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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-08-19 Minutes MINUTES OF THE Edina Transportation Commission Thursday, August 19, 2010 Edina City Hall 4801 West 50th Street Council Chambers MEMBERS PRESENT: Jennifer Janovy, Paul Nelson, Michael Schroeder, Josh Sprague, Tom Bonneville MEMBERS ABSENT: Jean White, Geof Workinger, Nathan Franzen STAFF PRESENT: Jack Sullivan, Sharon Allison I. Call to Order The meeting was called order by chair Janovy. II. Approval of Minutes a. Regular Meeting of July 15, 2010 and the Work Session Minutes of July 1, 2010 Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the minutes of July 15 with the following corrections or changes by Commissioner Sprague: Page 2: Sprague moved that they create uniformity and comprehensive approach for local streets with a and therefore, enact a Complete Streets policy. Motion seconded by Nelson. Page 3: Road Diet/Re-Striping Policy “Sprague said Bloomington has…” Road Reconstruction The motion was modified that the ETC receives annual updates of road reconstruction and the CIP, with a focus on the 2-year plan but information on all projects in the 5-year plan. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sprague. All voted aye. III. New Business a. 7355 York Avenue (Southdale YMCA Expansion) Chuck Rickart of WSB & Associates, the City’s consulting traffic engineer, explained the Southdale YMCA expansion project. Mr. Rickart said the project was originally submitted in September 2008 as replacement of the YMCA with similar square footage and a 130-unit multi-family housing complex and approval was granted by the ETC with minor median reconstruction at York Avenue and the north parking lot entrance; however, the project was never constructed. The current proposal is to expand the existing facility approximately 21,900 sq.ft. with minimal parking lot and other site alterations. The expansion would be used for fitness and aquatics purposes and it could increase membership by 15%. The multi-family component is no longer included. Rickart said the development team was asked to look intersections previously looked at including Parklawn & York, the two accesses in and out of the site and the oval median north of the site. The traffic study analysis shows that the expansion will add 1,162 additional trips per day with all intersections operating at an acceptable level of service D, except for an E or F on some movements, most of which are onsite in the parking lot. As part of the travel demand management, pedestrian travel will be improved with maintenance of the sidewalk along York 2 Avenue, and creation of a new pedestrian walk from York Avenue to the front door. Additionally, approximately 15-20 bicycle racks will be added. Based on the study analysis, Rickart said improvements are not recommended for the local street network. Staff’s recommendation is “If so desired by the Transportation Commission, adopt a motion recommending that the traffic as demonstrated in the transportation study for 7355 York Avenue – YMCA Southdale Expansion does not adversely affect the adjacent transportation system.” Commissioners’ discussion included the following, followed by consultant’s and staff’s response:  Reason for stopping the study at year 2012 instead of 2020 – Rickart said it is best to look at the impact year (2012), instead of background traffic.  Report does not say if parking meets code – City engineer Houle said the Planning Commission (PC) reviews parking ratio.  South entrance is under-utilized, could almost be eliminated, explore options to increase usage – Houle said this entrance is only right-in/right-out while the other is both left and right. He said changes on York to accommodate changes to the access would require the County’s approval and they tend to lean towards eliminating accesses.  Commissioner Bonneville said he likes the project but finds it difficult to approve a level of service E/F. Rickart said this is the current level without any crashes to date. Mr. Mike Spack, Spack Consulting, said they are defining average delay per car and if one car is coming out and has to wait one minute, this level of service is defined as F.  The island at the south entrance (on site) seems close for traffic coming into the park lot. Rickart said most parking lots are designed for drivers to go left or right upon entry, not straight ahead.  Can the travel demand management plan be improved on the site? Commissioner Schroeder said the PC can take a closer look at this. Spack said office buildings tend to have more control over employees; with the YMCA the controls will be more difficult. Commissioner Schroeder suggested that the YMCA offer incentives that would spread usage throughout the day.  What would trigger a future traffic signal at Parklawn? Rickart said about 10-20% increase in traffic which could be 5-10 years out. After discussion the overall concerns were summarized as:  Improving the travel management demand plan (since the YMCA is heavily used by children and seniors);  Signage for the south entrance to encourage usage;  Striping at the north entrance for two inbound and one outbound lane; and  Fire truck and ambulance access; Commissioner Bonneville asked if emergency vehicles will be able to move around the building. Houle said site circulation is the PC’s purview and they receive comments from the Fire Marshall and the Building Department official. He reminded the ETC that their purview is the roadway and local transportation while site circulation, access, and safety are handled by the PC. Chair Janovy said they are finding it difficult to separate what is happening on site with the roadway because they work together. Commissioner Bonneville said there are some