City of Lawrence

Traffic Safety Commission Agenda

August 14, 2006-7:30 PM

Jayhawk Room-Fire & Medical Station #5

1911 Stewart Avenue

 

MEMBERS:  David Hamby, Chair, Carol Bowen, Vice-Chair, Caroljean Brune, Paul Graves, Robert Hagen, Richard Heckler, Ken Miller, Jim Woods and John Ziegelmeyer Jr.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 1:         Review and approve the minutes of the Traffic Safety Commission meeting, June 5, 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 2:         Consider recommendation from the Pedestrian Advisory Sub-committee to post NO TURN ON RED WHEN PEDESTRIANS ARE PRESENT at the intersection of 19th Street & southbound Tennessee Street.

 

                             Facts:

 

1.     A review of the highest pedestrian crash locations during 2003-2005 found no clear crash pattern at any location except 19th Street & Tennessee Street.

2.     During the 2003-2005 time period, there were three pedestrian crashes reported; all three involved southbound vehicles turning right on red.

 

ACTION:  Provide recommendation to the City Commission.

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 3:         Consider request from Bob Burkhart, 2624 Sawgrass Drive, to improve safety at the recreational path crossing at Sawgrass Drive.

 

                             Facts:

 

1.     Southbound traffic on Sawgrass Drive is controlled by a YIELD sign due to 27th Street being classified as a “collector” street.

2.     The city code requires “the driver of a vehicle approaching a yield sign shall in obedience to such sign slow down to a speed reasonable for the existing conditions and if required for safety to stop, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection…”

3.     The view for southbound drivers on Sawgrass Drive approaching the recreational path along 27th Street is obscured by an iron fence on private property when stopped in advance of the crosswalk; this is not a problem for approaching pedestrians, but is a problem for approaching bicyclists.

4.     The iron fence does not violate the city’s ordinance requirements.

5.     The Yield sign could be replaced with a STOP sign; however, this would not improve the sight distance of drivers who stop.

6.     A STOP sign could be installed for bicyclists on the recreational path; this would not improve sight distance and improved safety would only be as good as obedience to the STOP sign.

7.     The recreational path could be relocated closer to 27th Street which would give southbound drivers a clear view of approaching bicyclists when stopped in advance of the crosswalk.

 

ACTION:  Provide recommendation to the City Commission.

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 4:         Consider request from John Craft, 1515 E. 11th Street, to improve safety at the intersection of 11th Street & Haskell Avenue due to confusion over which drivers have the right-of-way.

 

                             Facts:

 

1.     Haskell Avenue and 11th Street are both classified as “collector” streets

2.     The major flow of traffic is between the west leg of 11th Street and the south leg of Haskell Avenue

3.     Southbound traffic on Haskell Avenue is controlled by a YIELD sign.

4.     Police Department records show three crashes reported at the intersection during the past three years, however, only one involved a question of right-of-way; in this case, the northbound left-turning vehicle clearly had the right-of-way since the southbound right-turning vehicle was controlled by a YIELD sign.

5.     Confusion could result when a northbound left-turning vehicle and an eastbound left-turning vehicle approach the intersection at the same time; however, the city code states “When two vehicles approach or enter an intersection from different highways at approximately the same time the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right.”  Therefore, the northbound vehicle would have the right-of-way.

6.     In order to try to reduce confusion, a sign could be installed for eastbound traffic stating LEFT TURNING VEHICLES YIELD.

7.     Another problem that has resulted in numerous calls to the city is that northbound left-turning vehicles tend to cross the center of the street when turning and encroach on the path of eastbound right-turning vehicles.  A dotted center line was installed through the intersection; however, it continues to be a problem as the pavement marking is worn-off frequently.

8.     A solution to this problem would be to install a 3in high 4ft wide median on the west and south legs of the intersection.

 

ACTION:  Provide recommendation to the City Commission.

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 5:         Consider request from Walter Wittstein, 325 Stockade Street, to establish NO PARKING along the south side of Trail Road between Monterey Way and Sierra Drive.

 

                             Facts:

 

1.     Mr. Wittstein’s concern is that when he is performing yard maintenance and vehicles are parked on the south side of the street, westbound vehicles pass within about 4in of the curb and is a safety problem; in addition, vehicles have hit the curb several times and have caused damage behind the curb.

2.     Trail Road is classified as a “collector” street and is paved 26 feet wide.

3.     Parking is currently prohibited along the north side of Trail Road.

 

ACTION:  Provide recommendation to the City Commission.

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 6:         Consider ordinances establishing traffic control on the University of Kansas Campus.

 

                             Facts:

 

1.     Although the roadways on the University of Kansas Campus are under the control of the University, traffic control provisions must be included in the city code in order to prosecute violations in municipal court.

