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PTC minutes_02.01.22 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD: Parking and Traffic Commission SUBCOMMITTEE: None LOCATION: Virtual meeting DATE: February 1, 2022 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Richard Benevento (Chair), Darlene Wynne (Vice Chair), Michael Collins, Jonathan Salt, Capt Ryan Laracy, Sgt Michael Henebury, Richard Vincent, George Binns BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: John Lozada OTHERS PRESENT: Ann Whalen; Cindy Shoer; Anne Whalen, Paul Whalen, Matt St. Hilaire; Cindy Shoer; Donald Morin;Jared Bowers; Joan Smith; Mac Donaldson; Paul Manzo; Rani Jacobson; Sally Hunter. RECORDER: Sharlyne Woodbury Benevento chairs and opens the meeting at 8:30 am. This is a virtual meeting with special meeting format as required to honor Governor Baker's State of Emergency declared due to the national crisis of COVID-19. 1. Discussion: Crosswalk—Long Hill, 572 Essex Street—The Trustees of Reservations Discussion begins. Wynne and Benevento mention the citizen petition included with the meeting materials. Commissioners can further review them on their own if necessary. Collins provides a brief history of the intersection area and Long Hill. Collins explains to the commission why the determination to not assign the crosswalk back in the original location after repaving and striping. Data suggests crosswalks located at intersections are safer. Relocating the crosswalk is not an attempt to isolate Long Hill Reservation. There should not be access to a cross walk that is not legal or at a safe location. This fulfills an overall need to better pedestrian access. Estimated time for completion is spring. Henebury weighs in and agrees with Collins. This is a safe ADA compliant pedestrian access to the walkway. Salt inquires if a crosswalk will also be at Forrest Street. Collins reiterates DPW will need to further discuss with the property owners to determine what the best route for pedestrian circulation will be. Salt notes that people tend to take the quickest path,the shortest point between two distances. Benevento discusses having safe crosswalks in safe locations that are beneficial to the public and motorists. Benevento (cites Newburyport), if there is too much of a crosswalk frequency, motorists tend to ignore them. Henebury inquires if Burley Street will be assigned a crosswalk. Currently there is a bus stop there. Collins believes the present configuration is appropriate for the area. Benevento opens to the public for comment. Jared Bowers, Long Hill Reservation Appreciate all points presented. They are committed to getting the public to the property safely. Paul Whalen, address not provided. Parking and Traffic Commission February 1,2022 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 3 Expresses concern with line of site due to the way the road turns. Believes the new crosswalk location would cause more concern for crossing safely. Upon review of Google maps Whalen points out the at this new designation, with the road at its low point; crossers cannot see cars coming from either side as effectively as they could from the original location. By the way the road turns line of site is compromised. Whalen moves on to discuss the proposed small sidewalks on the either side of the crossing. Based off the current snow storm, who will maintain that side walk. It will be a challenge if the side walk is not maintained properly in the winter. Next Whalen offers counterpoints for trying to avoid crosswalks not at intersection. Siting downtown Cabot Street; Whalen points out between the two intersections of Cabot/Winter/Pond streets and Cabot/Federal/Church streets there is a crosswalk located in front of St Mary's Church. Since this crosswalk is in between two intersections, proves there is not a precedent where a crosswalk must be at an intersection. Whalen's final thoughts are his preference the crosswalk is put back to where it was and make it ADA compliant.The line of site is better from the original location. Thanks the commission for their time. Matt St. Hilaire, address not provided. Thanks,the commission for working with the property and the public to find a solution that works for everyone. Donald Morin, address not provided. Unable to unmute for comment. Provided comments in the chat. Agrees with Salt about access from the north of the property. Final comments. Salt had a great discussion with Keary-Soule about bike/pedestrian access. Collins does not agree with a mid-block crosswalk location. It is preferable to not have the mid-block ones. This is not an occasion or situation that calls for one. No action required at this time. 2. Approval of Minutes: December 7, 2021 Motion: Vincent moves to hold December minutes until the March meeting. Binns seconds. The motion carries 8-0. For the record there was no January 2022 meeting. 3. General Business a. Discussion: Resident request for guard rail, Essex and Grover Streets Vincent discusses the location. Collins not sure of the installation for guard rail. It's not an uncommon reason. There are short pieces of guardrail scattered around the city. It probably points back to a specific accident in the past. Collins discusses improvements to the intersection. Benevento asks to the materials used for the bump out and intersection. Benevento asks Henebury is there a history of house crashes at location. Henebury believes there may be more issues with Hull and Essex, not Grover and Essex. Off recent memory he does not recall anyone coming off the wall. Collins notes the wall has been hit a few times apparent by the repainting of the wall. Commissioners defer comments to the public safety experts with little comment. Henebury provided some brief historical data, since 2012, 5 accidents in ten years. Parking and Traffic Commission February 1,2022 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 3 Benevento opens floor for public comment. Joan Smith, 1 Grover Street Confirmed there was an accident January 2019 against the wall. Cars coming down from the north making a right-hand turn, go over the curbing causing the accidents. That corner is causing accidents. Would like to see something done for the bump out. Benevento explains this is granite curb which reflects light so motorists can see it. Also notes that does not negate the problems of people not driving safely or paying attention. Matt St. Hilaire Offers comments and fully supports the homeowners. This stretch of road has been cited as a safety issue between the young drivers of Endicott and Gordon Colleges. This area is continuing to get hit. Benevento empathizes with concerns, however; it is important address the issue in totality, not a assuage a symptom. Benevento does not believe adding guardrail will correct the problem. There will be more damage to motorists with blunt ends and to hitting the guardrail. If there is a bigger problem with the intersection, striping, alignment, etc.; those will be considered. The posted speed is 25 MPH. Essex, Hull, and Grover streets have noted history of dangerous conditions during certain seasons. Most notably winter. Salt asks what the speed limit was prior to changes. Collins and Henebury believe this area falls in a special speed zone and always been 25 MPH. Henebury confirms since 1994 posted 25 MPH. Henebury asks the commission to hold on a vote until he can provide further crash data. Streets and intersections to review are Essex and Grover; Essex and Hull; Essex and Walker. He will review for 10 years back. Benevento said a 5-year review is fine. No action required at this time. Salt additional comments: Inquires after an update on the bike parking ordinance. Wynne provides the updates and notes the ordinance review is currently paused, but still under consideration. Wynne discusses the installation of additional bike racks when seasonally appropriate. Binns additional comments: Inquires about the parking standards for apartments and condos in the new Bass River overlay district. Wynne notes any new residential buildings are required to provide parking. Binns asks if e-bikes will be permitted in bike lanes. Benevento defers to the state, which is currently reviewing these standards. Collins notes this is also a speed issue. Anything over 25 MPH cannot be in a traditional bike lane. Salt agrees there is a lot of dialogue at the state level for discussing the different types of e-bikes and their speed ranges. Binns notes Odell Avenue looks nice with the new pavement and granite curbs. 4. Adjournment Motion: Vincent moves to adjourn. Salt seconds. The motion carries 8-0. Meeting adjourned 9:26 a.m. Next meeting scheduled for 3.1.22.