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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/10/2017 TSC MinutesDirector Sean P. Dorsey \11A Mount Prospect Public Works Department 1700 W. Central Road, Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056-2229 MINUTES OF THE MOUNT PROSPECT TRANSPORTATION SAFETY COMMISSION DRAFT CALL TO ORDER Deputy Director Jason H. Leib The regular meeting of the Mount Prospect Transportation Safety Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 10, 2017. ROLL CALL Present upon roll call Absent: Justin Kuehlthau Jill Morgan Robert Fisher John Keane Christopher Prosperi Carol Tortorello Bob Smith Dane Phenegar Scott Moe Matt Lawrie None Others in Attendance: Tom Pope Randy Steen APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairperson Vice Chairperson Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Police Department Representative Fire Department Representative Public Works Department Representative Traffic Engineer —Staff Liaison River Trails Park District Lincoln Junior High School Commissioner Keane, seconded by Commissioner Tortorello, moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Transportation Safety Commission held on March 13, 2017. The minutes were approved by a vote of 9-0. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD There was no one in attendance that spoke on an issue not on the agenda. TSC Meeting Page 1 of 7 April 10, 2017 OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS The Commission agreed to first hear the traffic study at Frost Elementary School to accommodate the only audience member present at the beginning of the meeting. A. FROST ELEMENTARY TRAFFIC STUDY 1) Background To enhance vehicle & pedestrian safety and to improve traffic flow, Frost Elementary School has made two requests that affect morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up procedures around the school. First, they have asked that their four buses be allowed access on Oneida Lane to pick-up students in the rear of the school. Second, they have asked to prohibit parking along the east side of Aspen Drive between Maya Lane and the school driveway during the afternoon pick-up period. Nearby residents on Oneida Lane and Aspen Drive along with River Trails Park District and Frost Elementary School administration were invited to provide comments and attend the meeting. Current Traffic Regulations I. Parking is prohibited between 2:00am and 6:00am on all Village streets. 2. Stopping, standing, parking is prohibited on the west side of Aspen Drive between Maya Lane and Aztec Lane from 8:00am-9:30am and 3:00pm-4:00pm on school days. 3. Aspen Drive is one-way northbound at all times. 4. Access is prohibited on Oneida Lane at Aztec Drive Monday to Friday from 8:00am-9:00am, 12:00pm-1:00pm, and 3:00pm-4:00pm. 5. The speed limit on the neighborhood streets is 25 mph. 6. There is a school speed limit of 20 mph on Aspen Drive adjacent to Frost Elementary School. Current Layout 1. All of the neighborhood streets around Frost Elementary School including Aspen Drive and Oneida Lane are approximately 28' wide. 2. The school has one main parking lot on Aspen Drive with 44 spaces. Prior to February, the four buses would unload and load students at the north end of the lot. It is now used only to unload students in the morning. 3. A former bus aisle on Aspen Drive is now used by parents for drop-off and pick-up. It also has 18 parking spaces. 4. The back of the school has asphalt pavement used by students for recreation during the school day. With permission on a trial basis from the Village in February, the four buses now travel on Oneida Lane during afternoon dismissal and load students in the rear of the school. School staff monitors the area to ensure safety of the students. Current Traffic Conditions 1. The school day at Frost Elementary School begins at 9:00am and ends at 3:30pm. Teachers and administration park in the two off-street parking areas and on the east side of Aspen Drive between the two school driveways. Parents are permitted to drop-off and pick- up their child in front of the school (former bus aisle). Some parents park on Aspen Drive TSC Meeting Page 2 of 7 April 10, 2017 and Aztec Lane and walk to the school to drop-off and pick-up their child. Many students walk to school. 2. Oneida Lane only has eight residential properties. There have been no issues reported by the school since allowing the school buses to access Oneida Lane in the afternoon. The school has indicated loading students in the rear of the school is safer than the previous process of loading students in the parking lot on Aspen Drive. One resident has commented students walking home do so in the middle of Oneida Lane in the path of school buses. 3. Per Village Code, Oneida Lane is considered one-way northbound during specific hours of the school day. The ordinance was enacted over 20 years ago to prevent parents from dropping -off and picking -up students on Oneida Lane. It also, however, technically prohibits residents and service vehicles from accessing the street during these same hours. 