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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Transportation Advisory Commission - 11/22/1993 TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES (Meeting of November 22, 1993) CALL TO ORDER Mr. Barry PiRinger,Chairman,called the meeting to order at 2:02 p.m. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Meeting of October 25, 1993) The minutes of the October 25, 1993 meeting were approved by the Committee as printed and distributed. III. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT Mr. Pillinger stated his and Mr. Routh's attendance at the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony of the Safety City Project held at Calk Elementary and presented by the Texas Safety Association. Also, Mr. Pillinger commented that he made a statement before the City Council regarding the proposed barrier on Everhart Road. IV. CITY TRAFFIC ENGINEER'S REPORT Mr. David Seiler reported on the following: a) the City participated in the development of Safety City with a donation of a traffic signal controller, a traffic signal and made signs for the project; b) Traffic Engineering proceeded with the development of preliminary information for the"Safety Tips" column for the newspaper. Plans are underway to have an 'electronic' link installed between Ms. Susan Cable's office and the office of the newspaper editor so that information can be transmitted quickly to the newspaper;and c) the Aberdeen/Everhart barrier issue is the discussion item before you today. V. TRAFFIC FATALITY REPORT (Attachment"A") Fatalities: Captain Byrd summarized the details of the five (5) fatalities which have occurred since the last meeting. The Corpus Christi Police Department has arrested 1104 persons for DWI thus far this year,compared to 990 arrests at this time last year, reflecting a 12% increase. VI. MONTHLY TRAFFIC ACCIDENT EXPERIENCE REPORT (Attachment"B") Mr.Seller summarized the reported traffic accidents for October. Mr.Seiler reported there were 740 traffic accidents, which is a 3% increase as compared to same time last year. There were 25 alcohol/drug related accidents. Injury accidents totaled 284,up 8%from same time last year and total injuries for October was 448. Fatal traffic accidents,including the two recent accidents discussed in Captain Byrd's report, are up 25%; number of fatalities up 14%, as compared to this time last year. The Staples/SPID intersection was the highest accident location, experiencing twelve (12) traffic accidents during October,with the majority of those accidents occurring in the exit ramp area or on the expressway main lane area close to the exit ramp. The second highest intersection for October was Everhart/SPID frontage road with ten (10) accidents. VII. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Discussion of alternative traffic regulation measures for application to reduction of non- resident traffic volumes on Everhart Road and Aberdeen Avenue between Alameda Street and Santa Fe Street. (Attachment"C" Mr.Seller briefly went over the different alternatives, -1- SCANNED AI r-_ stating both the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative. These alternatives will be presented to the City Council. Concerns expressed by committee members involved enforcement of the alternatives, the need for adequate manpower to carry out the alternatives,other areas in the city with similar problems. (Being that the majority of the audience was at meeting concerning the Aberdeen issue,Mr.Pillinger' elected to hear from those in the audience at this time.) Mr.Greg McMullen,330 Circle,commented that the traffic coming both ways needs to be addressed, not just coming from one direction. Mr. McMullen stated that the 3-way stop signs and the turning instructions would be very effective in handling traffic in both directions. Mr. McMullen also commented that if any action taken at Santa Fe and Aberdeen,that a close look at Circle and Santa Fe should also be done. Mr.Herschel Roberson,330 Aberdeen,commented that something needs to be done,both short-term and long-term, to help diminish the number of vehicles traveling down Aberdeen. Ms. Vida Roll, 329 Aberdeen, commented that if stop sign is placed at the corner of Center and Aberdeen,then also consider placing a red light there also. Ms.Roll stated the stopsign would not be effective without a red light so that people would be aware of the stop sign. Ms. Barbara Pittman, 310 Aberdeen, ask for clarification on the speed humps. Ms. Pittman understood that the City does not install speed humps due to the liability due to damage to the vehicle. Mr. Seiler stated,that the city has been extremely selective on the locations and recommending installation only in cases with proven traffic accidents. Ms. Pittman commented she doesn't feel that the "no-thru" traffic signage would be an effective solution without being regulated through the police department. Ms. Pittman believes that the three-way stop signs would be an effective solution. Regarding the drop-gate barrier,Ms.Pittman asked if this would be limited to just one side of the road. Mr. Seiler explained that this was correct as was presented in the alternatives. One of the factors considered in terms of the traffic volume distribution was that the traffic volume is not necessarily heavy in both directions at the same hours per day. Ms.Pittman asked if all eight alternatives be submitted to the Council for their consideration or will staff be submitting its recommendation. Mr.Seiler stated that the first four alternatives were the ones that staff felt would have some positive influence on the diversion of traffic due to the physical nature,not passive nature. Being there were no additional comments from the audience or committee members, Mr. Pillinger asked for motion on this discussion item. Mr. Braselton moved for a two-part motion: a) the committee recommend one of these actions as an interim solution but it be prefixed by the underlying concern that this street carries an undue 3,000 VPD,it does need something to be done that is above normal;b) the committee recommend that the three-way stop sign doing down Everhart. Mr.Routh seconded the motion. After discussion by other committee members,the motion carried. VIII. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS SUBMITTED FOR COM IIITEE APPROVAL A. Staff recommendation to amend Code of Ordinances Chapter 53-TRAFFIC, Article VIII- SCHEDULES,Section 53-254--Schedule V,Increase of State Speed Limit in Certain Zones, by reducing the speed limit on Airline Road from 40 MPH to 35 MPH between a point 300 feet north of Wooldridge Road to Saratoga Boulevard. (Attachment "D") Mr. Seiler explained the recommendation that has been made follows the receipt of complaints by residents in Wooldridge Creek Subdivision that motorists were speeding in this area and the speed limit of 40 MPH was unsafe on this street. Because the City does not like to have a speed limit on a roadway greater than the 85th percentile speed, and in this particular case, the 85th percentile speed is under 40 MPH,thus, the reason for the recommendation. Mr. -2- DeVille moved to accept the recommendation to reduce the speed limit on Airline Road from 40 MPH to 35 MPH. Mr. Beggs seconded the motion. Vote was 4 to 3 against the recommendation- motion failed. IX. RECOGNITION OF AUDIENCE FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CONCERNS. None. X. ACTION ON ABSENT MEMBERS FROM OCTOBER 1993 MEETING Messrs.Pillinger,Routh and DeVille were excused for October meeting. XI. PREVIOUS CONCERNS Mr. Pillinger commented on the ordinances pending before the City Council of which one item concerning enforcement of handicapped parking areas. Mr.Seiler explained that this was a discussion item informing the committee that an individual who was handicapped was promoting this enforcement. Staff had contacted this individual and advised him that item had been discussed with the Transportation Advisory Committee. The proposal that individual had made would also need to be discussed with the Police Department who would be responsible for training officers in the enforcementof the item. Mr. Pillinger requested the Staff to followup on this item. XII. NEW CONCERNS Mr.Beggs inquired about stop sign at the Corpus Christi Science Museum. Mr. Seiler will look into this situation. Mr. Pillinger inquired about traffic light synchronization of lights at Wooldridge and at Saratoga. Motorists trying to get onto Everhart have difficult time because of the timing of lights. Mr. Seiler explained that section of Everhart does not have coordinated flow. At the present time, the Texas Department of Transportation is installing new controllers in this area and new controller patterns established in early January. XIII. ADJOURNMENT. Meeting adjourned at 3:50 p.m. DfinutesNov -3-