Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Transportation Advisory Commission - 12/20/2010 RECEIVEL Transportation Advisory Committee FEB 0 8 on Meeting Minutes Monday, December 20, 2010 CITYSECR TARY'S QFFjC Call Meeting to Order - Daniel Carrizales, Vice Chairman, called the meeting to order at 2:36 p.m. II. Approval of Minutes - Minutes of November 22, 2010 were approved with a correction. Ms. Cudd said on Ille Status on the "Safe Passing" ordinance should be changed from "Ms. Beard said this is not an action item because it is not on the agenda." to "Ms. Beard said it is not an action item on the agenda". III. Presentations and Discussions - a. Monthly Traffic Fatality Report: Capt. Vesely reported nineteen (19) fatalities to date for the year 2010. He said there were no fatalities from last meeting to this one. The apparent fatality that occurred on Saturday, December 18, 2010 has been ruled by the medical examiner as a suicide. Capt. Vesely said this traffic accident report will be changed to a suicide report and then it will be dismissed. b. Monthly Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee Report: This item was combined with item f. c. Police Department Traffic Enforcement Complaints: Capt. Vesely reported the traffic enforcement complaints are continuing about the same rate as they have been throughout year. He said since the last meeting there has been an increase in concerns related to school zones, which is the number one complaint, but it seems to be picking up a little bit. However, nothing has changed radically, as far as locations or times of days. He commented nothing statistically important. d. Discussion of Speed Limit Change on Whitecap Blvd. from Park Road 22 to Windward from 40 mph to 35 mph to Allow Golf Carts to Drive Down Whitecap Blvd. to the Beach Passes with Possible Action to be Taken: Mr. Cardenas said this item was placed on the agenda due to the current reading of an item that the City Council has to allow golf carts on streets at the Island. Capt. Vesely said that state law requires golf carts driven on public roadways on a surface street can be at speeds of 35 mph or slower. Currently, Whitecap Blvd. from Park Road 22 to the beach is a 40 mph speed zone, which it would make it illegal, according to state law. The proposal is reading in first ordinance at City Council for the passage of that ordinance. He said to make the ordinance successful to allow the people at Padre Island to get to the beach; the speed limit has to be changed on that section of Whitecap Blvd. from the current 40 mph to 35 mph speed zone. Mr. Cardenas said he would like to make a correction, he stated it is on Whitecap Blvd. from Park Road 22 to Windward Dr. Mr. Carrizales asked what the maximum speed of a golf cart is. Mr. Cardenas responded that he believes it would be no more than 15 - 20 mph. Mr. Cardenas said this agenda item is for discussion and possible action to lower the speed limit. He said we could certainly bring the golf cart ordinance to the TAC. Mr. Cardenas said the golf cart ordinance initiated through the Police SCANN Page 1 of 5 E® Department and said that a formal presentation can be given to the committee for informational purposes. Ms. Cudd asked if this item would have to go to City Council. Mr. Cardenas said yes it does go to City Council as an ordinance to set the speed limit to 35 mph. Mr. Carrizales asked if we would have to see this item in January. Mr. Cardenas responded that this item is in the agenda for action and it would depend on today's outcome. It could either be tabled for January or passed today. Mr. Carrizales said he would like see some public comment on this. Mr. Reining said he could give the committee a brief history of the golf cart ordinance. Mr. Reining said the residents of Padre Isles through the Island Strategic Action Committee wanted to be allowed to operate golf carts like it is done in Port Aransas. Basically, we put together an ordinance that allows them to do it. Golf carts can cross perpendicular a roadway that has the speed limit over 35 mph. Therefore, it would be able to cross at Whitecap Blvd., Encantada Ave. and whatever the next one is to get to the beach and they would be able to drive on the beach because the beach has a speed limit of less than 30 mph. The main access for most of Padre Isles to the beach is Whitecap Blvd. and of course, the stretch from Park Road 22 to Windward Blvd. has a 40 mph speed limit because there is only like two other actual streets that are constructed and another driveway besides the Stripes on the corner. Ms. Cudd said lowering the speed limit would be the safe thing to do. e. Discussion of Lowering Speed Limit on Shoreline Blvd. from Power St. to