Agenda Text
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Traffic and Parking Director submitting responses to various Board Orders submitted 6/23/16.
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Official Text
To the Honorable Board:
Agenda Item 201694
That the Director of Traffic and Parking install a flashing STOP sign on Buena Vista Road, where it meets Meacham Road.
A solar powered flashing Stop sign cannot be installed at this intersection due to the tree canopy at this location.
Agenda Item 201708
That the Director of Traffic and Parking appear before this Board to address the on-line resident parking permit system and its turn-around times, lack of transaction confirmations, and long lines at the customer service counter.
The Director of Traffic and Parking will appear before the Board of Alderman to discuss the above issues at their convenience.
Agenda Item 201711
That the Director of Traffic and Parking install a crosswalk at Spring Street and Somerville Avenue.
To install a new crosswalk, a crosswalk must comply with the standards of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). These standards require ADA ramps at each end of the crosswalk. There are no ADA ramps at this location. In order to install ADA ramps at this location both sides of Somerville Ave would have to be redesigned and reconstructed. These ADA ramps would require that curbs would have to be realigned and a light pole would have to be removed and reinstalled.
Traffic Engineering standards also require that the distance between crosswalks be a minimum of 300' and that a reasonable distance between crosswalks is 600'. The distance between Spring St and Beech St is approximately 360'. This crosswalk would be the safest area along Somerville Ave to cross from the northbound side to the southbound side in the vicinity of Spring St.
Another Traffic Engineering standard for the installation of a new crosswalk is that there must be a pedestrian demand and need to cross a street at a certain location. The number of pedestrians seeking to cross a street should be a minimum of 80 - 100 pedestrians per four hour period. While a survey of this location has not occurred, the number of pedestrians observed by various City staff while reviewing other traffic related concerns does not appear to reach this plateau of required pedestrians.
The installation of a crosswalk at this location does not meet traffic engineering standards and criteria.
Agenda Item 201755
That the Director of Traffic and Parking place signage at the intersection of Hawkins Street and Somerville Avenue to stop vehicles from entering Somerville Avenue and traveling the wrong way.
Traffic and Parking has reviewed the intersection of Somerville Ave and Hawkins St. There is a Do Not Enter sign and a One Way Blade on Hawkins St at Somerville. This One Way sign is signed properly and in accordance with the MUTCD. No further actions are required.
Please contact me with any questions.
Suzanne Rinfret
Director of Traffic and Parking