Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Transportation Advisory Commission - 09/25/2000 TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES (Meeting of September 25,2000) Members Present Clif Moss Anthony Alejandro Don Davenport Orlando Noyola .Robbie Foster MAC Karla Bennett Members Absent Stuart Sher Israel Ybarra CALL TO ORDER-Chairperson Alejandro called to order at 1:35 p.m. II. APPROVAL OF "MINUTES"- Motion made by Mr. Moss, seconded by Mr. Davenport to approve minutes as published. Motion passed. III. COMMENTS BY CHAIRPERSON andlor VICE-CHAIRPERSON -None IV. RECOGNITION OF AUDIENCEIPUBLIC CONCERNS -None V. MONTHLY TRAFFIC FATALITY REPORT(ATTACHMENT"A") - Chairperson Alejandro stated that there were no fatalities for the month of September,2000. Capt.Tisdale stated several issues are being revisited at this time,including the de-icing plan for the City of Corpus Christi in conjunction with the Texas Department of Transportation,which in turn will be presented to the Transportation Advisory Committee. Another issue addressed will be increased school zone enforcement in both older and newer areas of the City. Lastly, Capt.Tisdale informed the TAC of the three(3)divisions within the city addressing an unwarranted parking ticket issue that had surfaced. The Corpus Christi Police Department has the responsibility to enforce parking, which is a traffic control problem, in the downtown area; the City's Airport has their own parking enforcement and the Texas State Aquarium has its own enforcement personnel to patrol parking on Corpus Christi Beach. Capt.Tisdale stated that he wanted to compliment Sgt.Leeton of his on-going investigation of open traffic cases. Mr. Foster inquired of Department's policy on "aggressive drivers". Capt. Tisdale stated that no statistics are maintained; however,two avenues are taken with"hit and run"cases. Charges are filed with Municipal Court and if there is an assault involved,charges are filed with the County Court. An arrest is usually made in a Class B misdemeanor case if the officer has the elements relating to incident. Capt.Tisdale stated that the STEP Program is"in play"on SPID,South Staples Oso Bridge Area, and on IH 37 rotating every other week with DWI and Speed enforcement. The Department of Public Safety with the concurrence of the Committee is also being asked to participate in law enforcement in these areas. Capt.Tisdale stated the new traffic commander,Cmdr.J.D.Garcia is very receptive to the traffic concerns. The number one complaint is speeding. Mr.Noyola inquired if the de-icing plan is in conjunction with the Texas Department of Transportation. The City attends to the City streets,and State attends to the State streets. Mr.Foster asked who handles enforcement on the access ramps? Capt. Tisdale stated it is the responsibility of the CCPD. A state funding grant has been applied for to target these areas.Mr.Moss complimented Capt.Tisdale for doing a good job in traffic enforcement. VI. MONTHLY TRAFFIC ACCIDENT EXPERIENCE REPORT(August,2000), (ATTACHMENT"B")- Mr.Seiler briefly stated that total accidents totaled 681 accidents for the month of July,2000 bring the total to 6227 for the year, down 3%. Fatal accidents are up approximately 46%. Confirmed alcohol related statistics are at 45%. Total 20 fatal accidents-same as last year at the same time period. Mr.Seiler further stated that Staples/SPID and Ayers/SPID have shown a slight reduction in accidents. At the intersection of Staples/Curtis Clark street will probably be opened pro-actively at the opposite end to alleviate the heavy traffic congestion brought from the new apartment complex being construction. VII. DISCUSSION ITEMS-(Pending) A. Continued discussions on parking control issues at new U.S.Federal Courthouse area. This issue will be next reviewed in the October,2000 Committee meeting. SCANNED 00001 B. Pedestrian Accident Experience on Crosstown Expressway This issue must be placed on hold for further discussion until further review by City and TxDOT staff. Mr.Davenport inquired if previous PSA's produced by Channel 3 pertaining to crossing the freeway were still available. Mr.Seiler stated he was unaware of any PSA's but would check into their location and usage. Mr.Seiler stated that the Transportation Advisory Committee would preview the TxDOT-PSA next meeting. C. Review of application to the City of Corpus Christi by Mr.Paul D.Carangelo to close and abandon the Hudsell Avenue undeveloped City street right-of-way abutting the Cayo Place and Oak Harbor Subdivisions in the Flour Bluff Area. This issue is being placed on hold pending the conducting of a citizen meeting with the affected neighborhood area preceding the public meeting with the Transportation Advisor/Committee. VIII. