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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Transportation Advisory Commission - 03/26/2001 �i TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COl'AMITTEE MINUTES co- (Meeting of March 26,2001 RE Cp I1�L L ( 9 ) CITY SECRETARY'S Members Present U0 OFFICE ��, Clif Moss Stuart Sher Robbie Foster `.99Z /��o MAC Karla Bennett Israel Ybarra Don Davenport Grace Marie Gonzales Members Absent Anthony Alejandro Orlando Noyola CALL TO ORDER-In the absence of Chairperson Alejandro,Vice-Chairperson Sher called meeting to order at 1:35 p.m. II. APPROVAL OF"MINUTES"- Chairperson called for approval of monthly meeting of February 26,2001. Motion made by Mr.Moss,seconded by Mr.Davenport to approve minutes as presented. Motion passed. III. COMMENTS BY CHAIRPERSON andlor VICE-CHAIRPERSON - None. IV. MONTHLY TRAFFIC FATALITY REPORT(ATTACHMENT"A") -Capt Tisdale reported that the City sustained two(2)traffic fatalities since last month. In answer to Mr.Moss inquiry of pedestrian safety instruction,Capt.Tisdale stated that through the Texas Department of Transportation(TxDOT)Safety Grant funding a Public Service Announcement is aired periodically. Mr. Ybarra stated as an Defensive Driver Instructor his students assume that the pedestrian always has the right-of-way. Mr.Foster stated that he feels the two(2)most dangerous crosswalks in the City are in front of Flour Bluff Independent School District and at the CCISD Sports Complex on Saratoga/Cabinass. Studies should be conducted to ascertain if speed limit reduction to 35 MPH is warranted during sports activities scheduled for the evening/night time hours. Mr.Davenport also stated that motorists exiting the parochial school on Ranger Avenue consistently utilize exit in making a"u-tum"against traffic on Saratoga Boulevard. Mr.Moss inquired about the crosswalk and speed reduction zone on Shoreline Boulevard near the Coliseum and its continuous blinking at all hours of the night when there are no scheduled functions?Mr.Seiler commented that the flashers at this crosswalk are intended to operate only during the summer time period and during selected Coliseum events. Mr.Seiler further stated that a report was submitted to the City Council at their request regarding the Ranger Avenue crosswalk fatality. As reported to the City Council, Mr.Seiler informed the Committee that Saratoga Boulevard is a State highway under the jurisdiction of TxDOT but would meet with them along with the Corpus Christi Independent School District and the Corpus Christi Police Department in discussing reduction of speed during school functions and the usage of school zone flashers as is done on Waldron Road at Flour Bluff High School. V. MONTHLY TRAFFIC ACCIDENT EXPERIENCE REPORT(February, 2001), (ATTACHMENT"B")- Mr Seiler briefly stated total accidents for February, 2001, down 13%; Alcohol/Drug related accidents,down 30%;Injury Accidents,down 11%;Total Injuries,down 10%,Fatal Accidents,down 100%and Fatalities,down 125%. Confirmed Alcohol Related Statistics-50%. Everhart/SPID is listed is#1 in the Top 27 High Accident Locations with 24 total accidents,compared to 8 in 2000. Mr.Seiler stated there are no particular type of accident at the SPID intersection locations. Mr.Moss inquired as to how does Corpus • Christi compare to other cities in Texas. Mr.Seiler stated that Staff has had a difficult time in obtaining current accident reports from other cities the past year and is unable to make a fair comparison. Mr.Ybarra commented that students participating in Defensive Driving remark that traffic signal at the SPID intersections seem to have a problem in the timing provided from one frontage road to the next. Mr.Seiler stated that he thinks all the intersections including the state interchanges have good time sequencing between the two frontage roads respective"greens". • Mr. Ybarra also stated that motorists were complaining about the Glazebrook/Alameda Street intersection (now under construction). He stated that the left turn signal was confusing and motorists refused to proceed straight ahead until the left turn signal arrow had changed. Mr.Ybarra also commented about the pot holes,cones remaining in place over the weekend when no construction is taking place. Mr.Seiler commented in the construction zone and traffic controls are left in place as a cost-effective measure to avoid costly,repetitive change-out and inconsistencies from the perspective of the driving public. Mr.Foster stated another concern was the speed at the SPID intersections. A survey showed motorists were exceeding twice the posted speed limit exiting the freeway. SCANNED iso°(: 1 • Mr. Davenport questioned the 400%increase of accidents at SPID