TRAFFIC REQUESTS / PROJECTS PENDING/ACTION REQUIRED
1. Election of New Chair
David Dotterrer was nominated and voted in as the new chair. His term will run until next September.
2. Proposed Parking Change on C Street
Under ODOT’s Helman Street to 2nd Street signal improvement project, five signalized intersections within the Ashland Central Business District will be improved. The included intersections are:
1. Helman St/ N. Main St. / Lithia Way 4. Lithia Way/ Second St.
2. E. Main St / Pioneer St. 5. Lithia Way/ Pioneer St.
3. E Main St./ Second St.
ODOT’s project replaces all signal poles, signal heads, pedestrian signal heads and controllers. It is our hope that ODOT approve and specify the use of the new countdown pedestrian signal heads. In addition, ODOT agreed to construct curb bumpouts at the Lithia Way/ Pioneer Street and the Lithia Way/Second Street intersections. ODOT agreed to fund the bumpout construction from their Bicycle and Pedestrian program administered by Michael Ronkin.
The bumpout design is based on the draft Downtown Plan preliminary outline. The Second Street proposal is an extension of the peninsula between Lithia Way and Second Street eliminating the right turn from Lithia Way onto C Street. In conjunction with this curb extension a head-in parking scheme is also suggested.
C Street is 36 feet wide and 336 feet long. Currently parallel parking is on both sides providing approximately twenty parking spaces. C Street is one-way and makes it possible to eliminate one of the travel lanes adding 45 degree angled head-in parking on the south side of the street. The typical section drawing shows the relative lane and parking widths. There are two advantages to adding the head-in parking on C Street: 1) The proposed change would add five more parking spaces; 2) The travel lane would be narrowed and better defined to help slow traffic through the block. Staff recommends approval of the head-in parking layout plan.
Discussion:
This area supplies long term parking for downtown. Fardleman asked if the curbs to the bumpouts would be mountable for fire apparatus to make the turn.
Terry Koerner, 87 Third Street, uses the right hand turn to reach her house. If the right hand turn is eliminated she will have to circle the block and enter from Third Street or the alley to reach her driveway, she views this as a hardship. She is against the addition of the bumpout. During the week days there are downtown employees who use the street for parking, but on the weekends it stays relatively empty. Koerner disagreed with the heavily used traffic reference. She feels the people who use C Street are usually coming in or out of the gas station on the corner. The gas station deliveries and Ashland Sanitary already have difficulty making the turns with the parking arrangement now.
Olson commented that tonight the decision is to be made on the parking and no action can be made regarding the bumpout. Chapman asked if a pedestrian refuge had been considered in the bumpout and Olson said that the way it is configured with the crosswalk the ramp would meet in the middle of the crosswalk which is very unsafe and ODOT denied the request.
Tony Robelo, 3rd Street, observes that the gas station has four deliveries a week made by 12 wheelers, big trucks, and they come in off of 2nd and then backdown C Street. This is how they have adapted to the street now. With the addition of the bumpout they will need to find a different way to maneuver. He’s looked at the new parking scheme and has measured out the spaces and even though the street width is legal, it will make maneuvering on C Street difficult. Fardlemann commented that he felt traffic would decrease if the bumpout is added. With head-in parking, cars will bump into the curb and hang out into the sidewalk, Robelo asked who would then be responsible for the curb replacement. Olson said that the curb and sidewalk within the next month on the south side. The head-in parking on the south side was optimal because the length of uninterrupted curb on that side. Joseph was concerned with the presence of large trucks blocking the street and causing congestion. Robelo commented that currently people stop after leaving the gas station to readjust their cars after they get washed. The stopped vehicles block traffic now and this will be worse with the narrowing of the intersection and street. Hartzell suggested removing three of the parallel parking spaces at the 3rd Street intersection to reduce congestion and aid maneuvering at that end.
The Commission discussed the width of the new sidewalk and the encroachment of car bumpers on the sidewalks. The angle should reduce the overhang, but there was still concern about wheelchair access. Fardlemann still had concerns for the fire apparatus traveling down the street. Can the make this sharp turn? Olson felt in an emergency the fire truck would chose to go down the street against the flow of traffic.
