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Minutes
TRANSPORTATION SAFETY COMMISSION
January 29, 2008
The Vienna Transportation Safety Commission (TSC) met in regular session January 29, 2008 in the Council Chamber at Town Hall, 127 Center Street, South, Vienna, Virginia. Standing in as Chair, Sharon Baum opened the meeting at 8:00 p.m. with the following members present: Leonard Ignatowski, Frank Johnson, Stephen Kenney, Richard Denbow, Howard Springsteen and Jill Decker. Chairman Tara Voigt and Commissioner Andrew Mere were absent. Also present were Holly Chu, Director the Department of Public Works, Vienna Police Officer Mike Reeves and Public Information Officer Marie Kisner.
Approval of the Minutes
The minutes from the November 27, 2007 meeting were unanimously approved after some corrections were noted.
Petition for Speed Hump in Front of 701 McKinley St, NE
No citizens were present to speak on the issue of a speed hump at 701 McKinley St, NE.
Commissioner Kenney said he had driven by the area that day and did not see any signs posted.
Commissioner Johnson agreed but said that he did notice there is a speed hump 4 houses down on the Fairfax County side.
Commissioner Springsteen suggested deferring this issue until after the Beulah Rd project is complete and Commissioner Johnson agreed. Commissioner Springsteen also said that the area is very close to an intersection; he made a motion to defer this item until the Beulah Rd project is complete.
Commissioner Johnson said that he would like an update from DPW on where the Beulah Rd project stands.
Commissioner Ignatowski wanted to bring to attention that the place where the speed hump is requested is a low point in the valley and a speed hump might create a damn and flood the 2 nearest houses.
Commissioner Kenney said there is only about 150ft from the Town line to the intersection so it does not meet the guidelines for a speed hump.
Commissioner Springsteen repeated his motion to defer this item until the Beulah Rd project is completed and new traffic counts made. Commissioner Denbow seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved by the TSC.
Ms. Chu addressed the TSC and told them that if any time they had questions on the status of the Beulah Rd project, they should visit the VDOT website. As of now, the substantial completion date is set for May 2008. She also said that the speed humps Fairfax County put in on McKinley St and Talisman will be staying in after the project is complete because it is not cost effective to remove them.
Commissioner Springsteen wondered if the petitioners were aware that the speed humps were permanent.
Commissioner Ignatowski said that the petition is dated August 2007, why did it take so long for it to become an agenda item? Commissioner Springsteen answered that there was some question as to what to do with the petition because it does not meet criteria; he also said that he would contact the petitions.
Commissioner Baum suggested that the TSC discuss a letter that was in their packets in regards to safety at the Lawyers Rd entrance to the Post Office.
Commissioner Kenney said the letter made him rethink his idea of putting a traffic circle there; apparently there is too much traffic. He is planning on doing some surveillance to determine when traffic is backing up. He has no objection to putting delineators on the double yellow line, although, he does not think that has been done anywhere else in Town.
Commissioner Denbow said that the original delineators were put there to mark the crosswalk and if more were put up, it might take focus away from the crosswalk
Commissioner Springsteen suggested Commissioner Denbow respond to the citizen’s letter and Commissioner Denbow agreed.
Reports from the Commissioners
Commissioner Ignatowski thinks that the pedestrian sign at the Post Office is “too close” and by the time you see it you are already at the Pedestrian Walk. The sign also obstructs the view of people. He also noticed surveyor stakes on the other side of Church St and wonders if there’s going to be any work done there.
Commissioner Springsteen said he represented the TSC at the Town Council meeting and that the speed hump on Tazewell Rd, NW was approved. He will also be going to the next Town Council meeting concerning the Pedestrian Barricades. The signs that are up now at Follin La and the Post Office are nice but there is so much more offered. Commissioner Johnson asked if they spring back if hit and Commissioner Springsteen said that some do, there are many different types.
Commissioner Springsteen wondered why they haven’t heard anything about the traffic study done by the traffic consultants. He thinks it would have been a good idea if they had asked for more citizen input.
Ms. Chu responded that they are planning on having a presentation before the TSC soon.
Commissioner Springsteen said that there was a study done about 10 years ago and it showed specific counts from specific neighborhoods.
Ms. Chu said that the public forum meeting held with the TSC and the traffic consultants was when they were looking for citizen input but Commissioner Springsteen said he was unable to make that meeting. Commissioner Denbow told him that a decent sized crowd showed up and there were some good ideas brought up. It seems the consultants were using more of a data approach as they talked about tracking cars.
Commissioner Springsteen brought up that the TSC has deferred a few items until they can hear the report from the traffic consultants.
Commissioner Kenney said that he did a before and after table on speed hump installations. Some of the data did not seem to fit as it showed people still speeding right after the implementation of a speed hump. He was also given accident data by the VPD on the intersection of Church St and Lawyers Rd. There have been 19 accidents in the last 3 years.
Commissioner Springsteen requested that the elections for new Chair and Vice Chair be placed on the next month’s agenda.
Respectfully submitted,
Emily Allen, Finance Water & Sewer Clerk