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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Transportation Advisory Commission - 02/28/2000 r� TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES (Meeting of February 28, 2000) Members Present • Anthony Alejandro Chief Mike McCain Israel Ybarra Orlando Noyola Clif Moss Don Davenport Stuart Sher CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order by Chairperson Anthony Alejandro. II. Approval of "Minutes" - Motion made by Mr. Moss, seconded by Mr. Ybarra to approve minutes as presented. Motion passed. III. RECOGNITION OF AUDIENCE/PUBLIC CONCERNS - Chairperson Alejandro recognized audience members representing the Country Club Homeowners Association regarding the Everhart/Congressional intersection traffic signal study. Mr. Alejandro stated that this issue was discussed last month. Mr. Seiler continued stated that the traffic signal study had been completed. Since 1978, results did not warrant a traffic signal being installed. However, the most recent study resulted in justification of a traffic signal installation. Funding will be may be secured in the upcoming November bond election for a signal at this intersection along with fourteen other intersections which satisfy traffic signal warrants. Mr. Moss inquired if the bond election ballot had been approved yet. Mr. Seiler responded that the City Council is considering a number of specific street improvement projects, but that the public will have the opportunity to recommend projects in upcoming public hearings. 1V. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT - None V. MONTHLY TRAFFIC FATALITY REPORT(ATTACHMENT "A") - Capt. Tisdale spoke on two (2) issues. He stated that there have been three (3) fatalities; two (2) pedestrians and one (1) was a motor vehicle accident. The speed enforcement zones and the school zones enforcements are showing positive impacts. Over 1300 citations have been issued with a team of three traffic officers and one supervisors. Enforcement zones will be "set-up" at the Everhart and Saratoga intersection addressing the 600%increase at this location. Mr. Ybarra questioned the lack of pedestrian markings at Alameda/Six Points. There are pedestrian lights in the direction of east and west but no pedestrian markings. VI. MONTHLY TRAFFIC ACCIDENT EXPERIENCE REPORT (February, 2000) (ATTACHMENT "B") Mr. Seiler stated that the Top 27 High Accident Locations change constantly and that Capt. Tisdale will be monitoring these location which involve all types of accidents. There has been a predominance of left turn accidents at several of the intersections. Mr. Seiler briefly stated that at the same time last year, total accident experience is 5%. Mr. Seiler also stated that due to the increase in traffic enforcement zones by Capt. Tisdale and the Corpus Christi Police Department VII. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Presentation by the Street Services Department Staff on matters involving street striping maintenance, traffic signal operations, and street maintenance activities - An overview presentation was given by Barbara Stover, Acting Director of Street Services, along with Lonnie Taylor, and Tony Salinas highlighting the street services department relating to signals and markings, and street paving operations, including seal coating, general up keep and repair. SCANNEDMr. Patterson inquired who is responsible for for painting/repainting of s , crosswalks? Mr. Alejandro inquired who is responsible for the repair.of the sch , flasher lights. Ms. Stover responded that any questions/complaints should, be addressed to the Street Department at.857-1940 or 1946. Mr. Ybarra asked about calls received about work requests in zones that crews are not working in at a particular time. Ms. Stover responded that Lonnie Taylor "trouble shoots" the call and responds as needed. Mr. Moss inquired about traffic signals. Tony Salinas responded that signals are actuated by camera. Mr. Ybarra inquired if cameras are used for control detection or video purposes. Mr. Salinas replied "for control" purposes only. Chief McCain inquired if the City stripes State roads? Response was made that the State stripes its own roadways. Mr. Sher inquired about usage of strobe lights? Mr. Seiler stated that strobe lights have been used previously only for the first encountered traffic signals near City Limits and coming off expressways. However, Mr. Seiler added that the strobe-lights are not MUTCD approved devices. Mr. Noyola inquired about the yearly cost for over-lay projects. Ms. Stover stated costs increase yearly. B. Waldron.Road Signalized School Pedestrian Crossings _ Mr. Seiler stated that the traffic signals were installed and in operation about a year ago. Installation consisted of two (2) mid-block traffic signals at existing pedestrian crossing locations utilized by a great number of students. Originally at this location, lights were designed for video detection cameras to detect presence of pedestrians. Midblock pedestrian signals have proven to be very difficult to attain optimum results and strict utilization by pedestrians. The high volume of hourly student crossings on Waldron Road has exacerbated these usual difficulties. Mr. Seiler further stated that the emphasis at the Flour Bluff School site has been one to provide absolute protection for the student pedestrian, perhaps at the expense of optimum vehicle flow on Waldron Road. Given the experience with the often-erratic behavior of pedestrians at midblock signals, the midblock signals were designed using video detection cameras to eliminate the need for manual pedestrian push button operation. Traffic Signals