Resaca St. to 20 mph: Mr. Cardenas said this section of roadway on Shoreline Blvd. is in front of the new Bayfront Park and there are a lot of pedestrians crossing because the parking is on the west side of Shoreline Blvd. He stated that the pedestrians are crossing this part of Shoreline Blvd. in great numbers. Mr. Cardenas commented there are several intersections where they are crossing and are not controlled intersections, there are not any stop signs or traffic signals. Nevertheless, they are crossing at these crosswalks and the traffic is still moving at the old Shoreline Blvd. speed. There is still a lot of pedestrian traffic on the new paved section perpendicular and parallel to the street. Mr. Cardenas said that he felt this needed to come to the attention of this committee to get their thoughts and see how we would like to move forward. He said this again can be an item that can be tabled and discussed more and he would bring some layouts if the board would like. Mr. Cardenas said the speed limit change needs to be taken all the way down to the Art Museum. The committee agreed to table this item until next month. f. Status of Previously Approved "Safe Passing" Ordinance.: Ms. Beard said she would like to bring everyone up to date regarding the "Safe Passing" ordinance. She said some time ago this committee approved the ordinance that had gone before the House and the Senate. She said it was passed by the BPS then it was recommended to the TAC and it was passed quite some time ago and was sent to the Legal Department. Ms. Beard stated nothing was heard for quite some time and it was assumed that it was low priority found out later they have done quite a bit of homework on it. She said a couple of weeks ago, Charlie, herself and Gretchen sat down with Jay Reining and he gave a good two hours of his time going over the ordinance. Ms. Beard said Legal's argument is the city ordinance has a number of points in it that are already addressed by the state traffic ordinance. She said we would be contradicting some of those points but not all of them. Some of it the committee feels it is a little vague and is not specific enough. She said Page 2 of 5 they do feel the city needs to have an ordinance to address it stronger but there is argument as to whether we actually have that authority or not. There is also another aspect of moving over. When this offer began, we had talked about mirroring the state traffic ordinance on moving over for emergency vehicles then we heard there was another ordinance already out there and we jumped on the bandwagon. Ms. Beard said the committee decided they do not want any further action taken on it until we can study it more in depth now that we have the information from the City's Attorney's Office. Mr. Reining said basically the position of the City Attorney's office is under the city's charter they are required to review ordinances and either approved them or file written objections. He said at this point it is their intent to file written objections because they think the city does not have the authority that specifically pre-empted state law from adopting an ordinance like this because it conflicts with various provisions in the transportation code. Some of the provisions are basically the same but there are some key provisions that do contradict. Ms. Beard said until further notice we are going to meet in January and the goal is not to drag this any longer that it already has. Ms. Beard said we just have to look at the best way we can get this through but we also have citizens we need to protect. Mr. Cardenas said he would like to remind this committee that this has already been approved and it could go to City Council right now. Whether the subcommittee, Karen or he does more homework, it has already been approved. Therefore, any action or recommendation that Karen has done, you would still need to retract your previous approval. Ms. Beard said she would recommend not taking any action on this until more information is provided. g. Stop Sign Study for Everhart Rd. and Aberdeen Dr.: Mr. Cardenas said he has not had the opportunity to schedule to put down counters to look at the counter flow and stated that he still has not found anything as far as history is concerned. Ms. Cudd asked about the authority given to put up the stop signs. Mr. Cardenas said that the City Manager gives the Traffic Engineer authority to place the signs. Mr. Chase asked when the traffic counters would be set up. Mr. Cardenas said once school is back in session because counters are not set up when school is not in session. Probably at the end of January or February, he said they have some past traffic counts but he wants new ones. IV. Staff Recommendations