TOWN OF SOUTH KINGSTOWN MEMORANDUM

Transcription

1 TOWN OF SOUTH KINGSTOWN MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: SUBJECT: Vincent Murray, Director of Planning Dennis Vinhateiro, Principal Planner Chief Vincent Vespia, Jr., South Kingstown Police Paul Ferrandi, Highway Superintendent Lt. Paul Horoho, South Kingstown Police Andy Nota, Director of Administration Jon Schock, Public Services Director Bill Boardman, Town Engineer Vincent Vespia, Police Chief Transportation & Traffic Review Committee Meeting Minutes of DATE: September 7, 2011 MEMBERS PRESENT Vincent Vespia, Police Chief Jon Schock, Public Services Director Lt. Paul Horoho, South Kingstown Police Dennis Vinhateiro, Principal Planner Bill Boardman, Town Engineer OTHERS PRESENT Julie Wardwell, Secretary-South Kingstown Police Steve Pristawa, RIDOT MEMBERS ABSENT Andy Nota, Director of Administration Vincent Murray, Director of Planning- represented by Dennis Vinhateiro Paul Ferrandi, Highway Superintendent NEXT MEETING Thursday, September 15, 2011 at 9:00 am Public Safety Complex The following serves to memorialize those items discussed and agreed upon at the subject meeting of the Town of South Kingstown Transportation and Traffic Review Committee (T 2 RC): MEETING MINUTES Minutes of this meeting were approved as presented at the meeting. 1. Letter of 11/4/10 from Fritz Lanz re: traffic calming measures- Kingstown Road (Route 108), Peace Dale between Columbia Street and Old Mountain Field.

2 December 16, 2010 As a result of a written request to RIDOT, Theodore Coleman, P.E., attended the meeting where a number of traffic calming measures were discussed. Mr. Coleman, Fritz Lanz, who was also present, and the TTRC determined the best approach to rectify the problem was to request a full traffic engineering study. It was also voted to request RIDOT review the placement of No Right Turn on Red Light signs at Dale Carlia Corner. Chief Vespia to write two letters to RIDOT requesting both studies. January 20, 2011 Letter sent to Mr. Rocchio at RIDOT requesting STC conduct a traffic engineering study. Request to be considered by STC at their regular meeting on January 12, February 17, 2011 Waiting for STC decision. March 17, 2011 Continued- waiting for STC decision. Waiting for school year to start to begin the study. 2. Review of parking restrictions in Town parking lots when snow related parking bans are in effect. January 20, 2011 Matter will be researched. February 17, 2011 Continued to review agreements on file at the Planning Department with Tase Rite and businesses bordering Main Street parking lot. Chief Vespia to draft an ordinance for TTRC review. March 17, 2011 Matter continued. SK Planning Dept. provided a report 4/14/11 of existing agreements with town. Report to be reviewed to allow for accurate description to be incorporated into a proposed ordinance. Under review by Chief Vespia re: draft ordinance. 2

3 Continued- Chief Vespia to prepare an ordinance for Town Council consideration re: no overnight parking in Town lots- this would provide for clear lots when snow plowing is necessary. Chief Vespia drafted an ordinance recommendation to present to the Town Manager to keep Town parking lots free of vehicles during snow storms. TTRC approved forwarding recommendation to the Town Manager. Lt. Horoho will speak to Wes Lessard, who owns Tase- Rite, regarding the eight parking spaces exempt from this ordinance and ask him to have the cars park closer to the building in snow events for easier plowing. Proposed ordinance sent to Town Council and was returned to TTRC for more discussion and review. Chief Vespia will research existing snow ban parking policy to see if it can be amended to include parking lots. 3. Succotash Road (Matunuck Oyster Bar) issues Attorney Margaret Hogan represented East Matunuck residents who were present. Atty. Hogan requested TTRC support the repeal of existing parking of 300 on west side of Succotash Road north of Potter s Pond Bridge. Noted proprietor of Oyster Bar (Perry Raso) has taken steps to alleviate the parking congestion. Photographs of congestion presented. Increased police enforcement in conjunction with working with Mr. Raso. Chief Vespia wrote a letter to STC requesting 300 feet of tubular delineators (duck paddles) on easterly side of Succotash Road (see attached copy of letter). Waiting for STC response. Waiting for STC response to Town s request for tubular delineators. Tubular delineators no longer a consideration due to cost and strong deterrent enforcement by SKPD. SKPD will continue parking enforcement. Police continue to enforce- no further complaints. 4. Downtown Merchant s Association Traffic Concerns Representative Tanzi, Joan Dwyer and C. Noah Davis representing DMA presented traffic calming initiatives: Welcome to Wakefield signs at both ends of Town. Would need STC approval. Accidents due to speed in area of curve in area of River Street. Town to purchase new portable signs for placement on Main Street. Increase parking limits from one to two hours Lighting in rear town. Four Yield to Pedestrians in Crosswalk signs have been purchased and are ready for installation with the possibility of moving them to the sidewalk and securing them to a street sign at night. Mrs. Dwyer would like lighting in the back parking lot behind All That Matters. Dennis 3

