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Home My WebLink About12/08/1997 SC MinutesDirector Gler. R. Andler MAINTAIN Water/Sewer Superintendent Commissioner Nancy Bobikewicz Roderick T O'Donovan Deputy Director Sean P. Dorsey Commissioner Streets/Buildings Superintendent Commissioner Henry Dawson Paul C. Bures Village Engineer Jeffrey A. Wulbecker ��' ` Forestry/Grounds Superintendent Public Works O ua .c WORKS Sandra M. Clark Administrative Aide Dawn L. Wucki �Q Vehicle/ Equipment Superintendent See Attached List. te9 Avg James E. Guenther Solid Waste Coordinator Qe M. Lisa Angell Mount Prospect Public Works Department 1700 W. Central Road, Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056-2229 Phone B47/e70-5640 Fax 847/253-9377 TDD 647/392-1235 MINUTES OF THE MOUNT PROSPECT SAFETY COMMISSION I. CALL TO ORDER The Regular Meeting of the Mount Prospect Safety Commission was called to order at 7:33 P.M. on Monday, December 8, 1997. II. ROLL CALL Upon roll call, each Safety Commission Member introduced themselves to the audience. Present upon roll call: Lee Beening Chairman Chuck Bencic Commissioner Nancy Bobikewicz Commissioner Andy Mitchell Commissioner Phyllis Moliere Commissioner Henry Dawson Fire Department John Wagner Police Department Dawn Wucki Public Works Sean Won Public Works/Engineering Division Absent: Joan Bjork Commissioner Others in Attendance: See Attached List. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Bencic, seconded by Commissioner Bobikewicz, moved to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Safety Commission held on November 1, 1997. The Minutes were approved by a vote of 8-0. IV. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD No citizens came forth at this time to discuss any topics that were not on the current agenda. 1 Recycled Paper - Printed with Soy Ink V. OLD BUSINESS None VI. NEW BUSINESS A) STOP OR YIELD SIGN REQUEST AT THE INTERSECTION OF EASTWOOD/MEMORY 1) Background Information Mr. Craig Heinrichs, 602 N. Eastwood Avenue, requested stop or yield signs at the intersection of Eastwood/Memory because he recently moved into the Village and witnessed two near accidents at this intersection. He feels that some motorists do not slow down because there are no stop signs at this intersection. The Engineering Staff performed a stop sign study. The findings are as follows: a) Accidents A search of the accident reports indicated: Year 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 (10/97) Number of Accidents 0 0 0 0 2 The above accident records do not meet the stop sign warrant (minimum five accidents per year) for the Multi -Way Stop Sign Warrants. The police accident reports are attached. b) Speed Study Representative speed surveys were performed on Memory Lane west of Eastwood Avenue between Tuesday, September 16, 1997 and Thursday, September 18, 1997 and on Eastwood Avenue south of Memory Lane between Monday, September 22, 1997 and Wednesday, September 24, 1997. The 85th percentile speeds are follows: Eastbound Memory 27-28 mph Westbound Memory 23-24 mph Southbound Eastwood 26-27 mph Northbound Eastwood 24-25 mph The speed limits of Memory Lane and Eastwood Avenue are 25 mph. Including the slightly high speeds on Eastbound Memory Lane and Southbound Eastwood Avenue, there is not a significant speeding problem at this intersection. 2 C) Traffic Volume The minimum traffic volume for the multi -way stop sign warrant is 500 vehicles/hour for an eight hour period (500 x 8 = 4000 cars/8 hrs). The traffic volume at this intersection (499 cars/8 hrs) is approximately 12% of the stop sign warrant. d) Sight Obstruction A number of parkway trees are located at the intersection. However, these parkway trees do not present sight obstruction problems. e) Survey Results A total of 23 surveys were sent out in October 1997 to collect and analyze the resident's opinion. 22 surveys were returned to the Village. 