Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Transportation Advisory Commission - 09/26/2011 RECEIVED Transportation Advisory Committee DEC 12 2011 Meeting Minutes CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE Monday, September 26, 2011 Call Meeting to Order - Mr. Curtis A. Rock, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 2:31 p.m. II. Approval of Minutes - Minutes of August 22, 2011 were approved. III. Presentations and Discussions - a. Monthly Traffic Fatality Report: Capt. Vesely reported four (4) new fatalities, which brings the total to twenty-five (25) for year 2011. b. Monthly Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee Report: Ms. Beard reported the subcommittee was very happy about the TAC's decision to move ahead with an ordinance versus a resolution. Ms. Beard asked if October 18 would be the date the ordinance would be presented to the City Council. Mr. Cardenas said yes, we are still trying to maintain that schedule. Ms. Beard stated according to Ms. Arnold there was nothing significant to report from last week's meeting. Mr. Cardenas noted there was nothing on the agenda for any action. c. Police Department Traffic Enforcement Complaints: Capt. Vesely reported that since last month's meeting there has been one notable event that has occurred and that has been the beginning of the school year. He said ninety percent of the complaints deal with schools, school crossings, speeding in school zones, etc. Capt. Vesely stated they exclusively deal with school issues. These are approximately the same numbers they had last year and there have been no significant changes to report. d. Top 20 Traffic Accident Locations for the Month: Capt. Vesely reported the numbers have been a little lower than last year. He said they did a change in their request to Municipal Information Systems (MIS) and they are actually looking at a different position on the traffic accident reports. Capt. Vesely stated this gives us a more accurate accounting where the traffic accidents are occurring. However, the number one location is a little different from what we have normally seen. The top three locations are all along SPID. He stated the top twenty locations are in the expected places, mostly on the south side of town where there is a lot of traffic. He said these statistics are provided to each of the district's captains so they can provide additional enforcement. Capt. Vesely commented most of these accidents occurred due to things that are very difficult for police to enforce. e. Red Light Camera Violations - Survey from Redflex: Capt. Vesely discussed the survey that was conducted by Redflex. He said NB Staples St. and SPID is the number one location of all the places they looked at during an averaging by day. Capt. Vesely commented this is always one of the top intersection accident locations. He noted for an 8-hour day during the weekday; they averaged a total of 114 red light violations. He said the most productive red light camera we have for the same times is NB Staples St. at Williams Dr. Capt. Vesely said this location produces 13 red light violations compared to 114 red light violations for NB Staples St. at SPID. There is a massive amount of people running red lights along SPID. He Page 1 of 3 SCANNED • stated most of the locations are on State of Texas ROW. Capt. Vesely said Ms. Veronica Ocanas with the Legal Department is in the process of working with Mr. Johnny Perales, one of the Assistant City Managers, on a Municipal Maintenance Agreement with TxDOT and the City of Corpus Christi. This would allow us to have the ability to put red light cameras on TxDOT ROW. He said that previously the TAC had already given their support in this type of endeavor. Capt. Vesely said one of the things TxDOT likes is that the Redflex Corp. now has a new system that uses video surveillance to determine when someone runs the red light. He said it attaches to the side of a pole and taps in to the electricity and wireless sends the data back and forth so literally takes a few hours to hook it up. He stated that it does not require any foundation work or cutting into the roadway. f. Discussion of Previously Approved "Safe Passing" Ordinance: Same as item b. g. Temporary Traffic Signal on Staples St. @Moore Plaza: Mr. Cardenas reported they have conducted the fieldwork. They did the turning movement counts and counted how many people are using it and turning left. He said he has that data and does not remember if it was entered into the warrant program. Mr. Cardenas commented he would check the data to see if the signal meets the warrants. He said this item would be on next month's agenda. Mr. Cardenas stated once he knows the results, businesses would be informed if the signal would be removed. He said what could change is the ramp reversal on