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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Transportation Advisory Commission - 04/25/1994 TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES (Meeting of April 25, 1994) CALL TO ORDER Mr. Barry Pillinger, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 1:32 p.m. II. Roll Call-Absent members: Messers Len Brandrup and Braxton D. Routh. Mr. Braselton arrived at 2:00 p.m. and Mr. Beggs arrived at 2:20 p.m. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Meeting of March 28, 1994) Motion made by Mr.Walter DeVille and seconded by Mr.Bert Quintanilla to approve the minutes as printed and distributed. IV. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT Mr.Pillinger reported he had no report but did introduce the Transportation Advisory Committee's two new members,Dr.Joseph Gardner and Mr. Ray Madrigal,whose terms will be effective 5/1/94. V. CITY TRAFFIC ENGINEER'S REPORT Mr. Seiler briefly discussed the sequence selection of the Texas Department of Transportation's Enhancement Programs in their selected order: Corpus Christi Bay Trail,Portland's Sunset Lake, DMD's Vision and the USS Lexington. He also stated that a Signal Traffic Operational Workshop was being set up for the Committee's information at the request of the Committee in its March, 1994 meeting. Guidelines are being established for the Bicycle Safety Committee and that LaRue Street per Mr. Pillinger's inquiry was a 95% paved-private street. VI. TRAFFIC FATALITY REPORT (Attachment "A") Capt. Byrd summarized the details of the three (3) fatality accidents in Corpus Christi during the past month bringing the total to 4 fatalities for 1994. The Police Department has made 384 D.W.I. arrests so far this year. Last year at the same date there had been 353 arrests, an increase of 8%. VII. MONTHLY TRAFFIC ACCIDENT EXPERIENCE REPORT (including Quarterly Severity Index Report, (Attachments "B" and "C") There were 734 total traffic accidents during the past month of March bringing the total to 2,075 traffic accidents for 1994. This represents a 2% increase. Injury accidents were up 10%. Mr.Seiler noted the addition of the breakdown of total injuries to type (severity) of injury. Alluding to the top 27 high accident locations, Mr. Seiler stated that Staples/SPID and Weber and SPID remain as the top two higher accident intersections. He also mentioned that accidents trends along the Everhart/Staples access zones have stabilized since the same time last year. CANNED 3 L1 �� VIII. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Preliminary discussion on possible revisions to Code of Ordinances Section 53-121 -- "Emerging from or entering alley, private driveway, building, etc." (Attachment "D"). Mr. Seiler briefed the Committee that the current Code of Ordinances provision prohibits any left turns being made from a commercial driveway to the side street or to the abutting street or from the street to the commercial driveway if it is in a "business district", but does not account for the presence or lack of center continuous left turn lanes on the street. The vast majority of motorists are unaware of this restriction because there is no requirements for regulatory signage. Therefore, the option existsto revise the ordinance to provide for left turn restrictions during certain hours at selective locations to be with proper signage provided. Traffic congestion would be greatly improved in certain areas where two way traffic congestion within center turn lanes is prevalent. Mr. Braselton asked for clarification of the authority to place and obedience to turning markers (i.e., markers, buttons or signs). Mr. Seiler noted each location in question would be evaluated depending on the traffic congestion. Discussion followed. IX. ACTION ITEMS A. Recommend to the City Council the approval of the Gateway Park Project "concept", that plans be finalized for the project, and that the City submit for federal, state, local, and private funds to support the Gateway Park Project. (Attachment"E"). Mr. Pillinger stated that a brief presentation will be given as the project had been previously presented in a special joint public meeting held with the Transportation Advisory Committee, Watershore Advisory Committee, the Municipal Arts Commission and the Parks and Recreation Committee. The Transportation Advisory Committee and the Watershore Advisory Committee did not take action during the joint meeting, the former because all members were not present and felt they did not have sufficient time to review the project. The Watershore Advisory Committee did not have a quorum present. Mr.Seiler introduced Mr. Gordon Landreth, with the firm of Cotten-Landreth, Architects, who made a brief presentation of the Gateway Park Project concept and then entertained questions from the Committee. Mr. Braselton inquired of the reasons for moving of IH 37 traffic lanes. Mr. Landreth replied mostly for beautification purposes and also a safety benefit. Mr. DeVille and Ms. Hoist inquired to theapproximate number of lost off-street parking spaces. He replied that approximately 410 spaces would be lost. Mr. DeVille questioned when the concept would turn into a project. Mr.Pillinger stated that the concept must come back for individual action by each committee. Mr. DeVille also inquired on the project cost. Mr. Landreth stated that the $5 million project cost includes demolition, planning, design, engineering fees, contingency