19 residents favored and 3 residents were against the 4 -way stop sign at Eastwood/Memory. f) Existing Traffic Control Signs Existing traffic control signs are located at all 4 intersections adjacent to this intersection and are shown on the attached map. Yield Signs Mr. Heinrichs stated in his letter that, as an alternative to stop signs, yield signs could also improve the safety at this intersection. As shown on the attached map, there are stop or yield signs at the four adjacent intersections. For the east/westbound traffic, 2 -way stop or yield signs are located approximately 200 ft from this intersection. For the north/southbound traffic, 2 -way stop signs are located approximately 600 ft from this intersection. Because of two recent accidents, yield signs in the north/south direction at this intersection are recommended in order to clarify the right of way. Recommendation: Stop Sign Request Because the intersection of Eastwood Avenue and Memory Lane does not meet any of the multi -way stop sign warrants, despite the resident support for the stop signs, The Village Traffic Engineer recommends: 4 -way stop signs at the intersection of Eastwood Avenue and Memory Lane not be installed. Yield Sign Reguest To clarify the right of way at this intersection, The Village Traffic Engineer recommends: 2 -way yield signs on Eastwood Ave at Memory Ln be installed 2) Discussion Sean Won said that Mr. Craig Heinrichs, 602 N. Eastwood Avenue, requested stop or yield signs at the intersection of Eastwood/Memory because he witnessed two near accidents at this intersection. Sean Won stated that staff performed a stop sign study and this intersection does not meet stop sign warrants based on the traffic volume and the number of accidents. Sean Won recommended that yield signs on Eastwood Ave at Memory Ln be installed due to the two recent accidents. Mr. Ed Lindfors of 413 N. Eastwood Ave said that the traffic on Eastwood Ave is heavy after school and after work hours. He added that there are 11 children under 8 years old on the 400 block of Eastwood Ave. Many of the children on Eastwood Ave ride bicycles in the summer. Mr. Lindfors inquired about the traffic counts on Eastwood Ave. Sean Won said that the traffic counts on Eastwood were performed in September and the traffic volume for an 8 hour period was 499 cars while the minimum traffic volume for the multi -way stop sign warrants for an eight hour period is 4000 cars. Sean Won said that the traffic volume at this intersection is approximately 12% of the stop sign warrant. Mr. Lindfors said that there were double roll-over accidents in September. Police accident records showed that two accidents occurred in June and Mr. Lindfors agreed that accidents actually happened in June of 1997. Chairman Beening said that the Sun could have blocked the view of drivers because these two accidents occurred in the morning. Commissioner Bobikewicz asked Sean Won whether the surveys included installing yield signs as an option. Sean Won said that the survey asked installing stop signs only and 22 out of 23 residents favored stop signs. Commissioner Mitchell, seconded by Commissioner Bencic, moved to approve installing Yield Signs on Eastwood Avenue at Memory Lane. The motion was approved by a vote of 8-0. Chairman Beening said that the 400 & 500 block of Eastwood Avenue might not have enough speed limit signs. Sean Won said that he will inspect the 400 & 500 block of Eastwood and the Public Works would install more speed limit signs, if needed. Commissioner Mitchell, seconded by Commissioner Moliere, moved to deny 4 -way stop signs at Eastwood Avenue and Memory Lane. 4 The motion was approved by a vote of 8-0. B) PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC SIGNAL REQUEST AT BUSINESS CENTER DRIVE AND RAND ROAD 1) Background Information Commissioner Andy Mitchell, 311 N. School Street, requested the installation of pedestrian traffic signals to cross Rand Road at Business Center Drive because: This intersection is the only signalized intersection crossing on Rand Road between Kensington Road and Central Road. This intersection also serves as a bicycle route crossing Rand Road. The Engineering Staff performed a pedestrian volume crossing count at this intersection. In accordance with the request, the pedestrian count was performed in the winter. It is projected that the pedestrian volume may be somewhat higher in the summer. Pedestrian counts crossing Rand Road on Wednesday November 12, 1997 were as follows: Between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM: One Between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM: None The minimum