Loading...
2011-11-01CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD OR COMMISSION SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: LOCATION: MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: OTHERS PRESENT: RECORDER: Parking and Traffic Commission November 1, 2011 City Hall Conference Room B, Third Floor Vice -Chair Bill Bent, Tina Cassidy, Bill Fiore, Rich Benevento, Russ Rollins Richard Hutchinson Tina Cassidy Benevento calls the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m. 1. Approval of Minutes The first item of business is approval of draft minutes for the October 4, 2011 Commission meetings. Benevento asks if anyone has any changes to suggest. There are none. Bent: motion to approve the draft minutes of the October 4, 2011 meeting as drafted, seconded by Hutchinson. All members in favor, no one in opposition. The motion carries 3 -0 with Bent abstaining. 2. Discussion: Suggestion to Add Crosswalk on Essex and Standley Streets Rollins explains that he visited the area and it is his opinion that it makes sense not to have a crosswalk in the location suggested. He further explains that kids walk to the corner store and cross there. He also notes that there are no sidewalks on the other side of Essex Street. Fiore agrees and notes that it is a tough corner all the way around and explains the area. Rollins will talk further with the party that made the request. 3. New or Other Business Update on Parking Garage Final Parking & Traffic Commission meeting minutes November 1, 2011 Page 1 of 4 Cassidy updates the members on the status of the new MBTA Parking Garage. She explains that the state MEPA has reviewed the plans and the Mass Department of Transportation is reviewing the concerns of the city regarding traffic on Rantoul Street and the side streets. She explains that they are taking the position that they are not required to do any improvements on any local streets that they do not need to. Cassidy also notes that MEPA has determined that they have to work with the city on these issues. Benevento states that there would be an opportunity if the Rantoul Street project moves along and some of these issues are addressed. Cassidy agrees and states that it would be great to have the Commission involved at the table to represent the city with the META and MEPA. She suggests that a letter be sent to MEPA. Benevento agrees and suggests that Cassidy draft a letter and gather some additional information for the Commission to discuss that their next meeting. He suggests that traffic counts and traffic analysis would be a good place to start. He also notes that there are two intersections that are failing. Cassidy reports that 88 off street parking spaces will be lost to the construction and we need to look at parking on street in the area, to determine if on street parking should be allowed in those areas during construction. Cassidy reports that the RFP is about to be issued by the META and a Construction Manager at Risk has been hired. Next Meeting The next Commission meeting will be held on December 6th Truck Exclusion Request Rollins reported that Mr. Overberg is requesting a truck exclusion noting that a tour bus got stuck there recently. Benevento reported that the Commission reviewed this matter extensively in the past. He explains that an alternate route would have to be provided and that would just shift the traffic and the problem to another neighborhood. Final Parking & Traffic Commission meeting minutes November 1, 2011 Page 2 of 4 Rollins agrees noting that the street is only 18 feet wide. He also notes that GPS routes are sending trucks from 128 to this route via Cole Street. He suggests that exit 17 on Rt. 128 to Grapevine Road to Haskell Street is the best route to Endicott College. He states that he was there yesterday and he was surprised at the number of trucks that came by. Cassidy agrees and notes that the private schools down there are doing a lot of construction and that has increased the truck traffic. Benevento suggests that the signage would have to be changed to redirect the truck traffic. Bent noted that the signs would have to conform with MUTCD regulations. He notes that Grover Street excludes trucks over 2 1 /2 tons from Dodge Street to the Wenham line. Bent will get a list of heavy commercial vehicle exclusions. Cassidy will compile and distribute past meeting minutes pertaining to Mr. Overberg's request to members. Benevento notes that the Commission met with Mr. Overberg and other area residents and held lengthy discussions. He also notes that the Commission observed the area. He also states that there are valid points if trucks are getting stuck. Cassidy also notes that there is a process that would have to be followed to get a truck route established. Bent notes that engineering studies and traffic studies and counts, and road widths would have to be taken into consideration as well. Rollins states that all of the streets in that area are narrow and it would make sense not to allow truck traffic at all. Bent states that it would make sense particularly if trucks are getting stuck because they cannot make the corner. Benevento states that he does not believe that we can have a truck exclusion off a state highway. Benevento suggests that a quick solutions would be for Endicott College to post directions on their website specific for truck traffic. Final Parking & Traffic Commission meeting minutes November 1, 2011 Page 3 of 4 Benevento suggests that perhaps MAPC could do a traffic count. Cassidy states that she will inquire about that. She also requests that Benevento and Bent follow up with Mike Collins regarding the possibility of funding a traffic survey. Bent will get a recent example of the regulations from Mass DOT for appropriate truck exclusions. Benevento states that the Commission should look into getting the City to include money in the budget for them utilize for studies etc. that need to be conducted relative to Commission business. Cassidy states that she will talk with John Dunn about this. Benevento asks if there is any other business for the Board to conduct. There is not. 4. Adjournment Cassidy: motion to adjourn, seconded by Bent. All members in favor, motion carries 5 -0. The meeting is adjourned at 10:00 a.m. Final Parking & Traffic Commission meeting minutes November 1, 2011 Page 4 of 4