MINUTES
Department of Public Works Conference Room
Meeting No. 04-04
April 20, 2004, 7:30 p.m.
Commissioners Present:
Richard Resnick, Chairman
Ephrem Asebe
Elizabeth Crane
Alice Filemyr
Stanley Klein
Alan Levine
Jon Oberg
Guest: Amy Rosselle, Fallsgrove Traffic & Safety
City Staff: Katherine Kelly
1. Review and Approve Minutes
Notes from the March 2004 were approved by those present with no changes. These were not official minutes due to lack of a quorum at that meeting.
2. Review of Staff Report
A. Pedestrian Safety: Commissioner Crane inquired about redevelopment near Twinbrook Metro, at Bou Ave. Although the site lies out of City limits, she requests that staff include this intersection in its safety ratings analyses due to its proximity to the City.
Commissioners requested that 1) Lorraine Dr. @ E. Jefferson and 2) Broadwood @ Veirs Mill also be rated. They also requested that sight distance problems at Congressional St. @ E. Jefferson and the entrance to Federal Plaza (1776) be taken into account in the safety ratings.
Staff will send out a map/image of the safety ratings for Commissioners to review prior to a mid-May Mayor and Council worksession (per I.5.d in the weekly, “State Review of Rockville Intersections”).
B. Commissioner Levine asked for clarification on item 6, Red Light Cameras. He requests a list of locations where red light cameras are currently installed and where they will be installed.
3. Showing of “Perils for Pedestrians” Video
A video of staff being interviewed by a national pedestrian safety expert was shown. The video highlights Rockville’s integration of pedestrian safety into the development review process.
4. CTR Staff Report - Review and Approve Commission Comments
Commissioners requested the following changes to the CTR draft of April 19:
Add “neighborhood association representatives” to the list of groups to coordinate with in Step 10 of the Process (Section II.A.)
In section III.C.8.3, “Auto Traffic Analysis, Evaluation of Impacts, Analysis of Capacity”, reference maximum volume thresholds for neighborhood street classifications, and diversion of traffic flow through neighborhoods when volumes are exceeded. The source is the Introduction section (p. 2-3) of the “Guidelines for Neighborhood Traffic Management”. Also reference this as a footnote in Appendix I, to say that the City takes action when these volumes are exceeded.
Clarify Appendix M, Transportation Report Study Areas. Refer to where these areas are discussed in the text of the CTR (i.e., Tables 5 and 10).
Add emphasis (underline or bold) text that describes how to determine study areas.
Commissioners came to consensus that for safety ratings, the average intersection rating should not be used, and that just the approach ratings be used. Another option discussed was to use the lowest rating of all approaches at an intersection so as not to skew the rating to a better rating.
Staff will email Commissioners the summary of changes document.
Commissioners approved a draft memo to the Mayor and Council in support of the CTR, with changes noted by staff (see attached revised version). Chair Resnick will draft a paragraph to include, which supports adoption of the APFO. The letter will be sent to the Mayor and Council prior to the May 10 Discussion and Instruction.
5. CIP-Review and Approve Commission Comments
Commissioners discussed changes to a draft memo to the Mayor and Council highlighting concerns about funding for Traffic and Transportation CIPs. Staff will relay to Commissioners via email specific CIP projects that are not funded in future fiscal years and thus may “fall by the wayside”. Staff will also provide percentages of the budget being directed to maintenance and comparison of the division’s budget to the overall operating budget.
Commissioner Levine will revise the letter and send to Commissioners for comment.
6. Update on City Accident Data
An update on the methodology to revise accident data was distributed. Commissioners requested more specific data, such as the number of accidents and type of accidents that have happened at City intersections as well as at intersections just outside the City.
7. Nelson Street Traffic Calming
An update on Nelson Street traffic calming was presented by staff. Commissioners requested that once an alternative is chosen, staff present that alternative to the Commission for input.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m.
