City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Parking and Traffic Safety Committee, 3 Nov 2022

Previous Meeting Next Meeting

⏯

youtube image

►

From YouTube: 11.3.2022 Parking and Traffic Safety Committee

Description

11.3.2022 Parking and Traffic Safety Committee

A

A

uh Good morning, portsmouth I'd like to call to order the november 3rd 2022.

A

Parking traffic and safety uh meeting uh would you call the roll please.

B

Mary lou mcelwain here steve pesci, here mark syracusa here, harold whitehouse yeah, erica wyganik.

B

Deputy police chief mike maloney here fire chief bill mcquillen here public.

B

Works director, peter rice here, city manager, karen conard, here chairman andrew bagley, here.

A

Eric would you pull up the financial report.

C

Mr chairman I'll move to accept the financial report, I'll second, that all right any discussion.

A

Can we uh all those in favor aye aye any opposed okay? So now we're gonna move on to uh public.

A

Comment um but just before we get started with public comment, I I want to acknowledge uh the.

A

Article in the paper about harold whitehouse and his many many many decades of service to.

A

The community and and if you have a chance to go back and read that article, uh I think.

A

It's pretty excellent so, with that said uh I'll open the floor to any public comments.

D

In reference to that, people have called me and asked me: what's the answer to the longevity you.

D

Know I can't give an answer. Mostly it's a in the in the jeans. My mother was the same way. 97.

D

Years old reading, without glasses, down to senior center every day, 97., that's excellent, very lucky.

D

A photo too good morning, my name is john tabor and I live at 55. Pleasant point drive.

E

um And uh if you haven't read harold's book go to the library and get a copy. It's wonderful.

E

um I wanted to suggest an idea for parking traffic and safety that came out of my discussions.

E

With matthew, glenn and doug roberts and others involved in the bike community, the idea that I.

E

Would propose that you take up and deliberate about, would be a city bike, riding scorecard.

E

uh Which would give us metrics of bicycle usage as well as progress on the bicycle network as.

E

It's envisioned in the bike bed master plan. We have monthly review of crash data at pts.

E

But do we regularly review trends in bike usage? Anecdotally, it seems like it's rising. It certainly.

E

Rose a lot during the pandemic, we now have e-bikes and and where is it increasing? We have.

E

Parts of the city like the new playing fields at the community campus or growth of the west.

E

End and condos and apartments there so are we seeing increases in certain parts of the city.

E

So fundamentally, I would ask the pts consider a regular scorecard that shows that yields the.

E

Data of how our bike ridership is trending up down and where and even some demographics.

E

You know we're becoming a work from home city and is that creating more daytime ridership family.

E

Ridership outside of commuter hours, so all these were ideas that we discussed and the idea of a.

E

Scorecard, I think, would yield regular visibility towards our ridership in the city and valuable.

E

Data when the council has to make policy decisions about complete streets and and bike paths.

E

um And you know what gets measured gets attention uh if we have a regular update.

E

On our bike usage around the city and where that network may be deficient, that's a signal to us.

E

That the data is saying, maybe we need to look at speeding up aspects of the bike. Ped master plan.

E

Where they may not have had attention in the past, so I think that.

E

uh Mr eb and staff would be the experts on what to measure and how to measure. I know.

E

The national association of city traffic engineers nacto, has a working paper on.

E

Making bike count effective data collection, metrics and storytelling, which may be a resource.

E

And uh so um I would hope, you'd take that up and it could be valuable for.

E

Us all to see what our trends in ridership are great. Thank you, john.

F

Hi uh doug roberts 247 richards avenue. I want to support what uh john said.

F

And just add that bike and pedestrian considerations often get lumped together.

F

But a key obvious difference is that cyclists use the streets and which is why the this.

F

Committee might want to follow up on john's idea here. um It's a matter of safety for.

F

Pedestrians, you're, separated and cyclists have to mix with the car so as a traffic.

F

Safety committee: I think it should be a primary consideration for you. Thank you. Thank you. Doug.

G

So good morning, matthew, glenn at 34, harrison and owen park and a board member of seacoast.

G

Area, bicycle riders, so I'm very much in support of better better metrics any any.

G

Kind of data you can collect. um I also want to mention that there would be value in a separate.

G

Bicycle committee or bicycle and pedestrian committee- and I don't mean that as a slate on.

G

The good work you do here, the very important work you do around safety, but I feel that a.

G

um A different group that was really focused on tracking how the bicycle pedestrian plan is coming.

G

Along what progress can be made? Reviewing road plans as they're getting repaved there'd be a lot.

G

Of value in that this is something that was one of the high valued recommendations in the 2014 bike.

G

Bed plan that there'd be a bicycle and pedestrian committee and it's also been recommended by the.

G

League of american bicyclists in their scorecard for portsmith. I think we're a bronze level to move.

G

Up to the next level, um so um beyond that, I wanted to specifically today speak about sagamore avenue.

G

And thank you for putting that on the agenda. I would support staff looking into sagamore avenue.

G

As a whole, not just single spots, but see what can be done to make it a better bike route as.

G

You probably all know it's one of the most popular recreational routes in the city, the newcastle loop.

G

I'm sure any of you who bike recreationally ride on sagamore avenue, it's also an essential.

G

Route for someone like me commuting to work and other people. I know in my neighborhood it has a.

G

Relatively new bicycle lane, part of the way bike ped plan calls for that bike lane to extend all.

G

The way to the ride line, I recognize that there's limited right-of-way at the top of the hill. There.

G

Where the sewer project is tearing up the road right now, so I'm just asking you to look at what.

G

What can be done there, knowing that uh property lines may not allow for full width bike lanes.

