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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982 Parking & Traffic• PARKING & TRAFFIC -1 - Parking,'. Traffic and Transit Committee With reference to the American Postal Workers Union concern about parking conditions around the post office and.in the parking ramp, Supt. Kinsella reported that he. is working with:Mr. Sieverding.of • the Planning and Development Department and compiling information for an overall parking.s:tudy.bf the downtown central business district. He will come up with recommendations for meter rates, parking rates and parking policies. Upon completion of that study recommendations will be forwarded to the Buildings and Grounds • Committee and the Parking, Traffic and Transit Committee for their respective reviews and recommendations. Supt. Kinsella referred to the request for motorcycle parking spaces in the downtown area. The request was made by Terence Garahan and referred to Mr. Kinsella and Traffic Engineer-Gombas. •Supt..Kinsella reported that he has responded to Mr. Garahan by letter advising him that his request has been reviewed and the matter of motorcycle parking is satisfied by existing parking spaces downtown and to tie up .specific spaces for motorcycles would prevent use by other vehicles. Supt. Kinsella commented that he has not heard further from Mr. Garahan and feels that he has accepted the Supt.'s reply. Supt. Kinsella stated that at the October 14, 1981 meeting a • recommendation was made about the possible removal of the traffic lights at State and Green and State and Tioga Street intersections to eliminate traffic backup at those intersections. As a follow-up Supt. Kinsella requested Traffic Engineer Gombas to extend the green light time on east bound traffic on Green Street, both at the Tioga Street intersection and the State Street intersection. Supt. i Kinsella reported that it was a great improvement on the reduction I of traffic problems in that area and eliminated the need for removing signals. He believes the matter has been resolved. In November of 1981, a request was received for the possibility of f( revising parking reguio latns on Linn Street. Recommendation was IA, made for a ninety -day trial period to examine the effect of the removal of the restrictions on the weaasszt side. of Linn Street. Supt. Kinsella stated that an after action evaluation will be made and recommendations will come from the Parking, Traffic and Transit Committee to either continue the revised regulations or go back to the previous regulations control. AMENDMENT:. omm.'Varricchio requested that the Minutes be amended to show Report on approved changes in traffic control on State' arterials within the City, as follows: ` //131xa Orders for the following traffic items recently under consideration were received onor before 12/1/81 from NYS DOT in Syracuse and Albany: 1. ''No Right Turn on Red" from Fulton Street onto Meadow Street. It was requested to aid motorists exiting from W. Clinton Street, south of Six Mile Creek. During the past few days, this was posted by the State with standard "No Turn on .Red" signs. The turning prohibition is now in effect. �\\ Two-way.advance left turn.phasing of traffic signal at Meadow Street and Fulton Street. Physical changes.to controller and signal hardware will,be under- taken by State forces starting sometime later this winter. Sub- sequent adjustments to introduce the new signal operation within the Meadow Street progression will be done by the City. As a step toward this modification to left turn phasing, DOT just posted "No Turn on Red" on Meadow Street at the northbound intersection approach. All four approaches now are posted, pro- hibiting "Right Turn on Red." J7 J� 3. Flashing signal at Meadow Street -Northeast Arterial (Rt. 13) and Third Street (Signal No. 19A). A11 the work on this installation will be done by NYS DOT, possibly in 1982. After that the Citywill be responsible for its operation and maintenance. Provisions will be made in design and equipment to facilitate conversion to full signal (three - color) operation as future traffic conditions will indicate. 4. Exclusive pedestrian phasing Cayuga Street and Green Street. Signal (No. 8A) for trial operation. • The work involved in the modification of this signal is City responsibility. Most of the work has already been accomplished for some time now. The equipment was shop -tested, and is ready for installation. It is expected that by this Friday the signal will be operating in the new mode. The signal, according to. the order,.will be disconnected from the "Downtown -Grid" system now operating at 60 second cycle. This will permit the signal, running independently, to be adjusted to include the -additional 20 seconds for the exclusive pedestrian phase. About 10 seconds of the pedestrian phase will beta solid "Walk" (step off curb) indication. This will be followed by about 10 seconds of flash- ing "Don't Walk" (complete the walk initiated, but do not step off curb) and then by about a 3 second solid "Don't Walk" clear- ance interval. During the exclusive pedestrian phase, vehicular traffic from all directions will have a red light. All approaches are posted prohibiting turns on red. During the vehicular green intervals for Green Street and then for Cayuga Street, pedestrian indications in all directions will display .solid "Don't Walk": Pedestrians then are not to cross in any direction. Surveillance. of the new signal operation will be necessary. Observation may dater permit some interval timing. adjustments to reduce delay without sacrificing safety. For the time being, crossings within the painted crosswalks should be encouraged. The request for exclusive pedestrian signal phasing at Seneca Street and Aurora Street, Seneca Street and.Tioga Street -and at Seneca Street and Cayuga Street was reviewed by the State. They concluded from �a existing conditions and accumulated data that no