City of Lawrence Traffic Safety Commission Agenda August 6, :00 PM City Commission Room, City Hall

Transcription

1 City of Lawrence Traffic Safety Commission Agenda August 6, :00 PM City Commission Room, City Hall MEMBERS: Dan Harden, Chair; Edwin Rothrock, Vice-Chair; Stuart Boley; Ryan Devlin; Cody Howard; Jason Novotny; Tracy Russell; Chris Storm; and John Ziegelmeyer Jr. Anyone who wishes to be notified when an item will be heard by the City Commission must provide their name and a telephone number or an address. ITEM NO. 1: Review and approve the minutes of the Traffic Safety Commission meeting, June 4, ITEM NO. 2: Consider request to designate the right northbound lane on Kasold Drive at 6 th Street as a RIGHT TURN ONLY lane. Facts: 1. Kasold Drive is classified as an arterial street with two northbound through lanes at 6 th Street. 2. Peak-hour traffic counts obtained show that during both the AM and PM peak-hours, over 55% of the northbound traffic makes a right-turn, while less than 45% of the traffic continues northbound. 3. If the right lane is designated as a right-turn only lane, pavement markings and signing would have to be installed. Traffic Safety Commission Agenda 6 August

2 ITEM NO. 3: Consider request to construct a ROUNDABOUT or TRAFFIC SIGNAL at the intersection of 27 th Street & Haskell Avenue. Facts: 1. Haskell Avenue is classified as an arterial street; 27 th Street is classified as a collector street. 2. Haskell Avenue will have a connection to the South Lawrence Trafficway when it is completed in Traffic data obtained in May, 2012 show that three traffic signal warrants are currently met; Warrant 1b, Eight-Hour Vehicular Volume, Interruption of Continuous Traffic; Warrant 2, Four- Hour Vehicular Volume; and Warrant 3, Peak-Hour. 4. Traffic data also is within the range of accommodation by a single-lane roundabout; in addition, due to the off-set in 27 th Street, a roundabout may be easier to build and operate. ITEM NO. 4: Consider request to establish NO PARKING on Massachusetts Street south of 23 rd Street and provide a separate LEFT-TURN LANE for northbound traffic. Facts: rd Street is classified as an arterial street and Massachusetts Street is classified as a local street south of 23 rd Street. 2. When the intersection was reconstructed in the 1990 s, residents of the area indicated that they did not want a northbound left-turn lane if it meant the removal of on-street parking. 3. In order to provide a left-turn lane, parking will have to be removed from both sides of the street for approximately 150ft south of the intersection. ITEM NO. 5: Consider request to construct TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES on 17 th Terrace, 18 th Street & New Hampshire Street. Facts: 1. As a part of the approval of the reconstruction of the Dillon s store on Massachusetts Street, Dillon s provided $40,000 for the construction of traffic calming devices on the residential streets east of the store. Traffic Safety Commission Agenda 6 August

3 th Street was approved for Traffic Calming by the Traffic Safety Commission and the City Commission in Traffic data collected in March 2011 showed that over 65% of the traffic during the peak-hour was cut-through traffic; therefore, this street meets the minimum criteria for consideration of traffic calming. 4. Traffic data collected in the 1700 block of New Hampshire Street in January 2011 showed over 1100 vehicles per day on a local street; therefore, this street meets the minimum criteria for consideration of traffic calming. ITEM NO. 6: Public comment. ITEM NO. 7: Commission Items. ITEM NO. 8: Miscellaneous. Traffic Safety Commission Agenda 6 August

4 From: Kathy Colson Sent: Monday, February 06, :37 PM To: Charles Soules Subject: traffice flow Mr. Soules, Has anyone considered re-assigning the 3 traffic lanes at Kasold and 6th that head north? What I would like is to have a right turn only lane, the center lane go north and continue the left turn lane. I suggest this only because there are so few cars that head north and many cars who sit and wait to turn right behind the one who is going straight. There does not seem to be the same amount of traffic heading south. I have noticed the occasional car cutting through the Walgreen parking lot to avoid the wait to turn right. Thanks for your consideration. Kathy Colson

