Traffic and Transportation Commission
Minutes

Black Eyed Susan Conference Room
Meeting No. 04-10
April 27, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
  

1.   General Announcements, Public Comment Period, and Rockville Bicycle Advisory Committee Announcements

a.    Chair Telesco announced the Rockville Bike Advisory Committee (RBAC) national bike month activities and summarized the RBAC bicycle sign presentation to Mayor and Council on April 26, 2010.

2.   First Baptist Church of Rockville – Staff Introduction and Applicant Presentation

a.    Ms. Sanders summarized the First Baptist Church of Rockville development application, providing trip generation, parking, and site access information.
b.    Mr. Crawley provided an overview of the development application.
c.    Mr. Cook expanded upon Mr. Crawley’s description of the development application, going into more detail about about the traffic impact analysis.  Mr. Cook stated that as requested by staff, the applicant conducted a neighborhood traffic study to determine whether trip generation from the development met the City’s Neighborhood Traffic Calming Guidelines thresholds for traffic calming.  Because thresholds were not met, traffic calming was not planned.  

3.    First Baptist Church of Rockville – Commissioner Questions, Discussion, and Recommendation

a.    There was a discussion regarding whether or not there was sufficient pedestrian access to the site, that the report should be corrected to show that there are existing bicycle facilities on streets adjacent to the site, whether a one-way system for vehicle circulation in the parking lot should be considered, and whether this site would come before the Traffic and Transportation Commission in the future.
b.    Mr. Cook explained that as part of the development, a sidewalk would be constructed to link the First Baptist Church to Adclare Road and that the existing bicycle facilities on streets adjacent to the site would be added to the report.
c.    Ms. Walters explained that the Comprehensive Transportation Review (CTR) threshold of 150 trips must be met for development applications to come before the Traffic and Transportation Commission.  
d.    Commissioner Martin made a motion to approve the Comprehensive Transportation Review report for the First Baptist Church of Rockville.  Commissioner Ferris seconded the motion.  Commissioner Crane, Telesco, and Klein voted in favor. Commissioner Thomas was opposed.
e.    Ms. Sanders said that she would prepare a memo with the Commission’s motion to be included in the report to the Planning Commission.

4.    Meeting with Planning Commission – Discuss Potential Topics

a.    Ms. Sanders sought input from the Commission on topics for the Planning Commission meeting with the Traffic and Transportation Commission on June 9, 2010.  
b.    There was consensus that the main themes of the Pedestrian Policies and the Complete Streets Policy, including connectivity, as well as how for the Commissions to best communicate with one another, would be topics.

5.    Comprehensive Transportation Review Methodology – Staff Update

a.   This item was removed from the agenda due to time constraints.  Ms. Sanders explained that this agenda item would be addressed in the Traffic and Transportation Commission’s May meeting.

6.    Review and Approve March 2010 Meeting Minutes

a.    The meeting minutes were approved with minor changes.

7.    Staff Report and Updates (Weekly)

a.    Ms. Sanders provided the weekly report.

8.    Additional Items/Discussion

a.    There was a discussion about the walk time assigned to many of the pedestrian signals in Rockville.  Ms. Sanders explained that the MUTCD guidelines call for a four to seven second “walk” interval before the pedestrian signal goes to “flash” interval where pedestrians that have begun to cross the intersection can continue crossing.
b.    Commissioner Crane said that there were streetlight outages on Wootton Parkway from I-270 to West Edmonston.  Staff had already placed work orders with PEPCO for repair.
c.    Commissioner Crane inquired about the boundaries of the Monroe Street sidewalk.  The sidewalk is planned for the west side of the street, between Big Oak Court and Dogwood Park.
d.    Commissioner Crane stated that the speed indicator sign on Ritchie Parkway was not functioning.  Ms. Sanders notified the police.
e.    There was discussion about the fiscal year 2011 proposed Capital Improvements Program.  Ms. Sanders stated that the public hearings for the proposed CIP were underway.
f.    Commissioner Crane inquired whether the South Washington permit parking applicant had received the Commission Guidelines for permit parking.  The applicant has received the guidelines.
g.    Commissioner Thomas requested bus pads at bus stops in Rockville.  This is being considered by the Contract Maintenance Division if funding is available. 

The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m.