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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/13/2006 SC minutes Director Deputy Director Glen R. Andler Sean P. Dorsey Mount Prospect Public Works Department 1700 W. Central Road, Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056-2229 MINUTES OF THE MOUNT PROSPECT SAFETY COMMISSION CALL TO ORDER The Regular Meeting of the Mount Prospect Safety Commission was called to order at 7:05 p.m. on Monday, March 13, 2006. ROLL CALL Present upon roll call: Chuck Bencic Chairman John Keane Vice Chairman Marshall Petersen Commissioner Carol Tortorello Commissioner Kevin Grouwinkel Commissioner Mike Figolah Fire Department Representative John Dahlberg Police Department Representative Sean Dorsey Public Works Representative Matt Lawrie Traffic Engineer – Staff Liaison Absent: Mark Miller Commissioner Others in Attendance: See attached list APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Keane, seconded by Commissioner Peterson, moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Safety Commission held on February 13, 2006. The minutes were approved by a vote of 7- 0 with Commissioner Grouwinkel abstaining. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD There was no one in attendance that spoke on an issue not on the agenda. OLD BUSINESS None. NEW BUSINESS A) SEE-GWUN AVENUE TRAFFIC STUDY 1) Background Information In 2005, the Village received its second petition in three years from the residents along See-Gwun Avenue regarding excessive speeding and volume. The extensive 2002 study by Staff resulted in a number of improvements including the addition of public sidewalk, removal of sight obstructions at intersections, more speed limit signs and a greater attention to enforcement by the Police Department. The collected volume and speed data as well as review of the accident history did not warrant additional measures such as Stop signs as requested in the petition. The volumes were typical for a collector street and the speeds typical for a neighborhood street in Mount Prospect. The latest petition requested Stop signs and speed humps as solutions to the speeding and volume concerns. Staff agreed to perform an intersection study at See-Gwun Avenue and Council Trail since the golf course relocated their driveway to be a fourth leg at this intersection. There have been no other physical changes along the street or change in traffic patterns to warrant additional Stop signs along See-Gwun Avenue. The study is described below. With respect to speed humps, the Village Board of Trustees at a recent Traffic Workshop directed Staff to install them as a “test project”. The speed humps will be installed later this spring as part of the Village’s Street Resurfacing Program. They will then be monitored for a one year period with the results forwarded to the Village Board of Trustees. They will then decide whether to leave the speed humps in place or remove them. The results of the project will also assist the Village Board of Trustees in determining whether speed humps should be considered in future neighborhood projects. 2) Intersection Study of See-Gwun Avenue and Council Trail a) Crashes A search of the crash reports indicated: Year 2002 2003 2004 2005 (Oct) Number of Accidents 0 0 0 2 b) Speed Study ththth Representative speed studies were performed between October 4 and 7. The average and 85 percentile speeds are as follows: th average 85 % Northbound See-Gwun Avenue 26 mph 31 mph Southbound See-Gwun Avenue 26 mph 30 mph Westbound Council Trail 25 mph 30 mph The speed limit on See-Gwun Avenue and Council Trail is 25mph. Based on the results, there doesn’t appear to be an overall speeding problem. The data did show that many motorists did drive at or just above the speed limit but few drove well in excess of the speed limit. The results of the speed data collected in October are consistent with the results from the 2002 study. c) Traffic Volume thth Traffic volume data was gathered between October 4 and 7. Based on the results, there are approximately 2200 vehicles per day that enter the intersection during this time of the year. It was estimated that 200 vehicles per day enter the intersection from the golf course driveway. 1650 vehicles travel on See-Gwun Avenue and 350 vehicles on Council Trail. The peak hour of the day (typically 7am-8am) experiences approximately 220 vehicles that enter the intersection. It should be noted that traffic volume at this intersection is most likely at its peak during May and September when school is in session and the weather is favorable for golf. Based on the previous study in September 2002, 2100 vehicles per day travel on See-Gwun Avenue at Council Trail and there are 450 vehicles westbound on Council Trail at See-Gwun Avenue. th According to the ITE Trip Generation Book (7 Edition), close to 700 trips can be expected at the golf course on a peak weekday. Given there are two access points to the golf course, it is assumed the distribution is equal. Therefore, it is estimated that 350 vehicles enter the intersection from the golf course driveway during a peak day. Altogether, a peak volume for the intersection is estimated at 2900 vehicles per day. d) Existing Traffic Control Signs Traffic control signs adjacent to the