4 Vinhaterio mentioned lighting restrictions and Andy Nota offered to speak to the building owner, Scott Hallberg, regarding this issue. Mrs. Dwyer also requested an increase in parking from one to two hours from 249 Main Street to 365 Main Street. Chief Vespia will speak with Mrs. Dwyer to see if all the Downtown Merchants agree. SKPD has not received complaints of overtime parking. Jon Schock reported that the Yield to Pedestrians in Crosswalk signs have been placed on Main Street and have locks on them. Two hour parking limit still pending. 5. Bike Path- Phase III Signaling Discussion re: red light on all approaches when pedestrian/cyclist activates button to cross Rt. 108 Andy Nota reported the light signaling has been completed but the No Turn on Red has not been done. He mentioned the grand opening of Phase III will be on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at 1:30pm in the railroad tunnel in Narragansett. The Governor will be present and an artist is painting the inside of the tunnel. The No Turn on Red sign has been installed. 6. Kingston Village Parking Jon Schock suggested that the parking situation and conditions in Kingston Village be reviewed and bring the report back to TTRC next month. A parking study needs to be done which should also include information from URI. Dennis Vinhateiro will check with Vin Murray regarding the concerns of townspeople not having parking spaces because the students park there. Action: Matter continued upon review of parking in Kingston Village. 7. Kingston Neighborhoods Emergency Interconnect Options Different scenarios for emergency access were discussed- Stonehenge Road to Ventura Circle, White Horn Drive to High Meadow Lane and White Horn Drive to Enterprise Circle. A recommendation was made by Jon Schock to proceed with construction of a 15 wide bike path from White Horn Drive to High Meadow Lane with the possibility of forming other easements if necessary. This bike path would be used in emergency situations by fire, rescue and police personnel in the event that Biscuit City Road was inaccessible. Cost estimates will be obtained for all three possibilities. A cost estimate was received from Miozzi Paving to pave a 12 foot wide section between Tefft Hill and Whitehorn Drive for $15,000. The Town would clear the land and prepare the section for paving. Bill Boardman will prepare a memo to include the Town costs and Miozzi costs and check with the Finance Department regarding money in the Reserve Fund. 4

5 8. Letter from Shaun Kavanagh regarding Traffic Calming Measures on Worden s Pond Road Mr. Kavanagh is requesting the speed limit on the South Kingstown portion of Worden s Pond Road be reduced from 35mph to 25mph as the Charlestown portion is already set at 25mph. He would also like to see signs posted to restrict heavy trucking (18 wheelers) on the road as it is very narrow. By law, the speed limit in a residential section is 25 mph. A study needs to be done to see if this section of road is residential. The Chief will provide the State Law which stipulates the requirements for a residential area. 9. High Hazard Intersections- Dale Carlia Corner and 108/Curtis Corner Road Steve Pristawa from RIDOT presented plans to remedy the traffic problems in these areas. The suggestion was for striping the lanes to go from 4 lanes down to 2 lanes. RIDOT feels that safety goes up when the speed goes down. Mr. Pristawa indicated this construction would begin next year in the spring. Much discussion followed which also included correcting the handicap access areas and problems with the Quo Vadis shopping center. TTRC will prepare a comment letter for RIDOT for Dale Carlia Corner and Quo Vadis. 10. Request for a Stop Sign for Stony Fort Road and Old North Road from Tom and Rebecca Reed Jon Schock reported the area in question is in Exeter and he has notified Mr. and Mrs. Reed. No follow-up is needed. 11. Speeding on Middlebridge Road Lt. Horoho reported that the police presence and the message board have been fairly successful in enforcing the excessive speed on Middlebridge Road. The police department will continue to be present in the area. Dennis Vinhateiro reported that Tim O Neill of Middlebridge Road is willing to purchase a sign that would indicate the speed that motorists are travelling. TTRC doesn t support privately funded traffic control devices. NEXT MEETING: THURSDAY, September 15, PUBLIC SAFETY 9:00 am cc: Stephen A. Alfred, Town Manager Town Council Members File 5