G

There I do appreciate I've been in communication with eric months ago about a sign that says bikes.

G

May use full lane, so we do have that sign right there at luster king. What happens is the bike.

G

Lane just shrinks down the shoulder shrinks down. You've got a couple inches of shoulder, so.

G

Bikes really have to be out there in the travel lane at that point going over the hill and it's.

G

An especially dangerous spot because drivers are impatient to pass, but they can't see over.

G

The crest of the hill they're, often startled by oncoming traffic and that causes them to squeeze.

G

Back over against the bike riders, so you know even more specific signage. You know no passing limited.

G

Visibility, anything like that that you might be able to consider sharrow is painted right. There.

G

In the center, at that point, where bicyclists have to be out in the lane might be worth considering, I.

G

Know that's just paint looks like a bicyclist has been flattened when you see one of those, but it's.

G

Worth considering, I think, beyond that, from cliff road onward, there's a pretty good shoulder and it.

G

Is functioning as a bicycle lane, so I'm asking if that can just be labeled that way, if we can.

G

Paint it as bike lanes both ways put signage up. That seems like it should be a pretty easy win.

G

Especially with the golden egg, no longer there no more weekend parking issues around the golden.

G

Egg, let's just make it official that parking shouldn't be allowed at that location. There.

G

Really isn't enough shoulder width for parked cars to not block the travel lane so from the.

G

Bicyclist I've talked to they keep bringing up those two issues: the crest of the hill and the.

G

Problem of parked cars that the golden egg is being that the two big ones also talk to people.

G

Who are less confident the owner of port city bike tour said when she's taking a group, they.

G

Really try to avoid sagamore. I spoke to someone. I know who lives right at the top of the hill.

G

She said she only bikes for exercise before 9 a.m, because she's afraid of the cars- and I.

G

Think, with with good reason, last april or may, a driver hit her retaining wall went through her.

G

Yard threw a fence and into a tree so obviously she's also a supporter of any traffic calming.

G

Anything anything you can do there, so um I think that's that. Thank you. Thank you. Matt.

H

Good morning my name is ian cummings and I live at 520 sagamore ave.

H

um The first thing I wanted to talk about is I'd like to ask at these existing bike lanes, which.

H

Which, in just past little harbor road be extended as far as they can go, hopefully to the rye town.

H

Line, I know there's some areas where it's already wide enough paint some additional bike stencils in.

H

The existing lanes, as well as repaint, the ones that are there, they've gotten rather worn and.

H

They're kind of flaking, and I would also ask at the um the lines, also be repainted as well.

H

The other thing I want to talk about is is speeding on sagamore ave has gotten.

H

Absolutely horrible: over the last couple years I live directly across from sagamore court.

H

And when you, when I hear cars coming up the hill going into town when they get part way.

H

Up they start revving their engines and speeding like crazy, and they don't they.

H

Don't stop when they get there. They continue on around and when they are coming from town.

H

Sorry, I'm nervous when they're coming from town, they start speeding up when they go around that.

H

Bend I've seen almost I've seen close two cars very close to hitting people in that crosswalk.

H

And even though there's blinking lights there and everybody waits, sometimes a car will stop and let.

H

Somebody go and then there's a car coming behind and paying no attention at all and the speed limit.

H

There we're the only place in town- that's not 25 miles per hour, yet we would really like to ask I.

H

Would really like to ask that that be considered there? The houses are very close on sagamore ave as.

H

You all know, and a lot of us are close to the road and there's also a lot of people who walk on those.

H

Sidewalks a lot of kids and when you, if you could hear what we hear and it's every day and it's not.

H

Normally in the morning a very early afternoon, it's late afternoon and at night they come around.

H

There and sometimes I just cringe, because I feel like they're, going to hit something and come.

H

Flying over into somebody's yard, like was just mentioned, that happened down the road from us, so.

H

Again, I'd like to ask that the 25 miles per hour be considered. Please we're the only street in town.

H

That isn't that way, and that is a major route in and out of town. Thank you. Thank you. Anne.

I

Is there anybody on, we do have a one-person computer, peter whissel is on.

I

On zoom uh go go ahead, peter! Yes! Hello. Can you hear me? Yes? Yes, we can hear you, okay, uh yeah, I'm.

J

Peter whistle I live at 579 sagamore avenue unit 75.. um I really appreciate what everybody's been.

J

Saying to advocate safer roadster cyclists are specifically concerned about that area.

J

um Where the shoulder narrows, through virtually nothing and drivers, really don't have enough room.

J

To pass a cycle, it looking at a bridge there and leave the required repeat between their vehicle.

J

And a moving cycle of students politely moving, like he's totally going up that hill. I know in.

J

My case uh that that that's what happened and um just anything that can be done to increase.

J

The whip, or that shoulder or discerning drivers from trying to pass the cyclists at that point.

J

Where they can't see over the the legendary outcoming traffic, um I think it's just an.

J

Area that [music] um um just kind of lead to a terrible actions. Thank you. Thank you. Peter anymore,.

A

Anybody else in the room would like to speak with that. I will close the public comment. Mr chairman,.

K

I'd like to briefly address this concern relative to sagmore. I was specifically at the luster king.

K

Area staff is very much aware of this challenge. We've been trying to address it for years. We as.

K

Part of the sewer project we added to the scope designed for that area, specifically.

K

From the deceleration lane going into tide watch all the way to the other side of the.

K

Crest of the hill, the the challenge in that area is people are well aware, is that you go from a.

K

Relatively uniform width of the roadway with a a nice shoulder which you know you could consider.

K

Bike lane and then it widens up significantly for a deceleration lane, so cars as they come to.

