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2011-10-18 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, October 18, 2011 City Council Chambers, Puchalski Municipal Building 4:03 p.m. — 6:07 p.m. Members Present: Maureen Carney, Russell Sienkiewicz, Debin Bruce, Leslie Stein, James Lowenthal, Jesse Adams, Wayne Feiden, Ned Huntley, William Letendre, Gary Hartwell Members Absent: Paul Sustick Others Present: Laura Hanson, DPW Meeting called to order at 4:03 p.m. by Chair, Maureen Carney. Quorum met. 1. Public Comment a. Suzanne Smith - 134 State Street Supports parking change on Bright Street, but hopes it really pertains to a change on State Street at Bright Street; cited danger of turning blindly onto State Street from Bright Street while cars are parked on State; reported anecdotally that responding officer to 10/4 accident acknowledged near - misses at that intersection in the past; proposed moving no- parking signs on northbound side of State to widen no- parking areas from the intersection to improve visibility; b. Charlene Sagrodnic — 167 Riverside Drive • Addressed the speed hump at her home address; spoke with Ms. Hanson (DPW) about it and who informed her the hump is temporary; said she was concerned about the emissions of vehicles, or the sound of brakes by large trucks, that line up to drive over the hump, and that there is no other adjoining speed hump in the vicinity renders the existing hump as purposeless in that it doesn't effectively slow traffic at the intersection of Federal St. & Riverside Drive; • Chair Carney said the issue of speed humps on Riverside and other streets was on this meeting's agenda under DPW updates. c. Jackie Mesa — 95 West Street • Read into the record a letter written to the Chair from Maureen Kiely and Thomas Kelley, both of 29 Henshaw Avenue, requesting parking prohibition on Henshaw between 17 and 37 and to make it residents -only with wider clearance areas outside the residences; also to re- regulate parking in front of Ziskind House (Smith College) to bring it in compliance with the rest of the street; Chair Carney suggests Ms. Kiely bring matter to the attention to the Ward 2 Councilor; requested minutes reflect to put this item on the November Agenda; Ref. — Letter to Chair by Kiely and Kelley, dated 10/14/11 d. Alex Geaslin — 164 Riverside Drive Observed that speed humps on Riverside are not reducing overall traffic speed while exacerbating environmental concerns, specifically the energy expended by large vehicles coming to a grinding halt and then starting up again; 18- wheelers gears & exhaust, etc; summarized that the speed humps are not very effective. Paula Sakey — 32 Deer Place • Had spoken earlier with Chair Carney and Ms. Hanson re: the intersection of Finn & Prospect Streets, which she described as "particularly troublesome "; said there are currently no traffic - calming measures; advocating for pedestrian crosswalks; secondarily expressed concern of the snow piles impede visibility for drivers with respect to pedestrians; said painted lines are "dull," and hoped for new traffic signs by Spring. f. Peter McLain — 298 Riverside Drive Expressed appreciation to the Commission for addressing traffic calming measures three years ago; said he understands previous references against the speed humps but said he likes them being there; expressed support for the group seeking more safety measures at the high school as they would have an extended impact on Riverside; Chair Carney instructed that further public comment with respect to the TCRs on this meeting's agenda can be addressed respective to when they're up for discussion; g. Marian Geller — 22 Lincoln Avenue • Expressed concern with trucks off 91 going to Coca Cola in as they're high - volume and there are a lot of young children on the street; also the speed limit ought be reduced from 30 mph to 20 -25. h. Ref: eMail from Ms. Smith to Pamela Schwartz, dated 10/5; replied to 10/7; i. Ref eMail from Chair Carney to Paul Sakey, et al., dated 10 /11 /11; j. Ref email from Deborah Carlin to David A. Murphy, Subj. Riverside Drive Speed Humps, dated 9/14/11; 2. Approval of Minutes a. Minutes of September 20, 2011 2 • Ms. Stein requested clarification of the Public Transportation Plan: Have we approved it, [Mr. Feiden], or are we waiting for it to go to committee? When is it final? When can we share? • Mr. Feiden said it was approved by this committee but he doesn't know as to the Board of Public Works; • Mr. Huntley said it has been distributed to board members and the Commission was awaiting their comments, and they're meeting next week (10/25); • Chair Carney noted the Minutes state that after the Commission's consideration, the plan be brought before the Planning Board and to the Board of Public Works; said there is no correction. MOTION, Mr. Feiden, to Approve Minutes; Seconded, Mr. Adams; Motion carried. 