Olson did have more traffic counts to make to determine the turn movements. The fire trucks now have to come to an almost complete stop to make that corner. If the bumpout is added they will take 3rd Street and this will eliminate the slowing or stopping of traffic on Lithia Way. The bumpout also adds a safer crossing for pedestrians at this intersection. Robella asked if the North side was marked for car parking only, currently large RVs use the area to park and cause a visual obstruction.
Decision:
Snell motioned to adopt staff recommendation with modification of the parallel parking at the 3rd Street intersection and painting on north side for parallel parking for cars only. Seconded by Joseph. Motion amended to include curb extension at 2nd Street and Lithia Way. Dotterrer and Fardelmann both commented that they felt concerned about having residents go around the block to reach their driveways, but the added pedestrian safety gained at the Lithia Way intersection was worth the inconvenience.
3. Request for 30 Minute Parking on C Street
Jerry Quast owner of the Rogue Valley Roasting Company at the corner of E. Main Street and 8th Street requests additional 30 minute parking be established on 8th Street. There is 70 feet of curb, or three 30 minute parking spaces adjacent to the coffee shop. Mr. Quast requested the remaining parking spaces on both sides between E. Main and C Streets be designated as 30 minute parking.
The block of 8th Street between E. Main and C Street is 182 feet long. The east side is approximately five parking stalls, three of which are 30 minute spaces. The remaining two spaces on the east side and the six spaces on the west side are unlimited parking spaces. There are also three parking spaces in the private lot just north of the Roasting Company.
There are four lots which have frontage on this block, including:
-917 E. Main Street (the Rogue Valley Roasting Company)
-881 E. Main Street
-92 8th Street
-800 C Street
The two E. Main properties have driveway access off 8th Street, the remaining two properties access from C Street. The street is well utilized for parking and, judging from the turnover, much of the parking accommodates the Roasting Co. All properties in this area have off-street parking available.
Although Mr. Quast’s request is not unreasonable, it does tend to serve a single establishment to the possible detriment of three other properties. The establishment of 30 minute zones is generally limited to the central business district as parking patrols generally do not circulate residential districts. Staff recommends that no additional 30 minute zones be established on the street.
Discussion:
Parking in this area is already out of the ordinary for its zoning. The Planning Department has asked that the parking not be changed in this area for additional 30 minute parking. Olson received several calls from residents opposing the change. Staff recommends not changing the parking on 8th Street. Commission felt having the out of the way parking restrictions would be a strain on the police department resources.
Jerry Quast, 431 Parkside Drive, first wanted to clarify that although the addition of parking limits was discussed, his real concern was for the long term parking that is taking place on the street. His problem has been resolving the abandoned vehicle ordinance. There are some vehicles that post for sale signs and park for months in front of his establishment. He has been in contact with the police daily but the adopted Abandoned Vehicle Ordinance is lacking. The conditions to be met for a vehicle to be considered abandoned are too laxed and he would like to see a revision to the ordinance. The parking situation could be worsened by the addition of a new four unit apartment complex that will only be providing six parking spaces. Quast would prefer having a long term parking, just not a month long parking. The police department gets four to five calls a day for abandoned vehicles and the process for removal is just too lenient. The Commission referred Quast to the City Attorney to discuss revision to the Ordinance.
Hartzell lives across the street and would like to make some points. The parking in this area is precarious and she has had times when her driveway is blocked by parkers. Hatzell commented that the example Quast has been using was a vehicle that was there for an extended amount of time because the owner was juggling two broken vehicles. The owner was having financially difficulties and was trying in good faith to move the vehicles. Hartzell would like to address the “cars for sale” issue with an ordinance. There are many areas in town where for sale vehicles are taking up parking.
Mannion remembered working in the Police Department and having the police ticket vehicles in front of residences. The police do all parking enforcement in town with the exception of the downtown district. Olson recalls at least four different occasions when this Commission was asked to help with for sale vehicles on residential streets. Some suggested making a parking lot for vehicles where it was legal to park without causing hardship to residential areas.
