Transportation & Safety Committee

Village of Lombard Village Hall 255 East Wilson Ave. Lombard, IL 60148 villageoflombard.org Minutes Tuesday, October 15, 2013 7:00 PM Village Hall - Village Managers Conf Rm Transportation & Safety Committee Trustee Reid Foltyniewicz - Chairperson Trustee Mike Fugiel - Alternate Chairperson Michael Corso, John Larkin, John Schwarz, Bob Corbino, Jerry Schaefer, Jennifer Perkins, Gary Cation and John Mullins Staff Liaisons: Deputy Chief Tom Wirsing - Police Department and Frank Kalisik - Public Works Department Transportation & Safety Committee Minutes October 15, 2013 1.0 Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Foltyniewicz at 7:00 p.m. 2.0 Roll Call Present 8 - Trustee Reid Foltyniewicz, Michael Corso, John Schwarz, Bob Corbino, Jerry Shaefer, Jennifer Perkins, Gary Cation, and John Mullins Absent 1 - John Larkin Jr. Staff Present: Frank Kalisik, Public Works Department Deputy Chief Tom Wirsing, Police Department 3.0 Public Participation Robert Biddle, 821 S. Charlotte Mr. Biddle was present to discuss item 130519. Mr. Biddle stated that he is asking for a stop sign yet again. There was an accident a couple of weeks ago. Kids were not at the bus stop and the car came to a stop across the street. Charlotte is a cut-through for Main. There is a constant flow of traffic and it's free flow from Wilson to Madison. He added that he believes that additional stop signs will slow down the traffic. There are bus stops and a lot of foot traffic. He suggested that maybe the police need to patrol more, but there needs to be more than a yield sign. He stated that all of the area residents are on board. Mr. Biddle commented that a stop sign just went in a Taylor and Norbury, which is a great start, but there should be a stop at Norbury and Harrison; the sight line is terrible. His biggest concern is with kids walking and the cars blowing through the yield, somebody is going to get hit. It's time to slow that traffic down and make it safe for the kids. Within two blocks of a school there should be consistency with the stop signs. Foltyniewicz asked which corner the bus stop is on. Mr. Biddle answered that at Harrison and Charlotte the morning stop is on the northwest corner and the afternoon stop is on the southwest corner. Corso added that he does cut down Charlotte most days to avoid the light at Main and Wilson. Mr. Biddle went on to say that on weekends they park cars on the street on purpose to slow traffic down. He further added that on the 700 block of Charlotte the high school kids park there in the morning. Schwarz commented that he thought it wasn't posted no parking because there were objections from the neighborhood. General discussion ensued regarding the high school parking Village of Lombard Page 1 Transportation & Safety Committee Minutes October 15, 2013 restrictions. Mr. Biddle stated that the original ordinance says no parking from Wilson to Madison, but it is not enforced. Corso said that he talked to the neighbors the night of the accident and there is support. He added that while he was standing there somebody went right through the yield sign. Corso further commented that he does use it as a cut through street and would bet most of his neighbors do as well. Corso stated that this is a common sense thing, don't need traffic counts. There is a grade school there and bus stops. Schwarz pointed out that bus stops change. Corso added that there are grade school kids walking, bus stops and high school kids parking there. Trustee Foltyniewicz rearranged the agenda to discuss this item first . 130519 Charlotte Street at Harrison Road Resident request that existing Yield signs be changed to Stop signs . (DISTRICT #6) Corso reiterated that he feels this is a no-brainer, just swap out the signs. Schaefer asked if he wanted to put in stop signs at every yellow dot and suggested that maybe there are too many stop signs in this area. He added that the committee has to abide by the regulations and this is the first accident that's been reported in the last 5 years. Mr. Biddle interjected that that is not true. Chairperson Foltyniewicz clarified that the accident would have had to be right at the intersection to be counted as an intersection accident, otherwise they would be filed by an address. Mr. Biddle explained that there was a bad accident about three years ago. Chairperson Foltyniewicz said that he went to the intersection and saw more of a problem southbound Charlotte than northbound with the sight lines. Schwarz asked how the Rules of the Road define the use of a yield sign for a motorist. Wirsing answered that they have to yield to the opposite traffic, however, it doesn't specify how slow you have to go as you approach the intersection. Schwarz asked how the police would write the ticket if there were two motorists and either one or both caused the crash. Wirsing answered that it would be failure to yield. Schwarz commented that the onus is on the motorist, so there is really no difference between a yield or stop sign as far as responsibility of the motorist. Wirsing replied that the difference is the impression that the motorist has of the sign. Schwarz went on to explain that the yield signs were put up after a village-wide study. A consultant went through every intersection in town, but that was 15 to 