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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Transportation Advisory Commission - 04/27/1992 NSPORTATlON AB~VISORY_COMMITTEE SCANNEDMINUTES (for the meeting of April-27;1992)) Meeting was called to order at 2:04 p.m. Minutes of the March meeting were approved with one correction. The Minutes failed to state that Mr.Brandrup's motion regarding the addition of warning devices (i.e.,yellow flu hing signals or strobe signals)was restricted to the intersection of UI 37/Mesquite. Messrs.Bosquez,Hecht,Routh and Sley were absent. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT Mr. Pillinger stated (1) that he had received an inquiry from Mr. Todd Piland, vice president of real estate with I EB in regard to the HEB at Moore Plaza and the traffic congestion in that area. Mr. Piland was interested in whether it would be worthwhile to approach the City Council on the possibility of the ramp reversaL (2) Mr. Pillinger wanted to make note that the traffic study to be done in the southside area should also include evaluation of S.H. 358 ramp reversals. He requested to go on record that the ramp reversal issue should not be excluded. His intent is not to suggest that this matter be specifically studied but that it shouldnot be excluded. He stated that there is little sense in paying a consultant to do a study of this type and exclude this issue and (3) He made note of the attendance record included in the mailout. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Mr. Pillinger requested that the Election of Officers be placed on the agenda because there has been three new members since the election of the present officers. Mr. Brandrup suggested that although there was a quorum, the election should be postponed until the next meeting when more of the members could be present. Mr. Brandrup further stated for the record the recommendation of the present chairperson and vice-chairperson. TRAFFIC FATALITY REPORT Capt.C.H.Byrd presented the Fatality Report. The Police Department has recorded one(1)fatal traffic accident since the last Committee meeting. There has been a total of six fatal traffic accidents for 1992 compared to eight (8) this same time last year. MONTHLY TRAFFIC ACCIDENT EXPERIENCE REPORT Accepted as presented by Mr. Seiler. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS REQUIRING COMMITTEE APPROVAL (Moved up for the benefit of a Committee member that had to leave early) Staff recommendation to amend City Code or Ordinances Section 53-152 (Stopping, Standing or Parking Near Hazardous or Congested Places) by revising the distance over which a parking/stopping/standing restriction could be implemented to eliminate a hazardous condition and for mitigation of any unusual delay to traffic near a, congested intersection. ° Mr. Seiler presented this recommendation stating that the recommendation is to amend Sec. 53-152 by empowering the City Traffic Engineer with a broader authority for promptly implementing no parking restrictions at locations where parking is occurring and found to be causing potentially hazardous congestion such as vision obstructions. Approval of this recommendation would delete the 250 foot distance over which a parking/stopping/standing restriction could be implemented and would include authority to establish such restriction over the full width of the street right-of-way for an unlimited distance. Presently the approval process could take as long as two months due to the requirement for the recommendation to go before the TAC,which meets once a month, and the City Council, which normally reads such request on a three reading basis. The second part of the staff recommendation is to give the 2 City Traffic Engineer authority to restrict parking in the vicinity of intersections for a distance not greater than 1,500 feet for the purpose of eliminating excessive congestion. After nominal discussion, a motion was made by Ms. Hoist seconded by Mr. Brandrup and passed unanimously to approve the staff recommendation. DISCUSSION ITEMS (Not listed as a Discussion Item) Letter from Mr. Paul Pearson to Chairperson Pillinger regarding"History of the Moore Plaza Project..." o Mr. Pearson addressed the Committee stating that they are doing all they can to ease traffic congestion in the Moore Plaza area,although he feels that there was an incredible amount of traffic in this area even when it was a farm field. According to Mr. Pearson, "historically, Moore Plaza did not cause the traffic problem, the problem was caused by what happened between Weber and Everhart". In 1979 the Master Transportation Plan called for a collector on Williams (from Greenwood to Rodd Field) which was later amended before the Moore Plaza project was started. Mr. Pearson also stated that the planned improvements such as a right hand turn lane 500 feet long at Staples/SPID, widening Holly Road to a major collector, the extension of Corona Drive and the Saratoga connection with the Crosstown Expressway,plus