fee, landscaping and irrigation - a "turnkey package" encompassing Shoreline and IH 37. Mr. Braselton inquired as to the City's portion of the funding would fall on the City? Mr. Landreth stated that design and construction will not be a burden to the City. Funding support will come from the Texas Department of Transportation, Parks and Wildlife, downtown property owners along with the Downtown Management District and self-generating taxes, as well as special federal (ISTEA) grants. Discussion was opened to the public: • Joe O'Brien, 4130 Pompano: Mr.O'Brien concerns were as follows: What do the traffic patterns do to the new fire station in the vicinity;traffic issue created by closing a portion of Water Street;the courthouse issue and the maintenance of the proposed concept. He stated that-a lot more work needs to be done before the project is taken to our governing body. R. F. Hasker, resident of Corpus Christi: He stated that safety measures should be looked into regarding pedestrians crossing the two lanes of traffic and the cost of project. - He feels that the City will be strapped with the cost of the project's infra-structure. 4 Mr.Pillinger asked for input from the Committee. Both Mr.DeVille and Ms.Hoist inquired as to the installation of additional street lights for pedestrian crossing and the reduction of the speed limit. Mr. Seiler stated that both issues are being studied further for this concept. Motion was made by SC Sidel,seconded by Mr.Braselton to favorably endorse this concept sending it to the City Council with provisions that the TAC Committee is further consulted in the planning stage once detailed plans are prepared. Upon further discussion, Ms.Hoist proposed an amendment to the motion to indicate that the committee endorse the concept with definite concerns for pedestrian crossings, seconded by Bert Quintanilla and motion carried to amend Mr. Sidel's motion. Motion carried with Mr. Beggs and Mr. DeVille opposed. B. Amending the City's Transportation Element and subsequently the Corpus Christi Metropolitan Area Transportation Plan within the Southside area as follows: (Attachment "F". 1. Redesignation of Wooldridge from "collector"to "arterial" functional classification between Cimarron Road and the planned Ennis Joslin Road Extension. 2. Deletion of the planned Ennis Joslin Road Extension between Wooldridge Road and the planned Oso Parkway Extension. 3. Extension of Holly Road east of the planned Oso Parkway Extension to the Cayo del Oso, with a "collector"functional classification designation. 4. Addition of new "collector" street system requirements for the Bear Creek Subdivision, Bill Witt Park, and Rodd Village Tract. Mr. Bob Payne with the Planning Department gave a brief explanation that these amendments herein are designed to make the Transportation Plan street cross-section menu consistent and to make several street alignment/street type changes to the Southside and Island areas. If adopted by • City Council, these changes will be forwarded to the Metropolitan Planning Organization for adoption into the Corpus Christi Metropolitan Transportation Plan. Discussion followed with a motion made by Mr. Beggs and seconded by Mr. Quintanilla to adopt the City's Transportation Element and subsequently the Corpus Christi Metropolitan Area Transportation Plan within the Southside area. Motion carried. C. Amending the City's Transportation Plan and subsequently the Corpus Christi Metropolitan Area Transportation Plan within the Mustang/Padre Island area as follows: 1. Inclusion of a new functional classification Rural Cross-Section Type K/RA-I. (Attachment"G"). 2. Inclusion of a new functional classification Rural-Section Type RC-I (Rural Collector-Island) for applied use within Mustang/Padre Island development. (Attachment"H"). 3. Redesignation of Park Road 22 and SH 361 from functional classification J to new functional classification K/RA-I. Designation of rural collectors RC-I as indicated on the Plan map. (Attachment"I"). 4. Inclusion of the Transportation Plan for Beach Access. (Attachment"J"). Mr.Mic Raasch with the Planning Division briefly described Action Item IX-C amendments whose purpose is to protect the public's right to use and have access to and from the public beach and of providing standards certifying construction on land adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico consistent with such public rights, as required by state law. Motion made by Ms.Holst and second by SC Sidel to approve amendments. Motion carried. 5 D. Amending the City's Transportation Plan and subsequently the Corpus Christi Metropolitan Area Transportation Plan as follows: 1. Inclusion of a new functional classification urban cross-section type C-1.1. (Attachment "K"). Mr.Payne briefly described above amendment. Discussion followed. Motion made by Mr.DeVille, seconded by Mr. Quintanilla. Motion carried. X. RECOGNITION OF AUDIENCE FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CONCERNS None XI. ACTION ON ABSENT MEMBERS FROM APRIL, 1994 MEETING Motion was made by Mr. DeVille, seconded by Senior Chief Sidel to excuse Mr. Beggs absence. Motion carried. XII. PREVIOUS CONCERNS Mr.DeVille inquired to the status of the signal coordination with TxDOT and the City. Mr.Seiler stated that he has been in contact and progress is being made. The Committee will be kept abreast of the situation. XII. NEW CONCERNS None XIV. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m. Minutes.APR 6