K

That corner have this big wide space that they accelerate past luster king and then it chokes.

K

Right down again so two things we're looking at doing is keeping a more consistent road with and.

K

And a bicycle or shoulder and then adjusting the travel lanes to maximize and balance the.

K

The width of the shoulder on either side as you go over the hill. It does not make a bike lane.

K

It makes a wider shoulder, but we are looking at that. We have survey being done uh to address this.

K

Issue and it's something that we're very much aware of- and we don't disagree, that we need to.

K

Do make improvements? I personally have experienced the challenge of that area. My bicycle has scrapes.

K

And and my shoulder was sore for quite a long time, so I'm very much aware of the challenges of.

K

Cyclists face and I'm an avid cyclist, so it's I'm not afraid of traffic so, but to that I just want.

K

Folks to understand that we are aware of this and we are taking steps to address these challenges.

A

Yeah, thank you peter. Perhaps somebody might make a motion to suspend the rules so that we can address.

A

Item b under new business first and also spend the rules to take up item b. Second call those in favor.

A

Aye aye a question for peter. uh Let me just read the the what we're going to address in.

A

Them because it relates to what peter just discussed uh some new business item b is.

A

Sagamore avenue request to extend bike lanes from little harbor road to rye line by seacoast area.

A

Bicycle riders and sample motion is moved to refer to staff for evaluation and report back at future.

A

Meeting second or make the motion: okay, okay and then I'll open it up to discussion with you. First.

A

Mark he just answered my first question: do we have a cip on sagamore road to address that hot spot by.

L

Luster, king and you just brought it up we're it's in we're, included it as part of our design right.

K

um So it's not specific, but there are other monies that overlap that type of activity. So that's where.

K

We're using the mice from my second question was on uh on between my understandings between.

L

The wentworth road and the border and rye that that's state property, you are correct. It's not.

K

The city compound, so do we have any any right to? Can we put a bike lane at from that distance from.

L

Wentworth to there I I don't, I think we could work with the state to do that if necessary. um I don't.

K

See that as being the challenging section of the roadway, so you know whether we label it or not.

K

It still functions uh very well as a bike lane. It's plenty of shoulder width and I don't think.

K

That's the issue, um you know we. If people want a designation and formalize it. I believe it's.

K

Actually, on the state bike routes as a designated bike route already, so you know if the states, if we.

K

Ask the state to get some signage up. I I don't. I think it's a reasonable request, so that was.

L

My question: do you have to work with a state on that and outside the city? Compact? Yes, right.

M

Harold yeah in reference to uh speed on the state highway, there's certain restrictions that.

D

We can't catch at all. Is there or what's the latest on state highway in reference to speed.

D

I would have to defer to eric on that yeah yeah, but for the state portion of the road.

I

They, the state, sets the speed limits and we don't have say over that of this, of.

I

The city portion of sagamore, we can set the speed limit, but no lower than 25 per state.

I

Law, it's currently set at 30 miles per hour. Okay, thank you steve. I I just would.

M

Ask that when the staff reports back, we we look into the issue that was raised about.

M

On-Street parking in the former golden egg area as well make that part of the review.

A

Erica, I have a handful of questions. I assume, if it's being taken up as part of a design, a.

N

Lot of my questions would be resolved there, so I won't go through those. No, I did wonder.

N

um That deceleration lane for tidewater- I don't know if that's really ted watch. I don't know if.

N

That's really needed, but I also don't know if it's part of their permit. You know if it was.

N

Part of their application requirement and I think in the 80s yeah, so we could change that. I think so.

K

Mr cherry, we you know, our plan is to come back to the to the committee. Once we have a design.

K

um I I'm cognizant that that may be some reasoning behind it, but that does not mean.

K

A change is not appropriate. There's no reason you don't need to decelerate on a 25 30 mile.

K

An hour roadway for traffic calming to have vehicles turning and I guess, related to the.

N

Parking at golden egg- I don't know what was in the permit for that construction project.

N

We should probably look at that because maybe the entree parking was part of their.

N

I mean you can't get credit for that, but I don't know if it was. I don't believe we can check, but.

K

We'll have it report back, I mean it's already, it's already something that we're aware of. It's come.

K

Before us before, yeah, uh and the reason it wasn't signed is no parking was because the golden egg.

K

Had came out and said they wanted that parking on on street yeah. I don't there shouldn't be.

I

As much of a need for on-street parking, one that yeah, they have their own parking lot right right.

A

Any further discussion, um I just have a couple comments, so I did actually.

A

Go out by where the golden egg is and just before. Well, I guess where the golden egg was.

A

There is a no parking sign, that's completely faded, um so I presume from that sign which.

A

um As you're coming into town is on the you know, before you get to the golden egg, that sign.

A

Probably could be replaced um because as it stands now, it's it's just a white sign and you can only.

A

Read the lettering, if you, mr chairman, I recommend um steph review what the ordinance says relative.

K

To no parking and not it may have been a sign that was erroneously put up without any authority to to.

K

Do that okay? So I would think if we treat this as a comprehensive look at that section of the.

K

Roadway and you know we can propose to to clean it up um and either either restrict parking via.

K

Ordinance or or just make it more consistent with the ordinance okay. That sounds like a good way to.

A

Do it, and I guess um uh I I would probably support the no parking uh sign. However, it might be helpful.

A

um To reach out to the the business condos across the street, because I do know that.

A

um The kids in town really like to use that area as a swimming hole, which we discourage.

A

um But it seems like they're going to continue to do that, so we don't want to create a situation.

A

Where, if that parking's already being used, it now shifts to their parking lot. So I think it'd.

