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2014-02-04CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD OR COMMISSION: Parking and Traffic Commission SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: February 4, 2014 LOCATION: Conference Room B, Third Floor City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Richard Benevento, Chair, City Planner Aaron Clausen, Richard Hutchinson, John Somes, Sgt. Russ Rollins, Bill Bent MEMBERS ABSENT: Fiore OTHERS PRESENT: Sean Ciancarelli, Rob Dever, Councilor David Lang, Councilor John Frates, Councilor Estelle Rand, RECORDER: Eileen Sacco 1. Benevento calls the meeting to order at 8: 30 a.m. 2. Discussion of Request from Councilor Scott Houseman for Commission to Consider Recommendation for a Crosswalk at the Intersection of Lakeshore Avenue and Essex Street and Consolidated Speed Limits on Lakeshore Avenue Rollins reported that he received the speed study from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the speed limits that are posted seem to be correct. He noted that the concerns that were raised by the residents arose because the street was recently resurfaced. Rollins noted that a consolidation of the speed limits on Lakeshore would need to be studied and it could determine that it should be 30 or 35 miles per hour speed limits. Benevento explained that the Parking and Traffic Commission is an advisory board to the Planning Board and the City Council. He noted that they follow the guidelines of the MUTCD which is a federal document that governs anything related to traffic. He used stop signs as an example explaining that the regulations regarding stop signs address the requirements for the size, color and location of them, noting that they are standard throughout the country. He noted that the rules must be followed and cannot be changed to accommodate certain situations. Benevento further explained that Sgt. Rollins is the Traffic Safety Officer for the City of Beverly and the Commission relies on his knowledge and opinion regarding suggestions that are made. He also noted that PTC members do not do traffic studies, noting that he could as he is a traffic engineer and Mr. Bent is a retired engineer from the state. He noted that on occasion they have made judgments from time to time and made recommendations to the staff for further investigation. Benevento stated that the PTC always airs on the side of safety when making recommendations to the City Council. He explained that the PTC reviewed a Council order Parking & Traffic Commission minutes February Z 2014 Meeting Page 1 of 6 for no parking on Haskell Street and made a recommendation for a greater restriction that what was requested and the neighbors did not want that and therefore the City Council did not implement the recommendations of the PTC. Rollins also noted that according to the speed study, the posted speed limits posted on Hale Street are also correct and the speed limit on Cole Street should be 30 miles per hour. Benevento suggested that the PTC find that having reviewed the requests regarding the speed limits on Lakeshore and Hale Street, the PTC finds that the speed limits are accurate and that they are of the opinion that the status quo remain, and no action should be taken at this time. He requested that a letter be drafted to the City Council informing them that the posted speeds have been confirmed with the State Department of Transportation and they are lawful and appropriate. Hutchinson: Motion to send a letter to the City Council informing them that the posted speed limits on Lakeshore Avenue and Hale Street have been confirmed with the State Department of Transportation and they are lawful and appropriate. Somes seconds the motion. The motion carried (6 -0). Benevento noted that with regards to the request for a crosswalk for Lakeshore and Essex Street, the PTC notes that a crosswalk was eliminated by the Engineering Department and there are other crosswalks within 300 feet of the proposed location and they should be used. He also noted that crosswalks have to be ADA compliant. 3. Recommendation to City Council: Order #37: Request for Traffic Study at Hull Street and Essex Streets - Councilor Frates Benevento recalled that the PTC has looked at this a couple of times and explained that people drop their children off at school and that is the busiest time. Sgt. Rollins noted that the message boards have been placed there and that seems to have helped the situation. Councilor Frates stated that it is a raceway there coming out of Hamilton. Benevento states that he knows the area well and suggested that a scope of work could be developed for the area which would require the city to do a study and whatever recommendations are made in the study would have to be funded by the city. Sgt. Rollins suggested that the Police Department could do some periodic radar checks in the area to get an idea of what is going on. He suggested the area of the intersection of Hull and Essex Street up to the Texaco Station and Dunkin Donuts. He noted that the area is posted for 30 miles per hour. Benevento agreed and suggested that the matter could be addressed with a traffic study or traffic enforcement. Parking & Traffic Commission minutes February Z 2014 Meeting Page 2 of 6 Mike Collins stated that if there is no history of accidents in the area and it is just a matter of speeding, he thinks that traffic enforcement would address the problem. Benevento agreed noting that if speed is the issue the problem is more an enforcement issue as opposed to installing traffic signals or changing the geometry. Frates stated that the issue of children's safety was the clear concern of the neighbors that he talked to while campaigning. Mike Collins stated that the location of the crosswalk could be changed, noting that crosswalk locations are regulated. Benevento requested that the locations of the crosswalks be looked at and start there. Sgt. Rollins and Sean Ciancarelli will take a look at that an report back to the PTC. Rollins: motion to table City Council Order #37 until such time as additional information is received from Sgt. Rollins. Hutchinson seconds the motion. The motion carries (6 -0). 