internal roadways within the shopping center should solve the traffic problem for at least 10 years. Report on regional and local prioritized highway and street projects. • Mr.David Seiler and Mr.Brandol Harvey,Dir. of Planning,presented this discussion item explaining that a delegation from the Chamber of Commerce, on May 27, will present the following six projects to the Highway Commission for approval (1) International Commerce (2) Urban Growth (3) CCSU Access (4) Port Access (5) Island Access/Evacuation and (6) Special considerations and priorities. The present plan of action is for the City staff to develop a schedule on taking these projects through an approval process through the TAC and Planning Commission and ultimately before the City Council for resolution and approval. After some discussion Mr. Seiler added that within the next few weeks staff plans to conduct a meeting with the TAC and Planning Commission to provide_more information and hopefully to receive approval and input prior to submission to the City Council. Discussion on preliminary plat submitted for Park Plaza Annex o Mr. Seiler presented a copy of the preliminary plat submitted by the owners Messrs. Smith, Bevly and Wilson, who also jointly own the Padre Staples Mall. Mr. Seiler stated that the City staff's principal concern with the preliminary plat is the proposed street dedication. The Traffic Engineering Division has strong views on the proposed street dedication between Staples Street and McArdle just north of Arby's Restaurant and opposes this proposal. Staff feels that a new roadway connection between Staples and SPID or at least between Staples and McArdle further west of the proposed street connection is the only practical solution. The consensus of the Committee was opposition to the preliminary plat with Mr. Brandrup abstaining. Traffic Engineering FY 1992-93 Budget Proposal • Mr. Seiler presented the FY 1992-93 Budget Proposal, there was little discussion from the Committee members. Mr.Brandrup questioned the possibility of MPO funds being used for staff additions;Mr.Seiler responded that there is the possibility of two positions being funded through MPO funds for the Traffic Engineering Division's traffic data base maintenance activities. 3 Greenfields-by-the-Bay School Site • As promised in the April TAC meeting, Mr. Seiler updated the Committee on the traffic access concerns in regard to Greenfields-by-the-Bay school site. Since the last TAC meeting City staff has meet with the school district to (1)fmd an improved access point to the school, (2) to establish a better planning process between the City and the school district so that the problem with Greenfields-by-the-Bay would not re- occur. Presently,providing more access directly with Wooldridge Road from the school site is under consultation with the adjacent landowner. PreliminAry discussion on residential subdivision "through traffic" mitigation. o Mr.Seiler advised the Committee that this item is concerned with residential subdivisions that have some streets that have become "through traffic" streets through the subdivision, not necessarily impacted by truck traffic, but simply"short-cut" traffic. Several subdivision residents have become desperate to the point of contacting the City for assistance to block the street. Staff is working with the Legal Department and surveying of other cities' practices to determine what options are available for diversion of traffic. ACTION ON ABSENT MEMBERS FROM MARCH MEETING Motion was made and seconded to excuse Mr. Hecht and Ms. Hoist from the March 23, 1992 TAC meeting. Mr. Bosquez was not excused from the March 23 meeting because there was no prior notification of his absence and he was also absent from this meeting and unable to request to be excused. It was decided to change the TAC meeting from Monday,May 25, 1992 (Memorial Day) to Tuesday,May 26, 1992 at 2:00 p.m. in the 6th floor conference room. PREVIOUS CONCERNS Mr.Pillinger brought to the attention of the Committee the need to clarify whether taxicab concerns should come under the review of the TAC. The consensus of the Committee was that this matter should be clarified before the revised TAC Duties and Responsibilities are submitted to the Council. - Mr.Braselton pointed out to the Committee in regard to Mr.Pearson's Moore Plaza infrastructure comments,that there are individual pieces of property throughout the city where land infrastructure development is "bypassed" for whatever reason. The landowner is contacted in regard to putting in drainage, but because of the cost,it is not done. As in the case of Mrs. Moore's land, according to Mr.Braselton she could have participated in the drainage years ago, but chose not to. Mr.Braselton wanted to go on record that it is not necessary a fallacy or a planning oversight when the provision for drainage is delayed. When it is private property, it is up to the individual owner to participate or not. ADJOURNMENT o Meeting was adjourned at 4:10 p.m. Minutes.Apr