Decision:
Snell motioned to accept staff recommendation to not change the parking configuration on 8th Street. Fardlemann seconded. Commission voted unanimously in agreement.
4. Budget for Theater Advertising
In the Traffic Safety Commission’s March 29, 2002 report to Council, it was recommended that public service announcements regarding pedestrian safety be produced for showing at local theaters as part of their on-screen theater advertising program.
Keith Massie has been working with John Schweiger, owner of the local Coming Attractions theaters. Mr. Schweiger agreed to offer a very reduced rate for this service. The main cost would be for the production of the slides and accompanying audio track. It is estimated that this cost would be approximately $1200. The past TSC budget has been increased significantly to provide funding for increased traffic, bicycle and pedestrian safety educational efforts. The budget is currently $4,000. The use of this budget to fund the theater advertising program would appear to be a good use of this money. If the commission wants to support the expenditure of approximately $1200 from its 2002 - 2003 budget, we can proceed with the development of this program.
Discussion:
Joseph called the Theatre was referred to a company that produces the advertisements, Unique Screen Advertisements. He was faxed options for the production of a spot. They will run the spot between all movies (approximately 2300 times) for $1,175.00 or run four times longer for $3,390.00. The ad would be 15 seconds with audio and two slides. To have them run during the holiday season we would have to submit to the within the next week.
Dotterrer would like to verify with John at the Varsity for the cost. When Dotterrer talked to him it was a different story, he was willing to run them much cheaper if we produced them. Massie was absent, but he was also part of this organizing, Dotterrer would like to touch base with him also.
Olson needs to know if the Commission would like to allocate money for this. There is no need to lock in the time or where or who tonight, just allocation of funds.
Decision:
Motion from Dotterrer to have staff examine options within a $1,200 budget for production and airing of traffic safety ads in the local theatres. Joseph and Dotterrer will work with Seltzer with already established communications. Seconded by Fardlemann and passed unanimously.
5. Request for Establishment of School Zone on Laurel Street
Bill Snell suggested consideration of a school zone on Laurel and Randy Streets to benefit the students attending Helman Elementary School.
Having just concluded the school zone study for the establishment of the Willow Winds School Zone on East Main Street, we have learned that the creation of a school zone requires a very extensive traffic study. In addition to the traffic study, a needs assessment should also be conducted to determine the number of students walking to and from school, the location of dedicated safe routes, and the locations and use of the various sidewalks and crosswalks.
Staff has just begun the data gathering process and hopes for completion in approximately two months. This request will be brought back to the commission when the study is complete.
C. Follow-Up On Previous Actions:
D. Goals: Worked on Theater Advertising Budget
E. Traffic Safety Education
1. Transportation Safety Conference, October 23-25, Tigard OR – Olson will attend. Money is available to commissioners for lodging and registration.
2. Highway Safety Workshop, December 6, Ashland Hosting Mojie Takalou.
F. Development Review
1. Bike & Ped Commission Report
2. Planning Commission Agendas
3. Report on meeting for Summerwalk Subdivision (Mountain Avenue)
G. Capital Projects Update
- North / South Ashland I-5 Project (ODOT)
- Valley View – 4th Street Project
- Siskiyou Blvd. Project – (4th to Walker Avenue)
H. Other
1. Highway Safety Workshop on December 6th
2. Miscellaneous Communications
3. ACTS Minigrant Application – Included.
4. Ashland Bus Program
I. Additional
1. Dashing Kids on Ashland Street – Mannion is concerned with the new medians expected to be installed on Ashland Street at Siskiyou Blvd. The medians will make visually seeing students who dash across the street difficult to see. Olson said that new crosswalks will be made available and ODOT and engineering feels these additions will make it safer for pedestrians.
2. Continental Crosswalks – the new crosswalks installed as part of the ODOT and LTM project are slippery and they look bad. Olson is having some removed because of poor workmanship and installation, but the majority are there for what they are. Commission agreed it was sloppy work.