5

6 Kasold Dr. W6thSt

7 From: Limones, Deborah M [mailto:dlimones@ku.edu] Sent: Friday, April 27, :34 AM To: David Woosley Subject: need traffic management Hi, I m writing to ask if NOT busy interactions such as Illinois and 17th can have a roundabout put in, why hasn t anything been done for 27th and Haskell? I m not so sure a roundabout would be enough. I think it needs a traffic light. It s always busy, definitely as busy as 23rd and Barker, and at peak traffic periods it s dangerous, especially trying to make a left turn off of 27th onto Haskell while there is also traffic across the street trying to make their left turn and the traffic running north and south on Haskell is thick. I asked about this intersection at least 5 years ago and was told by the city that it was on the list of intersections to attend to. That was 5 years ago. I believe this intersection should have been/be a priority, when comparing traffic flow to other intersections that have received traffic management improvising. Thanks, Debbie Limones, Accountant University of Kansas Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies Dole Human Development Center Room Sunnyside Avenue Lawrence, KS phone (785) dlimones@ku.edu<mailto:dlimones@ku.edu>

8 City of Lawrence, Kansas Traffic Engineering Division Traffic Signal Warrant Worksheet Location: 27th St & Haskell Ave Date: May 2012 Time Haskell Ave 27th St Grand Warrant Met Period NBLT NBLL NBRL NBRT NB SBLT SBLL SBRL SBRT SB Total EBLT EBLL EBRL EBRT EB WBLT WBLL WBRL WBRT WB Total #1a #1b Totals The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices Minimum Volume Requirements for 8 hours: no Warramt #7, Crash Experience, met Warrant #1a: Main Street Minor Street yes Warrant #2, Four Hour Volume, met Warrant #1b: Main Street Minor Street yes Warrant #3, Peak Hour Volume, met Speed Limit on Haskell = 35 mph

9 E26thSt Ryan Ct E26thSt Natalie Dr E 28th Ter Haskell Ave E27thSt E28thSt Oregon St Maverick Ln Trail Dust Ct Chaparral Park Ponderosa Dr Trail Dust Ct E 27th St Allison Dr.

10 From: 2jayarchs Sent: Wednesday, June 06, :09 AM To: David Woosley Subject: 23rd and Mass intersection David, As referenced in some of our earlier correspondence, the residents of the Breezedale Neighborhood have grave concerns with the safety of the 23rd and Massachusetts intersection. It is of our opinion that the design of this intersection is a safety hazard to the tens of thousands who traverse it daily. Of our concerns that we feel need to be addressed immediately are as follows: 1. Due to the South-bound traffic stacked to turn east (and the misalignment of the intersection); South-bound vehicles passing through the intersection can't see north-bound vehicles turning west until they enter the intersection. Likewise, north-bound vehicles can't see south-bound vehicles until turning west-bound. As the signal cycle is relatively short for the north and soundbound traffic, and people are constantly trying to beat the light, this is a tragic situation waiting to happen. 2. With no lane markings south of 23rd street, north-bound traffic stacks up 2 wide. There is no consistency to how people use the "middle" lane - sometimes both "lanes" proceed north-bound, but often there are 4-5 west turns, then 1 random vehicle heading north. This is confusing to south-bound traffic, heading east, and has caused multiple accidents. 3. There is no protection for pedestrians crossing 23rd street. South-bound traffic turning east do not look for pedestrians (they are more focused on on-coming traffic, re #2), and frequently do not give way to pedestrians. 4. South-bound and north-bound traffic merging going west. North-bounders will assume the inside lane of 23rd is theirs for the taking. South-bounders believe they have the right of way to both lanes to make right turns. 5. East-bound vehicles turning north and west-bound vehicles turning south frequently underestimate how fast on-coming traffic is approaching, or believe they have a protected turn signal. Obviously, we understand traffic control measures won't be able to address all of these problems, but we do believe it's possible to minimize many of these risks. It's no exaggeration that many of us in Breezedale fear for our safety every time we enter or leave our neighborhood. From a personal perspective, living on this intersection has given my family front row seats to countless accidents. We have seen the aftermath of pedestrians and bicyclists hit, vehicles totaled and people carried off on stretchers. We have witnessed a utility pole severed, semi-tractor trailers run red lights, and disabled vehicles careen into our yard, with one vehicle even striking our house. Just this morning in fact, the paramedics were called to another serious accident. Considering the semi-trucks, the high volume of traffic, the high rate of speed, the residential neighborhood, and the Haskell students all "colliding" at this intersection, we respectfully request a review of the 23rd and Massachusetts intersection and a plan be put in place for improvements to mitigate these hazards. Respectfully,

