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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/07/1979 SC MinutesVillage of Mount Prospect 100 S. Emerson Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056 MOUNT PROSPECT SAFETY COMMISSION Minutes May 7, 1979 The regular monthly meeting of the Mt. Prospect Safety Commission was held in the Village Hall on May 7, 1979. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Art Coy at 8:15 p.m. Members present were: Harold Abramowski (Acting Secretary), Ben Scola, and John Sauter, Engineering Technician. The minutes of the March 5 and April 2 meetings were read and approved as written. Ben Scola observed that our constant concern over in- adequate roadway capacity at Lonnquist Boulevard between Meier Road and Crestwood Lane and the hazards created by the narrow restricted right-of-way and poor sight capabilities has reaped action. The Village has cleared the overgrowth and brush adjacent to the roadway so that sight is now unlimited creating a better view for both the driver and the school children in the area. While the Commission still feels that the Village should take the necessary steps to acquire right-of-way to improve Lonnquist Boulevard to a full -width roadway, this improvement is a start. Old Business: 1. Art Coy reported that eastbound left -turn traffic at the construction site of Rand Road and Central Road is encroaching upon the westbound through traffic lanes causing a direct conflict between these two movements. Harold Abramowski has also observed that the entire west approach is poorly defined and the roadway is in extremely poor condition causing a major hazard to traffic. John Sauter, who has been in constant contact with the State of Illinois and the construct- ion engineers, is now aware of the situation and will follow up with further action. 2. The following follow-up action has been taken with respect to the Forest -Henry -Northwest Highway and Central intersection problems identified in the April 2, 1979 meeting. a.. The proposed no -left turn from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. seven days a week, has been approved by the Village Public Health & Safety Committee. An ordinance has been drafted for formal approval. b. The sight restriction at Forest and Henry has been reviewed by John Sauter. John feels that two sections of fence should be removed or cut down for adequate sight distance at the intersection. Currently, this proposal is to be presented to the property owner by the Village Manager. C. The timing of the traffic signals at Northwest Highway and Central Road was adjusted under the joint review of the State of Illinois and the Village of Mount Prospect. d. The crossing improvement is scheduled to be constructed of Safety Commission Meeting 5-7-79 Page 2. wood tie construction. It was proposed that a rubberized crossing be investigated in lieu of the wood crossing. This was checked out by the Village and found to be very expensive. The Village, however, should investigate potential funding sources for the difference in cost between the rubberized crossing and the wood crossing. In summary, the Safety Commission feels that adequate follow-up is being accomplished and that the alternate rubberized crossing material for the Chicago & Northwestern railroad track area be investigated further. New Business: 1. The "emergency snowfall" commuter parking plan submitted to the Safety Commission members by Chief Doney of the Police Department was discussed. The plan generated several important concerns which could not be adequately answered by the group present. Further, there was serious doubt as to the workability of the plan. The issues which the Commission feels makes the plan unworkable are: a. Once a snow emergency has been declared and commuter parkers are allowed to park on the streets, it will be very difficult to "get them off the streets" and back into the commuter parking lots. b. Once the packers are on the streets, any additional snowfall accumulation will be difficult to remove from the streets, potentially causing parking away from the curb whereby the width of the street severely restricts emergency vehicles operation. C. On the street parking is assigned to selected streets for minimal impact to residential areas. This is commendable; however, difficult to enforce. It is felt that the commuter parkers will take advantage of the situation and park wherever it is convenient for him and space along the curb is available irrespective of the restricted signs. With the increased concern over gasoline shortages, the rationing of gas and the potential weekend closings of service stations, the Safety Commission feels that parking deficiencies will not just be a snow emergency concern, but a continual concern throughout the year. For this reason, much more concentrated attention should be made towards increasing the parking availability for commuter parkers now. Several suggestions were considered: a. Reanalyze the feasibility of putting in a parking deck at the Maple Shreet lot. b.. Develop parking along the Chicago & Northwestern right-of-way adjacent to Prospect Avenue. C. Seriously consider an outlying parking area which can be serviced by shuttle bus or some other high -occupancy vehicle. Safety Commission Meeting 5-7-79 Page 3.. d. Provide close -in parking for commuter parker car or van pool vehicles. The Safety Commission voted to table further discussion on the plan until the June 4, 1979 regular meeting, at which time representatives from the Fire Department, Police Department, Public Works Department, and Community Development office are requested to attend for a con- tinuation of the discussion on this important issue. 2. John Sauter presented a preliminary traffic signal plan for the intersection of Busse Road and Willow Lane for Commission review. Art Coy and Harold Abramowski made recommendations as to the number of signal heads required and the location and configuration of the detection along Willow Larie. The emergency vehicle detectors and pre- empt units were discussed. Some adjustment to the angle of reception for the emergency vehicle detector was suggested. Harold Abramowski recommended that coordination be employed between this intersection and the intersection of Busse Road and Golf Road at least during the A.M. and P.M. peak traffic periods. Art Coy disagreed with this recommendation. It is Mr. Abramowski's contention that the main reason for non -interconnect is the cost of the under- ground conduit and cable required for such a system. He further recommended that a relatively inexpensive digital time clock coordinator could.be employed at both -intersections at a cost of approximately $5,000, which would serve the same purpose as the physical underground system. John Sauter will discuss coordination with the State of Illinois Department of Transportation engineers before a final decision is made. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:30 p.m. Harold Abramowski Acting Secretary for Andy Mitchell msw CC: Commission Members Mayor & Board of Trustees Police Department Fire Department Public Works Department Community Develo ment Department Village Clerk Village Manager