HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-11-03 Traffic Commission Minutes APPROVED
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Caldwell Traffic Commission Date 1151Z
November 3, 2021 @ 2:00
Minutes
Present: Robb MacDonald (RM), Brent Orton (BO), Jake Clinger (JC), August Medellion (AM),
Jerome M, Guest: Jeremy Maxand ADAAA
Secretary: Tammy Frans
*MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices) *ROW (Right-of-Way) *TC (Traffic
Commission) *MOU (Memorandum of Understanding)
Old Business— None
1. Presenter : Jeremy Maxand—ADAAA
Jeremy Maxand runs Centers for Independent Living (CIL). CIL is an organization assisting
people to remain living independently as long as possible. They work with Senior Citizens,
people with disabilities and people who may find themselves temporarily disable from
illness or accident. They are also here to help the community better understand ways to
help. Here are some of the ideas he shared with us:
• Make pathways better. Pathways can connect people and places. The YMCA, parks,
downtown and provide a safe out of traffic route
• Prioritization of the City ADA Transition Plan.
o Look at community resource access first i.e. hospitals, shopping, Dentists etc.
o Engage citizens with disabilities to help prioritize the plan
o Being responsive to people calling in with issues in and around town. If they
are calling in it is a route they need to have available or use frequently
o Prioritizing the ADA Transition plan shows Caldwell is actively addressing ADA
issues and can prevent the City from being sued for neglecting ADA issues
• Make parking available and better. A business may have the needed "number" of
spots but they need also look at where they place them. Up against a tree, on a
downhill slope, next to a curb, etc. can make the spot unusable
• If the City would like, CIL has an office in Caldwell and they are happy to look at our
transition plan with us and help to prioritize
• Work with ITD to encourage them to engage in the efforts
o Do not use diagonal curb ramps. They are difficult and misleading for people
using white canes
o Caution of undirected pathways into traffic. Example given when a bike path
merges from sidewalk to street a person using a white cane my mistakenly
take it to be the sidewalk path and walk into traffic unknowingly
o Use APS (audio) push button at crosswalks
• RAB— Use directional stripping vs. truncated domes
• Take opportunities to share with Developers/Contractors ways to help, visit-ability in
building. It can be expensive to retro fit a house to ADA. If a neighbor or friend
requires ADA accommodations,they are generally limited in whose house they can
visit without a lot of fore planning.
A bit of planning in the design phase of a house can accommodate future needs
without losing its appeal to buyers. It can actually be a selling point. Three points
have been established to make the difference;
i. Have at least one entrance into the house with zero threshold
ii. Doors on the first floor that are 36"wide
iii. At least one bathroom on the first floor large enough to accommodate a
wheelchair to be able to turn around
Three changes, mostly unnoticeable, at the time a house is built can make a large
difference.
For more information, Jeremys email is jmaxand@lincidaho.org
2. No Parking sign at Elevate Academy—CJ Watson
C.J. Watson with Elevate Academy request the traffic commission put in a "no parking sign"
where shown on the map below. Students exit the school and parents park along the street.
C.J. would like to have a "no parking sign" so parents do not block visibility as students and
other parents try to leave.
Traffic Commission cites this as an administrative issue between the school and parents. The
motion TC made, and agreed to unanimously, is if the school would purchase the signs the
City will place them. One 40'before the corner and one 40' east of the driveway going in to
Elevate Academy.
Action: Send correspondence to school relaying TC determination
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3. Painted Island on Centennial— Henry Busse
Henry Busse stopped by to suggest painting a traffic island be on Centennial at Chicago Street.
Around 9:00 AM,traffic backs up on Centennial while drivers wait to make a left turn to get to
Elevate Academy.
On review of the intersection, there is already a turn lane. The roadway is ITD and they want to close
off that intersection in the futue.
TC requests additional information from Henry Busse to better review his request.
Action: Request further information from Henry Busse
Request 4 & 5 are similar and where combined for discussion
4. Request speed limit change and 4-way Stop at Homedale Rd. and Lake Ave— Chalese Riley
Chalesa Riley brings attention to the intersection at Lake Ave. and Homedale Rd.
"There are multiple crashes there a week. Most other intersections have four way stops, but
this one is still just a two way stop. I think many people expect it to be a four way stop and
that is contributing to the number crashes. The speed limit changes from 50 mph on Lake to
35mph when you pass the Homedale intersection. Many people miss the speed limit drop. It
is hard to gauge how fast cars are going down Lake when you are trying to cross or make a
turn from Homedale. There are houses and sidewalks most the way up Lake from Homedale
to Karcher Road. I think the speed limit should be 35 mph the whole way through to Karcher.
There are children and families that walk these sidewalks and kids that walk to the Lakevue
elementary school that is located just past Karcher Road on Lake. Making the speed limit 35
mph the whole way through would increase the safety of this area."
5. Request 4-Way Stop at Homedale and Midway Rds—Connie and Denny Hay
Connie writes, This intersection has always had problems with through traffic and two-way
traffic stop causing accidents,but with the influx of residents in new subdivisions on
Homedale road the number of incidents has increased.