4. Starting around 3:00pm, parents in vehicles begin to queue in front of the school. The line continues down the east side of Aspen Drive close to Maya Lane by 3:30pm. Thru traffic can safely bypass the line of vehicles that are along the curb. At 3:30pm when school lets out the queue begins to move forward. However, some parents have parked their vehicles along Aspen Drive and walked to the school. And during warm weather, some parked vehicles are associated with Aspen Trails Park and not the school. This forces the queue of vehicles picking up students to go around the parked vehicles. With Aspen Drive being one- way northbound, however, thru traffic can still go around the queue of waiting parents without the concern of oncoming traffic. 5. The school has posted a sign at the entrance to the parking lot on Aspen Drive that prohibits access to parents dropping -off and picking -up students. 2) Resident Survey As part of the study, surveys were sent to 8 residential properties on Oneida Lane, 8 residential properties on Aspen Drive, River Trails Park District, and Frost Elementary School to solicit their input on this issue. A total of 6 surveys were returned plus emails from the school and park district. There was one objection to the school's request for school bus access to Oneida Lane and no objections to further restrict parking on Aspen Drive. 3) Recommendations The existing ordinance for Oneida Lane prevents access for all vehicles during specific hours of the school day. This not only prevents parents from dropping -off and picking -up students on Oneida Lane but also can cause residents, guests, and services (mail, refuse/recycling, personal deliveries, etc.) to violate the signs on a routine basis. The school has indicated loading students in the rear of the school is safer and more efficient than loading in the parking lot on Aspen Drive. In the interest of student safety, the Engineering Division supports the school's request to allow school buses to travel on Oneida Lane during afternoon dismissal. The school and Police Department can assist with getting students to walk on the sidewalk rather than the street. Further, the Engineering Division recommends reviewing the current access ordinance and soliciting input from affected residents to determine if there is a more appropriate solution in preventing school traffic on Oneida Lane while providing greater access for residents. The school's request to prohibit parking on Aspen Drive is primarily based on reducing accidents and improving safety. The Engineering Division is not aware of a history of accidents due to vehicles maneuvering around parked vehicles on Aspen Drive. Even when the queue of vehicles must go around a parked vehicle, Aspen Drive is wide enough for other vehicles to bypass the line. Prohibiting parking on the east side of Aspen Drive during afternoon dismissal would allow the line to move efficiently and orderly. However, visitors to the park would have to park on Maya Lane and parents of students wishing to park would need to use the parking lot or park on TSC Meeting Page 3 of 7 April 10, 2017 the street north of the school. Without objections from the residents along Aspen Drive or River Trails Park District, the Engineering Division does not object to the school's request. To be consistent with the parking restrictions on the west side of the street and to cover the entire dismissal period, the timeframe should extend an additional 30 minutes from 3:00pm to 4:00pm. 4) Discussion Commissioner Kuehlthau asked Traffic Engineer Lawrie to present the Engineering Division's report. Traffic Engineer Lawrie provided the Commission with background information on this issue and stated the Engineering Division's recommendations. The Commission first discussed the current signage at Oneida Lane and its effect on residents. Traffic Engineer Lawrie said residents travel on Oneida Lane during the school day without issue while the signs discourage parents from dropping -off and picking -up students on the street. Commander Smith responded that the Police Department understands the intent of the signs and there have not been issues for residents accessing Oneida Lane. Commissioner Fisher inquired about the use of the parking lot by parents now that the buses no longer load students in the afternoon at this location. After some discussion, the Commission recommended the school monitor the parking lot and resolve any future safety issues. Commissioner Prosperi asked how long the queue of waiting parents is along Aspen Drive on a typical school day. He suggested the requested parking restriction not extend to Maya Lane in front of the park to still allow visitors to use Aspen Drive for parking. Traffic Engineer Lawrie said the queue often extends to Maya Lane. Tom Pope, Director of Parks