Minutes

TRANSPORTATION SAFETY COMMISSION

February 26, 2008
MINUTES

The Vienna Transportation Safety Commission (TSC) met in regular session February 26, 2008 in the Council Chamber at Vienna Town Hall, 127 Center Street, South, Vienna, Virginia. Chairwoman Tara Voigt opened the meeting at 8:00 p.m. with the following members present: Richard Denbow, Sharon Baum, Howard Springsteen, Jill Decker, Stephen Kenney, Andrew Meren and Frank Johnson. Also present were Jil Havan-Ngo, TSC Secretary; Holly Chu, Director of Department of Public Works (DPW) and Sergeant Mike Reeves with the Vienna Police Department (VPD).

Approval of the Minutes

Chairwoman Tara Voigt made a motion to approve the minutes from the January 29, 2008 meeting; Commissioner Howard Springsteen seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved by the TSC members.

Presentation of Draft by Traffic Calming Consultants

Chairwoman Voigt read from the memorandum presented by Ms. Holly Chu, Director of Public Works.

“Please read this memorandum into the minutes of the TSC meeting so it will become part of the permanent record for the TSC.

Item #1 At the February 4, 2008 Town Council Meeting Councilman Dan Dellinger requested that the Town install a crosswalk on Center Street, South at the intersection with Cherry Street. This crosswalk is proposed to be installed on the north side of the intersection. DPW has been asked to proceed with the installation of the crosswalk. This will entail the installation of 2 curb ramps and a crosswalk. Work will be complete as soon as possible, weather permitting, tentatively scheduled for April 2008.

Item #2 On February 6, 2008, the Vienna Police Department has asked for 25 MPH signs to be installed on the southbound lane of Lawyers Road, NW between Blair Road, NW and Maple Avenue. DPW will proceed with the installation of the signs.”

The floor was opened to the consultants:

Mr. Larry Marcus and Ms. Neelima Ghanta from ATCS presented a data of traffic calming study which took place during spring and fall of 2007. The data shows the technical findings and validate the concerns of the residents a few months before. Mr. Marcus gave an overview of the study that was in the handout provided to the citizens during the meeting. Before the study took place, ATCS first met with the TSC to find out the locations that the residents have concerns. The town then provided the top 10 studies locations and ATCS divided into speed and volume categories. Marshall Street was added later as a 3rd study and the final one was the cut through traffic which was done over late fall of 2007. The draft was completed in December 2007.

Mr. Marcus shows the information collected to this point and hopes to solicit the comments from the community. He would like to have the final report done within the next month.

Town of Vienna and VDOT were the two guidelines used for the study.

Commissioner Frank Johnson wanted clarification of #5 on the study that ATCS tracked traffic at the beginning of Park and Cedar Lane.

Commissioner Stephen Kenney questioned #6 on the study

Ms. Neelima Ghanta clarified both questions the commissioners had.

Mr. Larry Marcus preferred to have the comments in writing and will incorporate them in the appendix of the report.

Several issues such as comments from the residents on housekeeping, the four quads, designation at streets signs with the volume, direction of traffic, and maximum to minimum over time are not the same as in the PDF file posted. Suggestions were made to have the most current report reposted to the website so everyone can work on the same “sheet of music” when providing the comments.

Mr. Marcus answered absolutely. It has been changed a few times based on the comments received.

Resident asked Ms. Chu on when they can expect the correct version be posted so the residents can make their comments on it.

Ms. Chu stated that the deadline for Traffic Calming Study comments from the public is March 4th, 2008.

Resident said that the draft version currently on the website and the handout tonight are not the same.

Ms. Chu stated that the consultants have made some changes during the past few days immediately after receiving comments. Rather than make the consultants go through multiple reiteration, the comments are collected up until the deadline of March 4th. The new version of the report will be posted once they become available.

Mr. Marcus said that if the residents want to comment, he can email to the resident individually if they want to review the report.

Ms. Chu stated that once the DPW prepared the agenda item for the Town Council Meeting which is April 7th, it will go on public record and March 28th is the latest deadline for the report to be finalized. DPW is considering having another work session on the next TSC meeting.

Ms. Julie Foley of 513 Council Ct, NE said she is under the assumption that Church Street and East Street were going to be incorporated in the study. Her biggest concern is that they would lump Church Street, N.E and East Street, N.E into one study but there will be no study from Beulah to East Street along Church Street. She thanks the Councils that the street has a stop sign now. Another of her concern was pedestrian safety which was bought up at the last TSC meeting but she hasn’t heard anything about it.

Commissioner Springsteen agreed with Ms. Foley and was hoping that Church and East Street were one of the target streets of interest in the study.

Mr. Marcus comment that it wasn’t in his scope to look at the pedestrian safety but he did anyway. However it wasn’t included in the report but he can bring it next time.

Ms. Mary Ellen Larkin of 317 Church Street, NE. read from her handout that she wasn’t happy with the ATCS report. She does not understand why Branch and Beulah streets were in the study while they were under construction. A similar study was done in 1997 by Mr. Tennyson that should have been looked at instead of this new report from ATCS. Follin Lane, Tapawingo Road, Locust Street and Church Street are all in need of restricted hours during peak times. The equipment that ATCS used on Church Street for volume and speed counts were not effective because the motorists were coming almost to a complete stop when passing the device. This device is great if it’s only for volume counting. She has reported the problem to the town via-email. Another of her concerns is Beulah Road which needs help in slowing down the traffic. She believes the Traffic Calming Draft is not a town-wide study. With the surrounding redevelopment, Town of Vienna needs to be more proactive with Traffic Problems, Traffic Safety, and Traffic Volume.

