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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/10/2018 TSC MinutesDirector Sean P. Dorsey 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 meeting of the Mount Prospect Transportation Safety Commission was called to order at 7:02 p.m. on Monday, December 10, 2018. ROLL CALL Present upon roll call Absent: Justin Kuehlthau Jill Morgan Robert Fisher John Keane Christopher Prosperi Carol Tortorello Jeff Schmitz Aaron Grandgeorge Scott Moe Matt Lawrie None Others in Attendance: see attached sheet APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairperson Vice Chairperson Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Police Department Representative Fire Department Representative Public Works Department Representative Traffic Engineer —Staff Liaison Commissioner Kuehlthau, seconded by Commissioner Keane, moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Transportation Safety Commission held on September 10, 2018. The minutes were approved by a vote of 7-0 with Commissioners Fisher and Morgan abstaining. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD There was no one in attendance that spoke on an issue not on the agenda. TSC Meeting Page 1 of 5 December 10, 2018 OLD BUSINESS A. Central Road & Emerson Street Intersection Improvements 1) Background The Transportation Safety Commission voted to support a crosswalk improvement project at Central Road & Emerson Street at the September 2018 meeting. The improvements to the existing crosswalk across the west leg of the intersection include a pedestrian refuge island, right-in/right-out median on the north leg, and additional signage, pavement markings and lighting. One item the Commission directed Village staff to further review is the existing left -turn prohibition from 4:00-6:30pm on northbound Emerson Street. Village staff recommended removal of the left -turn prohibition to allow greater access onto Central Road. The Commission expressed concern this potentially may lead to an increase in accidents. Crash Analysis The Police Department provided crash reports for accidents between 2013 and 2017 at the intersection of Central Road & Emerson Street. Village staff reviewed them and paid close attention to those accidents involving a northbound vehicle either turning right, turning left, or continuing straight through the intersection. The project will include a right-in/right-out median on the north leg that will prohibit northbound vehicles from continuing straight through the intersection. Three recorded accidents over the five-year period involved a northbound vehicle turning right, three involved a northbound vehicle turning left, and twelve involved a northbound vehicle continuing straight across the intersection. Based on the data, the predominant type of accident involving a northbound vehicle (straight) will be corrected with the construction of a right-in/right-out median on the north leg of the intersection. Trnffir VnIiima The Village's consultant for the project, Gewalt-Hamilton Associates, analyzed the potential impact on traffic volume under three different scenarios: 1— allowing northbound left turns at all times 2 — restricting northbound left turns from 4:00-6:30pm Monday -Friday 3 — prohibiting northbound left turns at all times In all three scenarios, the consultant took into account the restricted movements as a result of the right-in/right-out median on the north leg of the intersection. In summary, allowing northbound left turns at all times at Emerson Street will have the least traffic volume impact on Main Street and Maple Street. Prohibiting northbound left turns at all times at Emerson Street will have the greatest traffic volume impact on Main Street (+300 vehicles per day) and Maple Street (+130 vehicles per day). On an average day, 175 vehicles currently turn left onto westbound Central Road from northbound Emerson Street (includes illegal turns from 4:00-6:30pm). Permitting northbound left -turns at all times and constructing a right-in/right-out median on the north leg will increase the number of daily left -turns to 215 vehicles. Continuing to restrict northbound left -turns from 4:00-6:30pm and assuming full compliance will reduce the number of daily left -turns to 145 vehicles. 2) Analysis The south leg of Emerson Street is considered a collector street in the Village and, as such, is expected to experience a higher traffic volume compared to residential streets. Restricting or prohibiting northbound left turns will displace traffic onto surrounding streets such as Main Street and Maple Street. Main Street is a State-owned arterial street that currently experiences delays at Central Road TSC Meeting Page 2 of 5 December 10, 2018 during peak times. Maple Street is a Village residential street that is a primary route for emergency vehicles travelling to and from the Public Safety Building at Northwest Highway and Maple Street. Displacing traffic from northbound Emerson Street will have a negative impact on the surrounding road network. Today, northbound Emerson Street has two lanes; one exclusive right -turn lane and one shared left/thru lane. With the proposed median on the north leg of the intersection, northbound thru traffic will be prohibited at all times. Therefore, northbound traffic will have to turn either right or left onto Central Road. Permitting left turns at all times will simply require modifying a sign and pavement markings. Prohibiting left turns at all times will require the Village to reconstruct the intersection to eliminate the left lane and provide one northbound right -turn lane only. Village staff also considered maintaining the current left -turn prohibition from 4:00-6:30pm. With two existing northbound lanes, the left lane would not be used for 2 % hours during the evening. This may be difficult to enforce without giving consideration to install a time -programmed flashing sign and/or in -pavement lights. Another option would be to reconstruct the intersection to provide one shared northbound lane for both right and left turns. However, a single shared lane would increase delays for northbound vehicles turning onto Central Road. 3) Issues The primary concern raised by the Transportation Safety Commission is the potential for accidents to both pedestrians and vehicles by permitting northbound left -turns at Emerson Street. Pedestrians crossing Central Road today cross five lanes of traffic. The center lane has yellow hatching and is occasionally occupied by eastbound vehicles turning left onto Emerson Street. The project includes construction of a pedestrian refuge island with non -mountable curb. To increase protection for pedestrians, the plan now includes a yellow dashed arc to