with the River Trails Park District, expressed his support for the request to restrict parking along Aspen Drive. He said there is not a great demand for parking around the park at 3:30pm and visitors could still park on Maya Lane. He does not see the parking restriction negatively affecting use of the park. Commissioner Keane asked if there have been any issues with buses traveling on Oneida Lane or picking -up students in the back of the school. Traffic Engineer Lawrie said the buses arrive before school lets out and he hasn't seen any issues with them turning around behind the school and lining up. In addition, he said the school has staff on the playground assisting students onto the buses. Traffic Engineer Lawrie said one resident survey commented that students walking home do so down the middle of the street rather than using the sidewalk. The school and Police Department can assist with educating students to use the sidewalk. The Commission agreed that moving the buses to the rear of the school has enhanced student safety and restricting parking along the east side of Aspen Drive would improve traffic flow. Commissioner Keane made a recommendation to approve the following: 1. Allow school buses to travel on Oneida Lane to access the rear of the school to load students during afternoon dismissal. 2. Prohibit parking on the east side of Aspen Drive between Maya Lane and the school driveway on school days from 3:00pm to 4:00pm. 3. Observe traffic in the school parking lot to determine if parents should be allowed to use it to pick-up students during afternoon dismissal (school action). The motion was seconded by Commissioner Fisher. The motion was approved by a vote of 9-0. TSC Meeting Page 4 of 7 April 10, 2017 B. CANDOTA AVENUE PARKING STUDY 1) Background To enhance vehicle & pedestrian safety and to improve traffic flow, Lincoln Middle School has made a request to restrict parking in the morning and afternoon along the west side of Candota Avenue between Milburn Avenue and the school driveway. Nearby residents on Candota Avenue along with Lincoln Middle School administration and School District 57 were invited to provide comments and attend the meeting. Current Traffic Regulations 1. Parking is prohibited between 2:00am and 6:00am on all Village streets. 2. Stopping, standing, parking is prohibited on the east side of Candota Avenue between Lincoln Street and Milburn Avenue from 8:00am — 4:00pm on school days. 3. The speed limit on the neighborhood streets is 25 mph. 4. There is a school speed limit of 20 mph on Candota Avenue adjacent to Lincoln Middle School. 5. The intersecting streets along Candota Avenue are controlled with STOP signs. Candota Avenue is uncontrolled and has free flow between Lincoln Street and Busse Avenue. Current Layout 1. Candota Avenue near Milburn Avenue is approximately 28' wide and widens to 34' wide near Lincoln Street. 2. Most intersecting streets including Milburn Avenue and Dresser Drive are approximately 28' wide. Lincoln Street, a neighborhood collector street, is approximately 35' wide. 3. Lincoln Middle School has two parking lots. The one with access to Lincoln Street has 33 parking spaces and is used by buses for loading and unloading students. The other lot has 27 parking spaces and is used by parents for drop-off and pick-up. 4. A former bus aisle on Lincoln Street is now used by parents for drop-off and pick-up. Current Traffic Conditions 1. The school day at Lincoln Middle School begins at 7:45am and ends at 2:45pm. The parking lot on Candota Avenue is often filled by 7:30am with administration and teacher vehicles. Parents are permitted to drop-off and pick-up their child in the lot. 2. Once the parking lot was full, five to six vehicles were parking throughout the day on the west side of Candota Avenue north of the driveway. During the morning and afternoon, parents traveling southbound on Candota Avenue would have to go around the parked vehicles. Should there be a queue of vehicles from the parking lot, the line would be adjacent to the parked vehicles and block thru traffic. Southbound vehicles wishing to bypass the line would have to travel in the northbound lane. 3. The school administration first attempted to work with staff to relocate the parked vehicles on Candota Avenue to the parking lot on Lincoln Street. This was done in hopes of not installing No Parking signs. However, this option did not succeed and the school requested signs. In February the Village agreed to install No Parking signs (School Days, 7:00am- 8:00am & 2:00pm-3:00pm) on the west side of Candota Avenue between Milburn Avenue and the Lincoln Middle School driveway on a trial basis. 