11 Michael Sizemore (2301 Massachusetts) on behalf of The Breezedale Neighborhood Association.

12 7/17/2012 Page 1 of 1 David Woosley From: marymatthews@sunflower.com Sent: Thursday, June 07, :41 PM To: David Woosley Subject: 23rd & Massachusetts - DANGEROUS INTERSECTION We would like to ask you to please consider addition of a left turn lane and left turn signal on Northbound Massachusetts at the 23rd Street and Massachusetts Street intersection. The repaving project which is underway this week created lots of discussion and s among Breezedale neighborhood residents about the dangers of that intersection and possible solutions. It is difficult to turn left when it is IMPOSSIBLE to see oncoming traffic because of the mis-aligned lanes. This situation has resulted in many accidents over the years. Massachusetts Street is certainly wide enough to accommodate a turn lane. Of course, that would mean eliminating street parking on Massachusetts from 23rd Street south for at least a few hundred feet, maybe more. And of course some in the neighborhood are opposed to eliminating any parking. In our opinion, however, having a safer intersection would be well worth the loss of some parking spots. Thank you for your consideration. Please contact us if you have any questions or if you would like us to put you in touch with others in the neighborhood who share our concern. Mary and Rob Matthews 2401 Massachusetts Street, Lawrence, Kansas (home) (cell)

13 W 23rd St E23rdSt Massachusetts St Massachusetts St. Massachusetts St

14 Dear TS commissioners: The Barker Neighborhood Association would like to request an agenda item for your August 6, 2012 meeting to consider our request that the city construct traffic calming devices on three streets in our neighborhood near the new Dillons store on Mass St.. We understand from city engineering staff that Dillons has provided the city with funding for traffic calming improvements related to traffic generation by the store. We are requesting traffic calming because more traffic is expected in the area with the new store, and the traffic research conducted by Dillons indicates traffic calming is appropriate. 18th Street has no sidewalks and has been previously approved for traffic calming by the TSC. 17th Terrace is narrow paved lane with no sidewalks or curbs. Each of these streets receives a significant amount of pedestrian traffic and cut-through vehicular traffic. New Hampshire street is a residential street that is uncontrolled from 15th to 19th Street, with the exception of the roundabout at 17th. It is a much busier street than its one would expect for a residential street, and trucks from Dillons will use the street for deliveries and for maneuvering into their loading dock. Please see the attached map, provided to us by David Woosley, which shows general placement of traffic humps, if that is what will be installed. We discussed this map at a neighborhood meeting on November 15, 2011, with Mr. Woosley in attendance, and we have also had subsequent conversation about traffic calming on our neighborhood list. As an alternative to humps in some places, the neighborhood also discussed having diverters at the east ends of 18th Street and 17th Terrace. Some residents of 18th street strongly prefer to see a diverter and a hump placed on their street. I do not have feedback on this idea for 17th Terrace. Diverters may provide a safer environment for pedestrians on those streets. 18th Street terminates at the pharmacy entrance; 17th Terrace terminates near the entrance to the Dillons parking lot. Several neighbors supported the idea of diverters, but few neighbors would rather see traffic distributed more evenly across the streets in the neighborhood, with no diverters. So we do not have complete consensus on this option. In addition to traffic calming devices on the blocks shown on the map, if funds can be made available, we request that humps also be installed on NH Street in the 1600 and 1500 blocks. We think it's possible that shoppers from East Lawrence will want to avoid 18th and 17 Terrace with their new traffic control devices, and also avoid the tight turn at the roundabout at 17th, and the big dip at 16th and RI. So instead of driving south on Barker Street, they might take 15th to New Hampshire (to avoid turning left on Mass) and then have pretty much a straight shot south on NH to the store. We'd like to slow that traffic down. We appreciate your consideration of our requests. I cannot personally attend the meeting due to a prior commitment, but I am hoping someone from the neighborhood will be able to attend to answer any questions you may have. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions prior to the meeting. Please note that we have some other needs for traffic calming in the neighborhood, notably on Forest and on Learnard, and we will be requesting those soon. For our request today, we are focusing on the streets for which Dillons has provided the funds for traffic calming. Sincerely, Lisa Harris Acting president Barker Neighborhood Association Lharris1540@gmail.com

