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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-11-17 Minutes 1 MINUTES OF CITY OF EDINA, MINNESOTA TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION COMMUNITY ROOM November 17, 2011 6:00 P.M. ROLLCALL Answering rollcall were Members Bass, Nelson, Schold Davis, Janovy, Franzen, Schweiger APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA Transportation Options Working Group Update was added after Questions/Updates from Student Members, and 44th and 70th Street Update will no longer appear on the agenda after this meeting. Motion was made by member Franzen and seconded by member Nelson approving the amended meeting agenda. All voted aye. Motion carried. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - REGULAR MEETING OF OCTOBER 20, 2011 Motion was made by member Nelson and seconded by member Schold Davis to approve the minutes. All voted aye. Motion carried. TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE REPORT OF NOVEMBER 3, 2011 Section A.1. Assistant city engineer Sullivan will check to see if the 85th percentile speed listed as 17 mph is accurate. Regarding moving the “No Parking” sign 22 feet, Mr. Sullivan explained that this decision was arrived at based on actual measurement in the field. Section B.1. Chair Janovy asked what happens after a request is denied for stop sign for speed control that does not meet warrants. Mr. Sullivan said the requestor is typically told ahead of time that it is likely that the intersection will not meet warrants; however, data is gathered. Requestor is notified of TSC’s denial via phone, at which time data gathered and reason for the denial are discussed (if requested, requestor can get copy of report). The requestor is also informed that the next steps are to attend the ETC or Council meeting for discussion if they disagree with the decision, or use the NTMP process to look at other options. Chair Janovy said she sees an opportunity for education because stop signs will not address speeding and also, when the requests are received, staff knows that they will not meet warrants. She suggested revising the NTMP to include two phases to provide more options. Section C.I. Mr. Sullivan said a survey will be sent to residents. Section C.3. Mr. Sullivan said this was referred to the ETC because of the NTMP process that includes traffic calming options. Mr. Sullivan said he would bring it back to the ETC in December for further discussion. Other traffic safety issues handled: Item 2. Delete “permanent.” Item 3. Chair Janovy said the data will be helpful as they continue to discuss France Avenue. Item 4. Chair Janovy suggested including data in future reports. COMMUNITY COMMENT None. 2 REPORTS/RECOMMENDATIONS Neighborhood Street Reconstruction Review Chair Janovy explained that they will receive the feasibility reports for the neighborhood reconstruction projects for review and then make recommendations to Council. She said tonight is an opportunity for them to give input before the feasibility reports are completed. Mr. Sullivan said nothing unusual is planned for any of the 2012 neighborhoods. Regarding Valley Estates, he said the area is in the walking shed for Creek Valley Elementary and he and member Bass met with school officials and discussion included adding a sidewalk on Creek Valley Road. Mr. Sullivan said staff was not proposing a sidewalk in this neighborhood. The current sidewalk funding policy is 25% school district, 25% City and 50% assessed to residents. After discussion, the following recommendations were made: 1) sidewalk on Creek Valley Road; 2) inform residents of options for private rain gardens and possible funding (due to drainage issues); 3) review parking issue on Nordic Circle/Creek Valley Road; 4) try to address drainage issue if in ROW through rain gardens or other environmentally sound ways; and 5) remove stump street [street name?] to reduce impervious surface. In Countryside, upgrades will include water main and water service upgrades, certain intersection upgrades to minimize impervious surface, and new curb and gutter. Discussion included narrower intersections and pedestrian safety. The question was asked how the decision is made to include sidewalks? Is it based on 750 cars per day or on other initiatives that the Council may be focusing on, such as walkable communities? It was noted that the City is making decisions now that will have an impact for 40 years. After discussion, the following recommendations were made: adding sidewalk on one side of Westridge from Highland to Valley View and on one side of Crescent from Hillside to Tracy; and to review curb radius of narrowed intersections to ensure adequate turning radius for larger vehicles, especially school buses. Concern was expressed that a too-short curb radius will not necessarily slow