4. Since installing the signs, the Engineering Division has not observed any traffic flow issues. The queue of waiting parents line up along the curb while still allowing two-way traffic on Candota Avenue. Most of the staff vehicles are now parking in the lot on Lincoln Street. However, one to two staff vehicles have been observed to be parked on Milburn Avenue east of Candota Avenue. The school administration continues to work with the staff to park TSC Meeting Page 5 of 7 April 10, 2017 in the lot. Thus far, the Village has not received a complaint regarding parking on Milburn Avenue. 5. Parking is prohibited on the east side of Candota Avenue between Lincoln Street and Milburn Avenue from 8:00am — 4:00pm on school days. The ordinance was passed over 20 years ago. The morning drop-off period, however, is between 7:15am and 7:45am. This results in a potential safety concern by allowing students to exit vehicles and walk across Candota Avenue at unmarked locations. 2) Resident Survey As part of the study, surveys were sent to 11 residential properties in the area as well as School District 57 to solicit their input on this issue. A total of 7 surveys were returned (the school district did not respond). All acknowledged the parking problem on Candota Avenue before the No Parking signs were installed. While residents indicated the new No Parking signs have addressed the issue at hand, three surveys requested the parking prohibition be extended to Lincoln Street because they explained it can be difficult to back out of their driveways with any vehicles parked on the west side of Candota Avenue. 3) Recommendations The No Parking signs installed in February have addressed the safety concern on Candota Avenue. Parents waiting to drop-off and/or pick-up their child in the parking lot are able to wait along the curb without impeding two-way traffic on the street. The Engineering Division recommends the signs remain. It is not recommended that the parking prohibition be extended to Lincoln Street to address the resident complaint about the difficulty with backing out of driveways. The same situation exists on any residential street. A resident on Candota Avenue made a request in 2003 to prohibit parking because of the same concern and was denied by the Transportation Safety Commission. The intent of the existing parking regulations along the east side of Candota Avenue is to prevent students from walking across the street at unmarked locations between vehicles. However, the timeframe for the parking regulations does not align with the school hours. The hours of no stopping, standing, parking should be adjusted to cover the school hours. 4) Discussion Commissioner Kuehlthau asked Traffic Engineer Lawrie to present the Engineering Division's report. Traffic Engineer Lawrie provided the Commission with background information on this issue and stated the Engineering Division's recommendations. Commissioner Prosperi questioned whether the time period for the requested parking restriction should match the existing parking restriction on the east side of Candota Avenue. Traffic Engineer Lawrie said that normally parking restrictions adjacent to schools cover the entire school day to prevent residents and visitors to the school from parking during drop-off and pick-up periods. In this case, the parked vehicles were teachers and the brief parking restriction time periods have addressed the issue. Commissioner Fisher brought up a discussion on how best to monitor the issue moving forward. Commander Smith responded that the Police Department has observed traffic flow during the school day along Candota Avenue and hasn't seen any further issues. There was consensus to not extend the parking restriction further along the west side of Candota Avenue. TSC Meeting Page 6 of 7 April 10, 2017 Randy Steen, Assistant Principal at Lincoln Middle School, expressed his support to make the signs permanent. Since they were installed in February, he believes student safety has been enhanced and traffic flow improved. He has not received any more complaints from parents since the signs were installed. He continues to work with teachers to have them park in the lots on school property. The Commission agreed the signs have helped to improve traffic flow and should remain. Commissioner Prosperi made a recommendation to approve the following: 1. Prohibit parking on the west side of Candota Avenue between Milburn Avenue and the school driveway on school days from 7:00am to 8:00am and 2:00pm to 3:00pm. 2. Amend the stopping, standing, parking prohibition on the east side of Candota Avenue from Milburn Avenue to Lincoln Street on school days from 8:00am to 4:00pm TO 7:00am to 3:00pm. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Keane. The motion was approved by a vote of 9-0. COMMISSION ISSUES No issues were raised by Commission members. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to discuss, the Transportation Safety Commission voted 9-0 to adjourn at 7:44 p.m. upon the motion of Commissioner Morgan. Commissioner Prosperi seconded the motion. Respectfully submitted, Matthew P. Lawrie, P.E. Traffic Engineer h:\engineering\traffic\safety_commission\recs&mins\TSC-april17m in. docx TSC Meeting Page 7 of 7 April 10, 2017