Agendas and Minutes

Transportation Advisory Committee (View All)

Transportation Commission Meeting

Agenda
Thursday, September 16, 2021

CALL TO ORDER:  6:02pm
Commissioners Present: Mark Brouillard, Joe Graf, Corinne Vičville, Linda Peterson Adams, Katharine Danner, and Derrick Claypool-Barnes
Commissioners Not Present
Council Liaison Present: Paula Hyatt
Staff Present: Scott Fleury, Elizabeth Beckerich and Steve MacLennan
Guests Present: None
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS – None.
 
CONSENT AGENDA
Peterson-Adams requests correction to previous minutes under comment 6, stating it should say “street standard exception” not “street standard expectation”.
Fleury to add Derek Severson as staff and Mark Knox and Alex Georgevitch as guests.
Peterson-Adams motions to approve minutes as amended. Danner approves the motion, Graf seconds. All approved.
 
PUBLIC FORUM
None
 
CRASH REPORT
Officer MacLennan presents crash report. In the last month there were 2 pedestrian involved incidents. Both incidents involved pedestrians walking in a crosswalk causing a vehicle to stop suddenly, the stopped vehicle was then rear-ended due to following too closely.
 
There were also some minor parking lot accidents caused by drivers attempting to park or pull out of parking spaces and bumping other cars.
 
There was one incident of a driver hitting a retaining wall while having a medical emergency in the car. The condition of that driver is unknown.
 
NEW BUSINESS
  1. Transportation System Plan and Vision Zero –
The Transportation System Plan (TSP) and Vision Zero discussion have been moved to a City Council business meeting scheduled for November 2, 2021. Fleury will present background information to the City Council along with Chair Peterson-Adams.
 
Fleury updates the Commission on the TSP update process. Fleury has discussed next steps with the City Manager in developing a presentation regarding the importance of TSP updates and put together a comprehensive staff report outline information about the TSP update, various things that have been completed since the previous TSP and information regarding the Vision Zero program. Fleury requests feedback on the staff report, prior to it being submitted to the City Manager.
 
The City Manager also spoke with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) regarding funding for the TSP update and there is a possibility to obtain funding from them in the spring. To do this they would use the existing procurement method and ODOT would contract directly with Kittelson Associates for the TSP update.
 
The next step is to present the staff report regarding TSP and Vision Zero program to City Council in November. Fleury will go over the staff report and revise it before the meeting in November.
 
The previous work of the Transportation Commission was also discussed, such as the accomplishment of obtaining/using Green Credits (clean fuel credits) and improvements to transit locally.
 
The Commission discussed the Chairs outline for her portion of the presentation. Graf recommends the bullets ordering be considered with the most impactful going first and #1 & 4 be combined. Peterson-Adams states that Councilor Hyatt made a previous comment about including information about school children and mobility. Graf recommends this be connected to the safe routes to school program. Peterson-Adams inquired if school districts should be involved with applying for grants for the programs discussed. Fleury explained that typically the City takes the lead. Ideally the Safe Routes to School Program would have a coordinator to work with all the school districts to provide education to the public about having kids walk to school and safety regarding that. Having one point person for that purpose has been discussed before and there is potential through the grant process to fund a Safe Routes to School coordinator, but that has never been formally pursued.
 
This discussion concluded with Peterson-Adams stating that she will continue to put together the packet to present to City Council regarding Vision Zero, and Fleury will put together the staff report regarding various programs including Vision Zero by October 24.
 
  1. Village Park Drive/ Munson Drive
Peterson-Adams noted that the community in the area of Village Park Drive and Munson Drive have been very active in regard to traffic concerns and requesting a traffic control device.
 
Fleury explained that a stop sign in the area had been requested so an engineering study was done in the area to determine if it a traffic control device would meet established warrants. Average Daily Traffic (ADTs) numbers were collected on all legs of the intersection, photos were taken, and the site distance was measured.
 
It was determined that the area does not warrant a traffic control device. In Fleury’s opinion a stop sign will not cut down on what is perceived as cut-through traffic as people will use it in that manner anyway. According to the research done in that area staff estimates the amount of cut through traffic is relatively low, representing only 10-15% of the 300+ trips a day. Statistically a single-family residence averages 9.9 trips per day, however in Ashland there is a lower per-capita household base with an average of 2.1 people per household, and much of the traffic in that area can be attributed to internal usage and not cut-through traffic. Fleury further explains that using that area for cut-through isn’t fruitful for drivers due to there being multiple sharp turns that must be taken at lower speeds.
 
Danner recommends the area should be looked at again after the 192 North Mountain development that was discussed last month is fully developed, as it will generally increase traffic in that area.
 
Brouillard comments that Old Willow Lane and Village Park Drive should expect more traffic once the 192 North Mountain development is put in. Brouillard questions the ability to even enforce the stop sign. He also noted that the trains running twice a day is the only reason that people use that corridor as a cut through.
 
Fleury explained that in his experience uncontrolled intersections tend to be safer than controlled ones because drivers are more cautious when intersections are uncontrolled and tend to speed up if they’re forced to stop at controlled ones.
 
