2012-06-08CITY OF BEVERLY
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OR COMMISSION
SUBCOMMITTEE:
DATE:
LOCATION:
MEMBERS PRESENT:
MEMBERS ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
RECORDER:
Parking and Traffic Commission
June 8, 2012
Woodland Avenue and Ayers School area
Tina Cassidy, Richard Hutchinson, Russ Rollins
Chairman Rich Benevento, Vice -Chair Bill Bent,
Bill Fiore, John Somes
Councilor Maureen Troubetaris
Tina Cassidy
The site visit is called to order at 7:40 a.m. at the corner of Woodland and Livingstone
Avenues. Also present are several neighbors. Members observe the volume of traffic
and traffic speeds at the intersection of Livingstone and Woodland Avenues, and then
travel up Woodland Avenue to its intersection with Kernwood Heights Avenue.
Members discuss general traffic conditions. Cassidy asks if adding a stop sign at the
school exit (corner of Kernwood Heights) would help slow the speed of traffic. Members
agree that would likely be a bad idea, since it would congest traffic trying to leave the
school site and traffic turning left onto Kernwood Heights seems to slow that flow of
traffic anyway.
Someone suggests the installation of a dynamic speed control sign in this area. Rollins
estimates the cost at around $3,000 for a flashing speed sign, which requires electricity to
operate it.
Rollins explains to those assembled that while the City could probably ascertain the
average travel speed on this road, it appears traffic is not exceeding the current 30 mile
per hour speed limit. The posted speed limit should be the speed at which 85% of the
traffic is moving. Sometimes analyzing the speed of existing vehicles reveals that traffic
is actually moving faster than the posted limit, and if 85% or more of the traffic is
exceeding the posted speed limit the posted speed might have to be increased.
If on the other hand analysis shows the average speed is less than the posted speed, the
speed limit can be reduced. Traffic seems to be traveling at less than 30 miles per hour,
so Rollins thinks the speed limit might actually be decreased here.
Troubetaris notes that the fact that the City has fewer crossing guards than it used to have
has in fact impacted traffic. Parents are more worried than ever about letting their
children walk to school, so they drive them instead and contribute to the traffic problem.
Cassidy asks if the intersection of Livingstone and Woodland could be made into a three
way stop. Rollins recommends against that because a permanent three way stop is not
permitted by the MUTCD. Rather, a three way stop is supposed to be a temporary
Final Parking & Traffic Commission site visit minutes June 8, 2012
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measure, temporary until traffic signals are installed. That would not be the situation
here.
Members discuss other issues, including existing site distance problems for traffic exiting
Garden Street. Members agree that a "No Parking Here to Corner" sign should be
erected just east of the intersection of Garden Street and Woodland Avenue (to prevent
parking within 20' of the Garden Street /Woodland Avenue intersection) and the curbing
should be painted yellow as well.
Rollins states that these particular requests (sign and curb painting) do not require
amendments to the City Ordinance, so Cassidy agrees to draft an email to Public Services
Director Mike Collins for Rollins' consideration/finalization.
Cassidy explains that the members of the Commission who aren't present this morning
have agreed to visit the area within the next several days, on their own. This matter will
be placed on the Commission's July 10, 2012 meeting agenda for additional discussion at
that time.
There being no other business, the site visit ends at 8:30 a.m.
Final Parking & Traffic Commission site visit minutes June 8, 2012
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