The accident Tuesday was particularly upsetting, a young mother with 4 children had to be
transported to the hospital. This particular accident probably would not have happened with a
four-way since the north bound vehicle turned left in front of her.
Our friends joke about my husband being a flagger and me becoming a first responder,but it
really isn't funny.
A four-way stop would also slow traffic on Midway down, since some drivers seem to really
accelerate heading south from the Boulevard. There is no way they are only going 35 MPH
through that intersection. It seems as if they need to be going over 50 by the time they pass
our house.
I am aware that traffic changes from 2-way to 4-way stop often result in more accidents for a
while, but at least they will not be at such high speeds.
Six-Mile Engineering is in the process of conducting a speed study of the entire Homedale
corridor. Their findings will provide updated information to better sign Homedale road. A
motion was made and agreed to unanimously to have Engineering review speed studies
already on file and evaluate if they provide warrants for a 4-Way Stop.
Action: Engineering will review past traffic studies and report back to TC
6. Request Mason Creek Stop signs.—Sarina Criswell
I am requesting stop signs be placed at the intersection of Noble Drive and Red Eagle Way in
the Mason Creek Sub Division as soon as possible.
Noble Drive is the main road into Mason Creek off Middleton Road. Many vehicles speed up
and down Noble Drive. Vehicles coming onto Noble Drive from Red Eagle Way do not yield
for oncoming traffic. There are also lots if walkers and children in our neighborhood. A stop
sign will keep our neighborhood safer.
TC notes that Idaho State statute 49-640 states that all drivers should yield to the driver on
their right. Stop signs are not warranted at this intersection per the MUTCD guidelines and
are not typical in a subdivision.
Action: Send correspondence to Ms. Criswell explaining the determination of the TC
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7. Request Left Turn Lane on Ward and 20/26—Andrea
Cole
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Hello,my name is Andrea Cole. 1 wanted you to be aware of a hold up that so many drivers are
having every morning and through out the day. On the Ward Rd and 26/26,on the Skyway elementary
side there are two lines in this intersection. One lane to turn left towards downtown Caldwell.This
lane you need to cross both lanes to get on 20/26. The other lane has two things you can do: turn right
and go with traffic or and this is the problem go straight.You have to cross both lanes of traffic.This
causes everyone that can quickly turn right and go with traffic have to wait forever for those that are
trying to cross both lanes of traffic because they need to go straight. If the turn left and go straight
were in the same lane it would make easier for those turning right and all those who need to turn left
and go straight easier and traffic would flow better.20/26 is so crazy in the morning and afternoon with
so many accidents that you always feel you are taking a risk going out into traffic. I live in this area so
I see that this makes it hard for everyone that lives over here.Including those in this area that do not
live here. When they have kids in the two schools that are over here and then trying to leave to go to
work,home or the high school. I hope this makes since if not please come use this road on weekdays
mornings from 7:30-9:30 a.m.or in the afternoon from 3 to 6 p.m.when traffic is at it highest.
Thank you for this consideration,
Andrea Cole
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Traffic Commission agreed the idea has merit; however, driver expectations could be an issue.This
would not be an intuitive change and drivers are familiar with the current pattern. ITD has plans to
signalize that intersection next year. For these reasons TC chose to deny the request.A motion was
made and TC agreed unanimously to deny the request and send correspondence to Andrea Cole
explaining their determination.
Action: send correspondence to Andrea Cole explaining the determination
Additional Items.
8. August Medellin,Street Superintendent requested a speed study on Skyway from Smeed Parkway to
Ward Lane. On review of the study,August would like to have the speed set to the 85 percentile as
guided in the MUTCD.There is currently only one speed limit sign on that section and it is 35mph.
August believes this to be outdated with the growth that has occurred in that area. A motion was
made and TC agreed unanimously for Engineering to perform the speed study as requested.
Action: Engineering will do the study requested above and set the speed limit accordingly
9. The Street department encountered a "Slow Children at Play" sign held by cinder blocks and large
rocks in the middle of Rice Avenue in front of an apartment complex. While removing the sign from
the center of the road a tenant requested a 20 mph sign be put up in its place.TC shared the
following thoughts; neighboring streets do not have posted speed limit signs. It is a driver's
responsibility to know residential neighborhoods are 20 mph and lastly children should not be
playing in the street.Tc agreed unanimously to deny the motion.
Resource/Weather Pending Business:
1. A signal is planned at 24th Avenue and Blaine Street in front of the Simplot Stadium. The signal
currently installed at Santa Anna and Ustick Road midblock will be repurposed for this project once
the Ustick/Santa Anna RAB is complete.
2. Extend red curbing at 20th &Cleveland—CPD created a package solution for parking and sight issues in
this area.The Traffic Commission requested a copy for review before the plan is added to the Council
Agenda for approval.Aug 2020
3. Restripe Skyway in late spring or early summer. Nov 2019
4. Engineering to conduct a traffic control and flow study of the greater South Downtown area. Aug
2020