change was necessary at these signals 41100t Approved by the State was a previous request to reduce the existing 40 M.P.H. speed limit on Meadow Street, between Elmira Road and Six Mile Creek bridge, to 30 M.P.H. City speed limit. This move was taken because of the increased activity in the area since the open- ing of "TOPS" plaza. The speed limit on Rt. 13 then would be uniform 30 M.P.H. from the 'South City line to Hancock Street and aid in enforcement and safety. The. rest of the Northeast Arterial (Rt.. 13) from Hancock Street to Dey Street is 40 M.P.H., and from Dey Street to the North City line, as well as beyond, the present State wide 55 M.P.H. is in effect. The City will have to change the City Traffic Ordinance first. The State then will process the ordinance and inform the City when to go ahead with the needed sign installations. CORRECTION: Page 4, paragraph 2, second sentence should read as follows: "Recommendation was made for a ninety -day trial period toexamine the effect of the removal of the restrictions on the west side of Linn Street." Ce,4w � - • / y I �Z 1��1 and the remainder of the Minutes be approved as recorded by the Deputy City Clerk, Carried Unanimously ' Experimental Parking Regulation Comm. Brown reported that in February of 1982 a 90 -day experimental regulation became effective as follows: 1. Suspending the prohibition of parking of vehicles from 9 a.m, to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday on Linn Street from Cascadilla Creek to King Street, west side. 2. Establishing a two-hour parking between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on West Green Street between the 300 and 400 block, both sides. This 90. -day trial period is about to expire. Resolution By Comm. Brown: Seconded by Comm. Varricchio RESOLVED, That this 90 -day trial period be extended through the end of October to allow more time to obtain information and experience I with new residents and students in the fall. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously r /0- -2 - Walk Cycle Light at Cayuga and Green Streets ' ll30, 'Alderman Elva Holman, 141 Pearsall Place, appeared to express appreciation on behalf of McGraw House residents.and many other 'residents of the City of.Ithaca, and herself, for the final completion of the walk cycle light at the corner of Cayuga_ and Green Streets. She stated that it was a great pleasure to cross diagonally. at that intersection without fear of getting struck. -3 - City Hall 'Parking Alderman Banfield addressed .the Board with reference to. complaints he has received from fellow .Aldermen who can't.find a place to park in front of City Hall. and they believe that some cars parked out front.belong to store owners. Alderman Banfield stated that he had talked with .Police Department and learned that the signs -that are currently posted in that area are not enforceable because there'is no reference made to specific amount of time that a'.person is to use that space.. After discussion, it was.suggested that the problem be taken.to the Parking, Traffic and Transit Committee for review and recommendations as t� how best to 'limit the parking .time in/ the -spaces provided in front of City Hall./� Parking Space in Front of 'City Hall By Comm. Brown: Seconded by Comm. Schickel RESOLVED, That the parking spaces in front of City Hall on. Green Street be assigned a limited number of minutes at one parking. It is not to be more than 30 minutes or less than 10 minutes, a.nd. the Committee leave that decision up to staff. Discussion followed on the floor. Mayor Shaw noted that Green Street is a State Arterial, and that the matter may have to be referred to the Charter and Ordinance Committee to pass some sort of statute 1:o make it enforceable. 5 /ab/% Supt. Kinsella commented that. he believes the Board. of. Public Work.s has that right. Comm. Brown agreed that th.e Board of Public Works or Charter and Ordinance Committee (whichever is necessary) would. handle it. Carried Unanimously Mayor. Shaw asked City Attorney Tavelli to provide him with a ruling as to whether this can be a Board of Public Works regulation. 1.f this is not adequate, he will forward it to the Board of Public Works Liaison to Common Council so that Charter and Ordinance can make it an Ordinance, if that is necessary. Parking Space Beside City Hall 57.)-7.) Comm. Brown reported that the Committee could not come to,_anagreement with respect to the spaces at the side of City Hall. The decision was made, at Supt. Kinsella's suggestion, to talk to some other people who use that area before making a decision regarding what should be done with the spaces beside City Hall. Supt. Kinsella announced that the Parking, Traffic & Transit Committee will meet on September 14, 1982, at 4:00 p.m., in his office.` City Attorney Tavelli commented that the Charter and Ordinance Committee had amended Chapter 60 of the Code, "Traffic and Vehicles"; there is no longer parking in excess of 15 minutes in th.e City Hall area. Acting. liaison Clynes requested that signs stating "official city business --15 minutes only" be placed in front of City Hall to discourage people parking there for other than city business. Supt. Kinsella will check into the matter. /-/a911,0- • -4- .Letter from.. R. -Donald Wilkinson, Postmaster, Ithaca Post Office Aurora. Street Exit Mayor Shaw. read the following letter received from R. Donald Wilkinson, Postmaster of the Ithaca Post Office: "December 18, 1981 "Honorable Raymond Bordoni Mayor of Ithaca Ithaca, New York 14850 "Dear Mayor Bordoni: "On a recent visit to the Ithaca Post Office, my District Manager was concerned.about.the Aurora Street. exit. His observation of the space allotted to the immediate left of the driveway curb was the reason for.. this concern. It is felt that the parking space is too close to the driveway, not allowing enough area to safely exit from the parking area. . "Any correctiveaction which can be taken would be most