20 years ago. There are probably places that signage was put up that should be reviewed, but you can't make allowances for all of these unusual happenings, because if you did you would have stop signs everywhere. Village of Lombard Page 2 Transportation & Safety Committee Minutes October 15, 2013 Chairperson Foltyniewicz said that one of his issues with the area is that it is inconsistent; at some intersections there are stop signs and others are yield. They should be consistent across the board. Schaefer said that he agrees they should be consistent, but the point he is trying to make was why some of the stop signs are there. He suggested that the committee should look at the entire area and make sure everything is valid. Chairperson Foltyniewicz agreed and suggested that the area be Madison to Wilson from Hammerschmidt to Main. He also asked for how many crashes there have been at the intersections with the stop signs. Perkins commented that she doesn't think a stop sign should ever be replaced with a yield. She went on to say that what she is most concerned about the school bus stops there. Schwarz explained that for the area north of the high school, the stop controls were alternated each block, so you would go two blocks without a stop. Chairperson Foltyniewicz reiterated that it is his personal feeling that the bigger issue is the sight lines than the speed. He continued, saying that he thinks stop signs would definitely be needed southbound, so he would support a 2-way stop. Cation added that because there are two yields in a row people think they can go faster because they don't have to come to a complete stop. Schwarz commented that when you start over-saturating an area with stop signs, people don't stop. He added that he is not a fan of yield signs and if an intersection needs to be controlled it should be something more positive. Cation cautioned that that the committee is saying two different things; one that the entire area should be reviewed, two that no existing stop signs should be removed. Schaefer offered that there are other options beside a stop sign. Wirsing commented that he can see both sides of it, however, his concern would be that speeding complaints would increase on Harrison and Taylor if the motorists that drive there regularly know that the cross streets all have to stop. Schaefer suggested that Kalisik review the entire area. The committee also requested crash information for the whole area. Schaefer requested that staff prepare a map for the next meeting documenting the accident information for the past five years. A motion was made by Jerry Schaefer, seconded by Bob Corbino, that this Request be tabled. The motion passed by an unanimous vote. 4.0 Approval of Minutes A motion was made by Bob Corbino, seconded by Michael Corso, that the Minutes of the September 9, 2013 meeting be approved. The motion carried unanimously. 5.0 Unfinished Business Village of Lombard Page 3 Transportation & Safety Committee Minutes October 15, 2013 6.0 New Business 130490 Taylor Road, Stewart - Hammerschmidt A resident request to install sidewalks on the north side of Taylor Road . Kalisik reviewed the item. Perkins pointed out that the same situation exists on Morningside and Washington as well. Kalisik explained that it does not fit the requirements for the Fill the Gap program and the Public Works Committee declined to modify the sidewalk policy. A motion was made by Jennifer Perkins, seconded by Bob Corbino, that this Request be denied . The motion passed by an unanimous vote. 130523 Commuter Parking A discussion regarding bicycle, moped and motorcycle parking. Chairperson Foltyniewicz said that he thought it would be a good idea to install two car charging stations and add moped and motorcycle parking. The moped/motorcycle parking could be put in at the Premium lot on the unused strip of asphalt. Kalisik replied that the Environmental Concerns Committee has already looked into the battery charging stations and, as far as the moped/motorcyle parking has most likely been addressed in the Village's Downtown Plan. 130524 Illinois Prairie Path Crossings at Main Street and Westmore-Meyers Road A recommendation to implement a Capital Improvement Program project with sufficient funds to study the crossings, recommend solutions and preliminarily design a selected approach. (DISTRICT# 1, 4 & 5) Chairperson Foltyniewicz stated that he thinks a study should be done. He does not want to say it was just discussed and decided it cost too much. Schaefer added that he thinks there has been enough public interest regarding the confusion about whether to stop or not stop. The committee has also heard from several village officials and there is concern from our residents. The Village should at least have a plan and then decide. A motion was made by Jerry Schaefer, seconded by Gary Cation, that this Request be approved. The motion passed by an unanimous vote. 7.0 Other Business 8.0 Information Only 130525 Graham, Main - Elizabeth Letter to residents regarding No Parking sign change. Village of Lombard Page 4 Transportation & Safety Committee Minutes October 15, 2013 9.0 Adjournment A motion was made by Gary Cation, seconded by Michael Corso, to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 p.m. The motion carried unanimously. Village of Lombard Page 5