2.     Ordinances required:

a.      Ten bus stops located on Becker Drive, Constant Avenue, Irving Hill Road and Sunnyside Avenue;

b.     Speed limit 20mph on Crestline Drive between Clinton Parkway and Becker Drive; and

c.      Yield signs at five locations.

 

ACTION:  Provide recommendation to the City Commission.

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 7:         Consider an Ordinance establishing STOP signs on Stockade Street at Stetson Drive.

 

                             Facts:

 

1.     Stockade Street was recently constructed north of the intersection connecting to another sub-division; prior to the construction, only one residential property had direct access to the street.

2.     Vegetation on the northeast corner of the intersection, both on city right-of-way and on private property, causes a severe sight restriction for southbound traffic looking east.

3.     The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices states that “STOP signs should be used if engineering judgment indicates that one or more of the following conditions exist:  that…restricted view…indicate a need for control by the STOP sign.

 

ACTION:  Provide recommendation to the City Commission.

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 8:         Public Comment.

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 9:         Commission Items.

 

                            

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 10:       Miscellaneous.

 

                             Receive Pedestrian Advisory Sub-committee minutes dated 15 June 2006.

 

                             Receive Attendance Summary for the quarter ending July 2006.

 

                             City Commission action on previous recommendations:

 

None.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City of Lawrence

Traffic Safety Commission

August 14, 2006 Minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  John Ziegelmeyer, Jr., Chair, David Hamby, Vice-Chair, Carol Bowen, Caroljean Brune, Paul Graves, Robert Hagen, Ken Miller and Jim Woods.

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:  Richard Heckler.

 

STAFF PRESENT:  David Woosley, Public Works Department; Tracy Russell, Police Department.

 

 

 

Note:  Minutes are brief due to lack of a recording system in the meeting room.

 

 

 

Chair David Hamby called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Jayhawk Room at Fire & Medical Station No. 5.

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 1:

 

Review and approve the minutes of the Traffic Safety Commission meeting, June 5, 2006.

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GRAVES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BOWEN, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING, JUNE 5, 2006; THE MOTION CARRIED 8-0.

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 2:

 

Consider recommendation from the Pedestrian Advisory Sub-Committee to post NO TURN ON RED WHEN PEDESTRIANS ARE PRESENT at the intersection of 19th Street & Southbound Tennessee Street.

 

Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.

 

Commissioner Woods asked if there was an ordinance requiring motorists to yield to pedestrians; Woosley advised that the city code and state law required yielding to pedestrians in a crosswalk.

 

Betty Alderson, 1920 Maine Street, noted that cars park into the sidewalk along the south side of 19th Street, forcing pedestrians into the street.

 

Gwen Klingenberg, 4900 Colonial Way, advised that there are more students using that intersection now since Centennial School was closed and those students now attend Cordley School.

 

Commissioner Bowen stated that RIGHT TURN ON RED is hazardous for pedestrians.

 

Commissioner Hamby asked about the signing at Clinton Parkway & Kasold Drive; Woosley advised there were signs in place stating TURNING VEHICLES MUST YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS; they are also in place at 23rd Street & Louisiana Street.

 

Commissioner Hagen asked if the sign was a standard sign; Woosley advised that NO TURN ON RED was a standard sign and the message could be limited to certain times of the day or under certain conditions.

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRUNE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GRAVES, TO RECOMMEND POSTING “NO TURN ON RED WHEN PEDESTRIANS ARE PRESENT” AT THE INTERSECTION OF 19TH STREET & SOUTBOUND TENNESSEE STREET; THE MOTION CARRIED 7-1 (Woods; there is an ordinance and state law already; that is a bottleneck intersection; we are going to create a bigger problem; one accident per year doesn’t seem to me to be out of proportion).

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 3:

 

Consider request from Bob Burkhart, 2624 Sawgrass Drive, to improve safety at the recreational path crossing at Sawgrass Drive.

 

Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.

 

Commissioner Woods:  It is definitely a problem; while I was at the site, two bicyclists came through and never slowed down, never looked one way or the other.

 

 

 

 

Bob Burkhart, 2624 Sawgrass Drive:  The first problem is that there is no indication that that is a recreational trail; I have talked to the homeowners association, and they may be open to realigning the fence; I had a near miss with a student on the last day of school last spring.

 

Commissioner Woods:  I think it would definitely be cheaper to fix the fence alignment than it would be to pour new concrete.

 

Commissioner Hagen:  Relocating the path would put users closer to the road; something needs to be done, if nothing else, warning drivers of the path.

 

Commissioner Brune asked if we could install signs warning bicyclists of the intersection.  Woosley advised that signs could be installed, but that wouldn’t improve the motorists view.

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BOWEN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HAGEN, TO TABLE THIS ITEM AND REQUEST THAT STAFF MEET WITH THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE ADJACENT FENCE RELOCATED; THE MOTION CARRIED 8-0.