Fleury explains that the development at 192 North Mountain Ave will provide more connecting roads and should disperse the traffic through multiple roadway connections.
 
Danner mentions an updated look at this area would be similar to what the Commission recommended regarding the new development near Billings Ranch.
 
Peterson-Adams suggested that the roads in that area near the school would benefit from the 20 Is Plenty program.
 
Danner motioned that the traffic control device analysis be reviewed at a later time after the planned development is completed, Brouillard seconds. Graf requested that the motion be amended to only include revisiting the traffic patterns in the area and not just stop sign. Danner accepts amendment. All ayes, the motion carries.
 
  1. Traffic Calming Program Review
Fleury advised the Commission that other municipal traffic calming programs are linked in the packet. Staff states the traffic calming program is similar to other municipal programs.
 
Applications from various neighborhoods have been received and the data was collected and none of them have the upper level of speed and accidents that met the criteria of the traffic calming program to move forward. As discussed, when the pilot program was developed the Commission wanted neighborhoods to apply, access the data and then look to altering the program if needed.
 
Graf inquired if any of the previous applications warranted something even though they did not score enough. Fleury believes the North Mountain Street corridor would warrant improvements due the high number of speeders and more pedestrians in the area. The roadway rehabilitation project for North Mountain is in the works, and traffic calming will be implemented.
 
Graf questions how the grading system can be revised so that more projects can be considered. The Commission discusses if points should be added for other items including the lack of sidewalks, activity centers, schools or other safety issues. The Commission also represents concern about enforcement capabilities do to limited staff of the Police Department.
 
Claypool-Barns states a certain amount of traffic calming should be done every year. Minimum threshold criteria should be developed so even if there is only one application something can be done even if it isn’t a high priority. Claypool-Barns explained that he thinks speed should be de-prioritized and that although traffic calming usually refers to speeding it can also be used to refer to other traffic safety issues. Fleury states there potential to look at the 50% percentile speed instead of the 25mph baseline for scoring the speed section of the program and then also adding in activity centers to the criteria.
 
Claypool-Barns suggested grading criteria threshold could be scaled based on the number of applications received. The more applications the higher the grading threshold would be in order to be considered to move forward with improvements. Even if there was only one application it is automatically considered even if it doesn’t meet the baseline threshold. This would ensure an improvement project is always in the works.
 
Fleury explained other programs are run the way that Claypool-Barns suggested, and when there are multiple applications the most important project is selected based on funding.
 
Brouillard agreed that there should be a project happening every year but points out that sometimes the citizens don’t want the options they’re presented with, citing Terrace Street as an example of this. The neighborhood was given the option to make it a bike boulevard to reduce speed but they only wanted speed humps or more enforcement. They also rejected the idea of more signs in the neighborhood. Brouillard noted that 66% of residents on the affected street have to sign off on the proposed solutions before they can be done. Peterson-Adams added that residents also need to understand the timeframe of these projects and the process of them being worked out for approval by City Council before they’re put into the budget.
 
Commissioners discussed the statistics of speed’s effect on accidents. Peterson-Adams stated that the state statistic for accidents caused by speed is 36%, with entering the roadway and DUI’s being other common causes. Fleury added that the number of fatalities in vehicle versus cyclists/pedestrians goes down significantly percentage wise when speed is reduced.
 
Graf stated that roads in Ashland are windy and speed isn’t always the most important factor in safety. He said that points should be added for things like parks, schools, bus stops, bike activity, lack of sidewalks, etc. If a new rubric is being made, then it should fit Ashland more specifically. Graf also stated that a set amount of money should be put in the budget for traffic calming. Fleury agreed stating that most roads in town have ADTs of less than 1000, and that lowering the ADTs in residential areas should be a goal whereas other non-residential roads can stay the same.
 
Graf believes a budget amount should be discussed and developed as part of the TSP update process, just like capital projects and studies are developed in the TSP.
 
Brouillard inquired if the 4-way stop added on Iowa Street has helped with traffic calming. Fleury replied that a few residents have commented their support and said that it had improved, however school hasn’t been in session so it’s less conclusive now. When the stop was put in school was in session and residents said it helped at the time. There’s less or no accidents in the area now.
 
Brouillard stated that the TSP should be updated to reflect more of the work done already by the Transportation Commission as most people in town don’t know that the Iowa Street 4-way stop was done.
 
Faith Avenue was also an area of discussion. Fleury suggested it could be used as a case study, because residents want change in the roadway but the area doesn’t meet the current criteria. Peterson-Adams noted that there is a school in that area and schools should add more points. Danner agreed with Peterson-Adams that schools should add more points, also parks. Peterson-Adams added that bus stops and bike paths should add points as well.
 
Peterson-Adams suggested adding more protected bike lanes. Fleury explained that part of the TSP will look into that as part of the bicycle facility improvement chapters. On North Mountain Avenue a rehabilitation project is planned and as part of the process facility improvements will be considered.
 