intersection are as follows: See-Gwun Avenue & Shabonee Trail (north) – Stop signs on Shabonee Trail See-Gwun Avenue & Lonnquist Boulevard (south) – 4-way Stop signs Na-Wa-Ta Avenue & Council Trail (east) – Stop sign on Na-Wa-Ta Avenue e) Sight Obstructions Based on an inspection of the area, the See-Gwun Avenue Bridge is located approximately 130’ south of the intersection. The concrete walls along the bridge are three feet tall and it is over four feet tall to the top of the rails. There are trees that line the banks of the creek right up to the bridge. Also, the low point along See-Gwun Avenue is 100’ south of the bridge. There is also a curve in the road south of the intersection. The combination of the bridge walls, trees and road topography and geometrics may make it difficult for motorists on Council Trail and those exiting the golf course to see northbound vehicles. There are no other sight obstruction issues at the intersection. Since this intersection currently is controlled with Stop signs in the east-west direction, motorists should have sufficient sight distance to safely turn onto See-Gwun Avenue. Based on th the measured 85 percentile speed along See-Gwun Avenue, a minimum clear distance of 380’ is necessary to see looking north and 400’ when looking south per Village Code regulations. There is sufficient sight distance to see a southbound vehicle when stopped in the east-west direction. However, the bridge and trees along the creek interfere with the minimum sight distance necessary to see a northbound vehicle when stopped at the stop bar. f) Evaluation of All-Way Stop Signs All-way Stop signs are normally warranted at intersections where there is a significant amount of vehicles and pedestrians, many crashes, or severely restricted view. Based on the current traffic data, the peak hour of the day experiences approximately 220 vehicles entering the intersection. An estimate using the September 2002 data is 260 vehicles during the peak time of the year. In order to meet the criterion according to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), the volume entering the intersection from the major street approaches (total of both approaches) is to average 300 vehicles per hour for any 8 hours of the day and a combination of 200 vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles per hour for the same 8 hours from the minor street approaches. Vehicles alone, it does not meet the warrant. While this intersection is adjacent to a golf course, it does not generate a lot of pedestrians since parking is prohibited along the east side of See-Gwun Avenue and along both sides of Council Trail. Therefore, it does not meet the volume criterion. There have been 2 recorded crashes over the past 3 years at this intersection, both of them since the renovation of the golf course. One involved a bicyclist not paying attention and striking a moving vehicle on See-Gwun Avenue. The other involved a motorist striking a parked vehicle on the west side of See-Gwun Avenue. In order to meet the criterion for an all-way stop sign installation according to the MUTCD, there are to be 5 crashes in a 12-month period. It does not meet the crash rate criterion. As mentioned above, the bridge and trees along the creek limit the visibility of northbound vehicles for motorists stopped in the east-west direction. A number of trees would have to be removed and the bridge and possibly adjacent roadway would have to be redesigned in order to eliminate the sight obstruction. This is not a feasible solution. Whereas before the golf course driveway was moved, only westbound motorists on Council Trail had to contend with the sight obstruction. Without the activity of vehicles and pedestrians exiting the golf course property at the intersection, motorists on Council Trail were safely negotiating the sight obstruction at the bridge. However, the addition of the golf course driveway has added more volume to the intersection and as a result may make it more difficult for motorists on Council Trail to negotiate the sight obstruction. In addition, the severity of the sight obstruction is greater for motorists exiting the golf course compared to those on westbound Council Trail. The MUTCD does allow for all-way Stop control at “Locations where a road user, after stopping, cannot see conflicting traffic and is not able to reasonably safely negotiate the intersection unless conflicting traffic is also required to stop.” Finally, the MUTCD states that consideration for all-way Stop control can be made at “An intersection of two residential collector (through) streets of similar design and operating characteristics where multiway stop control would improve traffic operational characteristics of the intersection.” Both See-Gwun Avenue and Council Trail are designated collector streets that carry above average volume for residential streets in Mount Prospect. Plus, the addition of the golf course driveway has increased the intersection volume 10-15%. g) Recommendation All-way Stop signs are the most restrictive traffic control for a residential intersection. To achieve a high level of adherence, they should be installed at locations where motorists understand the need for them. Too often, all-way Stop signs are installed where there is low traffic