2010-02-16 TPC MinutesTRANSPORTATION & PARKING COMMISSION
City of Northampton
City Hall, 210 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060 -3199
Phone: (413) 587 -1249 Fax: (413) 587 -1275
Website: www.northamptonma.gov/tpc
February 16, 2010 - Meeting Minutes
City Councilor Maureen Carney opened the meeting at 4:07 p.m. in City Council Chambers,
Pulchaski Municipal Building, 212 Main Street, Northampton, MA.
Members present: Maureen Carney, Jesse Adams, William Letendre, Gary Hartwell,
Paul Sustick (arrived 4:06 p.m.)
Also present: Laura Hanson, Transportation Engineer, Northampton DPW (proxy for DPW)
Members absent: Ned Huntley, Chief Russell Sienkiewicz, Wayne Feiden, Leslie Stein,
James Lowenthal (on sabbatical)
1. Public Comment - None
2. Election of Chair and Vice Chair
Bill Letendre moved a nomination for Maureen Carney to become the TPC Chairwoman;
Gary Hartwell seconded. The vote passed unanimously (6 -0).
Bill Letendre moved a nomination for Jesse Adams to become the TPC Vice Chairman;
Gary Hartwell seconded. The vote passed unanimously (6 -0).
3. Minutes of November 17, 2009 (Addendum 1) and December 15, 2009 (Addendum 2)
Maureen Carney checked the TPC Bylaws and confirmed that a vote of six (6) members was
needed for a quorum.
Bill Letendre moved approval of the minutes of November 17, 2009 and December 15, 2009;
Jesse Adams seconded. The vote passed unanimously (6 -0).
4. DPW Traffic Calming Engineering Assessment: Meadows Street (TCR #3- Addendum 3)
Laura Hanson gave a Power Point presentation (www.northamptonma.gov /tpc using the
"Documents" link). Ms. Hanson reviewed traffic counter data including volume and speed of
vehicles, and other information required for the Engineering Assessment in the Northampton
Traffic Calming Manual. The TPC originally accepted the Meadow St traffic calming application
on February 17, 2009.
Tilli Friedrich (Meadows St applicant) thanked Ms. Hanson for doing such a thorough assessment
and will bring the information back to her neighbors.
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Minutes: Transportation & Parking Commission 2/16/2010 Meeting (continued)
Traffic Calming Application Preliminary Review /Referral: Ward Avenue, (TCR #8)
(See Addendum 1: November 17, 2009 Minutes, pages 40 -42)
Topic deferred to the next meeting because the applicant was not present.
6. Smith College Elm Street Crosswalk Safety Improvements Design Presentation
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates: 13 page handout (11 "x17"- available at DPW Office)
Jason Schreiber (Nelson- Nygaard Consulting Associates) gave a Power Point presentation
(www.northamptonma.gov /tpc using the "Documents" link). Mr. Schreiber described the final
design components for the improvements at six (6) intersections on Elm St that will promote safer
pedestrian crosswalks, narrower travel lanes (11 feet wide), and bicycle lanes (5 -7 feet wide).
Traffic calming on Elm St is a goal of Smith College because there have been two fatalities and
several pedestrian accidents during the past five years in this corridor.
Paul Sustick expressed his dissatisfaction with the project, and does not support the use of Smith
College funds for such improvements. He described the traffic as "going very slow" in this
section of Elm St.
Ms. Carney asked Ms. Hanson if she would share the traffic counter data that she collected last
year on Elm St. Ms. Hanson agreed to give a presentation of the speed data at the next meeting.
Ms. Carney noted that Mr. Sustick's comments speak to the competing interests of traffic
efficiency and pedestrian/bicycle safety.
Ms. Hanson mentioned that one of the goals of the TPC is too support the City Sustainability
Policy where it is stated in several places that pedestrian and bicycle safety should be promoted.
This project represents a model for supporting traffic calming within the community.
7. Business Improvement District (BID) request to erect sidewalk sales tents in parking spaces
Topic deferred to the next meeting because no one from the BID was present.
8. Proposed Ordinance: Route 66 Bike Lanes (Addendum 4)
Ms. Hanson explained that there are pavement markings on Route 66 for 4 -foot bike lanes from
Belmont Ave to Old Wilson Rd, and 5 -foot bike lanes from Old Wilson Rd to the City Line. If
the TPC were to endorse this Ordinance, bike lane signs could be installed along Route 66.
Bill Letendre moved to have the TPC endorse this Ordinance §312 -80 for Bike Lanes being
established on Route 66 from Belmont Ave to the Westhampton Town Line; Gary Hartwell
seconded. The vote passed unanimously (6 -0). The Ordinance will be given to City Council
as the next step in the approval process.
9. Proposed modification of Church Street one -way ordinance
(See Addendum 2: December 15, 2009 Minutes, pages 7 -10)
Topic deferred to the next meeting for a discussion with more TPC members.
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Minutes: Transportation & Parking Commission 2/16/2010 Meeting (continued)
10. Traffic Engineering Reports/Update:
■ Roundabout preconstruction meeting (will give date at the next meeting)
■ Cracksealing streets — 2010 bid opening on March 22, 2010 (2 PM)
■ MassDOT (Boston) — Pedestrian Safety Project (on hold temporarily)
■ 25 "Share the Road" signs donated by PVPC to DPW — Rt.66 (Phase 1 & 2)
■ Paving (20 10) — Conz Street (public meeting will be held end of March)
■ MassDOT (District 2) — Industrial Park Directional Signs (3 new)
11. Continued: Traffic Mitigation Funds Policy (Wayne)
This was deferred to the next meeting because Wayne was not present.
12. Committee & Department Head Reports — None
13. New Business
Jesse Adams had three items to discuss:
(a) Asked about the possibility of eliminating two (2) parking spaces near Cracker Barrel Alley
on Main St in order to promote pedestrian safety on the nearby crosswalk.
(b) The crosswalk on Old South St (near Main St) is dangerous because cars are turning right
while pedestrians are in the crosswalk. Ms. Hanson suggested discussing this at the next TPC
meeting to gain a better understanding of the past history.
(c) Mr. Adams is trying to establish block party events with business owners on Strong Ave, and
will keep the TPC informed of his progress.
14. Next Meeting: March 16, 2010 (Tuesday, 4:00 PM- 6:00 PM)
Respectfully Submitted,
Laura G. Hanson
DPW /Transportation Engineer
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