guide northbound left -turning vehicles around the pedestrian refuge island. This will reduce the potential for vehicles driving onto the island. Permitting northbound left -turns at Emerson Street will have the least traffic volume impact on the surrounding road network. However, it will potentially increase the number of daily northbound left - turns by 40 vehicles. There is also the potential for accidents involving eastbound or westbound vehicles on Central Road even though there have been only three recorded accidents over the past five years at the intersection involving a northbound left -turning vehicle. To limit the amount of traffic turning left from northbound Emerson Street onto westbound Central Road while still permitting it, the Engineering staff recommends installing directional signs in the area. Downtown businesses and the Village Hall / Library parking structure generate a significant amount of northbound traffic on Emerson Street between Busse Avenue and Central Road. The plan now includes installing directional signs at Emerson Street & Busse Avenue and at the exit to the parking structure to encourage motorists to use westbound Busse Avenue rather than northbound Emerson Street. This will reduce the number of northbound left -turning vehicles (possibly below current level) and the potential for accidents at the Emerson Street & Central Road intersection. 4) Recommendations Engineering drawings and specifications for the project have been submitted to IDOT for review. Revisions will be made as necessary until the plans meet IDOT's requirements and are approved. Village staff will request approval of the plans from the Village Board as well as funding in the 2019 Budget to construct the project next summer. Should funds be available, we will solicit bids from qualified contractors once we have approval from IDOT. Any construction contract awarded by the Village Board will meet the requirements of IDOT and the Village. TSC Meeting Page 3 of 5 December 10, 2018 Recommendations including those approved at the September Transportation Safety Commission meeting: 1. Remove the evening left -turn restriction of 4:00pm—6:30pm for northbound Emerson Street onto westbound Central Road. 2. Modify the sign and pavement markings to indicate the northbound left lane is for left -turns only. 3. Install a yellow dashed arc to guide northbound left -turning vehicles around the pedestrian refuge island. 4. Install directional signs at Emerson Street & Busse Avenue and at the exit to the Village Hall parking structure to encourage motorists to use westbound Busse Avenue to Main Street rather than northbound left turns from Emerson Street onto westbound Central Road. 5. Perform a post -study one year after construction to evaluate the project. 5) Discussion Traffic Engineer Lawrie provided a brief presentation on the issue. He summarized the follow-up study and detailed the recommendations to the Commission. He reiterated the Engineering staff's recommendation to allow left turns from northbound Emerson Street onto westbound Central Road. Discussion focused on the pedestrian's ability to safely cross Central Road. Audience members expressed concern left turning vehicles may hit the pedestrian refuge island and/or block the intersection. Commissioner Morgan said it would be difficult for pedestrians to be aware of vehicles on Central Road as well as vehicles turning from Emerson Street. Audience members felt eliminating left turns would be the safest decision. Traffic Engineer Lawrie responded that the number of accidents involving a left turning vehicle from Emerson Street is very low. And with the directional signs encouraging motorists to use Busse Avenue, allowing left turns at all times would not result in a significant change in traffic volume. Eliminating left turns would shift traffic from a collector street (Emerson Street) to local streets such as Maple Street and could lead to illegal turns at Emerson Street and Central Road. The Fire Department uses Maple Street as a primary emergency route. Traffic Engineer Lawrie noted the crosswalk enhancements at Emerson Street were the first planned as part of the recent corridor study along Central Road. Enhancements at Pine Street, Cathy Lane, and Wego Trail were also scheduled in the future. Eliminating left turns would set a precedent for other designs. Commission members felt Emerson Street was unique in the amount of vehicle and pedestrian traffic, and would not set a precedent. There was discussion on the design of the intersection with eliminating left turns. There are currently two northbound lanes, one right turn lane and one shared thrudeft turn lane. Traffic Engineer Lawrie would not recommend two right turn lanes, therefore, one of the lanes would have to be removed. Commissioner Prosperi suggested a one-year study could be performed without any permanent changes. The right turn lane could be converted to parking and the shared thrudeft turn lane could be converted to the right turn lane. It was also suggested there be an education program to inform motorists of the changes and to provide guidance on alternate routes. Commissioner Prosperi made a recommendation to approve the following: 1. Prohibit left turns at all times from northbound Emerson Street onto westbound Central Road. 2. Perform a post -study one year after completion of construction and bring the issue back to the Commission for further discussion. TSC Meeting Page 4 of 5 December 10, 2018 The motion was seconded by Commissioner Morgan. The motion was approved by a vote of 9-0. NEW BUSINESS None. COMMISSION ISSUES Commissioner Tortorello noted a house at the corner of Pine Street and Evergreen Avenue has a sump pump pipe discharging water over the public sidewalk. Ice has formed over the sidewalk creating a slippery condition. Traffic Engineer Lawrie said he would report it to the Engineering staff to investigate. Traffic Engineer Lawrie thanked the Commission members for their commitment to the Village's efforts over the past year and on behalf of the Village Board of Trustees he presented a small gift to each of the members. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to discuss, the Transportation Safety Commission voted 9-0 to adjourn at 7:55 p.m. upon the motion of Commissioner Keane. Commissioner Fisher seconded the motion. Respectfully submitted, Matthew P. Lawrie, P.E. Traffic Engineer h:\engineers ng\traffic\safety_commission\recs&mins\TSC-december18m in. docx TSC Meeting Page 5 of 5 December 10, 2018 VILLAGE OF MO UNT PR OSPFCT TRANSPORTATION SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING ATTENDANCE SHEET December 10, 2018 NAME ADDRESS EMAIL Sac��t int 4on to D N 1 0 1 tiI A A, M 11, 111 n t-1 I Al - Fn4,P B A St-.