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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/12/2021 TSC MinutesDirector Sean P. Dorsey 1 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 Deputy Director Jason H. Leib The meeting of the Mount Prospect Transportation Safety Commission was called to order at 7:01 p.m. on Monday, April 12, 2021. ROLL CALL Present upon roll call: Justin Kuehlthau Chairman Tina DeAragon Commissioner John Keane Commissioner Jeffrey Nejdl Commissioner Scott Moe Public Works Department Representative Nicholas Mavraganis Police Department Representative Aaron Grandgeorge Fire Department Representative Matt Lawrie Traffic Engineer —Staff Liaison Absent: Carol Tortorello Commissioner Christopher Prosperi Vice Chairman Others in Attendance: None APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Keane, seconded by Commissioner DeAragon, moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Transportation Safety Commission held on December 14, 2020. The minutes were approved by a vote of 7-0. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD There was no one in attendance that spoke on an issue not on the agenda. TSC Meeting Page 1 of 4 April 12, 2021 OLD BUSINESS None. NEW BUSINESS A. 2021 Bicycle Route Signage Project 1) Background The Village of Mount Prospect developed a comprehensive Bicycle Plan in 2012. During the review process leading up to its approval, it was discussed by both the Village Board of Trustees and Transportation Safety Commission. Topics such as bike -friendly policies & ordinances, education, encouragement, and infrastructure are all included in the plan. It provides a framework for implementing a broad bike network for all types of bicyclists and promoting more people to choose biking to get around town. The Bicycle Plan can be viewed on the Village's website at https://www.mountprospect.org/home/showdocument?id=1924. Approximately 15 miles of the Phase I bike network were constructed in 2016. The goal was to connect a few primary destinations in the Village using residential streets. Work included signs and pavement markings only. Standard bike route signs, destination signs, and bike crossing signs at signalized intersections were installed throughout the network while pavement markings were installed on a few streets. This year's project includes approximately 14 miles of on -street bike routes to complete the Phase I network. Similar to the 2016 project, work will include signs and pavement markings only on residential streets. It will connect to the existing bike network and provide access to sidewalk on primary streets. Once completed, the initial Phase I network per the Bicycle Plan will be fully in place. Future projects will look to construct off-street bike paths on primary streets per the Bicycle Plan. Once the Engineering staff completes design, permits must be secured from the Illinois Department of Transportation and Cook County Highway Department prior to bidding the project. Construction is expected to begin this fall with completion by the end of the year. 2) Discussion Traffic Engineer Lawrie presented an overview the Village Bicycle Plan and this year's construction project that will complete Phase I of the plan. Chairman Kuehlthau commented that he is favor of shared lane markings (sharrows) and BIKES MAY USE FULL LANE signs along Prospect Avenue and Emerson Street as they will bring greater awareness of bicyclists on the street to motorists. He noted the median along Prospect Avenue may not allow motorists to go around bicyclists. Traffic Engineer Lawrie said vehicles could go around bikes at the intersections where there is a break in the median. Officer Mavraganis asked if the median could be removed. Traffic Engineer Lawrie responded the median helps to slow vehicles and adds atheistic appeal to the street. If, in the future, it is determined to install on -street bike lanes along Prospect Avenue then an option would be to remove the median. However, there are no plans at this time to remove the median. Commissioner Keane inquired as to the plan Des Plaines has to install a bike path along Northwest Highway. Traffic Engineer Lawrie was unsure as to the limits but is aware of a near-term project that will see a bike path on the north side of Northwest Highway east of Mount Prospect Road. Chairman TSC Meeting Page 2 of 4 April 12, 2021 Kuehlthau asked if the Village has any plans to install a bike path along Northwest Highway. Traffic Engineer Lawrie said the Village will be performing a corridor study this summer to determine potential pedestrian and bicycle improvements along Northwest Highway. Part of the study will include an analysis of a bike path along the south side of Northwest Highway. Once completed, the study will be presented to the Transportation Safety Commission. Commissioner Keane mentioned that he is in favor of removing the angled parking along Prospect Avenue and Emerson Street. Commissioner Nejdl asked if the Village is considering protected bike lanes in the Kensington Business Park. Protected bike lanes provide a barrier such as a curb to separate the bike lane from the vehicle lane. Traffic Engineer Lawrie responded the Village is currently not considering them for the Kensington Business Park but that they could possibly be considered at other locations in the future. Chairman Kuehlthau asked if the bike route along Burning Bush Lane would connect to another bike route. Traffic Engineer Lawrie said the Phase II network includes a future off-street bike path along Kensington Road. Seminole Lane may also be signed as a bike route with an upcoming street resurfacing project. Commissioner DeAragon was supportive of bike routes in the area as she would ideally like to see a connection to Hersey High School. Superintendent Moe said he prefers the yellow SHARE THE ROAD signs as the color brings greater attention to motorists. He is concerned a white and black sign (BIKES MAY USE FULL LANE) will not be noticed by motorists. Other commissioners agreed the yellow sign is more noticeable but preferred the wording of the black and white sign. Traffic Engineer Lawrie said he would further review the sign options for Prospect Avenue and Emerson Street. Superintendent Moe also suggested closer spacing of sharrows in the downtown. Chairman Kuehlthau thanked the commission members for their input and closed the discussion. COMMISSION ISSUES Commissioner Nejdl asked why the crosswalk at Central Road and Emerson Street does not have flashing lights similar to the crosswalk at Central Road and Weller Lane. Traffic Engineer Lawrie said IDOT would not permit flashing lights due to the crosswalk's close proximity to the traffic signals at Central Road and Main Street. Commissioner Nejdl suggested the Village consider a marked crossing for pedestrians on Emerson Street between Northwest Highway and Busse Avenue. He sees many pedestrians crossing the street midblock to get to restaurants/shops and believes a marked crossing would be beneficial. Officer Mavraganis concurred with the suggestion as he too sees a lot of pedestrian activity in the area. Traffic Engineer Lawrie said the Village would review the idea. Commissioner Keane inquired as to the status of the Gregory Street speed study. This was requested by a few residents at the December 2020 meeting. Traffic Engineer Lawrie said it would done within the next few weeks. TSC Meeting Page 3 of 4 April 12, 2021 ADJOURNMENT With no further business to discuss, the Transportation Safety Commission voted 7-0 to adjourn at 7:43 p.m. upon the motion of Commissioner Nejdl. Commissioner DeAragon seconded the motion. Respectfully submitted, Matthew P. Lawrie, P.E. Traffic Engineer h:\engineering\traffic\safety_commission\recs&mins\TSC-apri12021min.docx TSC Meeting Page 4 of 4 April 12, 2021