2011-03-15 TPC MinutesTransportation and Parking Commission
City of Northampton
210 Main Street, Room 18,
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 587 -1210
www.northamptonma.gov /tpc
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
City Council Chambers, Puchalski Municipal Building
4:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m.
Members Present: Maureen Carney, Ned Huntley, Russell Sienkiewicz, Wayne Feiden, Debin
Bruce, James Lowenthal, Jesse Adams, Gary Hartwell,
Members Absent: William Letendre, Paul Sustick, Leslie Stein
Others Present: Councilor David Murphy; Jason Schrieber, Nelson Nygaard
Meeting called to order at 4:02 p.m. by Chair, Maureen Carney. Quorum met.
1. Plaza /Sidewalk Designs for King Street near Summer and North Streets; and the
intersections of State & Elm Streets and King & Main Streets.
Public Comment —
a. Jason Schrieber, Nelson \Nygaard Consulting Associates, presented an update on the
plans for the above - mentioned streets and intersections to make them more
"walkable and bicycle - friendly."
Schreiber emphasized a desire to "add to the character" of King Street, particularly
as it is situated between Summer & North Streets to Main Street. These plans
include, but are not limited to:
- Widen the sidewalks while allowing for bicycle parking as part of a multi -use
path crossing North Street to actually provide dedicated bicycle facilities;
- Narrow 4 lanes to 2 lanes on King Street and expanding to10 -foot sidewalks,
and by having two lanes, capacity issues on North Street, cause for significant
complaints, are resolved;
- Continue on- street parking already established as it is good for quoting mixed -
uses, also good for making the sidewalk feel like it makes for a more enjoyable
walking experience;
- Put in a 3rd lane on North Street by peeling back the sidewalk, about 3 feet of
one side where it happens to be 8 feet, narrowing the sidewalks (a trade -ofd, but
5 foot wide sidewalks is sustainable;
- Run a new crosswalk through the center of the intersection between North and
Summer Streets; considering the narrowing of the street while obtaining a
protected crossing phase with a walk signal, and with widened sidewalks
accommodating the pedestrian, the crossing of King Street at this point will be
much safer;
Recommending going from 4 lanes to 3 lanes north on King Street the entire
length with more clear areas for turning left when the left lane functions as a
left -turn lane half the time anyway; moreover, the places that have done this
shift statistically show no reduction in volume and with lowered crash rates a
problem historically on King Street.
As it pertains to Main Street, Schreiber suggested the efficacy of the following:
Eliminating 2 full travel lanes in order to widen by 12 feet the sidewalk space
on both the north and south sides of the street, expanding the area for plazas,
landscaping, or, ideally, a lot of nice new cafe space for restaurants to help
encourage that walking environment;
Also, getting rid of the two lane crossings also makes it easier, safer, and more
efficient to cross the street, reducing a lot of the double threat that happens now
when one motorist stops for a pedestrian even as a second motorist alongside
may or may not stop as well;
Signalize the intersections on Main Street at King & Main Streets and at State &
Elm Streets, to include curb extensions on each corner, significantly reducing
crossing distances, which in turn significantly reduces the cycle length of the
signals, e.g. from 120 -130 seconds down to only 80 seconds—estimates show
the town will process just as many cars during the day, but will see a significant
increase in pedestrians in the same amount of time;
Schreiber suggested his company is working on plans for all of Main Street, not just the
key intersections. He also announced a "pin -up session" for later this date at the Senior
Center at 7 p.m., and again on Wednesday, 3/16/11, for a final presentation, also at the
Senior Center.
No questions
b. Debin Bruce announced a "South Street Walk" for Thursday morning 3/17 @ 8:30
a.m., meeting at the (Lakehurst) Center. She expressed being "tickled" at the
prospect.
No questions
2. Main and King Street Transportation Charrette
a. Wayne Feiden urged all to attend, suggesting the Wednesday 3/16 would be more
far - reaching meeting than this evening's, 3/15. Really a "drop -by" for "if you want
to be heard."
b. Chair Carney reiterated Mr. Feiden's suggestion that of the meetings that remain,
those members of the commission might prefer attending tomorrow night
(Wednesday 3/16).
No questions
3. Continued from February 15t
Middle St Florence—Councilor Murphy. (From November 21 minutes: "Neighborhood
petition for parking restrictions. Motion to amendment to the parking ordinance.
Restricting parking for 2 -hour parking on south side of street. Motion by Letendre,
seconded by cochair. Further discussion: Recommending ordinance to be cosponsored
with Councilor Murphy on the conditions that he confirm the signers of petition are
residents and majority of residents on street do want this change. It would be a fair
amendment and motion. Motion to endorse made and seconded. MOTION
CARRIED. ")
a. Councilors David Murphy acknowledged the residents near the Chestnut Street end
of Middle Street in Florence requested he deal with the matter of limited parking.