A

Be better to to address it with them first and then put up the signs, rather than just put up.

A

The signs, if, if at all possible eric you know why don't we just look at that? The whole area.

K

You know, frankly, I I wouldn't do anything to encourage people from jumping off that bridge.

K

um And- and I appreciate it's a rite of passage, I understand my kids did the same thing.

K

um But it's not something that we as a city can encourage. No, I wouldn't want to do that.

K

And facilitate in any manner, I have a daughter who's at the age of jumping.

A

Off the bridge- and we have that discussion every summer, I would ride a bike. [Laughter].

A

um And then I just I just want to thank all the citizens for coming in and speaking to this.

A

um In some offline conversation, I think this might be the appropriate time to say it there. There was.

A

Some suggestions that maybe this committee could have a uh a bicycle member or saber member um and.

A

I would be opposed to uh adding a saber member or any other organization member as a representative.

A

I think the proper role for this community is is to look at all the problems as a whole, not for.

A

Many a particular angle and in the proper venue for for an organization like saber or any other.

A

Organization would be to come to public comment or to send in requests or if they feel that we could.

A

Benefit from a presentation, we would certainly schedule that in and with that noted, I would say.

A

um You know mr eric eby is is rides his bike everywhere in town, as peter rice mentioned. I think.

A

Not only were you a founding member of saber but you're, an avid cyclist, and I know others on the.

A

Committee as well as myself, are avid cyclists, so I do think we have representation from the cyclists.

A

Community, but I don't think having a designated committee member that represents one interest.

A

Above others is a good practice. I'd much rather see it where people that are representing a.

A

Specific interest come in and speak to us or come in and give a presentation, and then the committee.

A

Evaluates that information looking at the city as a whole and not in in any particular lens erica.

N

um On that topic, I I do know a number of.

N

Cities and towns have dedicated bike, ped committees and my understanding was the.

N

Request was not for a dedicated member here, but to have a committee dedicated to that.

N

um I do feel like parking and traffic safety is not a bad spot to take on those topics.

N

um I, but maybe it's just me, but the title. Parking and traffic safety certainly communicates a lens.

N

Of very vehicular focused motor vehicle focused, I don't think that's the lens. Most of us come in.

N

With like, I think we do try and be pretty balanced. I don't know what the rules are for changing the.

N

Name of things, but maybe there's room to reframe this committee to be clear that it's meant to be.

N

Modally inclusive, I think that's worth considering. Do you have I'm comfortable with that? My concern.

K

About creating a separate committee is that we already have uh you'd have overlapping interests.

K

And- and it I I personally, don't have an issue with having you know a debt. You know somebody.

K

That speaks for the the that community on the committee, but you know I'm sensitive to what.

K

You're saying that we're supposed to be inclusive in no special interest in one way or the other.

K

um I I think you know similar to what we've done with this beating city-wide speed limits. It's.

K

There's a possibility of working group creating working group that focuses on bicycle pedestrian.

K

um And you know that would allow for that voice to be heard a little more clearly, one.

K

Of the things that we're looking at at doing in this year's through the cip, we set aside.

K

Money every year to implement bicycle pedestrian, related infrastructure and upgrades that includes.

K

Master plans, uh the last semester pin was 2014.. We did an update, which was really it's more of.

K

A status a report back in 2019 mean, I think, um and I think it's appropriate to revisit that.

K

Master plan and and try to focus uh you know, the initial master plan helped raise awareness, but I.

K

Think it's appropriate um to start looking at updating that master plan and that's a great.

K

Opportunity for interested cyclists, as well as folks who advocate for pedestrians, to participate.

K

In that process, and then have it come through, you know have that initiative really come through the.

K

Committee is a planning exercise to a large extent. However, I think it's you know, given the changing.

K

Demographics, given you know the where we're at in the world, it's appropriate to brush that off and.

K

To kind of revisit and get more public input again, so that's I just I, you know more just.

K

Like filling in the gaps between some of this, you know things it's I mean it's important for folks.

K

To understand that the the bicycle pedestrian um master plan is a living document, eric does.

K

Refer to it on a regular basis and and matt does a great job. um You know keeping us honest uh by.

K

By making sure that you know we we're trying to pay attention to it, uh it's challenging from an.

K

Implement implementation standpoint to be able to do everything um for the implementation of that.

K

There's there's roadway widths there's times when we're doing just pavement.

K

um And we're not doing roadway reconfigurations, um so it seems like while we paved. Why didn't we.

K

Create a change: it wasn't necessarily that that vehicle wasn't necessarily the right approach.

K

To making those changes, but it's important to to keep in mind that it takes time to to.

K

Do this type of thing- and you know we are making progress, but it's good to have advocates to keep.

K

A gentle hand on our back um to keep us going in the right direction. That's just a general.

K

Background and where, where staff is thinking and what direction we've received from council and.

L

Mark uh peter just answered my question that matt glenn saber letter here that I read a.

L

Bicycle pedestrian plan, so it's 2014, so it's nine years old, almost yeah yeah, that was that was going.

L

To be my question, but you just answered that yeah so yeah, so it's it's! It's due for an overdue to a.

L

To address so yeah, I appreciate those comments peter and we're probably a little bit far from.

A

Where the the motion that's on the table is, but I will um perhaps suggest you know.

A

um It's been 10 years or almost 10 years. Maybe this committee could recommend to to.

A

Council that we address this issue and we set up a working group of members of this community to.

A

um I guess we would have a 2024 bike, ped plan, or something like that. So I guess my question.

A

Maybe to the city, managers is what's the proper way. If we wanted to put that into action, how.

