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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/30/2007 SC Minutes Traffic WorkshopMINUTES OF THE VILLAGE OF MOUNT PROSPECT SEE GWUN AVENUE SPEED HUMP PROJECT NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING October 30, 2007 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. in the Learning Resource Center of the Lincoln Junior High School, 700 W. Lincoln Street, by Mayor Irvana Wilks. Village Board Trustees present at the meeting included: Paul Hoefert, Arlene Juracek, John Korn and Michael Zadel. Safety Commission members present at the meeting included: Chuck Bencic, John Keane, and Carol Tortorello. Staff members present at the meeting included: Village Manager Michael Janonis, Police Sergeant Michael Eterno, Fire Chief Michael Figolah, Director of Public Works Glen Andler, Deputy Director of Public Works Sean Dorsey, Streets/Buildings Superintendent Paul Bures, Village Engineer Jeff Wulbecker, and Traffic Engineer Matt Lawrie. Residents in Attendance: David Schein 512 Na Wa Ta Ave. Joe Morrissey 702 See Gwun Ave. John Fox 516 See Gwun Ave. Marie Voss 514 Na Wa Ta Ave. Robert Seegers 816 See Gwun Ave. Pat Sordyl 915 See Gwun Ave. Larry Freson 914 We Go Trl. Roman Wereski 808 See Gwun Ave. Barbara Klett 800 See Gwun Ave. Tom Rayburn 709 See Gwun Ave. Bob Fisher 604 S. School St. Dominic Biondi 705 See Gwun Ave. Debbie Watson 407 We Go Trl. Robert Miller 902 See Gwun Ave. Greg Pulaski 519 Na Wa Ta Ave. Jim Mathews 411 We Go Trl. Marilyn DeKoster 917 See Gwun Ave. TRAFFIC STUDY RESULTS Traffic Engineer Lawrie provided a summary of the volume /speed data collected for the traffic study at three different time periods: pre -study in April 2006, post -study in September 2006, and another post - study in April 2007. He reiterated both the positive and negative impacts of the speed humps, including the decrease in traffic volume and speeding on See Gwun Avenue. But even though traffic volumes had decreased on See -Gwun Avenue, volumes had increased on adjacent streets, thus showing traffic moving off of the "collector" street and onto the "local' streets. Aesthetics were also a negative as the pavement marking pattern was very bold and the signs needed as warnings for the motorists. In conclusion, his recommendation to the Village Board was for the speed humps to be removed. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS Village Manager Janonis told those residents in attendance to keep in mind the Village Board and staff have to consider how their decision for one part of town will impact the whole Village. He commented the aesthetics of using speed humps can be negative because their presence can signal something is wrong. Staff is not in favor of continuing the use of speed humps as collector streets are suppose to get more traffic than local streets. Fire Chief Figolah discussed how the presence of speed humps effects their operation. Since their emergency vehicles must slow down considerably to go over the speed humps without causing damage, there is a slower response time. Using alternate routes also result in a slower response time because they are longer. Attempts to use the shorter route where the speed humps are results in more maintenance work required on the vehicles' suspension systems from the impact of the speed humps. Therefore, the Fire Department is not in favor of continuing the use of speed humps. Police Sergeant Eterno discussed how the presence of speed humps also slows down their response time. And like the Fire Department, using the shorter route where the speed humps are results in more maintenance work required on the vehicles' suspension systems from the impact of the speed humps. The Police Department is also not in favor of continuing the use of speed humps. Streets/Building Superintendent Bures commented that unlike the Fire or Police Department, the Public Works vehicles cannot use an alternate route for their operations such as leaf pick -up or snow plowing. Also, they cannot slow down when plowing because momentum must be maintained to move the snow. Therefore, the Public Works Department is also not in favor of continuing the use of speed humps. Traffic Engineer Lawrie made his recommendations for the Village Board to consider which included removing the speed humps, continuing to experiment with new traffic calming measures, establishing a traffic calming program, standardizing intersection traffic control and speed limits, and considering a new traffic calming plan for See Gwun Avenue. He also briefed those residents in attendance of the traffic studies the Village is doing, neighborhood by neighborhood. He discussed the scope of the studies, examples of what changes can be expected and noted that their neighborhood is currently being studied. RESIDENTS INPUT Tom Rayburn, 709 See Gwun Avenue, said the 700 block of See Gwun Avenue is flawed because the sidewalk is next to the street and cars use it as part of the street. He does not like the speed humps because cars use the sidewalk to go around them. He feels the traffic enforcement in the area has been passive. Cars do not stop at the stop signs and there is more noise pollution from cars stopping at the speed humps. He suggested installing the sidewalk away from the street and replacing the roll curb with six inch high barrier curb (B6.12 curb). He estimated this would cost the Village about $50,000. He also thought, at one time, there was a proposal to install a bridge on Can Dota Avenue over Weller Creek and if this would be considered. Joe Morrissey, 702 See Gwun Avenue, said 36 years ago residents were told not to worry about See Gwun Avenue being a collector street and having the only bridge in the neighborhood to go over the creek because another bridge was going to be built on Can Dota Avenue. The Director of Public Works Glen Andler said the bridge over William Street was being built when he started at the Public Works Department in 1972, but nothing was ever planned for Can Dota Avenue that he recalls. The right -of -way is available, but the funds are not. Robert Miller, 902 See Gwun Avenue, said the bridge was built 36 years ago without any input from the residents and speeding was a problem. He suggested putting a gate at the bridge making it inaccessible for cars. Emergency vehicles could control the gate electronically; similar to how they control the traffic lights. A parking lot could be built on the south side of the creek to accommodate golfers who could then walk over the bridge. Dominic Biondi, 