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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Transportation Advisory Committee - 07/23/2012Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, July 23, 2012 Call Meeting to Order - Mr. Curtis A. Rock, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m. II. Approval of Minutes - Minutes of June 28, 2012 were approved. III. Presentations and Discussions - a. Monthly Traffic Fatality Report: Capt. Gutierrez reported two (2) new fatalities, which brings the total to fifteen (15) for year 2012. He stated fatality fourteen (14) occurred on June 27 at 9:27 p.m. This was pedestrian related and it happened at the 1000 block of Graham Rd. There are no sidewalks and the lighting is poor in this area. The pedestrian was found to be at fault for stepping out in front of the motorcycle. There was not any alcohol involved. Mr. Rock inquired from the Traffic Engineering prospective; since there are no sidewalks and the lighting is poor, are there any plans to look at this street? Mr. Cardenas responded yes, there are plans to look at this street. This street is wide; unlike McArdle, Graham is wider and there is somewhat of an improved shoulder. In addition, we are looking at the lighting and future improvements for Graham Rd. Capt. Gutierrez explained fatality fifteen (15) happened on June 30 at 8:25 p.m. at the intersection of Port Ave. and Horne Rd. This accident involved a car and a motorcycle. The car was making a left -hand turn; it disregarded the signal device and turned in front of the motorcycle. The motorcycle struck the vehicle. The victim at the scene of the accident originally appeared to have sustained a broken leg. He was transported to the hospital and once at the hospital, he was found to have internal injuries and subsequently passed away. Capt. Gutierrez stated that driver inattention was the main contributing factor to this accident. Mr. Rock asked if there was indication of cell phone use. Capt. Gutierrez answered there was no alcohol or indication of phone use. b. Police Department Traffic Enforcement Complaints: Capt. Gutierrez mentioned Lt. Sherman, who normally keeps tracks of these complaints, was on vacation and training for the majority of the month and was not able to put this report together. c. Top 20 Traffic Accident Locations for the Month: Capt. Gutierrez reported the number one location for the month is again the 2500 blk. of HWY -181 by the Harbor Bridge with a total of five accidents on the southbound and four accidents on the northbound. During the month of June, there were two rain events and this is when the majority of these accidents occurred. Capt. Gutierrez noted both southbound and northbound have been one of the focal points of the enhanced speed enforcement. He commented they have been out there every day for almost the last two months and people are still speeding. Capt. Gutierrez said the other location is HWY -358 FWY EB at Kostoryz Rd. with four accidents. This seems to be the common number at 4700 SPID at Everhart and 5600 Weber Rd. at Holly Rd. He said this is the data they are trying to focus their efforts where they have the top 20 accidents. Ms. Cudd inquired about the accidents that had occurred on Kostoryz Rd. and HWY -358; she said three out of the four accidents were failure to Page 1 of 4 control speed. She asked if the accidents had happened on HWY -358 or Kostoryz Rd. Capt. Gutierrez said the accidents were on HWY -358. d. Bond 2012 Projects: Mr. Dan Bites, Director of Engineering Services, said the City Council would be taking action on the Bond 2012 Project List tomorrow and the list should be finalized the week of July 31. The balloting should be set in the first meeting in August. The constraint they are working under is based on the property valuations from 2008 to 2012; they only have about 55 million dollars that could be done without a tax increase. The specific projects on the list have changed from the ones you have on the list. He said almost all of these projects include some additional work to make sure they meet some of the pedestrian and bicycling items they have been talking about in this committee and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee. In order to make this happen, even though, they have included this in the bond projects; they have to update the Master Transportation Plan. The road sections are in the design guide of the plan to make sure all roads were appropriate. The road sections include bike lanes and the pedestrian enhancements to go along with them. We have to work this through the Planning Department back to this committee to modify the design sections that are in the design guide to include these enhancements. He said we are not talking about additional pavement width. We are talking about a reconfiguration of the lanes not to build these highway type lanes on roads that should be thinner and set aside the extra pavement width for the bike lanes. Mr. Bites stated this list in the agenda item is not what the City Council will have tomorrow because it has been changed and tweaked. Ms. Arnold asked if this list being presented would be adjusted or revised at the City Council meeting tomorrow. Mr. Bites responded, saying what is on the current list is the three that were in the industrial district, (Navigation Blvd., Tuloso Rd. and Clarkwood Rd.). They all came off the list for now and the streets section remains the same. There is a separate list of street reconstruction and if the City Council passes this tomorrow. He said the street list is based on the worst streets in the city and we need to fix those first. Other than the two, MPO had already committed to funding 80% of the street work. Mr. Bites stated that if there are projects not on the list that you would like to see on the list at this point the City Council needs to add them. He said there is a need to work through your district representative, at large members or the mayor to get them added. Some of the projects on the list were obtained from City