Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/11/2017 TSC Minutes 1V taunt PrcnPecx Director Deputy Director Sean P. Dorsey Jason H. Leib Mount Prospect Public Works Department 1700 W. Central Road, Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056-2229 MINUTES OF THE MOUNT PROSPECT TRANSPORTATION SAFETY COMMISSION CALL TO ORDER The meeting of the Mount Prospect Transportation Safety Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, September 11, 2017. ROLL CALL Present upon roll call: Justin Kuehlthau Chairperson Jill Morgan Vice Chairperson Robert Fisher Commissioner Christopher Prosperi Commissioner Randy Uidl Fire Department Representative Scott Moe Public Works Department Representative Matt Lawrie Traffic Engineer—Staff Liaison Absent: John Keane Commissioner Carol Tortorello Commissioner Joe Garris Police Department Representative (arrived at 7:05 p.m.) Others in Attendance: David DiPrima 420 S. We Go Trail APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Fisher, seconded by Commissioner Morgan, moved to approve the minutes of the special meeting of the Transportation Safety Commission held on May 22, 2017. The minutes were approved by a vote of 5-0 with Commissioner Prosperi abstaining. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD David DiPrima, 420 S. We Go Trail, lives near the Mount Prospect Golf Club and shared a few traffic concerns on his street. Landscaping at the southwest corner of Lincoln Street and We Go Trail makes it difficult to see vehicles and bicyclists. On-street parking on the south side of Shabonee Trail at We Go Trail can make it difficult for southbound vehicles to safely turn at the intersection. Parked vehicles also TSC Meeting Page 1 of 5 September 11,2017 block the view of pedestrians using the crosswalk. Also, Mr. DiPrima notices a lot of truck traffic using We Go Trail. He asked if the Village works with vehicle navigation companies on recommending routes. Officer Garris responded that the Village does not coordinate with vehicle navigation companies. Traffic Engineer Lawrie said he would inspect the landscaping to determine if it is considered a sight obstruction. Also, based on Commissioner Morgan's suggestion, staff will determine if any of the landscaping falls with the newly adopted vision clearance zone. Traffic Engineer Lawrie said Public Works would install a sign that prohibits parking 20' from the crosswalk and would also contact the golf club about not directing truck traffic on We Go Trail. OLD BUSINESS None. NEW BUSINESS A. SHABONEE TRAIL PARKING REGULATIONS 1) Background An existing ordinance prohibits parking at all times for the first 120' west of Maple Street along the north side of Shabonee Trail. The remainder of the block along the north side of Shabonee Trail permits 2-hour parking Monday-Friday. The south side of Shabonee Trail between Emerson Street and Maple Street has signs prohibiting parking at all times. The South Church has requested to modify the parking regulations along the north side of Shabonee Trail between Emerson Street and Maple Street. They have asked to allow 2-hour parking Monday- Friday along the entire north side of the block. The existing parking regulations along the south side of the street would remain. Street Characteristics Shabonee Trail is an east-west neighborhood local street in Mount Prospect. It is approximately 26' wide (back-of-curb to back-of-curb) and has a 25 mph speed limit. STOP signs exist at Shabonee Trail and Emerson Street. The south side of the street along this block is the South Church. The north side has a single family house and a parking lot, both owned by the South Church. Volume &Speed Data The last traffic study along this segment of Shabonee Trail was performed in 2008. The average daily traffic was approximately 1000 vehicles and the average speed was 22 mph. The street is a preferred route for local commuters driving to and from the Maple Street parking lot adjacent to the train station. Parking Data It appears the ordinance prohibiting parking on Shabonee Trail was enacted in 1965 when the street was widened to allow two-way traffic. It is unclear when the 2-hour parking limit on the north side of the street went into effect. It was most likely at a time when the Village enacted parking regulations to discourage commuters from parking on Village streets. During the week there is minimal street parking. On the weekend during church service, parishioners park on the north side of Shabonee Trail TSC Meeting Page 2 of 5 September 11,2017 in the designated area. The parking lots on both sides of the street are also be used by parishioners. Staff is not aware of complaints from neighbors concerning street parking during church service. Street Resurfacing Resurfacing of Shabonee Trail between Emerson Street and Maple Street began last week. As part of construction, a public sidewalk will be extended along the south side of the street through the church parking lot. The north end of the parking lot is currently located in the public right-of-way. Staff has worked with the church to develop a new parking lot layout that will be entirely on private property. This will result in the loss of a few parking spaces. To gain an additional six parking spaces,the church has asked to remove the No Parking Any Time signs on the north side of the street and replace them with a 2-hour parking limit Monday-Friday. This will provide needed parking spaces for its parishioners on the weekend. 2) Recommendations Staff supports the church's request to provide a 2-hour parking limit Monday-Friday along the entire north side of the street between Emerson Street and Maple Street. Parking will still be prohibited on the south side of the street. This on-street parking layout is similar to Maple Street north of Shabonee Trail that prohibits parking on one side and permits 2-hour parking on the other side. Recommendation Summary: 1. Repeal the ordinance prohibiting parking at all times along the north side of Shabonee Trail from Maple Street to a point 120'west. 2. Repeal the ordinance limiting parking to 2-hours Monday-Friday along the north side of Shabonee Trail from a point 120'west of Maple Street to Emerson Street. 