volume, minimal pedestrians and bicyclists, and no sight obstructions. These situations can lead to a high rate of disobedience. Therefore, all-way Stop signs should only be used when criteria are met per the MUTCD. For this case, we have a collector street intersecting another collector street where a clear line of sight is impeded by a fixed structure (bridge) and trees. The new golf course driveway has increased vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle volume at the intersection and its proximity to the bridge has created a sight obstruction for those motorists exiting the golf course. Also, while not serious, there have been two crashes this year which may be attributed to the increase in traffic (vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle) at this intersection. These factors reason Staff to conclude that the addition of Stop signs on See-Gwun Avenue will improve safety at this intersection, specifically for motorists entering the intersection from Council Trail and the golf course. If approved, motorists on See-Gwun Avenue will have 900’ of uninterrupted flow to the south (Lonnquist Blvd) and 1700’ to the north (Lincoln Street) from Council Trail. Based on the traffic study, Staff recommends: installation of Stop signs on See-Gwun Avenue at Council Trail to create an all-way stop controlled intersection. 3) Speed Hump Project A speed hump is a rounded raised area of pavement whose primary purpose is to reduce the speed of vehicles traveling along the roadway. They are typically 14’ in length, 3” in height and span the entire width of the street. As opposed to speed bumps that are abrupt and force you to almost stop before going over them (typically seen in parking lots), speed humps can be safely driven over traveling 15 mph. Speed humps have been used by other communities in the Chicago area and by many cities in the United States as a deterrent to vehicle speeding. Studies have shown that a single speed hump, however, will only affect vehicle speed a couple hundred feet before and after the speed hump. That is why in order to be effective along the entire street, they must be installed in series. As part of the plan for See-Gwun Avenue, the Engineering Staff has designed seven speed humps over the stretch between Lincoln Street and Golf Road in an effort to regulate vehicle speed along the entire street. The schedule is to install the speed humps in late April or early May depending on the weather. Just before construction, the Engineering Staff will collect vehicle speed and volume data at multiple locations along See-Gwun Avenue and adjacent streets. A contractor hired by the Village will then construct the speed humps and apply the pavement markings. A Public Works crew will install the appropriate signs. After installation of the speed humps, the Engineering Staff will monitor their effectiveness through observations and by collecting new vehicle speed and volume data. Staff will also be soliciting residents’ opinion throughout the project with different surveys. Feedback (both positive and negative) will be a valuable factor in determining the success of the project. Along with the collected traffic data and observations made by the Police, Fire and Public Works Departments, residents’ responses will help the Village Board of Trustees decide as to whether the speed humps along See-Gwun Avenue should remain and whether speed humps should be considered in future neighborhood traffic projects. 4) Discussion Chairman Bencic asked Traffic Engineer Lawrie to present the study and recommendations for additional Stop signs along See-Gwun Avenue to the Safety Commission. Traffic Engineer Lawrie provided a PowerPoint presentation on the intersection study of See-Gwun Avenue and Council Trail. Trustee Mike Zadel asked what the peak travel hours were during the study. Traffic Engineer Lawrie explained that the study was done from a Tuesday through Friday. Two of the days the peak hour was 7:00 am – 8:00 am with a little over 200 vehicles per hour. The other two days the peak hour was in the afternoon. One day it was 3:00 pm – 4:00pm and the other day it was 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm. There were a little over 200 vehicles per hour as well. Chairman Bencic asked how this intersection study will affect the Village-wide neighborhood study. Traffic Engineer Lawrie explained that the Village probably wouldn’t get to this neighborhood for a couple years. The same criteria, however, was applied to this intersection. When the neighborhood is eventually reviewed, this intersection will be restudied again. Commissioner Keane, seconded by Commissioner Tortorello, moved to approve the recommendations of the Village Traffic Engineer to add Stop signs on See-Gwun Avenue at Council Trail. Phone 847/870-5640 Fax 847/253-9377 www.mountprospect.org The motion was approved by a vote of 8-0. Chairman Bencic asked Traffic Engineer Lawrie to present the speed hump project to the Safety Commission. He reminded the audience that this part of the discussion was for information only as the Village Board has already directed Staff to carry out this project. Traffic Engineer Lawrie provided a PowerPoint presentation on the experimental speed hump project. Trustee Paul Hoefert asked how