appreciated. "Sincerely, 13I�� "Don if "R. Donald Wilkinson "Postmaster" Mayor Shaw asked that the letter be referred to the Parking, Traffic and Transit Committee for its consideration. Post Office Complaint Regarding Parking Space . /i%.A Supt. Kinsella reported that the Post.Office requested that the parking space north of their exit onto Aurora Street from the Post Office parking lot be restriped to move the yellow line 2 feet north to in- crease the turning radius area exiting from their lot. Mr. Kinsella informed them that it would be put on a wort: order in the spring and restriped according to their request. • • -5- Route 13 Speed. Limit City Traffic Ordinance Resolution By Comm. Varricchio:. Seconded by. Comm.. Walker WHEREAS, the State has approved a request to reduce the existing 40 mph speed limit on_Meadow Street between Elmira Road and Six Mile Creek Bridge to 30 "mph, the City speed limit, and:.: WHEREAS, thismove was taken because of the increased activity in the area since the opening of "TOPS" plaza, and WHEREAS, the speed limit on.Route 13 then would be uniform 30 mph from the south city line to Hancock. Street and aid in enforcement and safety,. and WHEREAS, the rest of the Northeast Arterial (route 13) from Hancock Street to:Dey:Street is 40 mph and from—Dey Street to the north city line, as.well'as.beyond, the presentState-wide 55 mph is in effect, and WHEREAS, the City will have to change the City Traffic Ordinance first, and WHEREAS,. the State will then process the Ordinance and inform the City when to go ahead with the needed sign installations; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Common Council be requested to amend the Traffic Ordinance to reflect the above proposed change in the speed limit on Meadow Street from 40 to 30 mph, as well as inserting the above two speed zones of 40 and 55 mph on the North- east Arterial (route 13) heretofore omitted from the Ordinance, more specifically as follows: Section 60.31 Maximum Speed Limits Delete: 1. Routes 13, 34 and 96, Elmira Road and Meadow Street between a point eight hundred (800) feet south of the intersection of Old Meadow Street and Elmira Road (old route 13) and the intersection of South Titus Avenue. B. Forty (40) miles per hourishereby established as the maximum speed at which vehicles may proceed on oralong the following highways: 1. Routes 13, 34 and 96, Elmira Road and Meadow Street between a point eight hundred (800) feet south of the intersection of Old Meadow Street and Elmira Road (old Route 13) and the intersection of South Titus Avenue. Insert: 1. Meadow Street - Northeast Arterial (route 13) between Hancock Street and Dey Street, maximum speed of forty (40) miles per hour. 2. Northeast Arterial (route 13) between Dey Street and the north city line, maximum speed the -State-wide fifty-five (55) miles per 411 hour limit. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously • • • -6- Comm. Brown asked,abouta matter that had been discussed at a prior meeting concerning alternate parking on Fulton Street as requested by a resident. Supt. Kinsella responded by stating that the matter had been looked into and for numerous reasons, such a•request was not feasible in that Fulton Street area. It is.a major feeder street for the east/west flow of traffic and there has been only one request for such alternate .parking. t�131g� (1 - /if/ - ill 1) • -7- Request from Fire Chief Tuckerman - Traffic Ligh.ts.. Comm. Varricchio ;Mentioned the request from Fire Chief Tuckerman with reference to the traffic light at Green and Cayuga Streets. Mayor Shawreferredthe matter to the Parking, Traffic and Transit Committee for consideration and action and said that he would get. copies of the lett.e:'r..xe.ce.i.ved by Chief Tuckerman to members of that Committee.' Memo from Asst. Fire Chief Olmstead to Chief Tuck Traffic Light at Green and Cayuga Streets Tuckerman )1434� Supt.. Kinsella brought to Mayor Shaw's attention an inter -office Memo, dated January 4, 1982, directed to Charles W. Tuckerman, Fire Chief from Edward M. Olmstead, Jr., Asst. Fire Chief. Mayor Shaw accepted a copy of the letter and asked that it be referred to the Parking, Traffic and Transit Committee for consideration and the Mayor said he will see that copies get to that Committee. -8- -Parking on Hudson Street Elva Holman. addressed the Board as Alderman-of the letternfard.a She stated that on March 25, 1981, she had presented stituent who lived at 410 Hudson Street and asked the Board'to consider a request for exemption from alternate side parking for certain blocks of Hudson Street. A resolution was made at that meeting that the matter of the -Board's consideration to allow 24-hour parking in the 300 and 400 blocks of Hudson Street be referred to the Parking, Traffic and Transit Committee for its review. Alderman Holman said that as of this date, almost a year later, she has had no .reply to that request. She said that if the Board did not want to deal with the situation, then it should be assigned to some other mechanism, such as the Planning Department or the Environmental Conservation Committee. Another consideration might be for -Common Council and the Board of Public Works to work together on the problem. 1P-7lP- Mayor Shaw remarked that the whole question of .alternate parking merited re-examination and he said that he would like to work with the Committee, not only to look at the specific request as to the 300 and 400 blocks of Hudson Street but also to the broader question. He'emphasized the fact that it is too broad a subject to try to come up with answers in a week or a month. Mayor Shaw asked that the. consideration and review of. alternate parking be referred back to .the Parking, Traffic and Transit Committee. Comm. Varricchio stated that. he or Supt. Kinsella will.contact Traffic Engineer Gombas to see what work has been done on this problem and to.see if he has .some. 