A

Would we go about it? Why don't you let peter and eric- and I make a proposal on that on how.

C

We would best roll that forward. I think it would be a cip element yeah, which, which is kind of the.

K

Direction we've been going in because we have that cip element right now and the way we've.

K

Structured it this year is is referring to the master plan and the need for an update. There's.

K

Been a number of resident requests relative to bicycle pedestrian, a number of them from from.

K

Saber mclean and really we our response is like okay. This is really good stuff, but it needs to be.

K

Done in the context of the overall master plan, and how do we, you know and updating, it is part of that.

K

The committee's role would tip it would typically be run by.

K

City staff, with a working group giving input to that process. So I'm the manager and eric- and I.

K

Will will sit down and put our heads together and report back? Okay, excellent, good, all right.

C

um One more thing for what it's worth. I agree with erica's comment that perhaps we consider renaming.

C

The committee to have it more holistically reflect what it is we're advocating for looking out for.

A

Maybe the you know, maybe we can come up with things at a future. Any suggestions.

C

Right off the bat I turned traffic into roadway, but that doesn't I I don't know so. Traffic in.

L

My mind means pedestrian, pedestrian, cyclists and motorists. Where you're saying it's more limited.

L

To no, I I agree with you, but I think that that connotation of parking and traffic safety together.

N

It, I think, the sorry is it: okay, yeah, sorry, um terrible at that. uh I think by the like.

N

Dictionary definition yeah it's inclusive, but I don't think it gives the feeling of.

N

That sort of comprehensive, we think about everything, maybe by leading with parking and.

N

That's cars more often than bikes yeah. I don't know I would propose for a future meeting if, if.

C

Not december uh soon, thereafter, a conversation devoted to the name of the committee and and so.

C

That people can come prepared with their thoughts yeah, I think, probably leading with parking and.

A

um You know the amount of time we spend on the neighborhood parking program. There's there's a lot of. I think the city wants to embrace all modes of transportation as best we can and name.

A

Changes to reflect that would be helpful just to put us in the right frame of reference. We're.

A

Not taking any more public comments, I move to allow comment out of order for a second.

K

All those in favor hi, we have a motion on the table. Oh yeah, um all right! Well! Does anybody.

A

Need us to go over the motion again or if he could. um I believe the motion is to refer to a.

C

Conversation relative to sagamore after his staff for evaluation and report back in a future meeting.

A

All those in favor aye matt, please come up. Thank you um and uh I just quickly back to sagamore.

G

It was in my letter, but I wanted to mention um an update on the sidewalk extension. If that's.

G

um When that's planned for and what kind of space that would allow for my clients there, but thanks.

G

For the great discussion everyone, this would make a great transportation committee. I think.

A

Again, I guess I'll put out there before we move on to the next agenda item. If members.

A

Of the public have suggestions on names, uh don't be shy about sending them in because.

A

You might come up with something better than than what we come up with internally, so.

A

um And just as a little historical note that it used to be two committees, it used to be a.

I

Parking committee and it used to be the traffic safety committee, and then they were merged to.

I

Become this one community and I think, having one committee addressed, everything makes the most.

A

Sense from a logistical standpoint: if you have competing committees, it just gets hard to keep.

A

Track of things, but with that said, let's move on to item a broad street request to move no.

A

Parking signage further back from south street by resident and the sample motion is moved to.

A

Relocate no parking here at the corner signs 30 feet from crosswork crosswalk on the north side,.

A

Of south street so moved so I can see erica. I think we were talking about the south side of.

N

South streets are: oh, no, no, no you're! Right here! Sorry, I get very similarly confused with.

C

Professionals in that part of town, you may have heard my pause as I was reading the sample mode.

O

Is that right, compass with you when you're walking around town, I thought we had talked.

O

About excuse me yep mary lou. uh I thought we had talked about both sides of the street yep moving.

K

I that was my recollection as well, so would that be a friendly amendment.

A

And then any other discussion, all right, luke. Yes, I think visibility is a huge issue there and we've.

O

Talked about this, that the bushes at the corner, on the north side are blocking visibility and it was.

O

Brought up that, it certainly blocks it for kids coming down on their scooters on their bicycles to.

O

School pedestrians, so if there's any way that we can um request that the homeowners cut back there.

O

Their shrubs that would be very helpful in this situation.

O

Erica, um I think, usually when we do a site visit, somebody gives a summary.

K

Sure that is correct. Historically, we do if it is contentious discussion and the kind of.

K

A background of the the ins and outs of of where we're at in this case it was a pretty.

K

Straightforward, um we actually had demonstrations of vehicles trying to get in and out at the time.

K

um So I I don't think there was any dispute relative to the action. I just think it's.

N

Nice for the record to as a follow-on to that, mr chairman, I think it was very helpful to have the.

C

Side visit to see as a group what we were able to witness it would have been hard to theorize.

C

What the the issues were and but we were all able to see it quite clearly, so I appreciate.

C

um The opportunity to see it before we had to debate about it at harold, yeah, so.

D

What jurisdiction do we have in reference to uh obstruction from from shrubs? uh Do we just talk to.

D

The owner all over the city, because it's happening elsewhere too. Yes, we have this issue. We had many.

I

Intersections, it's limited sight lines and our first step is to send the letter requesting.

I

Them to trim back their bushes actually, um but then, if they refuse, then it does get a little.

I

Tricky and legally, you know what our options are. After that point, we do have some ordinances and.

I

Zoning that we can try to enforce, but a lot of times the bushes are in such a condition that.

I

If they are trimmed back, they could be killed by the trimming that would be necessary. So in.

L

If you want to be detailed, the other issues is the fence yeah, but you're not going to move the fence.