pedestrian volume for a traffic signal is 100 or more for each of any four hours. Therefore, this intersection does not meet the warrant. Even though this intersection does not meet the warrant, a pedestrian traffic signal is justified because 1) this is the only signalized intersection which could provide a pedestrian crossing between Central and Kensington, 2) this crossing is a bicycle route, and 3) the traffic volume of Rand Road is heavy (more than 30,000 vehicles per day). Recommendation: Because 1) this intersection is the only pedestrian crossing between Central and Kensington, 2) this crossing is a bicycle route, and 3) the traffic volume of Rand Road is heavy (more than 30,000 vehicles per day): The Village Traffic Engineer recommends: a pedestrian traffic signal to cross Rand Road at Business Center Drive be installed. IF THIS IS APPROVED, [DOT APPROVAL WOULD BE REQUIRED PRIOR TO THE INSTALLATION OF THE PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL. THE ENGINEERING STAFF WILL APPLY FOR AN IDOT PERMIT IF APPROVED. Estimated Cost: Installation: Approximately $3,000.00 Engineering: In-house IDOT Share: It is anticipated the IDOT will not share the cost. The Village would need to pay 100%. Maintenance: No additional maintenance cost to our traffic signal maintenance contract 2) Discussion Commissioner Mitchell said that he requested installing a pedestrian traffic signal to cross Rand Road at Business Center Drive because residents on the westside of Rand Road would like to use the nice pedestrian and jogging trail at the Kensington Business Center. Commissioner Mitchell added that this crossing is the Village bicycle route and there are no other signalized crossings between Kensington and Central. He emphasized that it is difficult and dangerous to cross Rand Road at Business Center Drive due to the heavy traffic volume without a pedestrian traffic signal. Commissioner Mitchell stated that the pedestrian volume would be a lot higher in the summer than the pedestrian volume (only 1 for a four hour period) in November and, if the pedestrian traffic signal is installed, more people would use this crossing. Chairman Beening said that November might not be the right time to do the pedestrian count. Commissioner Mitchell said that Sean Won suggested a pedestrian count in the summer but he wanted to discuss this time because it would take more than 6 month to obtain a permit from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). Commissioner Bobikewicz agreed that it takes a long time to obtain a permit from Cook County and IDOT. Commissioner Bobikewicz wanted to obtain a permit for crossings at Randhurst Shopping Center. Commissioner Bobikewicz recommended that pedestrian traffic signals be installed at most of the intersections. Chairman Beening said that spending $3,000 dollar for only one pedestrian might not be a good investment. Commissioner Bencic said that installing a pedestrian traffic signal on Rand Road at Hill Street should be considered because a large number of people attend the Halloween Party every year at Hill Street Park. Commissioner Bencic asked Sean Won whether we would have a better chance to obtain a permit if the pedestrian count is higher. Sean Won said that, if the pedestrian count is higher, obtaining a permit from IDOT might be easier. 9 Commissioner Mitchell moved to install a pedestrian traffic signal on Rand Road at Business Center Drive. The motion failed because no one seconded. Commissioner Bencic, seconded by Commissioner Moliere, moved to do the pedestrian count again in the summer (June of 1998) and bring the issue back to the Safety Commission. The motion was approved by a vote of 8-0. Sean Won extended the Village's appreciation and holiday greeting to the Safety Commission and presented each member with a gift. VI. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to discuss, the Safety Commission voted 8-0 to adjourn at 8:04 P.M., upon the motion of Commissioner Mitchell. Commissioner Moliere seconded the motion. Respectfully submitted, Sean Won Project Engineer 7 VILLAGE OF MOUNT PROSPECT SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING ATTENDANCE SHEET DECEMBER 8, 1997 NAME ADDRESS Ed Lindfors 413 N. Eastwood %kPUBLICWORK\SYS2\FILES\ENGINEER\SAFETY C\MIN97DEC.doc