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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/13/1999 SC MinutesDirector Glen R. Andler Deputy Director Sean P Dorsey Village Engineer Jeffrey A. Wulbecker "Nor Solid Waste Coordinator M. Lisa Angell Water/Sewer Superintendent Roderick T O'Donovan -9-Ty Paul C. Bures Sandra M. Clark Mount Prospoct Public Works Dspartmsnt 1700 W. Central Road, Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056-2229 Phone 1347/870-51340 Fax 847/253-9377 TOO 847/392-1235 MINUTES OF THE MOUNT PROSPECT SAFETY COMMISSION DRAFT The Regular Meeting of the Mount Prospect Safety Commission was called to order at 7:30 P.M. on Monday, December 13, 1999. Present upon roll call: Lee Beening Chairman Chuck Bencic Commissioner Nancy Bobikewicz Commissioner Andy Mitchell Commissioner Phyllis Moliere Commissioner Mark Bonner Police Department Buz Livingston Fire Department Paul Bores Public Works Matt Lawrie Public Works/Engineering Division Absent: Joan Bfork Commissioner Commissioner Mitchell, seconded by Commissioner Bencic, moved to approve the minutes the regular meetinof the Safety Commission heon O 9 ctober 11, 199. The minutes we approved by a vote g ld of 8-0. 1 •11MUN9 M#1 M" V. MMMMMS =-- I Recycled Paper - Printed with Soy Ink • b A) Restudy of Traffic Speed and Counts at the Intersection of Forest Avenue & Bob -O -Link Roai and Forest AvenueAlbion Earlier this year, the Village received a petition requesting Stop signs at the two above intersections. Staff performed a traffic study which was subsequently presented at the June Safety Commission. - f - 4-d and the Safety Commission! ! l., the installation of Stop signs. However, Children at Play and No Thru Tra)Tzc signs were approved and have since been installed. Also, the Police Department was requested to use the Smart trailer to show the speed of motorists and also to provide selective enforcement. As part of the Safety Commission's decision, directed to restudy of the new signsd the year. Those residents who were in attendance at the June Safety Commission were notified and invited to attend this meeting. This report provides the requested information. 0• - ! a) Accidents m OPOW '!iif 11111111111111111111 1� A search of ,ent reports indicated that no accidents have occurred intersection! f •-'4 , Representative speed surveys were pert—or—Tn—e-d--on F—o-rest south of Bob -O -Link and Bob - O -Link east of Forest between November 90' and 1 Vh. The average speeds are as follows: Northbound Forest Southbound Forest • # R is ! • CO73 mph (up from 21 mph) m f 1! ow. 26 i Kepresentative speed surveys were also performed on Forest south of Albion between !he same time period. The average speeds are as follows: Northbound Forest 30 mph (down from 31 mpl Southbound Forest 29 mph (no change) Traffic volume data was gathered between November 9h and I Vh. Based on the resul there are approximately 380 vehicles per day that enter the Forest / Bob -O -Li intersection (down from 460). 195 northbound vehicles and 185 westbound vehicl were recorded ! enter the intersection. h Also, there are approximately 440 vehicles per day that travel on Forest at the Forest / Albion intersection (down from 470). 225 northbound vehicles and 215 southbound veW, d) Police Department Report Since the June Safety Commission, the Police Department has provided selective enforcement in the Prospect Meadows Subdivision to help control the speed of motorists. Also, the Smart trailer has been used on nine separate occasions. Prior to the June Safety Commission, site obstructions existed near both intersections that made it difficult to see opposing traffic. The obstructions were caused by bushes and low -hanging tree branches. Based on a recent field inspection, all site obstructions have been removed by the property owners. It was evident from the residents' at the June Safety Commission meeting that the speed motorists along Forest Avenue was the primary concern. The latest traffic study does reveal t in general, the speed and counts have slightly reduced along Forest Avenue since the origin study in June. it is difficult to determine how much effect the additional signs and poli enforcement has had over the past few months. However, based on the three day study, th does appear to be some improvements. Selective police enforcement and use of the Smart trail in the future should continue to have a positive effect on reducing speed along Forest Avenue., 91MEREM= 'SIT S WM XWENTION051, — I 1XICIFU 11UTC EXCII SUMU b116LIL IMPIWICMUILS UIL11 LIM MUICUUn 01 UIC rIAMDer a@ speed of vehicles along Forest Avenue. Commissioner Beening recalled one of the concerns during the original study was the site obstructions at the intersections. He is pleased to see the site obstructions have been removed. With a reduction in counts and speeds, Commissioner Beening is satisfied with leaving things the way they are. Ron Hayes, 629 Bunting Lane, does believe traffic counts and speeds are down along Forest Avenue. Also, pedestrian traffic from the high schools seems to be down. No further discussion took place on this issue. Commissioner Moliere, seconded by Commissioner Bobikewicz, moved to leave the conditions as they currently exist. The motion was approved by a vote of 8-0. tj 61/0' NEW BUSINESS A) Request for Yield Signs at the Intersection of S. Louis Street and E. Busse Avenue 1) Background Information Resident Comments: Mr. Stephenson believes the speed of traffic on Louis Street is a growing concern for the neighborhood. Many motorists use the street as a cut through. Also, motorists travelling Busse Avenue have the perception that they have the right-of-way at the intersection. Finally, there have been several minor accidents over the years and one serious accident recently. He is requesting Yield signs be installed on Louis Street at Busse Avenue. 