Staff has completed a reprogramming of the signals to'combine the operation of the more conventional pedestrian push button controls and the video cameras. The pedestrian signals seem to be working more efficiently and without any false calls and unnecessary vehicle stoppages. Signage will be installed at each driveway adjacent to the signal crossing to clarification to existing motorists. Vehicle movements out of driveways during the pedestrian crossing intervals are not prohibited. Motorists turning left or right from a driveway must yield to a pedestrian legally occupying the crosswalk during a"WALK"interval, per State law. At this time, Mr. Seiler introduced Ms. Carol Moffett, Superintendent of the Flour Bluff Independent School District spoke stating the five (5) traffic signals between Purdue and Glenoak were causing patrons and motorists,to become very frustrated with multiple stops and appreciates Mr. Seiler's reprogramming of the signals. Ms. Moffett further addressed two issues; one being the lack of signage protected left turn for traffic entering into the Administration parking lot. Mr. Alejandro inquired about motorists exiting either left or right at the two offset driveways at the center midblock signal. Ms. Moffett stated motorists are permitted to turn either left or right as the traffic signal only.faces Waldron Road. Mr. Ybarra read the following excerpt"Motorists turning left or right from a driveway must yield to a pedestrian legally.occupying the crosswalk during a ''WALK" interval". Mr. Ybarra suggested moving the crosswalk to alleviate the confusion to both pedestrian and motorist. Ms. Moffett further stated that exiting out of the Administration Building there was no difficulty, it is exiting the Athletic Building across the traffic. Mr. Alejandro inquired of Ms. Moffett if the initial dangerous concerns have been addressed. Ms. Moffett responded, yes, except for the left turn signal. Mr. Moss stated that traffic is moving much easier now since the new lights have been installed . and re-programmed. Mr. Moss also congratulated the school district in placing second in the Decathlon in San Antonio. Mr. Sher also expressed concern regarding the safety of the crosswalk for both pedestrians and motorists. C. [CONTINUING] - Traffic accident experience issues with other Texas cities - Mr. Seiler stated Traffic Engineering spends a generous amount of time keeping accurate traffic accident accounting for purposes for making traffic engineering decisions and for CCPD traffic enforcement. At this time, this report is a progressive report, still in the preliminary stage since all cities have not responded. This report covers the past two report years of 1999 and 1998. D. [CONTINUING] - Transportation Advisory Committee safety message - Mr. Seiler stated that a message stating "THIS IS YOUR MOST IMPORTANT CALL" illustrating a phone with a circular crossover. Message boards will be randomly placed in the sixteen (16) various locations throughout the city. E. [CONTINUING] Southside Retail Area Transportation Study/Ramp Reversal Issues - NOTE: With the pending appointments of two Transportation Advisory Committee members, further discussion on this matter is being suspended until the Committee has full membership strength. F. [CONTINUING] Crosstown Expressway Extension Interchange Project-TxDOT after several public meetings is considering changes in the interchange project and after fmal decisions have been made, the virtual presentation will be shown to the TAC. Mr. Moss inquired when bid-letting would be held. Mr. Seiler stated on or around January, 2001. VIII. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS SUBMITTED FOR COMMITTEE APPROVAL OR REVIEW (No staff recommendation this meeting). IX. CITY TRAFFIC ENGINEER'S REPORT A. Upcoming Street Improvement Projects 1. Leopard Street Phases 1, 2 and 3 (Rand Morgan Road to Rehfeld Road)- Bid- letting in 3-4 months with projected completion in 2002. 2. McArdle Road Phases 1 and 2 (Carroll Lane to Everhart Road)- Bid-letting in 3-4 months with projected completion in 2002. 3. Airline.Road, Phase 2 (Wooldridge Road to Saratoga Boulevard)- Project has been successfully bid-let, construction should began in a couple of months with • projected completion in 2002. 4. Spur 3/Ennis Joslin Phase 2 - (Ocean Drive to So. Padre Island Drive)- Bid- letting possibly in April and projected completion in two (2) years. B. Transportation Planning Projects with Metropolitan Planning Organization-Mr. Seiler stated that the enclosed listing from the MPO for Committee's information regarding categories cited by the Texas Department of Transportation. Surface Transportation Programs are priority projects the signatories of the MPO in the 15-20 year horizon for attention by the MPO for the future. Mr. Sher asked for an explanation of total cost and and balanced funds. Total cost is cost for individual project, balanced funds is funds available for the next 20 years. Mr. Davenport inquired about the construction on Kostoryz at the present time. Mr. Seiler stated these are utility adjustments for proposed construction in about year and a half. X. COMMITTEE MEMBER.REQUESTS FOR AGENDA ITEMS- Mr. Alejandro inquiredas to the • request for a thank you letter to TxDOT. Mr. Seiler stated he was under the impression.that the Chairperson would be writing this letter, but would prepare a letter for joint signature from the Committee. XI. PREVIOUS CONCERNS - None XII. NEW CONCERNS- None XIII. . ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR FUTURE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS - Monday, March 27, 2000. . XIV. ADJOURNMENT - Meeting adjourned at 3:54 p.m. 00003