L

So if you look to the left, look to the right, it's difficult! [music] I'm sorry! Oh just I speak out.

L

Alone, you have to go through the chair when you. Oh sorry, now sorry, mr chair, but uh continue please. Oh.

A

That was it okay, um and and uh is there any other discussion? I have a technical question for eric.

A

um I believe the state orient ordinance is 30 feet. So that's you know. If somebody requests. That's.

A

Really the minimum that we have to do in this uh case, because it was, it was pretty uh obvious or.

A

Apparent at least to me, who was in the car, trying to make a right-hand turn after the the sidewalk.

A

um There was a pickup truck that pulled in, but only could pull in halfway. There were kids using.

A

Both sidewalks and then there's cars traveling with a good clip of speed on both directions on.

A

South street is 30 feet sufficient. The committee thought about that because 30 is the minimum for.

I

State law, but in this case it may be worthwhile to push it back but uh or we could do 30 feet and see.

I

How that works out, you know you are eliminating parking as you do this. So it's a balance between.

I

Safe operations of the intersection and accommodating parking needs on the street, so.

I

I mean this committee has the ability to set the parking restrictions as far as they want from the.

I

Intersection, mr chair, as I recall, um we, we said that we put the 30-foot and monitor okay and then.

K

You know if you know if we felt it needs to be larger uh or longer. We were going to report back.

K

And then for further action, okay uh mark mr chair, so eric the question I have is when you're heading.

L

South down broad street before you get to the shrubs and the fence it. If you two vehicles.

L

On both sides of the road it does narrow there, so you can only get really one vehicle.

L

So going back as far as you can will get allow access to go left or right in a faster, so yeah.

L

I'm in favor of going past the 30 feet, but how do you dress? Could you address that with.

L

Any not pain or signage, but I guess not because you know, if someone's coming off a right or left.

L

Off the south and heading north okay, there's a vehicle is coming. The other heading south.

L

You know how do you, how do they manage that right now? Did you guys view that, because.

L

You want a prime time at eight o'clock in the morning right during the week, so.

L

Did you witness that at all anybody turning off and heading heading north, yes, yes, yeah and it.

L

Was so it was with one, but it was so many coming south. At the same time, you see what I'm trying.

K

Yeah and the proposed solution is I'm sorry, mr chairman yeah no go ahead. uh The pro solution is.

K

To address exactly that, so it having additional space would allow the would have allowed the.

K

Pickup truck to pull in allow the north, the south driving vehicle on broad street to get past him.

K

The the truck would then pull around them, so they didn't have enough. So they were a kitty. They were.

K

Cut across the lane, which kind of created the gridlock situation, um so it the intent, is to.

K

Address that exact situation sure I like the idea of not going right to 40 go to 30, because, let's.

L

See what kind of responses we get from the butters? You don't know what their needs are. You're going.

L

To find out maybe some kind of reaction, maybe not yeah, and- and I did I don't know if this worked for.

I

You and your packets are sent out, but we did have a video camera out there. We were, we found this.

I

Condition where someone's pulling out trying to pull in the same time, you don't have to wait. Yeah.

I

So it's a it doesn't happen frequently, but when it does, it creates an issue and.

I

Causes traffic tie-ups on south street as well, mary, lou, yes and the car is leaving across.

O

Fraud street turning right come onto this crosswalk, as this car does trying to get out.

I

Of the way and kind of get out of the blocking the accessibility issue, yep there's there's a.

L

Lot of that we have that in ellen park and there's yeah it's everywhere. So I guess the.

A

The motion on the table is to to approve and then monitor, to make sure 30 feet is sufficient.

A

Steve has just to be sure that both sides of broad street right- yes, yes right.

I

Clarify again, both sides, north and south of no, no, I think we we settled on both sides.

M

North of south street, okay, both sides of broad street north of south street.

A

All those in favor hi hi. Thank you all right. So moving on to old business.

A

um Item a maple avenue at prospect street report back on the request to slow traffic.

A

On maplewood avenue and the sample motion is moved to place on file still moved. Second.

A

Eric do you want to speak to this one? Yes, uh we've been out there and looking at this.

I

Intersection, uh you know, the concern is vehicles coming out of prospect. Street have limited sight.

I

Lines looking to the the left towards the bypass with a bridge and um vehicles coming off of the.

I

Northbound ramp from the bypass, don't always stop at the stop sign here they come around.

I

This corner, you know 10 15 miles an hour and uh it can be a little tricky for someone pulling.

I

Out of here, so we did traffic counts. We saw that at most there's only six vehicles an hour coming.

I

Out of prospects, it's a very low volume street on sight lines approaching the street from from.

I

Maplewood ave are fine. You can see over 400 feet, which is suitable for speeds of 45 miles an hour.

I

Actually, the one issue is when you're pulling out of here, your sight, line's a little bit limited by.

I

The corner of this building, but if a vehicle pulls up to the edge of the the white line here, then.

I

They can see beyond the building and you can see everybody that's coming, even if someone's coming.

I

Off the ramp here, 15 20 miles an hour. They have time to see and react to someone pulling out of.

I

This intersection, so uh I mean the request- is to slow traffic on maplewood to make it easier to get.

I

Out but you know there are sufficient sight lines, everybody can see each other and stop even at the.

I

At the speeds, they're currently traveling to make any changes to this ramp here to try to get people.

I

To slow down or stop it would require working with the state. You know try to put a bump out.

I

Here or something that trucks could get over but would stop vehicles, but you know working with the.

I

State to modify this ramp would be a considerable effort. We tried it when they were redoing. The.

I

Maplewood ave bridge and we were met with pushback at that time. Vehicles coming out of prospect. They.