Ms. Lois Paige lives in Church Street between Glyndon and Beulah for 10 years. The study is not indicative of the normal traffic conditions because Beulah is under construction. She needs some clarification of the Town guideline regarding speed.

Ms. Lois Paige comments that some of statistics taken from Beulah Road on page 6 of the report was irrelevant because it was under construction. There was only one day sampling on Church Street which is an invalid sampling. The rest of her comments will be sent via-email.

Mr. Billy Lancaster, represented himself and his father of 224 and 230 Church Street, requested for the speed bump to remain due to the safety of the residents and the vehicles traveling through it.

Mr. Richard Shin lives in 238 Church Street, NE. said the data used in the report of 85 percentile is elementary type of analysis. This information should have been put on a chart that goes from hour to hour. The report shows before-and-after studies, but there is no prior data study available. Therefore this should not be called before-and-after studies. Environmental factors should be taken into consideration like Beulah Road being under construction that would have a major impact on surrounding streets. The placements of the devices are important factor in the study. Between about 8a.m and 10:30a.m, it shows a peak of traffic volume in which cars are at bumper to bumper. Traffic during these hours is dangerous for pedestrian because the children are being picked up by the school buses. He would like to see the raw data, which shows the time and speed of cars that go by, to be available online so the residents can download. He requested to keep the speed hump on Church Street.

Mr. Norman Grandstasf of 345 Church Street would like all the numbers on the report to be removed because Beulah Road is under construction. He has asked since 1993 to have the police stationed on 200 and 300 blocks and was told that there is no place to put the speed device. He has gone out of his way to ask every single neighbor on the block to offer their driveway to do this study. He requested to have two speed humps to be put on Church Street. He got 100 percent signatures of the residents on that street for a second speed hump to be installed.

Commissioner Springsteen requested that the consultants take out the Church Street recommendations.

Mr. Matt Ammann of 343 Church Street, NE voiced his concern of pedestrian safety on Church Street and Beulah Road since there is just one light and no crosswalk. There is no traffic calming device on East Street to Beulah Road along Church Street.

Mr. Di Fore 271 Owaissa Road requested the Town to put more money aside to support this study because $40,000 is not enough.

Ms. Linda of 401 Holloway Court requested for the raw data to be put online so she can see the updated data. The speed humps on these streets shouldn’t be lowered but rather raised because the SUV drivers can fly through these humps with no problem.

Mr. Eugene Quinn 922 Circle Drive, SE. asked in 2000 and 2001 that Vienna Police Department did a speed study. He asked if the Vienna Police Department is still doing the study.

Sgt Reeve said yes

Mrs. Foley fears the information is not accurate to present to the Town Council. She feels it isn’t thorough enough for decision making.

Reports of the commissioners

Commissioner Baum questioned on whether Park Street study was done in the summer time while the school is out. She also questioned on whether the Cut Through traffic was done the same time as with the traffic count as shown on page 6. According to Commissioner Baum, the weather and roads condition will affect the study. Mr. Marcus responds that the Cut Through Traffic was done in the fall and the studies weren’t done during the holidays.

Commissioner Springsteen comments the project is constrained by the lack of funding.

Commissioner Decker comments about the typo of the time on the report.

Chairwoman thanks all the citizens for coming to TSC meeting tonight. Although given the limitation of the time, she was hoping for more thorough information from the study.

Chairwoman Voigt asked Ms. Chu if it is possible to put the raw data online.

Commissioner Kenney got some past traffic study and provided on Excel spreadsheet. He would like to see an expansion of before and after studies.

Commissioner Kenney believes Church Street, Lawyer Road, Park Street, Locust Street and intersection of Church Street and East Street, N.E are the worst intersections in town.

Commissioner Kenney asked if there should be a bare minimum standards for physical traffic calming device installation. Consultant Larry Marcus responds to questions asked from the commissioner.

Commissioner Merren said that the focus is on Church Street but he doesn’t want other streets to be overlooked also.

Commissioner Johnson requested a work session. Ms.Chu said a work session will be scheduled the week after Easter.

Commissioner Springsteen nominated Commissioner Kenney for Chairman for 2008,

Commissioner Baum was nominated for Vice chairwoman.

The Chairman and Vice votes were unanimously approved.

Commissioner Merren questioned about the stop sign on Glyndon Road.

Commissioner Decker asked if Public Information can include in a newsletter for the Town’s residents that it’s against the law to block the sidewalks of parked cars in driveways.

Commissioner Johnson asked if speed humps on Branch Road will put back after the construction is done. Ms. Chu responded that not only Branch Road speed humps will be installed but Tazewell Rd and West Street will need to be repaired as well.

Ms. Chu commented that due to a high volume of request on multi speed humps on certain streets, DPW is willing to work with TSC and the citizens to install more speed humps before the old ones are replaces as part of the TOV repairing schedule.

Chairwoman Voigt asked if DPW has a paving schedule and whether it is possible to get the schedule out to the citizens at each quadrant before their roads are paved.

Ms. Chu would like the ATCS consultants to train the TSC members so they will have a better understanding of the studies. Budget is being requested for this work.

Chairwoman has no report.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:19p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Jil Havan-Ngo, TSC Secretary

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