3. TCR - Northampton High School a. Wendy Bernstein, PTO • She thanked the Commission for the neon yellow crossing signs as they're helpful and make the crosswalk more visible; said they met with Nancy Athos about crosswalk safety issues and parking spot parallel to Childs Park (east side of the crosswalk) specific to its rendering of low visibility pedestrians walking out on North Elm Street until they're already in the road; entreated the Commission to look into how to make the crosswalks even safer for pedestrians; thanked Chief Sienkiewicz for having officers in the area; • Ref. Orange handouts made by Monica for open house (Chief Sienkiewicz said he likes it); she also made an announcement that will be sent out to 700 of the families, alerting them what they can do to raise awareness on safety issues; b. Ref. TCR- NHS.pdf (1 page) Discussion • Mr. Letendre said that if the Board wants him to write an Ordinance, he'll do that; • Chair Carney asked what options the community has if parking exceeds one hour; Mr. Letendre instructed the priority is still "down town" and that enforcement is limited, although they've written lots of tickets up there; Chair Carney emphasized citizens can "witness" violations and can file complaints accordingly online whereupon follow -ups by the police can follow; • Ms. Bruce concurred saying that also provides people with the sense they have a voice; • Chair Carney solicited the Commission to determine the next step on the matter; • Mr. Lowenthal suggested asking the DPW to conduct the usual data - finding phase, which he added is a good idea considering the Route 9/Elm Street area has a high- volume accident rate, not to mention high pedestrian rate, and should be put on the list of priorities; • Mr. Huntley concurred with Mr. Lowenthal; • At the Chair's suggestion Ms. Hanson said she would have to look at traffic counters and report back; • Chair Carney summarized the Commission was asking DPW to gather more data, i.e., traffic counts and speeds from the east side of the high school; asked for updated crash data from the police department; separated a second Motion to have the Parking Director submit an Ordinance to eliminate the parking space on the east side of the crosswalk; said after Motion carried that this TCR would be kept on the Agenda as a DPW update whereupon a fuller discussion can be taken from there. • Ms. Bernstein suggested the discussion should include what community resources can be included, as well as traffic flow inside the high school parking lot; • Chief Sienkiewicz pointed out that many of the measures suggested were implemented a year ago, and asked if people are not abiding by it; • Ms. Hanson said she would factor that into her equation with another site visit; • Ms. Bernstein said she'd be happy to review the site observations conducted a year ago; • Mr. Letendre sought specificity of parking spot in question, i.e., in the direction of going toward the hospital, is it before or after the crosswalk; Ms. Bernstein indicated it to be right before the crosswalk and adjacent to Childs Park (east side). MOTION, Mr. Lowenthal, to Move Forward on this TCR; Seconded, Mr. Huntley; Motion carried. MOTION, Ms. Bruce, to Ask Mr. Letendre to Sponsor an Ordinance to Remove the Parking Spot on East Side of Crosswalk in Front of the High School; Seconded, Mr. Adams; Motion carried. 4. TCR #15 -Massasoit Street a. Laura Hanson, DPW Conducted a preliminary analysis in lieu of a more formal engineering study; said she put out two traffic counters; noted the speed limit is 30 mph and the 85"' percentile was in compliance in both directions, which indicates speeding as not an issue; said she was curious as to volume and compared the 1250 vehicles daily at the midpoint of Massasoit in 2007 vs. the 1400 in 2011, and 1900 vehicles near the Y; she summarized that speeding is not indicated on Massasoit despite concerns conveyed by residents who want the speed limit reduced to 25 mph; she suggested she would look into the request upon approval by the TPC and Mr. Huntley at DPW, and that it would include a study of Franklin Street, parallel to Massasoit; pointed out to Ms. Knox that if the speed limit is reduced, 0 the 85t'' percentile in compliance would then be exceeding the speed limit; b. Lou Knox Asked why residents couldn't request a reduction of the speed limit to 25 mph; was informed by the Chair that the state, and not the city, determines the speed limit based on criteria of 85 percent of traffic speed as determining the speed; was informed by Mr. Huntley that Route 66, after it was reconstructed, had similar circumstances but where DPW did not pursue a traffic study for fear the speed limit would be