705 See Gwun Avenue, said when cars are parked on both sides of the street, emergency vehicles cannot get through so it is a bad route for them to use anyway. He is in favor of the speed humps. Joe Morrissey suggested putting a traffic signal at the intersection of Council Trail and See Gwun Avenue. John Fox, 516 See Gwun Avenue, commented he was for the speed humps and likes living in a quiet neighborhood. The traffic has been an issue since 1994 and he would like to see some closure regarding the problem. Mayor Wilks said the Village Board is working at addressing the traffic problem right now. A bridge over Can Dota Avenue is not in the budget, but other traffic calming measures are being considered. Robert Seegers, 816 See Gwun Avenue, has observed speeding increasing over the last ten years and is all for speed humps reducing speed and traffic volume. He asked if the number of speed humps could be reduced to help out the Fire Department with their response times. Mayor Wilks said the speed humps are judiciously spaced to get the maximum effect. If they are randomly spaced they will not be as effective. Marie Voss, 514 Na Wa Ta Avenue, said she would like to see other traffic control measures that are prettier. She would also like to see more stop signs on Na Wa Ta Avenue because of the increase in accidents at Shabonee Trail and Na Wa Ta Avenue. Robert Miller asked if another fire station could be built on the other side of the bridge somewhere south of the railroad tracks. Fire Chief Figolah said fire stations are expensive and even with an additional station, See Gwun Avenue is still the preferred route because it is the shortest route into the neighborhood. Tom Rayburn commented he likes the statistics from the post study that show lower speeds and volume and recommended not removing the speed humps until other traffic calming measures are put into place so the statistic do not go backwards. Mayor Wilks commented the Village Board is currently doing a traffic study of this neighborhood. Roman Wereski, 808 See Gwun Avenue, said he moved from Chicago to get away from speed humps and does not see any positive benefits from having them in place. He would like to see a traffic signal installed at the intersection of See Gwun Avenue and Lonnquist Boulevard. Village Manager Janonis commented that everyone has traffic issues on their street such as too much volume and speeding cars, etc. But these traffic issues are more of a behavioral problem which is why the Village Board has to look at the whole Village and not just one section. Tom Rayburn asked if the Village Board considered reducing residential speed limits in the Village to 20 mph and also using cameras (like in Chicago) to catch violators. Trustee Korn stated the Village Board has looked at reducing residential speed limits to 25 mph based on traffic studies Staff has been conducting. The cameras in question are for catching traffic signal violators and not for speeding cars. Marilyn DeKoster, 917 See Gwun, would like to see more stop signs in the area, much like all the ones along Emerson Street between Prospect Avenue and Golf Road, and a traffic signal at the intersection of See Gwun Avenue and Lonnquist Boulevard. Mayor Wilks explained why stop signs and traffic signals have to first be warranted before being installed. Trustee Zadel expanded further on why stop signs and traffic signals have to be warranted before they can be installed. He said the Village was currently doing traffic studies Village -wide and analyzing all the intersections to determine the best use for the stop signs. He also said the installation of stop signs is a counter - productive way of slowing down traffic. VILLAGE BOARD DISCUSSION Trustee Korn thanked everyone for coming. The Village Board has been given recommendations regarding the speed humps from the staff, and input from the various departments, but they value the input from the residents as well. The suggestion for moving the sidewalk and installing higher curb in the 700 block of See Gwun could be looked at in more detail. He would also like input from the Safety Commission at a later date. A question of how much it would cost to build a bridge was directed to Director of Public Works Andler. Mr. Andler gave approximate costs of $200,000 to rehabilitate a bridge and approximately $1,000,000 to build a new one. He also explained that there used to be a parking lot on the south side of the creek, but because residents were being flooded, it was taken out and a berm was installed to protect the residents. Trustee Hoefert explained that the speed hump project was done because of the numerous complaints from the See Gwun Avenue residents regarding speeding and traffic volume. The positives that have come from the project were a decrease in both speed and volume. It is not feasible to cut off access across the bridge and another bridge would only bring more traffic to the area. Though the response time for emergency vehicles may increase, he questioned how many times See Gwun Avenue was actually used as a emergency route. Other traffic calming measures will have to be installed before the speed humps can be removed, or the neighborhood will suffer a setback. Trustee Zadel commented the Village Board has inherited an existing condition from previous years but wants to leave the neighborhood in better condition. He likes the idea of installing a barrier curb and moving the sidewalk away from the street. The speed humps should not have been experimented with on a collector street and he is not in favor of using them unless there are drastic reasons. The response times for the emergency vehicle are important considerations. However, the speed humps should not be removed until other measures are in place. Trustee Juracek thanked everyone for coming to the meeting and summarized the two important things that have come out of the meeting are the need to have the speed humps stay until other measures are in place; and to consider "prettier" ways to slow down traffic. Mayor Wilks thanked everyone for coming. Village Manager Janonis summarized the consensus of the Village Board is to not remove the speed humps until an alternative plan can be determined. Further consideration will be given as part of the Neighborhood Traffic Study which is anticipated to reach this neighborhood in 2008. ADJOURNMENT With no further questions or comments, Mayor Wilks adjourned the meeting at 9:02 PM. Respectfully submitted, Donna Brown Project Engineer h:\engineering\traffic\calming\seegwun\I 0.30.07minutes.doc