3. Enact an ordinance limiting parking to 2-hours Monday-Friday along the north side of Shabonee Trail from Emerson Street to Maple Street. 3) 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 parking should be prohibited on the north side of Shabonee Trail for the first 20' west of Maple Street. This may make it easier for southbound traffic on Maple Street to turn onto Shabonee Trail. Commission members discussed on-street parking would primarily only be seen on Sunday mornings when there is little traffic on Maple Street. There was agreement that a No Parking sign could be added in the future if a problem arose. Commissioner Prosperi made a motion to concur with the Engineering Division's recommendations to modify the parking regulations along the north side of Shabonee Trail between Emerson Street and Maple Street. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Fisher. The motion was approved by a vote of 7-0. TSC Meeting Page 3 of 5 September 11,2017 B. ADDISON COURT TRAFFIC REGULATIONS 1) Background The Village recently annexed Addison Court from unincorporated Cook County into its corporate limits. The road connects to Busse Road south of Algonquin Road and is approximately 1100'in length. It is an industrial area with approximately eight property owners. The Village is currently improving the road with a new surface, curb &gutter, designated parking spaces in the parkway, driveways and storm sewer. Staff has held several meetings with the property owners discussing the improvements to Addison Court. 51 designated 90° parking spaces in the parkway will be constructed this year. Staff is requesting the remaining sections of the road not allow parking. Staff is also requesting the road have a 25 mph speed limit and an ordinance that recognizes the existing STOP sign on Addison Court at Busse Road. Road Characteristics Addison Court is being improved to 36' wide (back-of-curb to back-of-curb). The road experiences a high percentage of truck traffic given the industrial businesses. There are no residential properties in the area. Many of the properties have limited off-street parking. Therefore, the Village agreed to incorporate designated 90° parking spaces in the parkway as part of the road improvements. Permitting on-street parking along other sections of the road would create a safety concern. Therefore, it is recommended that all other sections of the road not allow parking at any time. There is only one ingress/egress for the properties and it is at Busse Road. There is a cul-de-sac at the east end of the road. Given the road characteristics and to be consistent with similar type roads in the Village, it is recommended Addison Court have a 25 mph speed limit. There is an existing STOP sign on Addison Court at Busse Road. It is currently not identified in the Village Code as the road was only recently annexed into the Village. It is recommended an ordinance be passed identifying the STOP sign in the Village Code. 2) Recommendations Staff recommends parking, speed limit and intersection traffic control regulations for the newly annexed Addison Court. Recommendation Summary: 1. Enact an ordinance that prohibits parking at all times along both sides of Addison Court except in the designated parking spaces. 2. Enact an ordinance that designates the entire jurisdiction of Addison Court as a 25 mph speed limit. 3. Enact an ordinance for a STOP sign on westbound Addison Court at Busse Road. 3) 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. TSC Meeting Page 4 of 5 September 11,2017 Commissioner Fisher asked if there has been any objections to the proposed on-street parking. Traffic Engineer Lawrie responded the Village has held several meetings with the property owners and there has not been opposition to the construction of on-street parking. Commissioner Prosperi asked if any contaminated soil has been identified during excavation activities. Superintendent Moe responded that Public Works recently installed storm sewer pipe at the east end of the street and the tested soil did not show any contaminants. There was general discussion about the need to allow overnight parking on the street given the types of businesses along the street. It was agreed that Staff would monitor the situation and work with the property owners if the issue arose in the future. Commissioner Morgan made a motion to concur with the Engineering Division's recommendations to enact parking, speed limit, and STOP sign ordinances on Addison Court. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Fisher. The motion was approved by a vote of 7-0. COMMISSION ISSUES Commissioner Fisher oversees the Neighborhood Watch program in his neighborhood and shared a concern with an increase in coyote and fox encounters this summer. He contacted the Mayor about the issue and she recommended Commissioner Fisher contact Cook County Animal Control. Officer Garris added that the Police Department does not have an animal control unit and typically does not get involved in wildlife issues. Traffic Engineer Lawrie invited Commission members to the Public Open House on Thursday, September 14th regarding potential improvements to Busse Road by Cook County. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to discuss, the Transportation Safety Commission voted 7-0 to adjourn at 8:02 p.m. upon the motion of Commissioner Morgan. Commissioner Fisher seconded the motion. Respectfully submitted, Matthew P. Lawrie, P.E. Traffic Engineer h:\engineers ng\traffic\safety_commission\recs&mins\TSC-septem berl7min.docx TSC Meeting Page 5 of 5 September 11,2017