snow plows will clean the streets when they get to the speed humps. Traffic Engineer Lawrie responded that other communities have said they do not have to lift the plow when travel over a speed hump. Janet Munz, 605 S. See-Gwun, asked if residents will be able to park on the speed hump. Traffic Engineer Lawrie explained that parking will be prohibited on top of them. Trustee Mike Zadel inquired what the construction sequence would be and would there be detours. Traffic Engineer Lawrie said the plan is to have the signs installed first. Excavation of the pavement would be next followed by installation of the speed humps. Once the speed humps are installed the Village will put down all the pavement markings. The entire process should take approximately one week. There will probably be daily detours but nothing lasting longer than a few days. Public Works Director Glen Andler explained that excavation will only be about 3” down so you can still drive over it. Carol Blatnick, 815 S. See-Gwun, read a prepared statement of her concerns with speed humps. She is against the project and suggested the Village look into other solutions. Dean Sordyl, 915 S. See-Gwun, always sees the police being the ones that speed down the street. Also, he believes that a Stop sign should be installed on See-Gwun Avenue at Sunset Road. Dan Frasco, 502 S. See-Gwun, questioned why you cannot park on the speed hump. He said he already has a speed limit sign in front of his house and doesn’t want his parkway filled with signs. Traffic Engineer Lawrie said he would look into moving the speed limit sign. As for parking on the speed humps, it’s prohibited because the markings on them have to be clearly seen. Al Engberg, 1801 Hopi, said that by installing speed humps the Village is just going to move the problem over to adjacent streets. Mayor Irvana Wilks stated the Village Board has had three previous meetings to talk about traffic calming. The Village Board decided to install speed humps on See-Gwun because they had heard from these residents in the past and the residents have been asking for something to be done. She reminded them to please fill out the surveys they will be receiving regarding this project because they are critical to the outcome of the study. Also, she reiterated that the Village would be monitoring the adjoining streets for issues caused by installing the speed humps. Trustee Hoefert said that he has been on the Village Board for 15 years and has heard from residents on See-Gwun at least five times regarding the issue of speeding. Staff’s previous study showed too many motorists traveling over 35 mph. Carol Blatnick, 815 S. See-Gwun, said she is already thinking about alternate routes to get in and out of her neighborhood to avoid the speed humps. She refuses to go over the speed humps especially with having a new car. She would like the Village to find a different way to slow the motorists instead of using speed humps. Trustee Zadel reminded the audience again that this is a test project for one year and that a final decision would not be made until that time. Phone 847/870-5640 Fax 847/253-9377 www.mountprospect.org Trustee John Korn said that much research and discussion have gone into the speeding issue on See-Gwun and he ultimately supported the speed hump project as a test project. Janet Munz, 605 S. See-Gwun, asked what determines success or failure of this study. Traffic Engineer Lawrie explained there will be an engineering aspect in that Staff will be gathering speed and volume data on See-Gwun and adjacent streets. The subjective aspect will be the feedback from the residents as well as the Police Department, Fire Department, and Public Works. All the information will be compiled into a report with a Staff recommendation and then given to the Village Board for a final decision. Dan Frasco, 502 S. See-Gwun, said that in the past residents asked for a lower speed limit. Traffic Engineer Lawrie explained the Village is beginning to evaluate the speed limits in each neighborhood. People tend to drive at a speed at which they feel comfortable and lowering the speed limit does not cause people to drive slower. The evaluation will lead to a more consistent speed limit in neighborhoods. Mayor Wilks asked if the speed humps will block storm drains. Commissioner Petersen responded Staff picked a design that is tapered on the ends so you won’t have drainage problems. Also, the design should not cause much noise going over the speed humps. Carol Blatnick, 815 S. See-Gwun, asked why the Village is putting the speed humps in when there are still a lot of issues. Commissioner Grouwinkel responded that the Village is trying something new so we can determine if speed humps are a good application to address speeding problems. Chairman Bencic thanked everyone for their input on this project. COMMISSION ISSUES There were no other issues brought up by the Commission. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to discuss, the Safety Commission voted 8-0 to adjourn at 8:25 p.m. upon the motion of Commissioner Keane. Commissioner Petersen seconded the motion. Respectfully submitted, Matthew P. Lawrie, P.E. Traffic Engineer h:\engineering\traffic\safecomm\recs&mins\march06min.doc Phone 847/870-5640 Fax 847/253-9377 www.mountprospect.org