I

Do have the option of two other streets in the neighborhood that come out on the dennett street.

I

So it's not their only option for getting out of this neighborhood. So that's the reason I didn't.

I

Suggest to recommend any actions at this point to uh you know we did put this warning sign up.

I

A few years ago it warns people coming off the ramp or approaching that there is a side street.

I

Here, that's hidden behind this building, but uh you know we didn't see it rising to the issue of.

I

Having to do some more measures out there at this time- and we are always trying to slow speeds here,.

I

We do have a your speed sign just beyond prospect street as you're going down the hill on maplewood.

I

So people are aware of their speed and trying to slow down as they're coming down the hill.

A

Great. Thank you. Any discussion. Is there a motion? Yes, the place on file? Yes, all those in favor, hi.

A

Hey um old business item b, mariette drive, speed analysis, uh sample motion, move to place item on.

A

File so moved second and eric, would you speak to this one briefly? Yes, this uh request came out of.

I

A neighborhood meeting in maple haven concerns about speeds on marriott drive, so we've uh put.

I

Out our stealth speed recorder on a couple places on marriott and we found the average speeds for 16.

I

At 85 percent I was 21., it's posted at 20.. uh That was the slower, the the faster section of marriott.

I

They're actually driving an average fee of 20 with an 85th or 26 so slightly over. The posted.

I

Speed limit, but still well within range. It doesn't suggest that traffic calming measures are needed.

I

In this area, those feeds are not that great great. Thank you any discussion. uh All those in favor hi.

A

And old business item c, uh maple haven, stop sign analysis and the sample motion.

A

Is moved to approve installation of a stop sign on the northbound.

A

Leg of suzanne drive at intersection of suzanne drive and simmons road near park.

A

Second, any discussion eric if you give just a quick yes, uh this request also came out of the.

I

Maple haven, neighborhood meetings- and there are some concern about these intersections within.

I

Maple haven, they're kind of confusing if you're not familiar with the area, none of the none of.

I

Them currently have stop signs, and because of the geometry you're on the main, what appears to be the.

I

Main road of suzanne drive actually coming to a t intersection with simons and your natural reaction.

I

Would be to stop at this location? That's why the recommendation was for a stop sign here. You also.

I

Have the park here we have some people out of the side of the neighborhood coming in and may not be.

I

Familiar with how the intersections work, so that was why we had the recommendation here. These other.

I

Locations are can be somewhat confusing, but in the videos that we've put up at these locations and.

I

Watching the traffic, it was very rare to have two cars at one time approaching these intersections.

I

There's just not a lot of traffic in this neighborhood, so yeah we could put up signs for.

I

The sake of putting up signs, but I'd prefer not to clutter the neighborhood with signs that aren't.

I

Really needed- and I see the the one location that could be needed would be this one up here. If it.

I

Was desired to put a stop sign in, we are putting a couple of speed tables in next year to control.

I

There is a cut through issue: traffic coming off of route, 1 coming up through suzanne drive and.

I

Out onto ocean road here to avoid the signal at uh lafayette notion ride, so those speed tables should.

I

Address that cut through concern any discussion in reference to the speed table. Yes, is that in the.

K

Capital budget already, you know uh it's already covered by existing funds: okay, okay, all right.

A

And and I'll just speak to, I think the intent of this request was to slow traffic.

A

um And in this neighborhood cut through traffic on suzanne drive is probably the chief complaint.

A

um But if you look at the way traffic regulations are if we were to put two.

A

Stop signs in the the area there on suzanne drive and on simmons drive. It would actually.

A

Have the opposite effect of what I think the resident was looking for, because it would stop.

A

Traffic in in that was in the neighborhood and give priority to the cut through traffic.

A

Which is, is probably the opposite of what they would like to see happen. So I agree with there.

A

That you know putting stop signs in those two locations would be probably counterproductive.

A

And no further discussion, all those in favor.

A

Moving on in our agenda is informational items. uh The monthly accident report from police.

P

Thank you, mr chairman. In september we had a total of 77 crashes. 48 of those crashes were reportable.

P

We did not have any crashes involving pedestrians or bicyclists. Thankfully um I will just note that.

P

We have seen an uptick in dwi and impaired driving and also dwi and impaired crashes.

P

These are oftentimes officers coming across or get called to accident scenes and the drive.

P

Risen paired in the last couple of months, we've seen a significant increase in that and we're.

P

Increasing our dedicated dwi specific patrols here over the next couple of weeks and months.

O

Mary lou, yes, I have a question about distracted driving. I see a lot of it. I was almost hit on.

O

South street yesterday by it wasn't a young kid driving the car and someone just wondering.

O

What's going on with distracted driving, are you stopping? How do you start driving? Are you.

Q

Stopping how do you, how do you you know? How do you enforce that um we conduct motor vehicle stops.

P

For distracted driving in distracted driving, you can look at the definition of the rsa is, is any.

P

Momentary use of a portable handheld electronic device, even temporarily halted in traffic, so even.

P

If you're at everybody sees that light, turn from red to green and then there's one car that doesn't.

P

Move because they had knives were down and they're on their phone. So even that temporarily halted in.

P

Traffic is considered distracted driving. We stop a lot of cars for it. We have made a difference.

P

And I see it all the time as well, I talked to an officer the other day and he works nights and he.

P

Said he said I used to stop cars a couple times an hour for distracted driving. He says I don't see.

P

It this is one officer, but he says I don't see it as much as I used to uh during the day. I think we.

P

All see it on a steady basis, um I've personally written, I don't know how many tickets, for it.

P

um The problem is until people consciously decide to change their behavior they're going.