things that happen at entrances that affect the roadway severely so they should have the right to review those things because of the site itself and the function of the site. Houle said the Traffic 3 Impact Analysis would need to be changed and the ETC would be more meshed with the PC to prevent duplication. Chair Janovy said in their last work session they made a motion to refer the TIA policy for update to staff and to have Assistant City Engineer Sullivan work with staff in the Planning Department, a couple ETC and PC commissioners to try and integrate the Transportation and Planning process better. Commissioner Bonneville motioned that the minutes shall act as the ETC’s opinion as to the project’s future and that the YMCA and Spack Consulting look into their concerns as stated in the minutes. Motion failed for lack of second. Commissioner Sprague motioned to accept the Traffic Impact Analysis that was presented and to include their three concerns that were raised as follows: 1) Improving the travel management demand plan; 2) Signage for the south entrance to encourage usage; and 3) Striping at the north entrance for two inbound and one outbound lane. Commissioner Schroeder asked to amend the motion to read that it is their opinion that the expansion does not adversely affect the adjacent transportation systems and request that their three concerns listed above be addressed. Commissioner Sprague accepted the amendment. After further discussion, the motion was restated by Commissioner Sprague that the expansion does not adversely affect the adjacent transportation systems; however, the following recommendations are made: 1) Improving the travel management demand plan; 2) Improve pedestrian safety in the parking lot; 3) Signage for the south entrance to encourage usage; 3) Striping at the north entrance for two inbound and one outbound lane; and 4) Improving the level of service at the northbound exit. Seconded by Commissioner Nelson. All voted aye. Motion carried. b. Edina Police Presentation Sergeant Tom Draper, a night supervisor with the Edina Police Department, explained the operations of the Traffic Unit. He said the unit with three officers, covers traffic enforcement from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. He said staffing is comparable to other cities of similar size. Sgt. Draper said they are required to spend a certain amount of time at locations that are called in by residents. There is a speed trailer that is moved around to different locations. He said residents begin calling around March/April to get on the list. Regarding stop signs, he said the requests are referred to the Engineering Department. He said enforcement is increased in problem areas for stop sign violations, as well as no turn on red. Regarding bicycles, he said is not aware that citations have been issued instead they are warning riders that they are required to follow the same laws as motor vehicles. He was asked about joggers in the road when there is a sidewalk – he said he is not aware of citations being issued. He said they do target speeders in neighborhoods and have found that most violators do live in the neighborhood, on 70th Street, for example, most of the violators are residents. He said officers do have discretion when to write a citation; however, most drivers have come to expect a 5 mph leeway. A moving violation citation is $150 and this is set by Hennepin County. He said public education would be helpful since most of the violators are in the neighborhoods. Commissioner Janovy said the primary focus has been engineering solutions to traffic issues. She said other communities are using different approaches such as training residents to use 4 radar gun and writing down license plate number and sending a polite letter from the police department. Sgt. Draper said this has been discussed which is why the radar is out there. Houle talked a project called Project Lead Foot which he said is very much like the City’s program but just not captured in the same way. He said traffic safety coordinator, Boyd, does go out and use a radar gun with residents and they are usually surprised to discover that the speed is not as fast as they thought it was. Commissioner Sprague said Chanhassen has found that raising awareness is the most useful through a traffic worksheet that they distribute to residents. Houle said many neighborhoods have their own listserve and this would be an inexpensive way to communicate. Traffic Safety Reports of June 2 and July 7 Chair Janovy said they agreed that the Traffic Safety Report would be put on their consent agenda. July 7 report – Section D – regarding the calls received from residents regarding France Avenue Restriping. Houle said most calls are due to the restriping which causes drivers to slow down. Houle explained that Section D of the report is new and is to show the types of calls that are received and that the issues are generally resolved without having to go to the Traffic Safety Committee. IV. Planning Commission Update (Commissioner Schroeder) No update. V. Bike Edina Task Force Update (Commissioner Janovy) No update. VI. Staff Liaison Comments a. 70th Street Reconstruction Update Houle approvals were received from Mn/DOT, bids are set to be opened on September 9 and construction spring 2011. Regarding landscaping in the boulevard, Houle said they will coordinate with residents to move and transplant plantings within a specific timeframe at the residents’ expense. He said irrigation/dog fence is included in the construction costs. Houle shared materials from a personal rapid transit workshop that he attended. He said the presenter is willing to attend a meeting to explain how it works. VII. Commission Comments No comments. VIII. Adjournment Meeting adjourned.