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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Citizens Transportation Advisory Commission - Meeting Date: 5/1/2014 MINUTE S CITIZENS TRANSPORTATION OVERSIGHT COMMISSION 5850 WEST GLENDALE AVENUE GLENDALE,ARIZONA 85301 THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014 6:00 PM The regular meeting of the Citizens Transportation Oversight Commission(CTOC)was called to order by the Chair. The following Commission members, staff representatives, and guests were present: COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: William Sheldon, Chair James Grose, Vice Chair Jennifer Cameron John Ferguson Judy Padia Joyce Stribling Tom Schmitt Gerald Woodman • COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: Jeff McAffee OTHERS PRESENT: Debbie Albert, Interim Deputy Transportation Director Purab Adabala, Senior Transportation Analyst Chris Lemka, Principal Engineer Kiran Guntupalli, Traffic Engineer I Matt Dudley, Transit Manager Peter Knudson, Dibble Engineering Tim Wolfe, Dibble Engineering I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Sheldon called the meeting to order at 6:02 PM. II. OATH OF OFFICE Chair Sheldon welcomed new members Tom Schmitt and Kevin Frei and administered the oath of office to John Ferguson. 1 III. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Chair Sheldon called for approval of the minutes. ACTION BY CTOC: Approval of the minutes of the March 6,2013 meeting of the Citizens Transportation Oversight Commission. (Motion: Commissioner Woodman, Second: Commissioner Stribling; passed unanimously) IV. CALL TO THE AUDIENCE There were no comments from the floor. V. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Chair Sheldon called for approval of the agenda. ACTION BY CTOC: Approval of the May 1,2014 Agenda of the Citizens Transportation Oversight Commission with Items 9 and 10 heard in reverse order. (Motion: Commissioner Schmitt; Second: Commissioner Woodman; passed unanimously) VI. PUBLIC INPUT—COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF Vice Chair Grose, provided an update on agenda items from the previous Glendale Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting. Vice Chair Grose reported that the committee continued to discuss implementation of recommendations for the City to be designated a Bicycle Friendly City and that Police Chief Black was in attendance at the last meeting to discuss elements that effort. The Police Department has appointed staff to attend the BAC meetings to continue the efforts. VII. MANAGER'S REPORT Debbie Albert, Interim Deputy Transportation Director, provided the following updates/reports: • General Engineering Consultant Contract Selection • Transportation Plan Update • GO Program Open House(April 23) • Northern Parkway Desert Peaks Award • Maryland Avenue HOV Ramps • Glendale Family Bike Ride(April 13) • Organizational Update/Move Vice Chair Grose asked about the location for future Bicycle Advisory Committee meetings. Staff responded that the May meeting would be a the current location, but that future meetings would be held at a location to be determined. VIII. AUDIT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE APPOINTEE Chair Sheldon called for a nomination of a member to be appointed to the Audit Oversight Committee. 2 ACTION BY CTOC: Nomination of Commissioner Woodman to the Audit Oversight Commission. (Motion: Commissioner Stribling; Second: Commissioner Schmitt; passed unanimously) IX. FLASHING YELLOW ARROW REPORT Chris Lemka and Kiran Guntupalli from the Transportation Department will present on the newly implemented flashing yellow arrows that have begun to be put up in the city. The presentation will cover the background on flashing yellow arrows as well as the scope,purpose and update on an improvement project at 59th & Olive avenues intersection. Commissioner Woodman asked if the city always leads with a green arrow first before flashing? Chris Lemka responded yes. Commissioner Schmitt asked how many other intersections could be easily retrofitted for flashing yellow arrows? Chris Lemka explained that there are many factors including the need for new poles and longer mast arms. He mentioned two intersections the city is targeting are 59th Avenue and Thunderbird Road as well as 51St and Peoria avenues. Commissioner Schmitt asked if there are other locations. Chris Lemka responded that the 67th Avenue corridor would be a candidate to convert from protected only operation to protected/permissive using a flashing yellow arrow. Commissioner Schmitt asked about any Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) requirements for signal head placement. Chris Lemka replied that it suggests they be 8-10 feet apart and generally centered over the lane in which they are controlling traffic. Commissioner Woodman asked if the head placement is not mandatory in the MUTCD is budget constraints a good reason not to replace existing 5-section heads with flashing yellow arrows? Chris Lemka responded that benefits and costs have to be weighed to ensure that the City is not making an improvement without reasonable assurance for a safety benefit. Commissioner Woodman stated that the City of Peoria is installing quite a few of the flashing yellow arrows and is getting positive results. Commissioner Schmitt requested that the city consider evaluating potential locations for future installations. Chair Sheldon asked if there were any studies on the books as suggested by Commissioner Schmitt? Chris Lemka replied that there is not a specific study looking a flashing yellow arrows, but that the city was conducting a comprehensive study focusing on high crash locations. Chair Sheldon asked if the CTOC members could get a copy of that report. 