15 TRAFFIC CALMING POLICY Resolution No. 6602, August 23, TRAFFIC-CALMING DEVICES may include but are not limited to Traffic-Calming Circles, Speed Humps and Speed Cushions, Speed Tables, Partial Diverters, Full Diverters, Center Island Narrowing, Chokers, and Road Closures; however, roundabouts are traffic management devices and are not subject to this policy. 2. TRAFFIC-CALMING DEVICES may be permitted on local streets as designated by the City s Major Thoroughfares Map, and under any one of the following conditions: A. The 85 th percentile speed of traffic is 5 mph or greater over the speed limit, or B. The 24-hour two-way traffic volume is greater than 1000, or C. Cut-through traffic comprises more than 50% of the traffic during the peak hour of the day, or D. Where no single condition is satisfied, but where any two of A, B or C above are satisfied to the extent of 80 percent or more of the stated values. 3. TRAFFIC-CALMING DEVICES (except SPEED HUMPS) may be permitted on collector streets as designated by the City s Major Thoroughfares Map, under any one of the following conditions: A. The 85 th percentile speed of traffic is 5 mph or greater over the speed limit, or B. The 24-hour two-way traffic volume is greater than 3000, or C. Cut-through traffic comprises more than 50% of the traffic during the peak hour of the day, or D. More than 50% of the frontage of the roadway consists of residential lots with the houses facing the roadway in question, or E. Where no single condition is satisfied, but where any two of A, B, C or D above are satisfied to the extent of 80 percent or more of the stated values. 4. Traffic data will be collected with city personnel using city equipment only. In the event that a requested location does not meet the minimum requirements as stated in 2 or 3 above, subsequent requests will not be considered for a minimum of one year. 5. The Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical Department, the Police Department, the Public Works Department and the Traffic Safety Commission must review all requests for TRAFFIC-CALMING DEVICES before being presented to the City Commission. 6. If a project is approved by the City Commission, the City Commission will determine financing of the construction. The City Commission may require 0-100% of the costs to be paid by the group or neighborhood making the request. 7. After a project is approved and funded by the City Commission, TRAFFIC-CALMING DEVICES will only be constructed at a location if 70% or more of the property owners within 300 feet measured along the centerline of the street in each direction approve of the installation or if directed by the City Commission. The individual, group or neighborhood making the request shall be responsible for obtaining the property owners and residents approval in writing and submitting it to the city. 8. Once installed, TRAFFIC-CALMING DEVICES may only be removed at a location if more than 70% of the property owners and residents within 300 feet measured along the centerline of the street in each direction approve of the removal or if directed by the City Commission. The individual, group or neighborhood making the request shall be responsible for obtaining the property owners and residents approval in writing and submitting it to the city. 9. TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES may initially be landscaped (if appropriate) by the city, provided that the group or neighborhood making the request agrees in writing to maintain the landscaping or pursuant to the payment of a landscape maintenance fee. No privately installed landscaping is permitted unless approved by the city in writing.

16 Johnson Ave Barker Ave E18thSt E17thTer New Hampshire St Possible locations for SPEED HUMPS