4. Discussion with Councilor David Lang Regarding a Request for No Parking Along Woodlawn Street Councilor Lang addressed the PTC and explained that he observed obstructed visibility in the area and also received complaints from neighbors while campaigning in the area. He explained that the area is heavily traveled by people cutting up there to get to the Cummings Center from Bridge Street and Kernwood Avenue. Benevento cautioned that no parking along that street could be a hardship for the neighbors. Sgt. Rollins reported that the Police Department has been doing some enforcement in the area. He also noted that a no parking here to corner sign would require an ordinance change. He also reported that they did put one up on Woodlawn and Gardner. Benevento suggested that the PTC visit the site. Rollins stated that the PTC would need a City Council order for the request. Aaron Clausen stated that on street parking would be a concern for the neighbors. He suggested that traffic calming measures be looked at noting that it is a common technique used to reduce speed and that should be considered. Benevento suggested that Councilor Lang put in a City Council order for "No Parking Here to Corner." Lang explained that there may be an enforcement piece of this regarding zoning noting that there is a boarding house that may not be zoned for. Parking & Traffic Commission minutes February Z 2014 Meeting Page 3of6 Sgt. Rollins suggested that it should be addressed by the Building Department and he will talk to them. Councilor Lang stated that he would submit an order to the City Council regarding this matter. 5. Discussion with Sean Ciancarelli Regarding_ • Route 1A Project Status, Business Community Issues Regarding Constuction and Project Timeline Sean Ciancarelli reviewed the 75% drawings for the Route 1A project. He noted that the drawings were submitted a while ago and the district has looked at them and are making comments. He reported that the biggest hurdle will be the railroad crossing issues and noted that a meeting will be held on that. He also noted that the state has hired VHB to design the railroad crossings. Ciancarelli noted that the Conservation Commission will be reviewing a Notice of Intent at their next meeting. Benevento stated that the project should be ready to be advertised by September 30th to make it on the TIF. Benevento stated that the proposal from Main Streets for Broadway may not work timing wise with this project. He noted that the change in the geometry would have to be included in the project. He also noted that it does not mean that substantial improvements to Broadway cannot be done. Councilor Lang asked if bike routes are included in the 1A project. Ciancarelli stated that there are bike lanes in the Route 1A project. Mike Collins noted that they usually look at bike trails when they restripe the roads. Mike Collins also reported that before he left, Mayor Scanlon got a lot of commitments from the state and noted that Bridge and River Street were a part of that. Councilor Rand stated that she would like to see the city more elderly friendly with regard to pedestrian light crossing times, noting that some lights are very fast. Benevento explained how the timing works on the pedestrian signals. The PTC reviewed the plans for the 1A project. Rollins stated that he would like to see changes in the light at Balch and Cabot Streets noting that with the trains coming in there. He noted that he did not see anything about that on the drawing. He explained that the traffic backs up when Cummings Center gets out and the light would give people a chance to get off the tracks. Parking & Traffic Commission minutes February Z 2014 Meeting Page 4of6 Benevento stated that he would like to review the plans again at the next meeting when Mr. Bent is present, noting that we only get one bite of the apple and he wants to be sure that we get it right because we will not see another project like this on Rantoul Street again. • Discussion with Rob Dever Regarding Parking Lots and On Street Parking Issues Rob Dever addressed the PTC and suggested that he would like to recommend that all parking in the lots have the ability to be long term parking. He explained that there are too many options and there are no need for them. He reported that there are 8 options for parking in various locations downtown that range from one hour to all day. Benevento agreed noting that long and short term parking is needed Benevento also noted that the parking rates should be looked at and suggested that Dever and Ciancarelli take a look at them and report back to the PTC with a recommendation. Dever stated that he would like to do away with the parking meters on Rantoul Street. He also noted that off street parking arrangements for the MBTA garage during snow emergencies needs to be looked into. Councilor Frates suggested that there should be parking meters in Beverly Farms near the train station. He noted that there are problems with out of Towner's parking there all day to take the train. Dever noted that he has looked at that and noted that there are problem areas but some are not too bad. Frates requested that they take pictures of the cars parking there all day. Benevento stated that no parking may be a solution but noted that the businesses need to have parking available for their customers. Frates suggested that a 30 minute parking sign could be put on the pole in front of 20 Oak Street. Benevento explained that you cannot put a parking sign on a telephone pole and noted that it has to have its own pole installed by the city. He noted that the PTC makes recommendations for signage in the city and public services does the installations. Dever explains that as soon as the request is received by the public services department it gets on the work list. Benevento requested that the Public Services Department implement some form of notification to the PTC that work recommended by the PTC has been completed. 6. Election of Officers Election of Chair of Parking and Traffic Commission Hutchinson nominated Richard Benevento to serve as Chair of the Parking and Traffic Commission for the year 2014. Clausen seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion carried (5 -0) with Benevento abstaining. Parking & Traffic Commission minutes February Z 2014 Meeting Page 5 of 6 Election of Vice Chair of Parking and Traffic Commission Rollins nominated Bill Bent to serve as Vice Chair of the Parking and Traffic Commission for the year 2014. Hutchinson seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion carried (6 -0) Election of Secretary of Parking and Traffic Commission Hutchinson nominated City Planner Aaron Clausen to serve as Secretary of the Parking and Traffic Commission for the year 2014. Rollins seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion carried (6 -0). 7. Approval of Minutes The minutes of the PTC meeting held on January 7, 2014 were presented for approval. Benevento requested that the minutes be tabled to the next meeting. 8. New Business Rollins reported that a stop sign is needed at Laurel and Oakmont Street and Albany Circle. He noted that Laurel is one way from Oakmont. Benevento requested that the request be reviewed to be sure it is in accordance with MUTCD regulations and whether an analysis needs to be done. 9. Next Meeting The next regular meeting of the Parking and Traffic Commission will be held on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. 10. Adjournment Benevento asks if there is any additional business for the Commission to conduct. There is none. Fiore: motion to adjourn, seconded by Hutchinson. All members in favor, motion carries 6 -0. The meeting is adjourned at 10:00 a.m. Parking & Traffic Commission minutes February Z 2014 Meeting Page 6 of 6