'recommendations on the whole question. Traffic Problem on Hudson Street • Comm. Varricchio.asked about the traffic problem on Hudson Street, a..n.cl Traffic Engineer Combas' report. Supt. Kinsella responded that the predicament• has been reviewed. He will inspect the area and go over the problem in detail. There is one house where there is no on -street parking available and the situation'is difficult for the resident. He concluded by saying that he is finalizing the data. • -9- Conlaints from Merchants Alderman Ba.nfield.reported having received calls -from -two merchants who were bothered by damage to a store window and roof by bottles being thrown from the Seneca Street Ramp, and who asked that this be reported to the Board.- �/ 18a- • At his request, the above items were referred to Supt. Kinsella by the chair for. investigation and report back at the next meeting of the Board. Complaint from Alderman Banfield as a result of throwing of bottles Supt. Kinsella reported, in response to Alderman Banfield's report of bottles thrown on top of roofs across the street from the Seneca Street parking ramp onto the building owned by Mrs. Price of the Olympia Restaurant, that he had talked to Mrs. Price about the problem, and would contact the Police Department to. ask for assistance and surveillance.. He reported that he hasn't resolved preventative _sy/�, measures as yet but will continue to work on the problem, and wil keep Alderman Banfield advised as to what success he. has, if any. -10- Report on Parking Study 3/,0 - Comm. Brown reported on meeting with staff and others to commence a study of parking, including City Hall, Central Business District and alternate side parking; also they plan to study the traffic flow. Traffic Study' Alderman Banfield asked Comm. Brown for a progress report on the Traffic Study, and to.be notified of the next committee meeting as there are concerned. Council members who wish to attend. Comm. Brown commented that the next step in the study is a report back from Planner Herman Sieverding. g/i//J 2 City Parking Study. ll Comm. Brown reported on the progress on the parking stud , the space adjacent to City Hall and the Downtown BusinessDistrict. Parking and Traffic Study Comm. Brown reported that the Committee has looked at Collegetown, but are waiting for decisions to be made regarding that area. The Committee hasn't moved on the Downtown Business District as they are waiting for information from Planner Herman Sieverding. Mayor Shaw urged Comm. Brown to proceed, at least with the study of the ramp and outside City Hall. y/D Comm, Schickel asked that a representative from the DIBA be included in any meetings regarding parking in the Downtown Business District. C3, coon.,y- Parking Problems/�� Comm. Brown reported that a meeting.had been held the previous week by staff, Police Department representatives and some downtown merchants to discuss parking problems. • -11- Collegetown Development Program Y2- Comm. 2Comm. Varricchio asked for a meeting y t' Planning staff in order to get more information about the city's part in the Dryden Road -College - town ramp area about which he has questions. Supt. Kinsella is arrang- ing for a meeting. Alderman Banfield requested that he be advised of that meeting. Collegetown By Comm. Varricchio: Seconded by Comm. Walsh WHEREAS, a development project for Collegetown has been jointly pro- posed by the City and Cornell University with the involvement of the East Hill business and residential community, and a WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works,'•in its role as custodian of all City -owned properties, has been asked to comment on the potential operational impacts of the project, and WHEREAS, the exact nature of these costs and benefits can best be determined by proceeding to the next phase of the project which will include requesting proposals from developers and analyzing each in terms of City costs and benefits; BE IT RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works recommend to the Common Council that the'City proceed with this next phase of the Collegetown project, and BE 'IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Common Council carefully examine all the data produced during the next phase of development with involve- ment by the Board as appropriate so.that future costs. and benefits of the project can be more fully defined and assessed before a final commitment is made by the City. Discussion followed on the floor. Amendment to Resolution By Comm. Varricchio: Seconded by Comm. Walker NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the. Board of Public Works is not voting on any of the figures contained in ACC perspectives that. were given to the Board; they are asking to go ahead to another phase in order to get costs from the developers. A vote on the amendment resulted as follows: Ayes (2) - Varricchio, Walker Nays (4) - Cleveland, Walsh, Schickel, Brown Motion Defeated A vote on the main motion resulted as follows: Ayes (4) -. Varricchio, Walker, Brown, Shaw Nays (3) - Cleveland, Walsh, Schickel :L.0( Carried Collegetown Mayor Shawreported that Collegetown would be discussed that evening by the Planning and Development Committee in the sense that it affects us. The City does have some funds in the capital improvement process for infrastructure in the Collegetown area. The committee seems to be supportive of an ARC. application to support on a 50-50 basis infra- structure improvements in Collegetown. SI-4b� Collegetown Mayor .Shaw reported that a committee of the IURA had the day before- .passed.arecommendation that a UDAG grant application be submitted for a:180-:.car parking garage in Collegetowno This recommendation will be passeon to the full agency. • -12- Petition from Residents of Cleveland 'Avenue Liaison Banfield referred to a petition from residents of Cleveland Avenue requesting that the street be closed to traffic. The matter was referred to the Planning and Development Department and Committee who are working on it, after which it will come to the Board. • -13 - Memo from Raymond Schlather Re. Spencer Road Petition Mayor Shaw read the following memorandum from Raymond Schlather, First Ward Alderman, addressed to the Board: "Attached is a petition just presented to me by residents of Spencer Road. It is signed by forty-three (43) residents of Spencer Road and Meadow Street Extension.. The petition is self-explanatory. I have already discussed with Frank Gombas the possibility of making the intersection of South Meadow and Spencer Streets a tiree-way stop. He is opposed to this. However, he did state that if the Board of Public Works were to direct him to do so, he would place three stop signs at the intersection on a trial basis. 