raised; was informed by Ms. Hanson as to traffic volume; was informed by Chair that a letter was forthcoming; Public Comment specific to Massasoit • Eileen (unidentified) resident asked that if Franklin & Woodlawn got their traffic reduced, why not Massasoit ?; dismissed the rationale for not reducing speed limit, citing potential accidents waiting to happen; • Justine Berkman, corner of Elm & Massasoit, inquired about radar alert signs and whether drivers are responding accordingly; likened traffic patterns to "a game of chicken "; said she was afraid every time she backed out of her driveway; suggested enlisting the Y to alert drivers to be more respectful; • Giordy Harold, 3 Massasoit Ave, said he has kids aged 2 & 5 and they walk around the Y; said he was nearly "clipped" coming to this meeting; wants the speed limit reduced to 20 mph; • (unidentified), 103 Massasoit, suggested speed humps exist on Riverside, so why not Massasoit; was informed by Chair that residents of Riverside would be happy to move the speed humps, and why not to Massasoit; d. Ref. Memo from Laura Hanson to Ned Huntley re: Massasoit Street Traffic Counts (2007 & 2011), dated 10/12/11; e. Ref. TCA #15 St_06212011.pdf (5 pages); Discussion • Mr. Letendre emphasized this as having nothing to do with the 5t' Avenue parking problem; Ms. Hanson replied that this was totally separate; • Chair Carney indicated Ms. Knox's dual conflict of Massasoit being as "a raceway" and having too many cars parked on the street (in and of itself a traffic calming measure); said that consequently TPC should get the word out that parked cars reduce speeding on the streets; • Mr. Feiden said the Y expresses concern for too few parking spaces every winter; • Ms. Bruce said that even with the 85t' percentile being in compliance means one in six cars are in fact speeding, which may be lending itself to the impression that Massasoit is less safe; • Ms. Hanson added that the 95 percentile indicated the speed was 34 mph, illustrating that even though speeding occurs, it's not that much higher; • Chair Carney reminded that to residents, 30 mph, even though the speed limit, feels too fast; added that even so, it's not up to the city but to the state to reduce the speed limit, and that state law says what the 85t' percentile is driving is what determines the speed limit; asked Ms. Hanson to convey to Ms. Knox this TCR's dispensation; concurred w/Ms. Hanson who suggested the conveyance be better provided by the TPC; • Mr. Huntley offered to draft the letter to Ms. Knox, to be signed by the Chair; the Chair agreed; • Mr. Feiden suggested the letter reflect no action as going forward unless the Y goes forward with their plans for more parking; the Chair agreed; • Mr. Lowenthal said there was legislation wending its way through the Statehouse to allow for municipalities to set their own speed limits; emphasized that it's not yet law; • Chair Carney pointed out the state goes by quantitative data (traffic counts) vs. qualitative data (anecdotal); suggested the state's rationale for maintaining a higher speed limit is in fact counter - intuitive and that that may lend itself to why the legislation is pending; • Ms. Bruce inquired as to putting a stop sign at the intersection of Massasoit and Elm; was informed by Mr. Huntley that that too is regulated; • Mr. Lowenthal expressed the TPC wants what the residents want but that "we're hogtied by what the State wants" and that resources are limited and there is a numerical ranking system on priorities; #1 on the list is State Street and South Street; • Ms. Stein encouraged residents to put signs in their back car window saying "I'm a Pace Car!" and make that a community effort; Chair Carney concurred saying the City endorsed and supported the Pace Car Program; • Mr. Huntley explained the City standard of painting crosswalks; Ms. Hanson followed -up with the standard on providing traffic signs; Chief Sienkiewicz pointed out that the City budget doesn't provide for repainting all the crosswalks so they have to be prioritized; • Chair Carney suggested revisiting the Massasoit TCR when the Y conducts its annual review, uncertain as to whether that happens in the Fall or Winter; • Mr. Lowenthal suggested residents encourage the Y to encourage their members to Bike and Walk rather than Drive to exercise at the Y; MOTION, Chief Sienkiewicz, to Take no Further Action; Seconded, Ms. Bruce; Motion carried. 