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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Transportation Advisory Commission - 03/23/1992 TRANSPORTATION-DYfSORY-COMMITTEES CAN MINUTES (for the meetingof March-23,4992) NED Meeting was called to order at 2:05 p.m. Minutes of the February meeting were approved with one correction. The Minutes stated"Mr.Brandrup stated that the Everhart/SPID and Staples/SPID intersections are the second and third most dangerous in the city." when in fact Mr.Brandrup had reference to the off-ramp collisions rather than the intersection collisions. Ms. Hoist, Mr. Hecht and Mr. Bosquez were absent. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT (1) Mr. Pillinger reported that he had received a verbal response to his letter to Mr. Pearson in regard to the Blanche Moore connection. Mr. Pearson stated that the delay was because of the need to have the property replatted. He plans to resubmit the plat to the City because of the addition of another building and the expansion of Builders Square. Two streets will be constructed creating two connections to Blanche Moore Drive. (2)Mr.Pillinger also stated that Mr.Hecht and Ms.Hoist would like to be reappointed to the TAC. Mr.Bosquez has not responded at this time. TRAFFIC FATALITY REPORT Capt.C.H.Byrd presented the Fatality Report. The Police Department has recorded one(1)fatal traffic accident, in which two people died, since the last Committee meeting. There has been a total of five fatal traffic accidents for 1992 compared to eight (8) this same time last year. Mr.Brandrup made a motion,seconded by Mr.Braselton and passed unanimously to encourage the State Highway Department (TxDOT) to look at the addition of warning devices to include yellow flashing signals or even strobe signals, though they may not be a part of the State's Uniform Manual of Highway Devices. ' MONTHLY TRAFFIC ACCIDENT EXPERIENCE REPORT Accepted as presented by Mr. Seiler. DISCUSSION ITEMS Nueces County Coastal Management Plan Mr.Seiler informed the Committee that in talking to Mr.Chris Lawrence and Commissioner Carter,they assured him that the Coastal Management Plan has no intention of trying to limit the power of the City in control of the section of beach within the city limits. Mr.Seiler also read an excerpt from the Plan that stated that "it is not the objective of the Commissioners Court by the adoption of this plan to limit are effect the authority, responsibility or privilege of any other governmental jurisdiction granted by statue including but not limited to the authorities of the cities of Port Aransas or Corpus Christi, Texas". Mr. Seiler told the Committee that the City Attorney's office is in the process of preparing a submittal to the Attorney General's Office and General Land Office. He plans to have a document ready for review by the Committee by the April or May TAC meetings. ° Greenfields-by-the-Bay School Site This item was placed on the agenda at the request of Mr. F. Braselton who also made the presentation. Mr. Braselton explained that he was contacted by a resident of Greenfields-by-the-Bay questioning him on the possibility of another access into the subdivision other than Quebec Street. The resident was concerned with the need for something to make the motorist aware of the curve and to slow traffic to avoid injury of one of the children walking to schooL Mr. Seiler explained that the coordination between the CCISD and the City regarding school site access to this school left much to be desired and that an improved process was to be established. With regard to the specific access concerns,Mr.Seiler stated that 2 the City and the CCISD were to re-establish an agenda for this matter to address the possible construction of a temporary connection to Wooldridge Road. Mr. Seiler indicated he would update the TAC on this matter in the next meeting. ° Traffic Engineering FY 1992-93 Budget Proposal A summary of the Traffic Engineering Division FY 1992-93 Budget Proposal was presented to the Committee Members by Mr. Seiler for information and review. This item will be placed on next months agenda for discussion. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS REQUIRING COMMITTEE APPROVAL • Staff recommendation to amend Code of Ordinances Section 53-250 Schedule I - (One-Way Streets and Alleys) by changing Chaparral Street from a one-way (northbound) traffic pattern to two-way traffic between I.H. 37 (eastbound leg) to Belden Street. Mr. Seiler presented this recommendation explaining that presently traffic exiting the area of the Convention Center has to turn either to the west to access IH 37 by way of Mesquite Street or to the east to access IH 37 or Shoreline Boulevard by way of Belden Street and Water Street. This improvement would ease congestion and provide badly needed access away from the Convention Center. This project is in the Traffic Signal Capital Improvement Program and should be started within the next 30-60 days. After very little discussion, motion was made by Mr. Hecht, seconded by Mr. Brandrup and passed unanimously to accept the recommendation to change Chaparral Street from one-way(northbound)traffic pattern to two-way traffic between IH 37 (eastbound leg) to Belden Street. o Staff recommendation to amend Code of Ordinances-Article VIII, Section 53-250 Schedule I- (One-Way Streets and Alleys) by designating Brentwood Drive between Norton Street and Brawner Parkway as a one-way southbound street during school hours on schooldays only. Mr. Seiler presented this recommendation at the request of some of the residents of Brentwood Drive. He explained that the one-way designation would improve school zone operations and is periodically authorized when a school is adjacent to a residential street which becomes overburdened with parking. There was overwhelming response by the resident of Brentwood Drive in support of this one-way proposal. Motion was made by Mr. Routh, seconded by Mr. Sley and passed unanimously to accept the staff recommendation to designate Brentwood Drive between Norton Street and Brawner Parkway as a one-way southbound street during school hours on schooldays only. • Staff recommendation to amend Code of Ordinances Section 53-255 Schedule VI- (Decrease of State Law Maximum Speed) by establishing a 20 MPH speed limit on the Carmel Parkway Extension between Staples Street and Gollihar Road. Staff recommendation to lower the speed limit on the Carmel Parkway Extension between Staples Street and Gollihar Road was presented by Mr. Seiler. Motion was made by Mr. Routh but died for lack of a second after expanded discussion by the TAC members.. o Staff recommendation to amend Code of Ordinances-Article VIII, Section 53-254 Schedule V- (Increase of State Speed Limit in Certain Zones) by establishing the following speed limits on Staples Street (FM 2444) - 50 MPH speed limit on Staples Street between Saratoga Boulevard and a point approximately 75 feet south of Timbergate Drive. - 55 MPH speed limit on Staples Street between a point approximately 75 feet south of Timbergate Drive and the south city limits. 3 Mr. Seiler presented this recommendation stating that the staff was making this recommendation at the request of the State and felt that it was a good interim proposal, pending further deliberation with the State on speed limit reduction south of Timbergate Drive. Discussion by TAC members ensued in which Committee members recollected their earlier deliberation on this matter in January in which the Committee voted in favor of recommending to the State that the speed limit be reduced to 45 MPH for a significant distance south of Saratoga. Mr. Seiler explained that he had discussed this concern with the State, and that the State was holding firm to its traditional method of speed limit assignments which formed the basis of this recommendation to the Committee. After further discussion on wording of a motion in support of a 50 MPH reduction continuously to Yorktown Boulevard, an amended motion was made by Mr.Braselton and unanimously approved to recommend a 50 MPH reduction south to Yorktown Boulevard,including an appeal to the State Highway Commission for support of this further recommended reduction between Timbergate Drive and Yorktown Boulevard. ACTION ON ABSENT MEMBERS FROM FEBRUARY MEETING Motion was made and seconded to excuse Mr.Ben Sley and LCDR Michael Williams from the February 24, 1992 TAC meeting. PREVIOUS CONCERNS Mr. Pillinger questioned Mr. Seiler on the status of the Vision Obstruction Ordinance and TIS, Mr. Seiler responded that with the completion of the Traffic Engineering Division FY 1992-93 Budget he will be able to devote more time to those pending items. Mr.Braselton commented on the stop signs on the Blanche Moore Drive extension,Mr.Seiler responded that the City Council directed the staff to install stop signs at Curtis Clarke and Bonner Street and to establish the right turn and left turn restrictions. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 4:15 p.m. Minutes.Mar