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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Transportation Advisory Commission - 02/24/1997 1f _Y TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES (Meeting of February 24, 1997) CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order by Chairperson DeVille at 1:35 p.m. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES(Meeting of January 27, 1997) Motion made by Mr. Prothro, seconded by Ms. Hailey to approve minutes of January 27, 1997 meeting as presented. Motion passed. III. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT Chairperson DeVille stated that Committee Member Joyce Hoist had submitted her resignation,which was regretfully accepted by the Transportation Advisory Committee. IV. CITY TRAFFIC ENGINEER'S REPORT Mr. Seiler reported on the following: A. Progress reports on current street improvements projects: 1. Gateway, Phase I-mandated completion date on or about August,1997 2. Holly Road,Phase II-approximately 20 months remaining on project(between Rodd Field Road and Airline Road) 3. Greenwood Drive-half-way point of completion-'98 completion date 4. Violet Road-Leopard/Starlite-completion in 4-5 months 5. Spur 3,Phase I-12 months remaining on project 6. Spur 3,Phase II(Pending)-Ocean Drive/SPID design issues need to be addressed 7. Bay Trail,Phase 2(Pending)-executed construction contract agreement with TxDOT 8. Ribbon Cutting/Ground Breaking: Holly Road Projects Phase I/II-March 4th B. Comments on concerns raised in January 27th TAC Meeting 1. Traffic Accident Severity Index Report 2. Helmet Ordinance Considerations 3. Metropolitan Planning Organization Meetings 4. School Zones Issues 5. Waldron Road Traffic Engineering Improvements 6. Public Safety Announcements 7. City TxDOT Traffic Signal Coordination Activities and Current City/TxDOT Agreement 8. SH358 Expressway Ramp Reversals C. Interstate 37 Ramp Improvements at Violet Road (TxDOT) D. JFK Causeway Improvements(TxDOT) E. Traffic Fatality Off Boat Ramp in Padre Isles on January 6, 1997 At this time,Mr.Colmenero inquired as a member of the media, if there are any procedures by how members of the TAC can communicate with all the parties involved so that the information provided to the public is accurate. He stated that the information reported by the media regarding the TAC's involvement with City actions related to the January 6th traffic fatality was wrong and that a form of communication and/or protocol may be necessary to avoid this type of embarrassment which can become legal serious issues. He added that preplanning as opposed to re-active comments will not lead into anything down the line. SCANNED . . Mr. Seiler stated that if there is no official protocol regarding such media communications then perhaps there needs to be,suggesting that every committee needs to establish their own protocol. Mr. Seiler stressed that the City Staff certainly has no concern'of advisory committee members discussing such matters with the media, but that accuracy be a priority particularly in matters of traffic safety concerns. Mr. Seiler also added that the media does have the responsibility to confirm information with an appropriate City official. Ms.Hailey inquired if anyone had spoken to Mr.Moss and asked if he misunderstood what went on at the meeting. Mr. DeVille stated that he had.. Ms. Hailey further stated that she thinks we as a Committee, owe it to the public and City Staff to take care of this situation so it doesn't happen again and feels it is quite serious. Mr. DeVille further stated.that Mr. Moss admitted calling the News Department at Channel 3 and he did tell them that he thought the Committee had made some recommendations and that confirmation needed to be made as he did not have a copy of the minutes before him and that is where he would like to leave it. Mr. DeVille further suggested that the Committee could further discuss this matter under the New Concerns section of the Agenda. F. Follow-Up Report on FY '98-2000 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and other approved FY'97 Projects(Traffic Signal Improvements) G. Traffic Signal Operations Report by Street Services Department V. MONTHLY TRAFFIC FATALITY REPORT(ATTACHMENT"A") Capt.Byrd reported on the Monthly Traffic Fatality Report for February, 1997 remains at(3)three fatalities. She also stated that DWI arrests for 1997 were 132 up 6%. VI. MONTHLY TRAFFIC ACCIDENT EXPERIENCE REPORT(January, 1997)(ATTACHMENT"B") Mr.Seiler reported that total accidents for January was 687,down 10%;Alcohol/Drug Related Accidents total 36, down 3%, Injury Accidents totaled 238,down 21%,Total Injuries total 400, down 30%. Fatal accidents remained at 3, up 50%and Fatalities Totaled 3, up 50%. Confirmed Alcohol Related Statistics 1 of 3 for 33%. VII. BICYCLE ADVISORY SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT Ms. Gretchen Arnold, Chairperson reported that at the last meeting of the BASC, the Committee was looking more closely at the Bicycle Incident Reports and has requested Staff for a further breakdown to includes the ages of pedalcyclists involved and the creation of a zone map indicating the locations of these accidents in the establishment of a possible pattern of incidents. Channel 3's Public Service Announcements have been completed and will air on February 25,26 and 27 at 5:00 p.m.covering the legal issues involving bicycling, bicycling commuters using bicycles exclusively for transportation and the City Staff functions\responsibilities for federal mandated issues. Evaluation of streets is continuing to proceed on schedule. Sharing the Roadway signage has been placed in several locations throughout the City. VIII. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS SUBMITTED FOR COMMITTEE APPROVAL OR REVIEW A. Recommendation to amend the City's Code of Ordinances,Section 53-254,SCHEDULE V-- Increase Increase of state speed limit in certain zones by decreasing the speed limits on the following street sections: Waldron Road -decrease speed limit from 40 MPH to 35 MPH from a point 1500 feet north of Purdue Street to Purdue Street. Waldron Road -decrease speed limit from 45 MPH to 40 MPH between Caribbean Drive to Yorktown Boulevard Motion made by Mr. Prothro, seconded by Mr. Colmenero to approved Staff recommendation. Motion passed. - l_ii16V2 ..• IX. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. -Follow-up discussion of traffic accident experience on City expressways having speed limit increases in June,1996- Insufficient amount of time has passed to arrive at any conclusions at this time. B. Discussion of public safety announcements/promotions for traffic safety - Included are several pages of excerpts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Traffic Safety Materials Catalog providing examples of the types of public safety announcements which could be produced locally and sponsored by the Transportation Advisory Committee. Similar videos could possibly be produced with the local flavor of the Corpus Christi environment. Committee is to review information and provide comments on how the Committee would like to proceed with the assistance of the City's Information Services and Quality Management Department and Traffic Engineering Staff. C. Information reported to Committee on recommended improvements in the"Southside Retail Area Transportation Study" - Mr. Seiler reported that the City Staff is planning to meet with TxDOT officials to discuss strategies for bringing proposed improvements for SH 358 ramp reversals back before the public, including the TAC and City Council. Action on this matter is contemplated before the TAC within the next few months. X. ISSUES FOR FUTURE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS None XI. RECOGNITION OF AUDIENCE FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CONCERNS Introduction of Senior Chief Stanley Bauman, Naval Air Station's Security Department replacement for Chief David Bradley who is being transferred to Guantanamo Base in Cuba. At this time,Chief Bradley was presented with a Certification of Appreciation for a job well done. XII. PREVIOUS CONCERNS XIII. NEW CONCERNS At this time, Mr. Colmenero again requested that Committee enable a method of resolving any potential crisis, in making any type of public statement, without full knowledge of comments, issues and considerations that have come before the TAC board. It is important and incumbent on the members,that we are careful on how the Committee deals with any issue that involves traffic and transportation. Consequently,it is important as well,that the proper protocol is placed into effect to prevent any serious liabilities. The Committee is here to provide answers, not to initiate more problems and request that this problem be resolved and addressed at the next meeting. Ms. Hailey stated she also wanted to reiterate what Mr. Colmenero stated,and also feels very strongly about the situation and would not like to see the Committee placed before the public to resolve someone's personal opinions that they may or may not have concerning the way something is handled. The issue needs to be addressed so that if it happens again,the Committee did address it the first time. Mr. DeVille asked the Committee if they would like to place this item on the Agenda or come up with something presently. Mr. Prothro stated that in the City Secretary's orientation package related to City Committee's and Commissions, that such concerns were not directly addressed and he feels that the issue needs to be addressed as the Committee has a public responsibility. Mr. DeVille stated this issue will be placed on next month's agenda as a Discussion Item. Also, Mr. DeVille requested moving the Bicycle Committee report up on the Agenda ladder. Mr.DeVIIe did meet with the Bicycle Club of Corpus Christi and the Texas Executive Director on February 9, 1997 and discussed various issues. :1-.) 3 XIV. ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR FUTURE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS Mr.Seiler briefly discussed the following: A. Residential Traffic Management Program B. Revisions to City's MANUAL OF DRIVEWAY DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS • C. Regulations on trucks on residential (non-through) streets D. Citywide Street Lighting Design Standards for Residential, Collector and Arterial Streets E. REVISITING of proposed revisions to the City's Vision/Passage Obstruction Ordinances F. Speed limits on SH358 Expressway frontage roads G. Southside Retail Area Transportation Study—actions on item recommendations XV. ADJOURNMENT-Meeting adjourned at 3:35 p.m. Mlnutee.FEB