01000�� A search of the accident reports at the intersection indicated: Year 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 (Oct) Number of Accidents 0 0 0 0 0 1 b) Speed Study Representative speed surveys were performed on Louis Street north of Busse Avenue and on Busse Avenue east of Louis Street between November 15'h and November 17. The average speeds are follows: Northbound Louis 26 mph Southbound Louis 23 mph Eastbound Busse 26 mph Westbound Busse 23 mph The speed limits on Louis Street and Busse Avenue are 25 mph. C) Traffic Volume Traffic volume data was gathered in November. Based on the results, there nip approximately 810 vehicles per day that enter the intersection. 390 vehicles travel Louis Street and 420 vehicles on Busse Avenue. The maximum total vehicular volume entering the intersection from all approaches the peak eight hours during a recorded day was 484. DIMMEM2322M A total of 21 surveys were sent out in November 1999 to collect the residents' comments on this request. Those residents who live within 200' of the intersection were notified and invited to attend the Safety Commission meeting. I I surveys (52%) were returned to the Village. M#M Central & Louis (north) — 2 -way Stop signs on Louis Evergreen & Louis (south) — uncontrolled f1russe & Edward (east) — uncontrolled Rtusse & William (west) — 2 -way Yield signs on Bussi MMMMMM�f� Based on a field inspection, no sight obstructions exist at the intersection. This determination is based on the guidelines established by the Village Code. However,11 was noted that the homes at each comer of the intersection are situated close to the intersection, particularly 101 S. Louis Street (southeast comer). Ibis may make i) difficult for a vehicle travelling northbound to see a westbound vehicle, react and stop before entering the intersection. The same difficulty may be for a westbound vehicle to see a northbound vehicle. The one recorded accident was a northbound vehicle striking a westbound vehicle. Both drivers stated they did not see the other vehicle prior to entering the intersection. Stop Signs: Though it wasn't requested, we felt it appropriate to determine whether Stop signs would be warranted at the intersection. Stop signs are warranted when there are five or more reported accidents of a type susceptible of correction by Stop sign installation in a 12 - month period. Over the past five years, there has been a total of one reported accident. Also, Stop signs are warranted when the minimum traffic volume entering the intersection from all approaches is 500 vehicles/hour for an eight hour period (500 x 8 = 4000 vehicles/8 hrs). The traffic volume at this intersection (484 vehicles/8 hrs) is approximately 12% of the Stop F.`. warrant. When the 85 -percentile approach speed of the major street traffic exceeds 40 mph, the minimum vehicle volume warrant is 70% of the above requirements. The 85 -percentile approach speed for all directions do not exceed 40 mph. Stop signs are not warranted based on the accident history, traffic volume and speed study at the intersection. M The study has shown Stop signs are not warranted at the intersection. However, it would be appropriate to install Yield signs on the less -traveled street (Louis Street) in order to clarify the right-of-way. based on the location of the homes near the intersection, Yield signs shou7a"s s i Ist reducing the potential for an accident. Yield Si gLi Request To clarify the right-of-way at this intersection, The Village Traffic Engineer recommends: 2 -way Yield signs on S. Louis Street at E. Busse Avenue be installed. Phil Stephenson, I I S. Louis Street, has known several accidents that have occurred at the intersection over the 12 years he have lived in the neighborhood. The neighborhood has many small children in the area and he is concerned for their safety. Vehicles on Louis Street appear to be speeding which is also a concern. Project Engineer Lawrie presented the findings of the traffic study and his recommendations to the Commission. 13T W I Al W. 03=1 are also many clusu caus BRII-se near LFIC Jn1CFSML1U11 UUMMUE the view of other vehicles. Commissioner Bobikewicz wondered if there was another avenue of getting reports of accidents if they are not reported to the Police Department. It was discussed that it would be too difficult to access insurance company reports. Also, the study only looks at the previous five years. Comments received from residents about accidents could be much longer than five years ago. Officer Bonner stated that if there is less than $500 of damage and no injuries, motorists are not required to file an accident report. The only records available to the Engineering Staff are the Police reports. Mr. Stephenson believes Yield signs will help to clarify the right-of-way and hopes the Commission will vote in favor of the signs. Carol Netals, 14 S. Louis Street, doesn't believe all motorists know the right-of-way rule when approaching an intersection with no signs. Commissioner Bobikewicz noticed an intersection in Arlington Heights that had Yield signs with a supplementary plate that says "Cross Traffic Does Not Stop". She questioned if the Village M has used this plate. Commissioner Mitchell commented that the plate is used with Stop signs but not Yield signs. No further discussion to place on this issue. Commissioner Mitchell, seconded by Mr. Bures, moved to approve installation of Yield signs on S. Louis Street at E. Busse Avenue. The motion was approved by a vote of 8-0. IIIJ1.41:10 Safety Commission member, Art Coy, who recently passed away. 9 - With no further business to discuss, the Safety Commission voted 8-0 to adjourn at 8:15 p.m. upon the motion of Commissioner Bencic. Commissioner Moliere seconded the motion. x:\files\engineer\safecormm\traffic\recs&min\december99min.doc MEMMUZZIM= Matthew P. Lawrie, P.E. Project Engineer 0 VILLAGE OF MOUNT PROSPECT SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING ATTENDANCE SHEET December 13, 1999 7:30 P.M. NAME ADDRESS PHONE NUMBER • . ..................... ......................... ................... .. . .........