37/7/0' Kindly schedule the matter for Board decision on this request. Please advise of all pertinent hearings and meetings so that I may attend. Also, please advise as to the feasibility, desirability and cost of Item 3. cc: Mayor William R. Shaw, Donald Kinsella, Frank Gombas, Margo:Clynes" Spencer Road Petition "We are residents of Spencer Road and the adjacent area in the City of Ithaca, New York. We are concerned about the traffic on Spencer Road. .We are concerned about the safety of those who live, play and travel in our neighborhood. Specifically, we petition the City of Ithaca for three measures which we believe willprovide a greater degree of safety and protection for those who use our neighborhood streets: " (1) (2) C3) Installation of three "STOP" signs at the intersection of South Meadow Street and Spencer Road, instead of the current one sign. Strict enforcement of the 30 MPH speed limit by the Ithaca City Police. Installation of well-placed street pavement "bumps" which discourage through traffic." Discussion followed on the floor. City Engineer Cox reportedon findings of American City and County Magazine regarding STOP signs and YIELD signs. •4,1* - Mayor Shaw requested Comm. Schickel to discuss the matter withat least one Police Commissioner and report back to him. Parking- Center Ithaca and Green Street By Comm. Brown: Seconded by Comm. Varricchio . • RESOLVED, That the parking'spaces (10 or 12 under the City Ramp adjacent to Center Ithaca) be left for the .public and not used by City employees. • • Mayor Shaw commented that the motion is to basically advise the Urban Renewal Agency, in its negotiations with Center Ithaca, that the City would like other things than having the right to use'the 12 spaces in first ground floor. IURA should negotiate something else in return for that. Discussion followedon the floor. Skt/e A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously • • -15- South Aurora Street.Detours City Engineer Cox stated that it is probably.a little trying to the public to see so much of Aurora Street closed with only one of the two contracts for this project presently under way. He said it is hoped that the second contractor will start working next week and then it will be very obvious to the public why the entire street is closed: The upper portion of Aurora Street from Morse Chain Company to the south City line is now under construction, but the detour provides for getting around Aurora and Prospect Streets intersection as well. When the second contractor gets underway, the detour will be a lot more meaningful to persons using it. Also, the detours are designed for out-of-town traffic. 6/?/:- Further discussion was had concerning newspaper coverage of the detour route. Mayor Shaw asked about providing maps showing the detours. City Engineer Cox stated. that maps.have been provided to a number of individuals, including major industries affected. Traffic, Parking. Problems on Hudson St. Alderman Banfield reported that one of the aldermen in the Second. Ward expressed concern over the traffic problem on Hudson Street, and. the parking problem there during the construction on Aurora. Street. He wondered if there is some way of enforcing no parking on Hudson Street. between the hours of 8 A.M. and 5 or 6 P.M. 0j�.. City Engineer Cox agreed to ask Traffic Engineer and the Police/Dept. to look at the situation and report their recommendation back to Alderman Banfield. Aurora Street Repairs ./11")k Supt. Kinsella reported that the repairs to the Aurora Street inter- section are progressing; however, there is a problem with parki:n.g in the 100 block of Hudson Street due to the increase of traffic on that street while the work is being done. He has. met with Alderman. Holman on the matter and they are reviewing possible solutions to the problem. Supt. Kinsella reported .that he had received a copy of a,News Release concerning the S. Aurora Street construction which the radio has publi- cized. -He also reported that the Vice President of.Ithaca College had letters sent to all incoming students outlining the:suggested detour to the College, taking care of the problem. g115r • Intersection Farm and N.•Tioga .Streets Alderman Banfield called attention to the serious traffic problem at the intersection of Farm and North Tioga Streets. Two serious accidents have occurred at that intersection in the past two days. He asked that an immediate solution be sought. The problem has been brought to the attention of th.e Board a couple of times in the past, Resolution By Comm. Schickel: Seconded by Comm. Varricchio RESOLVED, That the problem of traffic at the intersection of Farm and North Tioga Streets be referred to Traffic Engineer Gombas and the Police Department through Supt. Kinsella; that they reexamine th.e problem and recommend to the Traffic, Parking and Transit Committee their findings. The Committe will review the findings and report to the Board at its next meeting. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Ayes (4) - Sturtevant, Schickel, Varricchio, Walker. Nays (1) - Cleveland Carried Mayor Shaw asked that Alderman Banfield be notified of all meetings regarding this intersection so that he may attend. Traffic Safety Study --Intersection Farm and N. Tioga. Streets 110 At the June 9 meeting of the Boar .the problem of traffic at the intersection of Farm and N. Tioga Streets was referred to Traffic Engineer Gombas and: the Police Dept. through Supt. Kinsella for reexamination of the problem and recommendation to the Traffic, Parking and Transit Committee. Comm. Brown presentedmaterials to the Board showing diagramsof the intersection, vehicle volume count by Traffic Engineer Gombas and report of accidents. Supt. Kinsella supplemented her presentation with explanations of the materials. Mr. Gombas report listed the following recommendations: Short-term: 1. Do pavement striping, cross -walks, stop bars and centerlines, using plastic tape, as shown (3-5 year life of.tape).. 2. Trim 12:-15' of tall hedge at N.W. corner to between. 30"-36" high. Similarly, trim hedge along Tioga St. the same height. 3.. Remove 36" maple to open visibility to the north. 4. Remove 15" maple leaning into Tioga St, on the N.E. corner 5. Have mailbox relocated '(possibly just east of the N.E. crosswalk.) 6. Remove 48" maple--on'the N.E. corner and relocate stop sign to the proper location only if the long-term recommendation is not accepted, or if not contemplated for the near future. 7. Very important: Remove, or relocate bus shelter further south (25s±) in front of #443; possibly on the property side of the Tioga. St. sidewalk, near th.e building. 8. Warning sign used for the Tioga St. bridge condition will comeout when bridge is rebuilt. 9. T.V. pole should be relocated further south, or the wires incorporated on light pole on the S.W. corner, thereby eliminating one pole. 10. 6' bush and sumac on the S .W. corner, on private property, should be trimmed back. 11. Lower leaves or brandies of the two 1294 maples on Farm St. on the S.W. corner, leaning over thepavement, should also be clipped some to obtain more .overhead clearance and better view of the intersection approach and the stop sign. Long-term: Build 6' wide corner aprons on the N.E. corner and'the S.W. corner. This.scheme. would,_among other things, provide.clear visibility of approaching traffic on Tioga St., from both directions.,.for.vehicles waiting to. cross. -It would. :also provide more protection to.vehicles trying to cross. It.would command better. attention from drivers, by'channelizing the approach. Lanes and placing the -stop signs .in full view. .'It also..would discourage illegal parking at.the corners. In addition, walking distances for pedestrians. at the crosswalks would be considerably reduced Discussion followed. oi the floor.. .Liaison Barfield commented: on the yecomiiiendations and indicated the ones he considered. of high priority and in need of -implementation (1, 2.. 3. 5, 7, 8, 9 .and 10) Resolution By Comm. Brown :..Seconded by. Co,,an e: Sturtevant . RESOLVED, That the Board directs implementation of the reoonuuendati_ons.presented, with the exception. of. items concerning tree remove.., on a'phased basis; and then reexamine the situation. . -Amendment to Resolution By Comm. Schickel.: Seconded by Comm.. Walker RESOLVED, That the.implementation.of recommendations include the removal of the 36" -maple on the N.W. corner (Item 3) . A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Ayes (3) - _Schickel, Walker, Shaw Nays (2) - Sturtevant, Brown. Carried A vote on the main motion as amended resulted as follows:. Carried Unanimously Liaison .Banfield .left the meeting at 4:30 p.ni. tfr /g) • • -16a- Asst. to Supt. Dougherty reported that the suggestions for improving traffic safety at the intersection of Farm;and N. Tioga Streets are being carried out: the large tree at the northwest corner has been removed, the Post Office has taken out the mail box, the trees approaching stop signs on either side have been trimmed, the T.V. company has been notified to remove their pole on the southwest corner and they have agreed to do it, the neighbors have been 1100' contacted in regard to trimming their shrubs and some of them have already complied, and the bus shelter has been removed. -17 - Mayor Shaw presented the following letter received by the Superintendent from the Tompkins Community Hospital administration. 4111 "June 18, 1982 Mr. Donald Kinsella, Supt. City Public Works • Dear Mr. Kinsella: The hosptial is exploring the placement of a traffic light at the entrance of the hospital grounds. The light will be activated approximately 3-4:30.p.m. weekdays and in addition, require a certain amount of cars to be in a cue. At other times the light will be flashing. The hospital in partnership with Tompkins County and Town of Ithaca will be purchasing the light and maintaining insurance coverage for its ongoing operation, but in addition, there is the ongoing maintenance needs. Since the city is the only available maintenance, is it possible for the city to maintain the light on anongoing basis at a given charge? If there are any further questions, please contact me at 274-4448. Sincerely, Donald J. Schork Asst. Hospital Administrator" Mayor Shaw referred the request to the Parking, Traffic, and Transit Committee for review and recommendation. . • • • Parade Permits Mayor Shaw called attention to the need for parade route options in connection with parade permits. The Parking, Traffic and Transit Committee will look into the matter. T/lljg- -19 - City Attorney Tavelli requested.that the Board look at a proposed. contract from the county whereby the city would install meters and manage.a portion of the county parking lot adjacent to the Court House.:•The proposal was made in March 1979, but the work has never been carried out. Mayor Shaw referred the matter to the Parking, Traffic. and Transit Committee; Supt. Kinsella will obtain more information for the committee. County Parking Lot Request City Attorney Tavelli reported that in June Mayor Shaw received a . memo from the County requesting the City to sign an