The median near Ashland St and Faith Ave will be partially removed due to drivers not being able to turn safely. Peterson-Adams added that medians are also an issue for evacuation routes. Hyatt inquired if medians in general are part of a policy or planning decision, or if going forward eliminating medians would help long term maintenance costs and safety overall. Fleury responded that they’re a policy planning street design standard that was adopted and a planted median is an option that the city uses. A median was suggested at North Main and was not received well due to the various issues it would cause.
 
In suggestion of ways to separate the street without medians, Brouillard suggested that the green paint that the airport uses could be used to delineate barriers. Fleury agreed it could be talked about and may be used for Ashland Street. Peterson-Adams added that the lines along the sides of the road, optical speed bars, could be another solution. Fleury noted that in a lot of places bike lanes are now marked with green boxes before and after driveways and at intersections to make people more aware. The method has been seen in Medford and could be used on Lithia way near the Pioneer Street parking lot.
 
On another note, Fleury asked the group if they would like to see language in the packet about accepting applications over a set period of time and then ranking them, prioritizing, and then developing a budget, or just cleaning up the scoring criteria. Peterson-Adams replied that she thinks both can be done. Claypool-Barns advised that the new vision needs to be clearly stated and suggested a sub-committee for revision of the program and improving public communication. Vičville questioned how often the deadlines for applications would be due to concern of people having to wait too long for projects to be completed. Danner questioned if the commission would be able to look at past applications to see if they would fit the new proposed criteria once it’s set. Claypool-Barns stated that the criteria need to be figured out first before those questions can be answered. Peterson-Adams stated she believes these details could be worked out in half of a meeting, and Fleury agreed stating that it would be more beneficial to discuss these things in normal Transportation Commission meetings rather than in a sub-committee, and that it will be worked into the agenda of the next meeting.
 
  • brought up e-bikes, stating that they speed and thinks e-bike riders need more education about how traffic laws apply to them as well as cars. Claypool-Barns stated that bikes are not classified as such under Oregon state law if they go 20 mph unassisted by the rider, however if the rider is pedaling and going 30 mph then it can still be considered a bike. Claypool-Barns agreed that e-bikes can be a hazard due to their speed but much less so than a car, and they shouldn’t be singled out when there are other electric modes of transportation such as scooters that also speed. Claypool-Barns stated that the focus should be on speed itself as an issue. Officer MacLennan stated that per state statute e-bikes can’t ride on the sidewalk and must have a light at night. Claypool-Barns stated that it’s impossible to distinguish a pedal assist bike and it’s an absurd law to enforce because they’re legally just a bicycle. Peterson-Adams concluded that traffic calming applies to both bikes and cars.
 
Peterson-Adams suggested that a neighborhood letter or flyer would be a good idea, along with a reader board stating something like “Speed kills. Slow down.” Fleury agreed that since the city has the reader boards they should be utilized and could be put in problem areas such as Munson, possibly with a message such as “Drive like your kids live here”.
 
Peterson-Adams brought up adjacent property owner reimbursements and questioned the equitability, wanting to know if residents would pay for upgrades or if an LID would be performed to get more money. Fleury stated that some municipalities have LIDs as part of their program and residents pay an apportioned share for neighborhood improvements.
 
 
  1. Crosswalk on Pinecrest Terrace
 
Brouillard agreed with painting yellow on both sides for the crosswalk. Peterson-Adams also agreed. Graf suggested also adding a “Pedestrian Crossing Ahead” sign, and Fleury said a reader board could be used for that. Graf added that the fact that the street is going downhill and around a corner makes it so drivers can’t see the crossing so that’s why he believes the sign is needed.
 
Old Business-
  1. North Mountain Avenue Traffic Calming
Danner stated that a request similar to the crosswalk on Pinecrest Terrace was received on Village Drive across from North Mountain and it’s unrelated to the new development. Danner stated it’s a dangerous area. Brouillard stated that it was brought up at the last meeting but the commission didn’t act on it because they were looking at the annexation project. Peterson-Adams stated that part of that was due to the whole North Mountain Avenue improvement project that is scheduled. Graf stated that the group needs to decide how many crosswalks need to be put in and where. Peterson-Adams inquired if there is a current standard of crosswalk policy, to which Fleury replied there are policy level decisions the group will be involved in developing.
 
Brouillard stated that few drivers going northbound on North Mountain went the speed limit with 85% of people speeding. Fleury stated that he wants to try to capture the volume of speeders at the overpass to see how many of them are actual residents of the area versus people leaving town, because there’s already a large volume of drivers who live there and the community could use that information as education and see that residents are committing most of the speeding. Officer MacLennan stated that previously large trucks on the road threw off speed counters and inquired if that was possibly the case now. Fleury replied that he would look into is as he was not sure if the vehicle counters used were the type that can classify cars or not. Fleury noted that other research done in the area came up with similar results of 30-32 mph being the general speed.
 
Also, in the next few weeks ODOT should be breaking ground on emergency access in the area, they’re just waiting on federal highway final approval. The city already removed some trees to allow the access.
 
FUTURE AGENDA TOPICS
  1. Parking on Wimer Street
  2. Program language for traffic calming
 
   ADJOURNMENT: @ 8:02pm
 
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Beckerich, Office Assistant II
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