The following are the facts at hand as he understands them:
- The section of Middle Street in question is near a medical facility, the
employees of which are encouraged not to park in the lot adjacent to the
building so that patients can, the employees parking on the street;
- The glut of employees necessitated the town to put up No Parking signs on
Main Street, forcing the employees to park on Middle Street;
- The situation reached a critical mass where the residents requested the Council
install 2 -Hour parking limits with signage along their half of Middle Street in
order to get the cars to "turn over ";
- The medical facility has an arrangement with the Annunciation Church for use
of their parking lot. Medical employees park only so far along the street before
they decide to park at the church;
- The residents followed up their request for action with a petition, to which Bill
Letendre went to measure the street. Upon seeing Mr. Letendre, some of the
residents grew reluctant with proceeding with the parking limitations, not
wanting to burden residents at the other end of the street who didn't need the
limitation;
- A consensus was reached among the residents that the limitations were to
extend only to 46 Middle Street;
- It remains unclear as to whether the 2 -hour limit runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. or 8
a.m. to 6 p.m.
Di -,cii -,-,ion
Chair Carney reminded the Commission that the matter was taken up in
November (see section header with Nov. Minutes quote) and again in February
and provided copies of said Minutes. Ms. Carney pointed out the lack of clarity
between Mr. Letendre and Councilor Murphy, while at the same time
acknowledged Mr. Letendre's absence from this meeting.
• Debin Bruce emphasized the residents primary concern of a need for traffic -
calming, and if anything, limiting parking will only increase the rate of traffic
speed.
• Councilor Murphy, responding to Ms. Bruce, disagreed with her interpretation
of the residents concern and reiterated their desire for "limited parking," not No
Parking. Moreover, he added, money for calming traffic is unavailable. He
related one resident's hard luck of being unable to have family and friends at his
home after a funeral for lack of parking. He also added the prospect of the Co-
operative Bank's parking lot as a possibility.
• James Lowenthal computed the various available parking lots as the more
primary parking spaces over those on the street, and wondered if the parking
limitations would mean the employees and medical patients would simply be
trading places.
• Chair Carney acknowledged residents would be subject to moving their vehicles
wherein they didn't have to before, although the likelihood of finding a space
would increase as cars moved.
• As to the matter having been dealt with in November, Councilor Murphy
pointed out the residents' petition was absent their respective addresses, now to
be entered into the record, and to reiterate the limitations would pertain only as
far as #46. He also called on Mr. Letendre to draw up an Ordinance to confirm
the addresses provided and that it reflected those modifications.
• Chief Sienkiewicz acknowledged the detailed issues and suggested the loose
ends were why the original motion was tabled. He asked if a Motion to Amend
was now required.
• Chair Carney suggested a new Motion be made.
• Ned Huntley asked for clarification on the time of day when the limitation was
in effect, to which Chair Carney suggested consistency with other downtown
limits indicate 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Councilor Murphy concurred. Chief
Sienkiewicz pointed out that the time was in the original motion; no need to
change it then.
• Chair Carney cited a point of order, saying if the Ordinance is co- sponsored by
Transportation and Parking and Councilor Murphy, it won't be raised again in
meeting but will go directly to the Ordinance Committee before the full
Council. Councilor acknowledged the procedure and said he would comply.
ETA, before the April 7t' full Council meeting.
MOTION, Chief Sienkiewicz, to Approve the Recommendation; seconded, Mr.
Adams; motion carried unanimously.
4. Approval of Minutes of February 15 , 2011
MOTION, Mr. Feiden, to Approve; seconded, Mr. Adams; abstained, Mr. Hartley;
Motion carried.
5. Church Street "...request data on accident statistics and measurements of Church
Street; data to be provided by Mass DOT." (see accident data provided via Chief
Sienkewicz email) "Only 1 was found - -- Though technically on Church St, it was a Nov
2010 2AM accident where a drunk driver northbound on King St crossed into the
southbound lane, onto Church St, left the road, hit a tree then a fence."
The Commission considered the data supplied by the DPW, which showed length &
width of street (length is 500' x width is 25') and the accident data supplied by Chief
Sienkiewicz. And there was a consensus among the Commission to take no action at
this point.
6. DPW Updates-
a. Chair Carney noted the absence of Laura Hanson while expressing appreciation for
Ned Huntley for shortening his vacation to provide the update.
No Questions
b. Ned Huntley related Conz Street as the only item on the agenda at the moment: It's
improvement is to be put up for bid, to include surface reconstruction, utility
reconstruction, new sidewalks, curb cuts, etc.
•:
• Jesse Adams related discussing with Ms. Hanson had discussed, among other
things, ailments in the rebuilding of Conz Street, and requested an update.
• Ned Huntley related some details of upgrade, including traffic calming features:
raised crosswalks; mimicking the work done at Smith College by Nelson \Nygaard;
and creating space for bicycles with either bike lanes or shoulders.
• Debin Bruce wanted to know about a possible roundabout, to which Mr. Huntley
suggested MassDOT has hired a Boston area business to look into that.
• James Lowenthal was emphatic about the need to slow the traffic down on Conz
Street, suggesting it's proximity to the highway as a subliminal cause for aggressive
driving. Mr. Huntley suggested a cash flow problem prohibited doing too much vis
a vis Conz Street.
7. Other Announcements
Temp Keeper of the Minutes Gregory Ammons submitted his resume for job seek.
Chair Carney said she would circulate it amongst the members.
Motion to Adjourn, Chief; Seconded, Hartwell; Approved Unanimously 4:57 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Gregory P. Ammons
Johnson & Hill Staffing