agreement with respect to a public parking lot maintained by the City behind the Court House. This was done in 1979. He reported that he has responded by memo in respect to legality of that and told them it is legal if the City does in fact lease the property from the County and does make a number of changes in our ordinances authorizing parking meters to go behind the County Court House which can be done with some changes in our parking ordinance. That issue would.have to go. to the Charter and Ordinance Committee of Common Council. He said he told Supt. Kinsella this is something which has economic factors and that the Board might want to reexamine the issue inasmuch as 3 years have passed to see whether the City wants to get into the business of having parking meters behind the Court House. He recommended that it be referred to the appropriate committee of the Board for examination. Mayor Shaw referred the issue to the Parking, Traffic and Transit Committee. /0//3/0. • City Attorney Tavern reported that the county asked him to take up briefly the status of the city to be run. public parking lot behind the Court House. -He said in. June he had received a proposed agreement from the county that had sat: over there for 3 years, since 1979. They had approved it. 'He said he sent a memo to various people in the City saying certain laws have to be changed at the Council level if they.- want to do it, but.to look at.it again and see if they still want to. operate a. parking lot behind the Court House. He asked the board to comment /)0 Comm. Gutenberger commented that it had been discussed informallyin::,: committee soon after he had been appointed to the Board -and apparently it was something' the committee didn't want to become involved in. Supt. 'Kinsella recommended having a committee meeting to formulate'a recommendation. .The matter was referred to the Streets, Facilities, Parks and. Refuse Committee. • • • -20- Parking on Dryden Road Angela Brashear, 50 Durfee Rd., Groton, N.Y. spoke to the Board concerning two items: the posting of a sign on Dryden Road to prohibit parking in front of a driveway; and the removal of a meter. on. Dryden Road on the East side of College Avenue. Mayor Shaw referred the requests to the Parking, Traffic and Transit Committee for review and report back at one of the next two meetings of the Board. -21 - Petition regarding parking spaces Supt. Kinsella reportedthat a petition has been received. bearing 148 signatures of persons requesting the Board to recommen.d removal of two parking spaces on University.Avenue east of the driveway to Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity. 40, q10-18? Mayor Shaw referred the petition to the Parking, Traffic and. Transit Committee. Access to University Avenue Comm. Gutenberger reported that in response to a requestto remove meters adjacent to the east side of a driveway entering University Avenue, the City Traffic Engineer has ordered the relocation of a "no parking". sign to increase the no parking area along the north curb of.University Avenue an additional 10 feet to the east. .He suggests further. that the increased traffic from these properties served by that driveway necessitates upgrading of that driveway by the private. property owners who own it in order .to accomplish im- proved safe access to University Avenue. Y0/13/s�. • -22- Restriping of Prospect/Aurora Streets intersection By Comm..Schickel: Seconded by Comm. Sturtevant RESOLVED, That the Board asks the staff to restripe the Prospect/ Aurora Streets intersection in whatever way it will provide the. maximum capacity for all left -h .nd turns from Prospect Street onto S. Aurora Street and the northbound traffic from S. Aurora Street onto Prospect Street. y.p9-//X. Discussion followed on the floor. Referral Resolution._ By Comm. Gutenberger: Seconded `by Comm. Stone. RESOLVED, That the resolution concerning restriping of the Prospect/ Aurora Streets intersection be referred to the Streets, Facilities, Parks and Refuse. Committee. Ayes (4) - Gutenberger, Schickel, Stone, Mayor Shaw Nay (1) - Sturtevant Carried. Aurora and Prospect Streets. Comm. Gutenberger informed the Board that the Committee had not had enough time to discuss the Aurora and Prospect Streets problem, but would meet again and, hopefully, have a recommendation ready for the next meeting of the Board. /0/Ng� Lane Markings --Prospect Street and South Aurora Street Comm. Gutenberger reported that a question was raised regarding theIabsencE of lane markings for left turn lanes on Prospect Street (heading east)land South Aurora Street (heading north). A meeting was held with staff to confirm that striping was initially proposed, but that during the onset of construction a decision was made by the Engineering Division to stripe the intersection without turning lanes as being, in their. judgement, the preferred configuration for traffic control to: a. take advantage of the new, wider streets and give southbound turning movement more spacing, and b reduce the observed tendency of northbound vehicles on Aurora to "shoot" the intersection by passing on the right of leftturning vehicles. Resolution By Comm. Gutenberger: Seconded by Comm. Stone WHEREAS, verification of present traffic flow during morning and evening peak hours -confirm the success of the presentmarking system, and . WHEREAS, stacking of traffic due to turning movements, with a few minor exceptions, has been eliminated, and . • WHEREAS, the widening of the intersection that allows southbound traffic to turn onto Prospect has accomplished its objective of eliminating delays for vehicles turning south from Prospect, and. WHEREAS, the intersection could be restriped to provide on Prospectand a.lane for Aurora, and a turning lane WHEREAS, it is felt that this would not improve traffic flow, but would tend to restrict flow by confining the majority of traffic to a narrower turning area; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That it is the recommendation of this committee to concur with the decision of the Engineering Division as being in the best interests of increased capacity and safety -for vehicular and pedest-rian•use of the intersection. Discussion followed on the floor. Comm. Schickel read an excerpt from the March 14, 1982 Board of Public Works Proceedings which was EXHIBIT' A DETERMINATION- AND FINDINGS --Intersection Improvement Project South Aurora and Prospect Streets, which is filed in the County Clerk's Office. Supt. Kinsella responded to Comm. Schickel, and after further discussion Mayor Shaw recommended trying the intersection improvement as is, and if it is decided that restriping is desirable., it can be done next summer. 