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Transportation and Parking Commission Meeting Minutes
08/17/04
Chairman Alex Ghiselin convened the meeting at 4:05 PM in the City Hall Hearing room. Members present, George Andrikitis, David Reckhow, Russell Sienkiewicz, Leslie Stein, Paul Sustick and Keith Wilson. Absent; Michael Bardsley, Wayne Feiden, David Narkewicz.
PUBLIC COMMENT
James Lowenthal said that the sudden cancellation of the M40 bus route illustrated the need to network with other communities and agencies particularly the PVPC, 5 College Inc., Smith College, UMASS, Hadley and Amherst.. He also urged the Commission to be informed of major bridge and highway construction projects being contemplated for our region.
Ed Hagelstein said the Commission should play a larger role in traffic safety. He recommended outreach and public education. Pointed out that many walk and jog on city streets with their backs to traffic.
MINUTES
Minutes of the June 15, 2004 meeting were approved unanimously
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Bicycle and Pedestrian: Keith Wilson reported the Committee was concerned that striping on King and South Streets were proceeding without bike/ped input. George A. said that bike lane policy needs to be written and circulated among city boards for comment and review in public hearings. Once policy is adopted the DPW will apply it street by street. He said that in the meantime streets need to be lined for safety. Bike path ramp at Jackson Street; engineering study is mostly complete and Mayor has promised CDGB funds. High priority for next year. Engineering also complete for Bridge Road sidewalk linking Jackson St. with existing sidewalk beginning near Meadowbrook. A land taking may slow project. The bikeway will be plowed until the sidewalk is complete. Lack of funds precluded construction of a speed table where the bike path crosses Chestnut St. DPW plans to mark crossing with new highly visible tape. A crosswalk on Chestnut needs to be located for pedestrian access.
Parking: no report. George A. suggested that the proposed metered parking at Forbes Library has legal complications around enforcement. Paul S. said he would contact Janet Moulding.
Public Transportation: Leslie S. reported that arrangements were almost complete to move the bus stop and erect a new shelter at the Post Office. This has the support of the Parking Committee, VTCO, the Post Office and Ward 3 Councilor Marilyn Richards. She also reported that the Parking Committee had agreed o the removal of two metered spots in front of the Academy creating a larger and safer bus stop. The DPW will allow one more metered spot near Cracker Barrel Alley when the existing bus stop there is discontinued. The T&PC agreed by consensus that these changes should continue and that the Commission would formally vote when the necessary ordinance was presented.
Ordinance: George A. reported that the committee had reviewed the request for a stop sign on Warner Street at Liberty made by Mark Immerman following an accident involving his son. The Committee found the sightlines good, traffic volume low and no other accident reported there over the last four years. The Commission voted not to recommend installing a stop sign at this time. A letter will be sent to Mr. Immerman. The DPW is working on a list of actions agreed on in a meeting with the Bay State Village Association about safety concerns at the Federal and Riverside intersection. These include the measurement of sightlines and review of exisiting signs. Police agreed to setup the electronic speed display and increase enforcement near that intersection.
Department head reports : The Police Chief said enforcement was up and accidents down during the first six months of this year. Traffic stops totaled 1988 compared to 1034 during the first 6 months of ’03 while reported accidents dropped from 828 to 662. Both radar enforcement and hazard complaints are up sharply. George A. showed a new configuration of the Roundabout for the Route 9/Bridge Road/Look Park intersection. There were numerous concerns particularly around the westbound lane from Bridge Road. Keith W. suggested that the plan get peer review from the NY DOT. George A. agreed. The DPW has already turned down one plan. Alex G. said he would rather see a traffic light then a substandard roundabout.
New Business: Alex G. explained that because the reconstruction of Rout 66 was already completed past the main entrance to Hospital Hill development it may be difficult to substitute a roundabout for traffic lights there despite a preliminary study indicating that configuration would be a better solution. This illustrates the need for the T&PC to articulate policy that is reviewed in public meetings before the BPW and the Planning Board and codified in a city document. George A. agreed to ask MASS Development to speed up the study of this intersection which is required by Planning Board permit.
Meeting schedule the Commission will continue to meet the third Monday of each month. The meetings will begin -- PLEASE NOTE NEW TIME---at 4:30PM.
The meeting adjourned at 5:50PM.