Community Meeting Minutes

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 P.M. The following members were present:

Fay Hassie, Luba Hickey, Ginny Pease, Tim Puffer, Justin Richgels

Community Organizer, Kathy Carruth, present.

                       

Last months meeting minutes were approved by voice acclamation.

 

New Business:

1. Montreal, W7th and Lexington intersection

Monica Beeman from the City of St. Paul updated the committee on the changes to the Montreal, W7th and Lexington intersection. She provided a map of the intersection showing the lane lines, "cat tracks" that will guide the traffic in the appropriate turn lanes instead of the current overlapping lanes.

-Last month the committee recommended that left turn arrow be installed. Monica explained that the left turn sign to Lexington is low so the signals will be moved to the same level as the signs for easy visibility.

- Last month the committee discussed signage above the intersection, Monica explained the

signs and lane markings that will be as clear as possible from all directions.

- Last month the committee discussed pedestrian crossings. Monica explained that the pedestrian crossings are considered in the second project that has different funding.

The intersection changes are expected to be done in the May time frame of this year.

 

2. Cleveland and Ford Parkway intersection:

Last month the committee suggested moving the bus stop on Southbound Cleveland further away from Ford Pkwy would assist in easing congestion at the SW corner.

Lee Bennett, Assistant Manager of Street Operations, addressed the committee and explained that the Cleveland Southbound and Ford Pkwy stop is a turn around point for some bus lines so the

buses would need room to pull away from the curb then change lanes to make the left turn onto Hillcrest. Removing two parking spaces adjacent to the current bus stop would allow the buses to move forward to prevent the buses from blocking the intersection and the crosswalk. Lee will examine the bus stop further to determine what needs to be done to implement this change.

 

Other questions asked of Lee were about the ridership of the many buses at this intersection. Many of the buses are observed to be empty posing the question if all the buses were necessary. Lee did not have the exact numbers about the ridership however he did explain that Cleveland/Ford Pkwy stop is a destination at the end of the bus routes accounting for the observed low numbers of riders.

 

3. Cleveland and the driveway out of the shopping area.

The discussion about moving the Cleveland/Ford Pkwy bus stop prompted two other changes.

  a) Remove all four parking spaces in order to have a clear view when exiting from the driveway of the shopping area.

b)  Make a right turn only when exiting from the driveway of the shopping area preventing

delays/hazards when turning left from the driveway to northbound Cleveland.

c). Move the bus stop on Kenneth and Ford Pkwy further south on Kenneth. This would prevent the waiting buses from blocking that corner and to keep the exit from the shopping area clear.

 

Actions: Monica will discuss the parking change and the right turns only with the owners of the shopping area and research the crash numbers at that driveway onto Cleveland.

Lee will look at the bus stop on Kenneth to see if the waiting buses can park further south on Kenneth.

 

 

3. Smart Trips.

Laura Baum and Randy Clark from Smart Trips addressed the committee regarding the Smart Trips Neighborhood program, a non-profit, federally funded program for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement. The three year old program promotes options, other than car, to safely see the sites of neighborhoods and has an evaluation system is in place to measure the success of changing transportation behaviors in a neighborhood.  They have implemented the program in Summit/University and Union Park Neighborhoods and are proposing the Smart Trip Program to Highland Park. They provided a map of Union Park to demonstrate their efforts and requested the committee provide sites and legend items for the Highland Area. The information regarding this program will also be disseminated on the e-democracy and the website for all to see the details of this program.

 

Actions: Laura mentioned that a draft of the first map will presented for the committee at the next meeting.

 

Old Business:

1. The District 15 Transportation plan adapted in 2005 was reviewed by the committee. The Plan has 6 goals with a number of "Strategies" listed in each goal.  The "Strategies" in the plan identified with the "Implementer" as HDC were discussed. Each "Strategies" of the plan is listed with a Time Frame.

 Action: The action will be to obtain the St. Paul Transportation Plan to see where the "Strategies" are in the implementation time frame.

 

2. The Senior Task Force is also looking at transportation options. It was discussed to coordinate and push all encompassing action with the task force. A main concern discussed is crime experienced on public transportation could be seen on local circulation.

Action:  Committee member Tim Puffer attends the Senior Task Force meeting and will present the transportation committee role in the transportation plan.  It was further discussed to invite a member of the Senior Task Force to meet with the transportation committee to present the local circulating transportation progress and plans.

 

3. Discussed an e-mail received from a resident concerning the speed and safety of the traffic on Southbound Fairview at Edgecumbe road. The downhill slope allows for increased speed and the lack of sidewalks increase the risk of pedestrians walking in the street. The two issues:  speed and sidewalk on one side of each street, are strategies listed on the Transportation Plan.

Action: The accident incident rate in this area will be obtained from Public Works.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 P.M. 

Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 6:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted;

Ginny Pease,

Secretary