and Nile. Mr.Seiler stated he could not comment at the present time,but would get back with information at the next meeting. VI. RECOGNITION of AudiencelPublic Concerns not scheduled on Agenda-Mr.Soto with TxDOT briefly mentioned two(2) activities sponsored by TxDOT. One was the Spring Break Activity at J.P.Luby Park held on March 15th and 16th signing up approximately 582 students who agreed to the statement that they would not speed,nor drive if they had been drinking. Various visual and hands-on activities with students participating proved to be successful. Another activity planned by TxDOT will be the"Shattered Dream"Program,March 29th and 30th at West Oso High School,a program dramatization of a"mock crash"and assembly. The Committee is invited to attend. Mr.Sher commended Mr.Soto and TxDOT staff on a well received program. VII. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Presentation by Texas Department of Transportation on current efforts related to Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)planning- Mr.Seiler briefly stated that the Intelligent Transportation System(ITS)is growing in the country, and Mr.Ismael Soto,District Traffic Engineer,with TxDOT is one of the primary organizers in this area and will be updating the Committee-Mr.Soto thanked the Committee for the opportunity to speak about ITS and its inception in Corpus Christi approximately five years ago. The fruits of its labor will soon be implemented in the City at the interchange project at SPID/Crosstown Expressway/FM 286 Interchange. A project listing was handed out to the Committee showing proposed signal traffic management for the City. In response to Mr.Moss comments of the ITS program in San Antonio,Mr.Soto stated that a drawback of the system is that the system 95% of the time serves little purpose,but the other 5%of the time is invaluable especially during emergency times (i.e. hurricane evacuation periods) here in Corpus Christi. Studies do show that accidents are reduced by approximately 25-30%with the Intelligent Transportation System in operation. Mr.Sher suggested that committee members interested in ITS might drive to San Antonio to visit the Center. B. Presentation by Texas Department of Transportation on current and eligible traffic enforcement program grants with the City of Corpus Christi- Mr.Soto stated that according to the U.S.Department of Transportation Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1997, Corpus Christi places 13th in the most dangerous U.S.cities for fatal crashes involving red- light running. Mr.Soto briefed the Committee on the following grants: FY 2001 -Safe&Sober Step Grant($68,082.00);FY 2001- Intersection Traffic Control Step(Targets nine(9)major intersections within the City)-$57,909.00. FY 2001-Total Federal money to City for overtime enforcement efforts-$125,991. Safe and Sober Step enforcement has led to 20 arrests in December,2000 and 39 in January,2001,but failure to enforce both speed and occupant protection may lead to reduction in funds or possible termination of grant. Mr.Soto reported on the status of FY 02 Funding Proposals for DWI-Three year funding grant for DWI enforcement grant in the amount of$256,190 has been denied due to insufficient problem identification along with the Intersection Traffic Control Step in the amount of$90,788 is in jeopardy if current grant problems are not addressed. Mr.Moss suggested that the Corpus Christi Caller-Times be approached in writing a news story on red-light runners here in Corpus Christi. Ms. Sherry McElroy, also with the local District TxDOT Office reiterated that once grant funding is lost,the federal government is reluctant to look at future grant requests. Capt.Tisdale stated that the majority of the problems regarding these grants is an continued historical internal issue with the City's Finance Department in processing the grants in a timely fashion. It is a work and personnel issue and feels the City Manager is not aware of the situation. He will notify his superior,the Chief of Police immediately after today's TAC meeting and per Mr.Sher's request will bring back his findings to next month's meeting. C. Discussion of the Police Department's Traffic Enforcement Program,current resources,and assigned responsibilities- Capt.Tisdale informed that Committee that he did visit with the Chief of Police regarding traffic enforcement concerns. 