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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Transportation Advisory Commission - 04/26/2010 CE VEI Transportation Advisory Committee JUN 0 1 2010 Meeting Minutes CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE Monday, April 26, 2010 Call Meeting to Order - Bill Green, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 2:31 pm. II. Approval of Minutes - Minutes of March 22, 2010 were approved. III. Presentations and Discussions - a. Monthly Traffic Fatality Report: Sgt. Michael Pena reports five (5) additional fatalities to date. b. Monthly Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee Report: Karen Beard presents a safe passing ordinance to the TAC and explains that this ordinance was passed by the House and Senate, but was not passed by the Governor. His reason for not signing the ordinance was that he believed it should be an individual city ordinance, not a state law. Mrs. Beard informs the committee that the Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee recommends to the TAC to adopt the safe passing ordinance presented, per legal advice. Curtis Rock questions whether "intended to cause intimidation or harassment to a vulnerable road user, or threatens a vulnerable road user" can be construed as assault instead. Mrs. Beard responds that yes that would be a case in which the district attorneys office would step in and pursue charges. Bill Green asks which cities have passed this ordinance and whether the language is the same. Mrs. Beard responds that San Antonio and Austin have passed this ordinance with the exact same language being presented. Mr. Rock questions why reckless drivers targeting bicyclists cannot be charged with some sort of battery. Mrs. Beard clarifies that they can be charged, if the police officer witnesses it. Mr. Rock continues by asking how it works if someone assaults or batters him, a police officer did not witness, but he contacts the police department and is able to identify the person. Capt. Jerry Vesely responds that if this instance were to occur, where there is visible injury present, police department can look at a felony charge. However, if it is a misdemeanor, where there is an aggressive driver or reckless driver, the officer can write a report and gather witnesses to be presented to the district attorney's office. Capt. Vesely explains that there is a mechanism for an instance Mr. Rock described, however the officer cannot just arrest a person, unless the officer witnesses it. c. Ocean Drive updates: Charlie Cardenas presents the TAC with his report on the Ocean Drive parking issue. He informs the committee that Ocean Drive is classified as an arterial roadway. Mr. Cardenas states that Ocean Drive, between Airline and Louisiana, has a posted speed limit of forty (40) miles an hour with the 85th percentile being forty-seven (47) miles and hour and Ocean Drive, between Airline and Ennis Joslin, has a posted speed limit of forty-five (45) miles an hour with the 85th percentile being forty-nine (49) miles and hour. He states that the studies were taken at both peak and off-peak hours, at different times of the day. As a traffic engineer, these results tell him to up the speed limit, since speed limits are based of the 85th percentile results. SCANNEp 9 Pa e1of3 Mr. Cardenas continues that there is not a city ordinance in place that labels the Ocean Drive bicycle facility as a bicycle lane and that there are different widths along the bicycle facility. The ASHTOA Manual does not state that the bicycle lane width must be based on the travel speed of the road being shared. However, it does state that careful consideration be taken on high speed roadways. Mr. Cardenas states that the manual also recommends that the riding surface should be smooth and does not reference a specific roadway surface or grade. There were two accidents on this stretch of Ocean Drive in the past year. One occurred in July of 2009, a bicycle accident, and in October of 2009, a pedestrian accident. Mr. Cardenas states that the city needs to review the Ocean Drive and Holly Road bicycle paths. The Bay Trail is part of the Parks and Recreation master plan is being updated. Any structural improvements to Ocean Drive need to take the parks and recreation master plan into consideration. Mr. Cardenas gives his recommendation, in which he believes that bicyclists and motorists should take caution on the roadway and/or bicycle path and be mindful to each other. Due to high speed and volumes, whenever possible, an off-roadway path should be constructed to separate bicycles and vehicles. The existing bicycle facilities on Ocean Drive need to be upgraded with the appropriate signage. The signs will convey the presence of bicycles on the designated roadway or bicycle path. The current parking conditions are to remain, however, the current parking conditions need to be enforced. Hence, no parking in front of fire hydrants, fire lanes or near intersections. To aid in enforcement, we are recommending that the curbs. be painted red in the restricted parking areas. City staff is also recommending that the Urban TP be upgraded to reflect the current bicycle facilities on Ocean Drive. City staff has also learned about the bicycle activity on Santa Fe, and this area should be evaluated and added to the master plan as it relates to Ocean Drive. d. Doddridge Speed Limit Signs: Mr. Cardenas informs the committee that the signs have not been installed, but the work order has been submitted. e. TAC New Appointments: Mr. Cardenas announces that the two new members to the Transportation Advisory Committee are Robert Jacobi and Chase Carlisle. f. Safe Passing Ordinance Discussion: Discussed in conjunction with item IIIb. IV. Staff Recommendations requiring Committee Review for Recommendations/ Actions - a. Appointments to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Sub-committee: Eloy Barrera Soza motions to nominate Darren Bates for the ADA representation on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee. Curtis Rock seconds. Motion passes. b. Appointment of Chair: Karen Beard nominates Curtis Rock for Chair of the committee. Curtis rock is the new Chair of the TAC by a unanimous decision. Page 2 of 3 c. Appointment of Vice Chair: Sheila Cudd nominates Daniel Carrizales for Vice Chair of the committee. Daniel Carrizales is the new Vice Chair of the TAC by a unanimous decision. d. Recommendation to city council to adopt the safe passing ordinance: Sheila Cudd motions that the Transportation Advisory Committee recommend to city council the review and consideration of the passage of this ordinance, by using similar language that has been adopted by the cities of San Antonio and Austin. Eloy Barrera Soza seconds. Motion passes. V. Identify items to be placed on a future agenda - • Doddridge speed signs update • Ocean Drive update VI. Public Comment - • Thomas David Cochran, 8050 S. Padre Island Drive: He clarifies that the group he bicycles with does not ride on Ocean Drive and there may be others who do ride on Ocean Drive. • Gretchen Arnold: Requests that any recommendation that comes from an evaluation of Ocean Drive be presented to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee before coming to the TAC. • Freddy Ramirez, 3402 Ocean Drive: He states that he is one of the bicyclists who ride up and down Ocean Drive. He clarifies that the issue on Ocean Drive is when a bicyclist and pedestrian are on the bicycle lane and there is a car parked in the middle of the lane. He thanks the committee for passing the Safe Passing Ordinance on to city council. He expresses how important it is to continue to resolve the Ocean Drive parking issue. VII. Adjournment - Meeting adjourned at 3:43 pm. Page 3 of 3