down vehicles but will cause vehicles to turn into the oncoming traffic lane of the receiving roadway. Mr. Sullivan said they generally plan for a 20 ft. curb radius and they have tested this with school buses. A slightly longer radius was suggested. Additional discussion focused on the need for a sidewalk on Valley View/Whiting; the need to review the Valley View/Whiting and Tracy intersection, per resident concerns; and the need to review safe crossing locations from the neighborhood to Countryside Park. In Vikings Hill, Mr. Sullivan said upgrades will include spot utility repairs. Mr. Sullivan was asked about the STOP sign at Arctic and Vernon, per resident concerns. Does it have a stop line and double yellow? He thought so, but said he would check. An effort to improve STOP sign compliance was recommended. Also discussed was the need to improve pedestrian facilities along Vernon and Gleason and safe crossing locations. It was noted, however, that Vernon and Gleason are outside of the project area. Mr. Sullivan said in December, Tracy Avenue, Gallagher Road, and Richmond Hills Park will be presented. TLC Phase 1 Bike Boulevard – Steve Clark, Transit for Livable Communities Mr. Sullivan said a 2nd open house is scheduled for December 12, 7 p.m. at Public Works and Park Maintenance, 7450 Metro Blvd. He said staff should have a consultant selected by next Monday from the two companies that responded to the RFQ. Regarding advisory bike lanes, Mr. Sullivan said MnDOT said they have never seen them before and the street in Minneapolis where it was used did not require MnDOT’s involvement. He said if advisory lanes are approved, it would be the first of its kind in the state and the country. Update of Proposed 494/Xerxes Avenue Public Open House Mr. Sullivan said MnDOT would like to attend the December ETC meeting to present their proposed plan and they will be holding an open house on November 29. 3 Update of Proposed Tracy Avenue Reconstruction Mr. Sullivan said an open house is scheduled for November 28, 7 p.m. at Public Works and Park Maintenance, 7450 Metro Blvd. Traffic Counts for 2011 A map showing traffic counts for 2011 were handed out. A map showing street names was requested. Questions/Updates from Student Members Member Schweiger said it was interesting seeing the petitions against the neighborhood street reconstruction projects. Transportation Options Working Group Member Schold Davis said they held their first meeting in November and also that Arlene Forest, a Planning Commission member who also serves on the Transportation Options Working Group, visited the Independent Transportation Network (ITN) in Portland, OR, and will present information from her visit to the working group. The next meeting is scheduled for December 13. Bike Edina Task Force Update Chair Janovy said bike routes were prioritized and the top four are: 70th from Antrim to Hwy 100; Cahill Road from 70th to 78th; Antrim from top of hill to the schools; and Valley View from Antrim to Hwy 62. Grandview Small Area Study Update Member Nelson said feedback have been interesting and good including concerns with the pace at which planning is moving forward and some thinking that the group’s work would lead to redevelopment immediately. He said member Bonneville is at tonight’s meeting where MnDOT is giving a presentation on their 2030 plan for freight and passenger rail for the line that runs through the Grandview area. 44th and 70th Streets Update Striping of 44th is on hold until next spring so that a determination can be made regarding the type of bicycle markings to be incorporated; and speed limit will be 20 mph when children are present; 70th is open to traffic and EPD is saturating the area doing educational outreach to let drivers know about the new 25 mph speed limit. CORRESPONDENCE AND PETITIONS None. CHAIR AND COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS Chair Janovy said the Living Streets Working Group was approved by Council. Regarding commission membership, Chair Janovy said there is one opening; member Bonneville’s term will end January; two members (Schold Davis and McKlveen) are up for reappointment. Chair Janovy said the commission needs a process to make sure the ETC is getting Council’s directives that are discussed at Council meetings, for example, they would like the ETC to prioritize sidewalks, and at their 11/18 meeting, there was a comment about ‘use, improve or get rid of the NTMP.” Other discussions included Tracy Avenue and WSB’s proposal; and $1M in the CIP for scope change for France Avenue. Member Schold Davis said MnDOT has a Complete Streets Coalition that she has interviewed for and should learn soon if she is selected. STAFF COMMENTS Mr. Sullivan said a Boards and Commission survey have been emailed to everyone. 4 ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned.