02/10/2015 Board of Public Works Meeting

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REGULARMEETING FEBRUARY 10, 2015 32 had an important issue to attend to in Indianapolis and couldn't be here. Mr. Gilot stated he didn't want anyone to think this issue wasn't important to Mr. Horvath, it is very important to him and he would be here making the recommendation today if he didn't have to be elsewhere. Ms. Mary Fisher of Tuxedo Drive stated she is in favor of the City's traffic calming plan, and noted it is a great inconvenience to all having 27" Street closed. She stated it is true there is less traffic in Walnut Grove but it's moved to Tuxedo where there are more homes and more residents, including elderly people. She added there are bad sight lines on Tuxedo making it more dangerous for traffic, especially at the bottom of the hill on Tuxedo. Ms. Kathleen Pettijean of 20 Street thanked the Board for addressing the neighborhoods issues. She stated the Board may not know that originally Walnut Grove streets were privately owned by Walnut Grove up until 1972, when the City took over. Ms. Pettijean stated the residents have been told by the City many times that stop signs and speed limit signs were not appropriate methods of traffic calming. She stated what she is asking for is speed humps like those installed in Eddy Commons. She noted the City previously told the neighborhood that there was no money available to install speed humps. Ms. Pettijean stated the process done this time was back in September the City Engineer came up with the option to close 2T Street as a way to reduce traffic and gave the residents a process which included circulating a petition which they were told would need 2/3 of the resident's signatures. She stated they obtained 80% of the resident's signatures in favor of the closure of the street. She stated the City did traffic studios to see that it met warrants and got the Fire and Police Department's and School system's approval. Ms. Pettijean stated Councilman Fred Ferlic asked them to communicate with the neighborhood to work for a greater plan. She stated they did their own traffic counts and found that traffic on 26" Street and Tuxedo Drive was pretty evenly distributed. She added they felt that four -way stops could be helpful if installed but the City was not interested. Ms. Pettijean stated her opposition to humps and speed limits is please include 29" Street on the speed humps and please keep 27" Street closed until all of the traffic calming devices are in place. She noted the fear of the resident's is that if it is re- opened, people will take out their aggressions by deliberately speeding. Mr. Gilot thanked her and asked Mr. Kerr if he had any rebuttal. Mr. Kerr stated he appreciated all the comments and stated there were some good points brought up. He noted November 18 was when 27' Street was closed, not September as Ms. Pettijean stated. He noted also that the number of petitioner's that signed the petition was 165 out of 240, which is not quite 80% as she stated. Mr. Kerr stated that stop signs are not to be used as traffic calming at Wilson and 26' Street; they have not met warrants for stop signs and they won't be put tip there. He stated as far as waiting to open 27' Street, it will not be until spring that speed humps can be installed, so they would like to re -open 27 Street once the stop signs are instulled. He noted the reason for that is duo to the icy hill on Tuxedo Drive. Mr. Kerr stated he has no objection to or issue with the speed hump on 26' Street. He stated he would like to offer to the Board to leave the solar speed signs on 26' Street and add " and/or 29` Street ". Ms. Roos asked for confirmation that he was changing his recommendation to add solar signs on "26t" Street or 29th Street ". Mr. Kerr confirmed and stated he was recommending also that they add "and /or 26"" Street and /or 29 Street" to the installation of a speed hump, noting the City could do further traffic counts in the spring on these locations. Mr. Gilot questioned the cost of solar speed signs. Mr. Kerr stated they installed them on the Lincolnway West project and they cost $6,000.00 each, about the same cost as a speed hump. Mr. Gilot stated he understood the signs can go up in inclement weather, but can the Engineers work with the Street Department to get the speed humps done as early as possible in the spring. Mr, Kerr noted they will use concrete instead of asphalt so the material won't have to be heated. Mr. Gilot thanked everyone for following the process. He added everybody can't be happy but he has great respect for the engineers that looked at all the alternatives. He noted Mr. Eric Horvath has empathy with everybody, but there is no perfect solution. Upon a motion by Ms. Roos, seconded by Mr. Henthorn and carried the City's recommendation as presented was approved with the noted amendments to letters d. and e.; TRAFFCI CALMING FOR WALNUT GROVE: a) Intersections of Colfax Avenue /26 Street and Colfax Avenue /27' Street /29`h Street changed to three (3) way stop; b) Crosswalks installed at intersections of Colfax Avenue /26'h St. and Wilson Ave. /26th St.; c) Designate and Post speed limit on 27" Street at 20 mph; d) Installation of a speed hump on 27a' Street and/or 26` and 29` Streets