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS SUBMITTED FOR COMMITTEE APPROVAL OR REVIEW A. Staff Presentation of Northwest Area Development Plan Update. A recommendation from the Committee is requested to the Planning Commission. Mr.Seiler gave a brief introduction on this matter and introduced the City's Planning Staff. Mr.Bob Payne,City Planner with the Planning Commission,gave a brief overview and emphasized that land use and the transportation issues are the primary issues of concern for this plan update. The first Northwest Area Development Plan was adopted in 1988 by City Council. As part of the update process this plan area is recommended to expand to include what is sometime referred to as the Bluntzer Area and the western edge of the Port/AirportNiolet Area. The Plan area is bounded by the Nueces River on the north, Rand Morgan Road and Carbon Plant Road on the east. State Highway 44 and Robstown city limits on the South and the Corpus Christi Extraterritorial Jurisdiction to the west. Northwest Boulevard(FM 624)is recommended as an arterial with an ultimate 120'minimum right-of-way,six lanes and a median. County Road 52(CR 52)is recommended as an arterial with an ultimate 100'minimum right-of-way,4 lanes and a landscaped median. CR 52 is a recommended new roadway between County Road 75 to the west and the proposed South Transportation Loop to the east. Portions,of CR 52 east from the South Loop Transportation and west from County Road 75 are recommended as a collector and also serve as a relief route for through traffic to avoid Northwest Boulevard(FM 624). Mr.Foster expressed concem of the exit at IH 37/FM 624@US 77,stating it was as a very dangerous exit. Mr.Payne stated he knew of no solutions at the present time. Mr.Seiler stated as a likely solution would be the construction of as a flyover(over the southbound US 77 main lanes),this according to the Deputy District Engineer,Bryan Wood with the Texas Department of Transportation. Mr.Gunning thanked the Committee for the opportunity to present the proposal and will pass on their comments to the Planning Commission. Mr. Seiler stated that a Public Meeting was held at Calallen High School regarding TxDOTs US 77 Expressway Project,which effects the Northwest Area Transportation Plan. The Northwest Business Association is working with the City in keeping the public abreast concems of the community. Dr.Wadell,Superintendent of the Tuloso Midway School District is concerned about the proposal of the South Loop Connector relating to land issues surrounding the schools. Nueces County has as an interest for this area also. Mr.Gunning further stated that all the entities are moving to an era of regional planning. Motion made by Mr. Moss, seconded by Mr. Davenport that Committee recommends that this plan be adopted relating to transportation issues. Motion passed. B. Consideration of as a request by the administration of Meadowbrook Elementary School to establish as a one- way school zone traffic pattern on Meadowbrook Drive, in the southbound direction from Gollihar Road to South Lambert Drive. Mr.Seiler stated that current traffic conditions at Meadowbrook Elementary shows that this school has one of the more congested traffic zones of existing elementary schools. This is part due to the traffic impact from the adjacent Richard King High School which has one of its primary parking lots accessible to Lambert Street adjacent to Meadowbrook Elementary. The request will have resulting traffic pattern improvement student pedestrian safety;will redLcU-Z r related traffic congestion and one-way pattern will have as a nominal impact on redirected traffic to the abutting d residential street system.Each of the sixteen(16)residents within the proposed one-way school zone have agreed to the proposal. Dr.Susan Howze stated that traffic congestion has been an on-going problem. Parents have asked the school for help in alleviating this problem for the safety of both students and motorists. Mr.Davenport inquired if the proposed one-way school zone has any affect on the residents living on Monette Drive. Mr.Seiler stated that 15%of the motorists would probably be affected. Mr.Noyola asked if the one-way school zone study should include Lambert Street? Mr.Seiler stated that Burkshire and Monette Drives needed to provide some access to the school from Staples Street as motorists otherwise would not have the opportunity to turn into one of the two elementary driveways on the end of the street. Motion made by Mr.Davenport,seconded by Mr.Foster to recommend that the one-way school zone traffic pattern be implemented as proposed. Motion passed unanimously. IX. CITY TRAFFIC ENGINEER'S REPORT -Mr.Seiler advised TAC members that the Staff would be participating in a public meeting on October 2nd at the Ethyl Eyerly Community Center in flour Bluff to meet with residents about the Hutsell Avenue Street Closing application. This issue will be discussed before the TAC in its October,2000 meeting. X. COMMITTEE MEMBER ISSUES for FUTURE TAC COMMITTEE MEETINGS-None Xl. PREVIOUS CONCERNS-None XII. NEW CONCERNS- Mr. Moss-Letter of concern be written to TNRCC in opposition to Corpus Christi being included in the Houston air pollution issue. Mr.Moss addressed issues of Traffic Light Sequences at Doddridge,Staples,Weber and SPID. Mr.Foster-Speeding issues at Holly Road/St.Andrews XII. ADJOURNMENT-Meeting adjourned at 3:13 p.m. 00003