eastbound SPID. Mr. Cardenas said once this is done, there is going to be better traffic flow on SPID and the arterials. He stated just as you see it on the north side or headed westbound. He stated this might affect this signal as well. Ms. Cudd asked why this signal is considered a temporary signal. Mr. Cardenas said it is his understanding this was done when HEB and Moore Plaza were developed; there was a need to alleviate some of the traffic coming in and out of Moore Plaza. Ms. Cudd asked if they were planning to take it down at some point. Mr. Cardenas said he has not found any documentation on planning to take it down but he has found documentation that it was a temporary signal and it is constructed as such. h. Staples St. and Saratoga Blvd. - Montana Mike's: Ms. Beard commented this project is looking very good. Mr. Cardenas said TxDOT is almost finished with the median and sidewalk work, they just need the final hot mix and striping. He said regarding Montana Mike's you have to drive down to Timbergate Dr., which is the next intersection and do a u-turn. He said it is not that far and it is signalized and much safer. He said coming out of Montana Mike's there is no choice but to turn right, therefore it is a safer movement. Ms. Cudd said that she noticed on Saratoga Blvd. it could be confusing whether you can make a left turn or not • because they have a "Do Not Enter" sign. She asked are they going to keep this or is this temporary until people get used to it? Are they going to do the same thing on Staples St.? Mr. Rock stated yes, they are very confusing. Mr. Cardenas said he thought the "Do Not Enter" signs might be permanent. He said the medians are designed for drivers to flow into the left lane and do the left turn and u-turns. Ms. Cudd said that there was a letter to the editor from someone that lives somewhere by Staples St. stating it is going to be more dangerous now with the medians. Mr. Cardenas said it is going to be a safer environment and thinks accidents are going to be less severe. i. 1-69 Updates: Mr. Cardenas showed a short video regarding the proposed 1-69 freeway. He stated there is a section that has already been designated. Mr. Page 2 of 3 Cardenas said 1-69 is very important to the City of Corpus Christi. He said there would be some more updates as things develop and it is developing nicely. Mr. Cardenas stated he is the Corpus Christi representative for segment four and this is the segment of US-77 that goes from Corpus Christi to Brownsville. Mr. Cardenas said this is very important for this community, as you can see what is going on with the freight and the port. He said when there are more interstate designations there are more federal funds going our direction. He said the video also mentioned they want to do the designation as soon as possible. He said we saw on US-77 in Calallen from Calallen to Robstown and this section of freeway is now a fully-fledged section of freeway. It terminates at Robstown and once you go by the burned down Joe Cottons heading south there are no main lanes. He said there are portions of Kingsville that have already been built. He said there are some issues and some people are supportive and some are not. Mr. Cardenas stated it is a positive impact on Corpus Christi. He said this video would be available on the City's website and probably MPO's Website. Mr. Rock asked if they are running into many imminent domain issues. Mr. Cardenas said not yet but the Odem people are very vocal and they have been going to every meeting. He said they do have some.,valid concerns. He said imminent domain has not come up yet, as far as taking someone's property but some of the environmental impacts have. IV. Staff Recommendations requiring Committee Review for Recommendations/ Actions - a. Appointments to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Sub-committee: Ms. Beard recommended replacing Mr. Dave Cochran, who resigned from the subcommittee as of September 20, with Mr. Tom Neagli, owner of Bay Area Bicycles. Ms. Beard mentioned Mr. Neagli has been attending their meetings almost since the committee's inception as a non-committee member. Ms. Beard said in the State of Texas, we are the only city with over twenty instructors. Most cities only have two or three and this is due to Mr. Neagli and Mr. Cochran. Motion to appoint Mr. Tom Neagli as a Bicycle and Pedestrian Sub-committee member replacing Mr. Dave Cochran. Mr. Soza motions to approve. Mr. Price seconded. Motion passed. V. Identify items to be placed on a future agenda • Possible Installation of Delineators on Everhart Rd. ® Whataburger Way • Traffic Signal at Congressional Dr. and Everhart Rd. • Signal Coordination Grant • Community Sustainability Presentation VI. Public Comment - None VII. Adjournment - Meeting adjourned at 3:55 p.m. Page 3 of 3