0 POO A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Ayes (4) - Gutenberger, Stone., Walker, Shaw Nay (1) - Schickel • 0 Carried -23- Trains in West End City Attorney Tavelli reported having conversations with the General Counsel's Office in Philadelphia, on Monday, October llth. Regarding the speed of the trains, he said they seem to be laboring under the impression that the City of Ithaca has ordinances regulating, or otherwise has set some sort of speed limit on the trains. Upon re- searching the matter he could find none. They would like to increase' the speeds, therefore making the traffic jam shorter in duration. That may not solve all the problem, but they have asked permission to increase the speed of trains from 5 to 10 miles per hour. Attorney. Tavelli commented that it is his understanding that the condition of the tracks dictates the speed. He will call the General Counsel back on Thursday and advise them that as far as he knows there is no re- striction on the speed of their trains in the West End. He acknowledged that that is not the whole problem. /43/ • • `-24- Payment Requisition -- Eckerlin, Klepper, Hahn & Hyatt By Comm. Gutenberger: Seconded by Comm. Stone RESOLVED, That a payment requisition from Eckerlin, Klepper, Hahn & Hyatt for professional engineering services in connection with the repairs to the Green. & Seneca Street Parking Garages, be approved in the amount of $750.00. .Discussion followed on the. floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: • Carried Unanimously • • -25- Comm. Schickel read a memorandum from Acting Liaison Clynes as follows: "At the last budget meeting on November 18 of Council those present agreed to raise the anticipated 1983 parking revenues with a firm message to the Board of Public Works that parking fees would be raised early in 1983. Would you please pass this information on to the Eoard of Public Works at its meeting on November 23." Acting liaison Clynes called attention to an increase in parking fees which is a part of. the 1983 budget revenue and reminded the Board that the Council would like to hear from the Parking, Traffic and Transit Committee regarding this item. Comm. Brown responded that the committee is waitingfor a repo from the Collegetown project which is due the 15th of December. report Mayor Shaw suggested the committee might be able to get a draft co of the information from Herman Sieverding. py Report on action taken on left -over 1981 items: American Postal Workers concern re parking conditions around post office;motorcycle parking spaces downtown; removal traffic lights at State,Green,Tioga Sts. intersection; and parking regulations on Linn. St. - Addt'l. report, amendments and correction. Walk cycle light at Cayuga/Green Sts.. - Expression of appreciation Complaints re parking in front of City Hall and beside City Hall Ithaca Post Office Aurora St. exit - Request for corrective action to allow more exit.:. space for safety 4 Request to amend Traffic Ordinance to reduce speed limit on Rt. 13 (Northeast Arterial) 5 Fulton St. - Alternate parking request, Supt. remarks (B.Caldwell - resident) 6 Traffic Lights - Green & Cayuga Sts. request from Fire Chief Tuckerman and Asst. Fire Chief Olmstead referred to Committee 7 Traffic and parking concerns re: replacement of N. Tioga St. Bridge (See Creeks and Bridges pg. 5-5a) 1-1a 2 3 300/400 blocks Hudson Street - Review of alternate parking 8 Seneca St. Parking Ramp - Merchant complaints bottle throwing from ramp 9 Request for Traffic study to be conducted prior to construction season and paving in downtown area (See Highways - page 3) Report on Parking/Traffic study 10 Collegetown Ramp Garage; Developments; Funding, etc,, Recommendation UDAG Grant 11 Cleveland Ave, residents: request that street be closed to traffic 12 Linn St. experimental parking regulations extended to. end of October 1 -la Spencer Rd. petition concerns for traffic safety, installation of stop signs, etc. 13 Center Ithaca and Green Street parking negotiations with IURA 14 Tow-aways - reimbursement requests (See Finance pg. 5) Traffic problems, detours (S.Aurora St, and Hudson St.,) during construction S.Aurora St./Prospect St, Improvement project 15 Farm/N, Tioga Sts:.intersection - Traffic._ safety problem and concerns and 16 Recommendations Tompkins Community Hospital placement traffic light at hospital entrance and possibility of City maintenance on an ongoing basis 17 Need for parade route options re Parade Permits 18 March 1979 BPW to look at proposed.contra my for City to install meters and and manage County parking lot - Court House 19 Parking Lot D (Woolworth's) Re; parking relating Six Mile Creek reconstruction (See Cr,/Bridges - pg, 4a) Dryden Road and East side of College Ave, -Posting of sign and removal of meter 20 University Ave. - Petitions _ requesting removal. of 2 parking spaces near 21 (Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity) Prospect/Aurora Sts. intersection Restripi.ng of intersection 22 City Atty. report on speed limit of trains in West End 23 Eckerlin, Klepper, Hahn & Hyatt - Payment request - Green .& Seneca St. Parking Garages repairs 24 CC to BPW - Recommend parking fees be raised early 1983 25