Community Meeting Minutes

Transportation Committee Minutes May 25, 2010

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

Fay Hassie, Tim Puffer, Ginny Pease, Yvonne Torres, Frank Jossi.

Community Organizer, Kathy Carruth, present.

                       

Last months meeting minutes were approved by voice acclamation.

 

New Business:

I. Election of new officers:

   Chairman- Fay Hassie

   Vice Chairman - Frank Jossi

   Secretary - Ginny Pease

 

II. Election of Community Members: There are two openings for community members.

 

III. Smart Trips.

Laura Baum 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 information regarding this program will be arriving in the Highland Park resident mail this week. It will also be disseminated on the e-democracy and the website for all to see the details of this program.

The first map was presented for the committee and appeared to show all the highlights of the area.

Laura also presented pedestrian safety information and how to raise awareness for pedestrian safety.

 

V. Alternatives to Sidewalks on Edgcumbe Blvd. The downhill slope allows for increased speed and the lack of sidewalks increase the risk of pedestrians walking in the street. Paul St. Martin stated that the City Council passed the petition for the sidewalk. The engineers are working of the proposal for the sidewalk.

Several residents on Edgcumbe and Fairview were present to discuss alternatives to sidewalks. One main objection to the sidewalks is that a FEW residents will be assessed then expected to maintain the sidewalk for ALL city residents to use.

 

Alternatives to sidewalks discussed were:

1. Plow the street completely to have room for the pedestrians.

2. Safety signage to inform drivers and pedestrians the area to walk.

3. Move center line a few feet to widen the area for pedestrians.

4. Signage to warn drivers of pedestrians at the curve.

5, Physical separation of the pedestrian area from the cars.

6. Enforce the speed limit.

7. Flashing lights for pedestrians crossing.

 

New Business:

Request for Pedestrian Crossing signs for Snelling at Watson and Scheffer. The digital radar has been ordered and the placement will be determined.

 

Old 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.

 

4. 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.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 P.M. 

Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 6:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted;

Ginny Pease,

Secretary