2009-11-18
CITY OF BEVERLY MASSACHUSETTS
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
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DATE:
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RECORDER:
Parking and Traffic Commission
November 18, 2009
Intersection of Laurel St. and Dodge's Row &
intersection of Haskell and Hale Streets
Chairman Rich Benevento, Vice-chairman Joe
Shairs, Bill Bent, Rich Hutchinson, Bill Fiore,
Tina Cassidy (at 7:50 a.m.)
Sheila Field
Councilors Don Martin and Tim Flaherty
(Laurel/Dodge) and various neighbors
(Haskell/Hale)
Tina Cassidy
1. Site Visit to Dodge's Row/Laurel Street intersection and adjacent area
Benevento calls the site visit to the intersection of Dodge's Rowand Laurel Street
to order. Members walk the area. They view first-hand a number of traffic-
related problems, including southwest-bound cars on Dodge's Row weaving
over the yellow centerline into the opposing lane of traffic to avoid the line of
vehicles queued at the traffic signal at the train crossing.
Following the discussion and based on field observations, members concur that
the Commission should recommend the following:
. Install permanent vertical lane delineators on Dodge's Row, from the
intersection of Putnam Street (approximately at the location of the existing
speed limit sign) to the stop line at the train tracks;
. Install 2-3 additional permanent vertical lane delineators in a northerly
direction on Dodge's Row, from the crosswalk on Dodge's Row at Putnam
Street;
. Erect a regulatory-compliant "Stay in Lane" sign on Dodge's Row to
replace the existing non-compliant sign currently affixed to a telephone
pole at the Dodge's Row/Putnam Street intersection;
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. Investigate possibility of "retiming" the traffic signals at the train crossing
so that the lead phasing defaults to Dodge's Row when the crossing gates
are re-opened after closure;
. Support Public Services Director Mike Collins' efforts to get the
appropriate State agencies to modify their current operating procedures in
order to minimize the duration of road closures at the Dodge's Row/Enon
Street intersection; and
. Request directed enforcement patrols in this area for several weeks once
the permanent lane delineators have been installed, at the rate of two to
three times per week.
Cassidy will draft a recommendation letter for consideration at the next meeting,
and Benevento offers to provide an MUTCD citation for the "Stay in Lane" sign.
Members leave this site visit in order to conduct a second site visit to Haskell
Street. Flaherty and Martin do not participate in the meeting after this point.
2. Site Visit: Haskell Street (meet at the intersection of Haskell & Hale
Streets)
Benevento calls the second site visit on Haskell Street to order at approximately
8:30 a.m. Several Haskell Street residents join the Commission for the discussion.
Members Benevento, Bent, and Shairs take several measurements of the width of
pavement and sidewalks at several points along lower Haskell Street. Particular
attention is paid to the bend in the road near #12 and #14 Haskell Street in terms
of width and local parking habits.
All members of the Commission note and comment on the narrowness of the
roadway, the on-street parking spaces on Haskell Street, and traffic speeds and
volumes.
"Spot" measurements include the following:
In front of #12 Haskell Street: 25' pavement width measured curb-to-curb, with a
6' sidewalk on the east side and an 8' sidewalk on the west side.
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Between Pole #1739 and #1941: 29' pavement width measured curb-to-curb (16'
northbound travel lane and 13' southbound travel lane).
In front of #20 Haskell Street: 28' pavement width measured curb-to-curb (15'
northbound travel lane and 13' southbound travel lane).
Members concur that one improvement might be to shift the yellow centerline so
as to create a 13' wide northbound travel lane with no parking allowed on that
side (odd-numbered). That would appear to create a southbound lane wide
enough to accommodate a lane of travel and a parking lane.
Bent offers to review a GIS map by plotting right of way, sidewalk, and
pavement widths, analyzing those measurements against minimum acceptable
standards for same and making recommendations for the Commission's future
consideration.
Members also discuss the likelihood that parking will have to be prohibited at
least in certain locations along Haskell Street, most probably near #12 and #14
Haskell Streets (between poles #1739 and 1741), given the narrowness and
curvature of the right of way. However, members agree that no decision on
recommendations will be made until Bent has completed his review.
Members agree to postpone further discussion on this matter until its upcoming
meeting on December 1, 2009.
There being no further business, the site visit and special meeting are adjourned
at 9:15 a.m.
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