000f. 2 The Traffic Safety Section mission is to Work Traffic Accident Investigation, Minor,Major and Fatality Investigations. To enforce Traffic Safety Laws, to direct traffic at all major events and to respond to"Hot Spot Complaints"traffic enforcement due to construction,power failure and complaints. Also to provide traffic control for approximately 130 walklruns throughout the city, primarily on weekends, provide dignitary escort service, to investigate Hit and Run accident on a follow-up basis and to coordinate the School Crossing Guard Program with a maximum of 10 officers . working traffic. A recent directive was issued that all motorcycles would be working in the school zones,thus excluding them from working traffic accidents at the same time. Officers work four(4)ten hour shifts with a strength effect of eight (8),along with swing shifts of eight hour each. The Corpus Christi Police Department has a total of 115 marked units which includes patrol,traffic and fleet pool. 74 units or 64% have no radar,31 units or 27% contain radar plus ten(10) hand-held radars bringing capacity to 36%.. Only 52 of these patrol units are actual working vehicles with 15 or 29% radar equipped. Of the 250 officers assigned to field enforcement, nineteen(19)are traffic enforcement officers or approximately 11%. The Chief of Police has been aware of this situation. If the patrol force is to carry some of the burden of traffic enforcement,equipment must be provided to enforce the speeding laws. The Chief is asking the TAC to approach the Crime Control District for funding. Mr.Foster commented with ten officers on duty per day the percentage is about one(1)officer per 30,000 citizens and how does this compare to other cities our size. Capt.Tisdale said he did not have those figures. Mr.Davenport inquired what is his strategic plan with the ten hand held radar units. Capt.Tisdale stated these would be handed out to the 24 field supervisors at$1,000.00 each. These in turn would be issued to the field officers for traffic enforcement and turned in at the end of each shift. Capt.Tisdale also stated that he would like to see 50% of the fleet vehicles equipped with radars. $74,000 would be need to equip every vehicle with a radar unit. In answer to Mr.Davenport inquiry,Mr.Seiler stated that the Crime Control District meets the third Wednesday of every month. Motion made by Mr. Foster, seconded Mr. Davenport to approach the Crime Control District for support of traffic enforcement with purchase of radar equipment to accomplish this goal. D. Possible interest on the part of the Transportation Advisory Committee to create a lower speed limit on residential streets adjacent to public parks and school grounds- Mr.Seiler stated that per request in February's meeting for consideration of speed limit reduction on residential streets, a first-draft of the information previously submitted is being presented in this month's TAC package for committee perusal. Those streets qualifying for speed reduction criteria are streets having cross-section less than the City's standard 24-ft. paved cross-section,including streets without curb-and-gutter,streets abutting public parks and playgrounds;streets abutting elementary schools;streets with horizontal and/or vertical alignment over a substantial portion of the street which precludes safe vehicle operating speeds of 30 mph and streets with a history of speed-related traffic accidents (i.e.,five or more speed related traffic accidents within a consecutive three-year period). Mr.Foster inquired how one goes about having speed humps installed on St.Andrews Street? Mr.Seiler stated that it is requested in petition form by the residents residing on a particular street and that Traffic Engineering has forwarded petitions to Codntry Club residents on two occasions without response. Mr.Seiler stated he would forward a copy to Mr.Foster. Mr.Moss moved,seconded.by MAC Bennett for Staff to bring back as an official ordinance prepared by the City's Legal Department. Motion passed. VIII. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS SUBMITTED FOR COMMITTEE APPROVAL OR REVIEW A. None submitted this month. IX. CITY TRAFFIC ENGINEER'S REPORT-None XI. Consideration of Requests from Committee Members for Excused Absences 1)00!'3 X. ISSUES FOR April 23,2001 Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting-None XII. NEW CONCERNS-Mr.Davenport-Who controls intersection of Nile and Ennis Joslin? Driving through this intersection,he noticed that non-residents are unfamiliar with intersection and do not know where to stop. Mr.Seiler stated that this area is in a construction mode and will check out the intersection with the contractor. XI PREVIOUS CONCERNS- Mr. Moss-Inquiry into telephone ordinance to ban the use of hand held cellular phones while driving. Mr.Sher recommended Committee peruse material he provided that was retrieved from the Internet and discuss further at next month's meeting. Committee collective agreed to bring issue to next month's meeting. XIV. ADJOURNMENT-Meeting adjourned at 3:47 p.m. • r • 00004