requiring Committee Review for Recommendations/ Actions - a. Appointments to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Sub-committee: None b. Motion to change speed limit on Whitecap Blvd. from Park Road 22 to Windward Dr. from 40 mph to 35 mph to allow golf carts to drive down Whitecap Blvd. from Park Road 22 to Windward Dr. Ms. Beard motions to approve. Mr. Price seconds. Motion passes. c. Motion to table for next month to change the speed limit to 20 mph on Shoreline Blvd. to Art Museum. Ms. Beard motions to table item for next month. Sub- committee seconds. Motion passes. Page 3 of 5 V. Identify items to be placed on a future agenda - • Bond 2004 Construction Project on Everhart Rd. VI. Public Comment - Leslie Puckett, Attorney for Bike Texas - Ms. Puckett said she is from Austin and is here to show her support for the "Safe Passing" ordinance. Ms. Puckett commented that she would like to encourage the committee not to take action to withdraw their support for this ordinance. The ordinance has statewide support, has been passed in five other cities and it is very likely to be passed in Beaumont next January 2011. This ordinance has the support of many engineers and city attorneys throughout the state. Ms. Puckett said she had a letter from the Police Chief in Austin citing his support and opportunities to enforce this against motorists who do not realize that six feet away from vulnerable road user is not enough room. She said she would also like to enforce that three feet is very easy for a police officer to see. There are many other statutes in the Texas Transportation Code that have distance regulations and requirements for peace officers to enforce. Ms. Puckett said this is not the first ordinance that is trying to regulate a distance. Robin Stallings, Executive Director of Bike Texas - Mr. Stallings said that this ordinance passed in San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Helotes and Burney. He stated 12 out of 181 in the Senate did not support the bill that was very carefully voted over more than one session. Mr. Stallings said it has been supported by police chiefs around the state. It was presented to the Beaumont City Council by their Police Department. In addition, the Austin Police Chief and the big city chiefs have been in support of the legislation and the ordinance. He said it is important to note the ordinance that Bike Texas has been encouraging in different cities to pass has prevailed in every case so far. He said everybody believed that the educational value of this bill that having people understand that there needs to be a specific distance. The current law is widely regarded as too vague regarding passing another vehicle safely, it doesn't address bicycles specifically all the bikes are supposed to behave as vehicles. Therefore, you could assume that you should pass another vehicle safely but that has never been prosecuted and has not turned out to be a useful tool for prosecutors. That is why this has been developed by prosecutors in the first place to be a bit more specific. It is also important symbolically, besides the educational value for motorists, to understand that it could be lethal if they get to close to vulnerable road user. Nevertheless, it is also valuable to show that Corpus Christi is a welcoming city that welcomes people to be on their bicycle and encourage all forms of transportation. Freddy Ramirez - Founding Member of Be Kind to Cyclists - He said about a year and a half ago "Be Kind to Cyclists" was founded in Corpus Christi to advocate bicyclists safety rights. Mr. Ramirez also mentioned this was done after Barb Segal was hit on Ocean Dr. He said when "Be Kind to Cyclists" was first founded he spoke with some of the prominent, wealthiest citizens that live on Ocean Dr. One of the things they mentioned to him was that he would fail because Corpus Christi will never be progressive. He said they told him that this city will never think outside the box and this is a dying city. They laughed at him but said go ahead and try it kid, you have got nothing to lose. He said he cycles many times in this city and cannot even begin to Page 4 of 5 say how many times vehicles have gone by him. He said he cycles with hundreds of people and all they are asking for is some protection. Mr. Ramirez said every time he cycles to HEB he figures he is helping out the environment a little bit. He said it would feel good to be protected when they are out there cycling. Mr. Ramirez stated if that doesn't guarantee their safety but at least it gives them another opportunity to feel like maybe the next motorist would think about it and say I should move over three feet. VII. Adjournment - Meeting adjourned at 3:24 p.m. Page 5 of 5