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 4:

 

Consider request from John Craft, 1515 E. 11th Street, to improve safety at the intersection of 11th Street & Haskell Avenue due to confusion over which drivers have the right-of-way.

 

Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.

 

Commissioner Ziegelmeyer asked if traffic counts were growing significantly.  Woosley advised that they were fairly stable.

 

Commissioner Woods asked if it was fair to say that half the vehicles going through the intersection were city vehicles.  Woosley advised that it would be a high percentage, but probably not half; it is also a truck route for the industry in east Lawrence.

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAGEN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRUNE, TO RECOMMEND CONSTRUCTION OF MOUNTABLE MEDIANS AND INSTALLATION OF A “LEFT TURN YIELD” SIGN ON THE EASTBOUND APPROACH TO THE INTERSECTION OF 11TH STREET & HASKELL AVENUE; THE MOTION CARRIED 6-2 (Miller; not convinced the intersection is unsafe.  Woods; medians will be a nightmare for anything bigger than a pickup).

 

ITEM NO. 5:

 

Consider request from Walter Wittstein, 325 Stockade Street, to establish NO PARKING along the south side of Trail Road between Monterey Way and Sierra Drive.

 

Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.

 

Charles Shoemaker, 340 Stockade Street:  The problem is the house at 3809 Trail Road; it is a Cottonwood house and generates the parking that occurs on Trail Road and is responsible for the congestion on Trail Road; No Parking on the south side of the street would move vehicles onto Stockade Street and create a bottleneck; off-street parking is needed for the Cottonwood house.

 

Jeffrey Whittier, Cottonwood, 2801 W. 31st Street:  The house has been owned by HUD for 40 years; Cottonwood has leased the house for approximately 20 years and houses 6 developmentally disabled adults.  Cottonwood doesn’t have authority to make any changes to the property.

 

Commissioner Graves:  I’m not convinced that this is a big problem.

 

Commissioner Hagen:  Trail is a collector and the volume of traffic compounds the problem; the street is too narrow for its purpose.

 

Commissioner Bowen:  Parking on the inside of a curve is usually a problem.

 

Commissioner Hamby:  Removing parking may increase the speed of the traffic.

 

Commissioner Brune:  Just this short area is a problem; no other parking occurs in the area.

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRUNE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GRAVES, TO RECOMMEND DENYING THE REQUEST TO ESTABLISH NO PARKING ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE OF TRAIL ROAD BETWEEN MONTEREY WAY & SIERRA DRIVE; THE MOTION CARRIED 8-0.

 

The Commission encouraged Cottonwood to investigate the possibility of providing more off-street parking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 6:

 

Consider ordinances establishing traffic control on the University of Kansas Campus.

 

Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.

 

Peg Livingood, University of Kansas, invited everyone to utilize the new Park & Ride Lot when visiting the campus.

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HAGEN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MILLER, TO RECOMMEND ESTABLISHING TRAFFIC CONTROL ON THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS CAMPUS AS REQUESTED; THE MOTION CARRIED 8-0.

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 7:

 

Consider an Ordinance establishing STOP signs on Stockade Street at Stetson Drive.

 

Woosley reviewed the information provided in the staff report.

 

Commissioner Woods:  I don’t think all the stop signs in the world will help this; you have to be out in the lane to see.

 

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ZIEGELMEYER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BOWEN, TO RECOMMEND ESTABLISHING STOP SIGNS ON STOCKADE STREET AT STETSON DRIVE; THE MOTION CARRIED 8-0.

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 8:

 

Public Comment:

 

Betty Alderson, 1920 Maine, provided a newspaper article from the Kansas City Star about Overland Park helping students learn how to cross the street at roundabouts, and encouraged Lawrence to do something similar.

 

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 9:

 

Commission Items:

 

Commissioner Bowen distributed a copy of the Kansas Department of Revenue’s Driver License Renewal Examination Handbook, and noted that it provided information on roundabouts.

 

Commissioner Bowen suggested that the Traffic Safety Commission consider lowering the speed limit in residential areas.

 

Commissioner Woods requested that an item be placed on a future agenda to consider prohibiting left-turns off Iowa Street during peak hours between Harvard Road and 15th Street.

 

Commissioner Woods advised that he had received several comments about trees blocking STOP and YIELD signs; Woosley advised that the Forestry Division had the authority to trims trees if necessary.

 

 

 

ITEM NO. 10:

 

Miscellaneous:

 

The Commission acknowledged receipt of the Pedestrian Advisory Sub-Committee meeting minutes and the Traffic Safety Commission attendance summary.

 

 

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 P.M.

 

 

 

The next scheduled meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission, if needed, will be Monday, September 11, 2006, in lieu of September 4 (Labor Day).

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

David E. Woosley

Transportation/Traffic Engineer