P

To do it, I've written people for second and third offense, it's part of culture, it's part of it's a.

P

Lot of cases it's almost impossible for people to stop doing it, but we stop a lot of cars for.

P

Distracted driving, we have specific distracted, driving patrols like the dwi patrols, where, for.

P

Three to four hours officers go out and that's their primary focus, distracted driving and it's.

P

Also, probably the second highest contributor to our crashes, driver inattention or distraction.

P

um Right because it's there's nothing more dangerous than your head and eyes are in your.

P

Lap when you're driving- so I agree, yeah yeah, we we do see it and we do. We do write tickets for.

O

It on top of it. Yes, thank you for that sure all right and uh moving on. Thank you for the report.

A

uh To miscellaneous uh the only go ahead mark my speaker, uh the only time we want.

L

To bring up is uh whoa is uh assistant mayor spleen, reached out to me about jessica's law.

L

And I wanted to bring awareness to the topic coming into the fall winter season.

L

And I'm just going to ask chief maloney: what's the policy on jessica's law, he just elaborated.

L

On it, it's that random. You know that special enforcement, so after a snowstorm, what's the.

L

Policy with your police department, uh the policies just we don't have a policy on jessica's law. It's.

P

A motor vehicle offense, so just like any other motor vehicle fence, it would be considered a.

P

Traffic violation so a great reminder coming up on frost and frost season here in in snow and ice.

P

We do routinely put out on our facebook and our social media about the awareness of jessica's law.

P

That's primary, usually our focus for kind of laws that people might not know about whether it be.

P

um Usually a awareness, education and enforcement is usually the the steps that we take so.

P

um That that's a good reminder here now that the weather's getting colder is to to clear snow and.

P

Ice from windows, so you have visibility and your roof. Mr chairman, just as a reminder to the public.

L

Jessica's law is a law where, when it snows- and you have snow in your on your vehicle- that it should.

L

Be taken off because it's a hazard so when you're driving it blows off, that's what causes deaths and.

L

Accidents, uh one of the ideas that jimmy mentioned to me, what he called explain um is I mean when it.

L

Comes to awareness, we do have a newsletter um that the manager puts out that maybe in the winter time.

L

We can increase that awareness to the to the public would be a nice idea, and uh you.

L

Know if there's any other ideas when it comes to justice law, it's very important, for uh you know.

L

For safety- and you see it all the time you know, especially the people that don't have garages.

L

um You know they just drive to work and they don't clean off the tops of their vehicles.

L

So the winner is coming and there's what do you estimated? What five or ten stone arms a year peter.

L

You don't know, what's your average, you have an average. I know you have an average, not.

K

Off the top of my head yeah, it's and it's not just snow, it's you know. So we deal with.

K

Precipitation events, so it could be freezing rain, it could be snow, it could be, you know, so it's a.

K

You know half dozen dozen on average yeah even ice blowing off a vehicle, so I'm so.

L

That's it uh steve, uh just a quick uh anecdote from last week after our site.

M

Visit uh on broad and south, I rode my moped on south street heading towards middle street.

M

um And it's it speaks to the speed limit issue. So that's a 20 mile per hour road. I was going 22.

M

Sorry, if my moped's correct and had a vehicle pass at at least 25 to 30 across the solid yellow line.

M

Only so that I could meet them at their bumper, a thousand feet down the road at the crosswalk.

M

With the school crosswalk person- and I just want to encourage speaking of safety- I think.

M

There is this behavior that if you see a moped or a bicycle on your vehicle, you must pass them.

M

Like you have to pass them, even if they're doing the speed limit and as we think about.

M

Updating our bike and pad plan and the e-bike issue. Obviously many e-bikes easily do 20 miles.

M

Per hour or 25, some of them 30., so I think it is time to update that plan. I I want to.

M

Just encourage people, you know the speed limit is important, but behavior. I think you were speaking.

M

About distracted, it's a behavioral thing and uh we all have to share these facilities and.

M

Anyway, that's my little soapbox experience for the week.

A

Yeah mary lou and then just a quick comment, and I don't want to be a pill on this, but I want it.

O

On record that, I think the three intersections at maplewood at congress, hanover and deer, are.

O

Not safe for pedestrians, so I want that in the minutes. Please, okay, thank you and erica.

N

um Just so steve doesn't feel attacked on the moped I was driving on south.

N

Street in my car going 22 miles an hour and someone passed me on a double line on south.

M

I mean maybe it speaks to the point that if you have the speed limit too low.

M

You are also creating a you know, a safety hazard because of the way people are behaving so it it.

M

Speaks to them, I felt like I was driving appropriate for the road conditions at.

N

The time but the person behind me who kept honking disagreed impatience all right.

A

See no further miscellaneous, uh I'm gonna adjourn the meeting I'll make a motion to adjourn. Second.

K

Mr chair, the question about december meeting: oh sorry, thank you peter um so being that.

A

um There's a lot of things going on in december, and our agenda is a little bit light. Would.

A

This committee be opposed to us having our next meeting in january instead of december.

D

I'm fine with that. I think it's up to the [ __ ] happy thursday january 5th, all right so we'll.

A

Have the next meeting uh thursday january 5th, and um you know in the meantime, if people at.

A

Home want to send us in suggestions on the new naming committee. uh Maybe we'll put something.

A

In the agenda where we can discuss that, because I think there were some pretty good points brought.

A

Up in public comment on things that we can do to be more cognizant of how to make the street.

A

Safer for everyone, so I think it's something we should definitely look into great all right, good.

A

I guess with that we'll join the meeting until january. Thank you. Thank you. Everyone. Thank you.