Council. They are the public's representatives in the process. Mr. Rock asked about the rehab projects and were there any safety features added. Mr. Bites responded one of the scoring criteria's was the safety factor. Ms. Arnold asked about the committee's role as far as him making this presentation. Mr. Bites stated that this is more of an informational briefing. The committee's action need to make sure we get the cross sections and the master plans updated; therefore, the right street sections are built. As far as a specific project on the list, it needs to be worked through the City Council representative so it could be addressed tomorrow at the City Council meeting. Mr. Bites said as they move into implementation, they need to address the committee with an update, bring the projects at a 30% stage so the cross sections can be checked out, and make sure they are being built appropriately. Ms. Arnold asked if these projects pass in the bond election; then, you would address this committee with an update on the status of the projects. Mr. Bites responded it might be better to go to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee. He said this committee needs to address the design Page 2 of 4 standards in the master plan and the subcommittee needs to address the actual implementation of this to the specific project. Ms. Arnold inquired about how the committee gets involved in the updates of the master plan. Mr. Bites stated that Mr. Cardenas has the mark -ups for the road sections in the master plan. We need to get this because the master plan is a document owned by the Planning Department. It is updated by them and then they bring it to the TAC and then to the Planning Commission for implementation and ultimately to the City Council for adoption. Ms. Arnold stated that she would like to see this committee briefed on a variety of bond packages that are getting ready to go to City Council sometime before it goes to them the next day. Mr. Bites said he does not have a problem doing this but again it is the Planning Commission's responsibility to review and approve the capital budget and the capital program to include bond projects. He said they could bring the projects to this committee as a courtesy so it could be discussed and reviewed and then take the comments to the Planning Commission. He stated the process is from the Planning Department to the Planning Commission to City Council. e. Monthly Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee Report: Ms. Arnold reported at their last meeting they discussed the Bond 2012 Projects by reviewing the list and trying to provide input to come up with a clear understanding. She stated the subcommittee would need to hold accountable this type of process just discussed. Ms. Arnold said being notified of the projects early in the cycle would give the subcommittee an opportunity to provide input and work with city staff. f. Urban Transportation Plan Amendments: None g. Unified Development Code (UDC): None h. Discussion on the No Cell Phone Use While Driving: Mr. Jacobi reported there have been two issues that have occurred within the last month. The "No Cell Phone Use" and "No Electronic Communication Devices" laws or ordinances around the nation seem to be evolving. He stated that some time ago he reported the California law is extremely strict. They are now allowing, as of last month, hands free texting. New Jersey is actually going the other direction. They have adopted a law allowing full prosecution of cell phone users if they drive recklessly and cause serious harm or death. The penalties would include prison time and up fines up to $150,000, similar to drunken driver punishments. They are taking it extremely serious. Mr. Jacobi said California is relaxing and New Jersey is tightening a bit. The New Jersey law says drivers must use hands free devices while talking on cell phones. Text messaging and video games are prohibited while driving. School bus operators are prohibited from using cell phones like most states. If you are under the age of 21, you are prohibited from using cell phones or texting devices. L One -way Traffic Issues on South Shores to Montclair Elementary: Mr. Carlisle mentioned that he brought up this item about four months ago. He mentioned someone that was living in the neighborhood brought up the issue to him. Mr. Carlisle commented that Parade Dr. by Montclair Dr. and Kentner St. used to be a two -way street and now during school hours is a one -way street because of bus traffic. He said because of this the parents are now coming through South Shores, taking a right on Kentner St. and going through there. Mr. Carlisle stated the residents are complaining of the increased traffic through the neighborhood. He Page 3 of 4 did not know if there is some history regarding this issue to see when it was changed, why it was changed or if it was changed. Mr. Cardenas said he would get the history behind this because he does remember when it became a one -way street. He said when they do a one -way they have to get 100% approval from the residents in that stretch they are making the one -way. However, just because they do a one -way on one street, it affects streets down - stream or in other locations. Mr. Cardenas said a traffic study would be conducted on South Shores when school starts. He said when the traffic pattern changes and when school starts they can get a better feel of what the traffic is looking like and see if they do qualify for speed humps. He said if the volumes and speeds qualify, they would go with the process, with residents' approval, of installing the speed humps. Ms. Cudd asked what the residents want. Mr. Carlisle thought they want to know why it was changed because of the amount of vehicles coming down their street. IV. Staff Recommendations requiring Committee Review for Recommendations / Actions - None V. Identify items to be placed on a future agenda • Street Reconstruction List VI. Public Comment - None VII. Adjournment - Meeting adjourned at 3:32 p.m. Page 4 of 4