5. TCR #16 -Union Street a. Owen Freeman - Daniels, Ward 3 Councilor Spoke extemporaneously for Tim Van Epps, President of Sandri Sunoco, who was not in attendance; summarized Union Street as a cut - through between Bridge Street and Market Street, problematic as the Bridge Street School sits at the end of it; related conversations from the School Committee about possibly 0 making it a one -way street; especially problematic when loading and unloading children at the school; b. Ref. Ltr to Whom It May Concern from Tim Van Epps, dated 9/9/11; Discussion • Chair Carney summarized the concerns as being of speeding and congestion (Mr. Freeman - Daniels concurred); • Mr. Letendre said the speeding issue is the same as Massasoit, but that there is congestion problems; • Mr. Huntley said there was a presentation by Susan Wright at the Capital Improvements Committee to analyze traffic congestion at the Bridge St. School; said he was unclear on how or whether it was funded when the request came in approximately two years ago; • Ms. Stein said it has been on the docket for a while; • Chair Carney noted Mr. Van Epps was not available to facilitate how to proceed; MOTION, Chief Sienkiewicz, to Continue to Next Meeting; Seconded, Mr. Letendre; Motion carried. 6. Truck Escape Routes a. Owen Freeman - Daniels, Ward 3 Councilor • Said there are two different truck escape routes: Lincoln Ave. to North Street into the industrial park; 2nd by the bridge on Holly Street that takes you back toward Damon Road; said there are two separate issues and hoped the TPC will consider them both: Holly/Phillips/Pomeroy intersection; believed residents from Lincoln Ave. would speak on their matter, but offered as his initial policy suggestion to the TPC that they make the escape route not at Lincoln or Bates but down by the Fairgrounds; b. Fred Zimmock — 23 Pomeroy Terrace • Was at the last meeting; said trucks that came down Bridge Street and couldn't go under the Bridge could take a left on Hawley Street, another left on Phillips Place and another left on Pomeroy Terrace; said 3 trucks turning from Phillips to Pomeroy couldn't make the turn because of snow; suggested an alternative route, i.e., Hancock, an easier turn; • Ref. Photos provided; Michele Squires — Lincoln Avenue • Said drivers stop to ask them for directions because they don't trust their GPS systems in that area; 7 d. Ref eMail to Chair Carney from Owen Freeman - Daniels Subj: TPC Sept 20, dated 10 /10 /11; Discussion • Mr. Feiden departed at 4:59 p.m.; • Ms. Stein asked for clarification that "escape" means escape from hitting the bridge; • Chair Carney noted Councilor Freeman - Daniels departed; differentiated the escape routes being 1) left on Hawley; and 2) right on Lincoln coming off I -91, and then a left on Bates to Coca Cola; • Mr. Lowenthal asked DPW about laser detectors report for over - height trucks and if it will affect which escape route; • Ms. Hanson said DPW is still working on design and a report is estimated due in the Spring, but that it will reduce the number of trucks making a left off Exit 19; • Chief Sienkiewicz emphasized the initial goal is to reduce trucks taking a left off Exit 19; said there is poor signage on Damon Road that needs to be improved, and that TPC need not wait for the laser detectors to improve the signage now to prevent left -hand turns; said GPS companies have been alerted as to the difficulties, suggesting to them to direct trucks away from that turn; Item To Be Continued to Next Meeting's Agenda; Chair to Request Mr. Daniels to Provide Update on his Meetings with Coca Cola and Residents; Ms. Hanson to Update State. 7. Bright Street & State Street a. Bill Letendre Clarified the Ordinance is correctly stating no parking "anytime" on State Street; said there will be no new signs, but that the city will simply move the existing ones farther from Bright St.; b. Ref. Ordinances 312 -102 fr Bill Letendre.pdf (3 pages) Discussion • Chair Carney summarized the question put to the TCR is whether they want to co- sponsor the Ordinance; MOTION, Mr. Letendre, to Co- sponsor Ordinance Amend 312.102 with Insertion of "State Street "; Seconded, Mr. Lowenthal; Motion carried. 8. Vernon Street a. Bill Letendre... • Upon recommendation from Councilor Spector; said parking to be eliminated on the westerly side of Vernon St. (correction needed on Ordinance); goes 192 feet south to a point on Vernon; said it goes to another point 90 feet southerly from that, and which eliminates parking for two driveways, one for the church parking lot, the other for Margeaux Cooley's driveway; increasing visibility for cars exiting out of Vernon; Discussion • Chair Carney to ask Ward 2 Councilor to determine whether T &P wants to Co- sponsor; • Mr. Lowenthal sought clarification as to the number of driveways being affected; MOTION, Ms. Stein, to Amend 312.102 re: Vernon Street; Seconded, Ms. Bruce; Motion carried. 9. DPW Updates Deferred to Next Month 10. Jazz Festival Next Month Deferred to Next Month MOTION, Mr. Letendre, to Adjourn; Seconded, Mr. Adams; Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Gregory P. Ammons Johnson & Hill Staffing E