3 Commissioner Schmitt asked if the Arizona Department of Transportation had any flashing yellow arrows on Grand Avenue and that the city may want to bring it up with them. Chair Sheldon suggested that that topic may be the subject of a future meeting. Commissioner Stribling mentioned that she encountered an issue with the traffic signal on Grand Avenue near 83`d and Peoria avenues. Chris Lemka responded that he would pass along the issue to the City of Peoria. Commissioner Cameron asked about what the city was doing to educate the public on the new signal operation. Chris Lemka responded that the city coordinated with Glendale Community College, included the information in a citywide newsletter, and there has been quite a bit of information in the media from other local agencies. Vice Chair Grose stated that he has not seen any specific education targeted for this location. Chris Lemka suggested that a lot of people may not know about the flashing yellow arrow at 59th and Olive because it is only in operation during off peak hours. He also mentioned that there was targeted outreach to the adjacent community. Commissioner Woodman suggested that the operation may be confusing because of the time of day programming. Chris Lemka explained that the reason for the time of day use of the flashing yellow arrow is because of all of the pedestrian demand. The goal is to protect all users without creating undue burden during off peak periods. Commissioner Woodman asked if the traffic signal controller could be programmed to only call a protected only left turn phase when there is a pedestrian call. Chris Lemka replied that the city evaluated that option, but during the weekdays, there is a pedestrian call during nearly every cycle. Commissioner Schmitt requested that leading and lagging left turn operation as well as signal coordination be presented at a future meeting. Chair Sheldon replied that there was an agenda item for such requests and he would note it for that agenda item. Chair Sheldon stated that Glendale 11 could be used to educate the public or possibly do an additional newspaper article for follow up. Commissioner Stribling said thank you for the Olive improvements. Commissioner Schmitt asked if all newly constructed signals would include flashing yellow arrows. Chris Lemka stated that the city would be doing a follow up crash analysis to compare before and after results. He also indicated that the next signal projects the city is working on are two HAWKs (6000 West Bethany Home Road and 65' Ave and Bethan Home Road), which do not have arrows. The intersection of 59th Avenue and Hayward is also under design, but does not include flashing yellow arrows. X. TRANSIT CENTER AND PARK& RIDE REPORT 4 Matt Dudley from the City of Glendale Transit presented an update on the new Transit Center at Arrowhead Mall as well as progress on a new North Glendale Park and Ride. Commissioner Schmitt asked if population density is taken into consideration for planning for these facilities. Matt Dudley responded yes, current and future densities are reviewed. He also stated that traffic patterns are evaluated too. Commissioner Schmitt asked if zoning staff are consulted during the process. Matt Dudley replied that yes, they are consulted to ensure there are compatible land uses. Commissioner Schmitt asked if other amenities such as day cares will be collocated with the facilities. Matt Dudley responded that yes, where feasible and taking into consideration. He further explained that express riders have an average income of $70,000 to $80,000 so the city is looking at options and opportunities. Commissioner Stribling asked how lighting and security are being handled. Matt Dudley stated that the city will use best practices learned from the 99th and Glendale avenues park and ride lot. Commissioner Stribling stated that the 99th and Glendale avenues lot was dark on one side. Matt Dudley explained that changes have been made to the lighting and for this current project the city is focusing on lessons learned from that experience for elements like lighting and security cameras. Commissioner Schmitt asked about the opportunity for a private/public partnership for funding. Matt Dudley responded that yes, those opportunities are being explored within the bounds of the Federal Transit Administration rules and regulations. XI. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS The following items were identified as topics for future CTOC agendas: • Leading versus lagging left turns and overall traffic signal coordination • The roles/responsibilities/expectations for CTOC • Overall transportation financial picture including Highway User Revenue Funds, General Funds, and GO Transportation Program funds. XII. NEXT MEETING DATE AND TIME Meeting times are being targeted for 6:00 PM on the first Thursday of the month in Room B-3 in City Hall. The commissioners agreed to vacate the June and July meetings. The next meeting is scheduled for August 7, 2014. XIII. ADJOURNMENT Cha'r Sheley,adjourned the meeting at 7:47 PM „JAW Fr 1iArlfeldon, Chair 5