Cityo of] Denton MINUTES City Hall 215E. McKinney Street Denton, Texas www.ciyordenton.com DENTON TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION Monday, November 5, 2018 5:30 p.m. City Council Work Session Room After determining that a quorum of the Traffic Safety Commission oft the City of] Denton, Texas is present, the Chair of the Traffic Safety Commission will thereafter convene into an open meeting on Monday, October 5, 2018 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Work Session Room at City Hall, 215 E. McKinney Street, Commissioners: Chair Patrice Lyke, Jim Owen, Daniel Krutka, Clay Thurmond, Henry Jason, Jeff King, Staff] Members: Pritam Deshmukh, City' Traffic Engineer; Becky Owens, Review' Technician; Tracy Beck, Engineer; Stephanie Barry, Assistant City Attorney; Marc Oliphant, Bike & Pedestrian Coordinator; and Denton, Texas and Melissa Carr Brad Lahart, Fire Marshall and Assistant Fire Chief REGULARMEETING A. TSC18-043 Consider the approval of the Traffic Safety Commission meeting minutes of October1,2018. Jeff] King made ai motion. Jim Owens seconded the motion. The' Traffic Safety Commission Recommends approval of the minutes (5-0). B. TSC18-026 Receive a report and hold a discussion regarding narrow streets (less than 32 feet widewith on-street parking and emergency access in the Villages of Carmel sub-division. Brad Lahart showed a presentation from May 2018 and updated the commission where we are in the current developments reviewing the pros and cons and possible solutions. Several previous projects are in different stages of development and will need to be addressed on an individual basis. Possible solutions are to widen the minimum streets going forward and restrict parking going forward. There are limitations in those already underway or grandfathered. Changes would require Council approval. Pending this presentation the city has been using different ordinances. Henry Jason asked for a status update on the Denton Development Code. Brad Lahart noted the current Transportation Criteria Manual requires the wider width pavement. Pritam Deshmukh confirmed thel Development Coder refers to the' Transportation Criteria Manual which identifies and defines the width of the street widened to 32 feet with a 20 foot clear zone being an increase of 6 feet. Focus going forward will be on intersection setbacks and restricting parking on one Daniel Krutka asked how other Cities handle this type situation. Brad Lahart stated that some do have side oft the street. specialized smaller equipment but this is not the norm. Pritam Deshmukh further noted that this is a fine middle line to allow some parking but also to reduce traffic speeds. This item is for discussion only, no vote is needed. C. TSC18-044 Receivea report: and hold a discussion regarding the "Idaho Stop" orl Rolling Stop" Marc Oliphant shared a presentation about the law made in Idaho in 1982. Delaware implemented a similar law in 2017 and Colorado in 2018 began to allow individual cities to make the decision to implement the law. A video clip was shared from a presentation made in Oregon to demonstrate the Marc Oliphant further commented Denton is a small body in a big state. Any movement toward legalizing the Idaho or rolling stop would require something to happen at the state level. Austin would need to pass a law statewide or provide legislation to allow individual municipalities to have the Idaho or rolling stop. This has not yet happened and there is no leading bicycle advocate or agency currently Daniel Krutka asked which organization is not pushing for this. Marc Oliphant stated Bike Texas. Patrice Lyke thanked Marc for doing the actual research and making the formal presentation. Henry Jason asked if there is an agenda to be formed for dialog in Austin or is this simply FYI. Marc Oliphant replied this is FYI in response to the question raised in the September meeting. There are probably more nearer term items to focus on to be more] pedestrian and bicycle friendly. Jeff] King asked if we were aware of significant data showing citations to cyclist. law for bicyclists and its possible implementation in the City of Denton. described stop. pushing or presenting it. Marc Oliphant was unware ofitl here in Texas. He has not seen data but is aware of data showing cyclist are more mindful of the stop requirements because of how much skin they have in the game and the Stephanie Barry noted the number of citations is very small. UNT writes more because oft the problem ofkeeping their pedestrians safe but they don't write many. She has issued a citation to a vehicle driver consequences. where aj pedestrian was struck and injured. This item is for discussion only, no vote is needed. D. TSC18-045 Receive a report, hold discussion regarding Citywide Sidewalk Infrastructure and Marc Oliphant noted that sidewalks were developed over time and the value of sidewalks have also changed over time. Unfortunately a lot of the city developed through the 60's to the 80's when sidewalks were not given a high priority and therefore sidewalks are just missing in large areas. Also in 1990 the Americans with Disability Act was passed mandating certain sidewalk infrastructure to abide by a nationwide code. There are many existing areas that do not meet the requirements and the city has been working to update the infrastructure. A bond was passed in 2014 for sidewalk infrastructure. The last money has been obligated for two large design packages currently underway. There is not an annual fund or program to ensure that the improvements will continue. There is an the on-going efforts for improving connectivity. ongoing list to rank and prioritize suggested areas for improvements. Projects that "touch sidewalks" Daniel Krutka asked about the addition oftrees or green space for additional pedestrian barriers. Pritam Deshmukh stated this is not always possible due to space limitations but can be addressed in Patrice Lyke asked about right of way at Parkway across from the library. Does the city own enough Pritam Deshmukh commented thisi is tol be addressed as part of the design process and options including Pritam Deshmukh noted there is two (2) billion dollars for bond funding for the total sidewalk program. Two packages of 45 segments for sidewalks with approximately five (5) linear miles of sidewalks. We are designing all ofit but probably only have funding to construct about half. We will have to return are required toi include the development and/or redevelopment ofs sidewalks. redesign and redevelopment plans. of on the north side toj put in a sidewalk? the need for signals. the item to committee to find additional funding. Daniel Krutka asked ift the MEWS project was going forward to City Council. Pritam Deshmukh stated the conceptual phase has started and the engineering studies need to be complete in order to present options. Clay Thurman asked what we could do to create a continuing fund for improvements. Pritam Deshmukh stated that he needs to ask the question and understand the process before he could Henry Jason asked how to prevent a street lamp on a corner that would prevent sidewalk accessibility. Pritam Deshmukh: responded this is part oft the current design review and utilities are not allowed int the sidewalk areas. This is more of an issue int the older parts oft town where improvements have been made at different times and the sequencing ofe events may have resulted in this type of unique situation. There provide further comments. may be areas to be retrofitted or addressed. This item is for discussion only, no vote is needed. E. TSC18-046 StaffR Report and Matrix Review coordination meeting schedule with TWU. Pritam Deshmukh shared the December meeting schedule needs tol be adjusted due to a master plan and Patrice Lyke presented and reviewed the date options. Through conversation the committee agreed on December 13th at 5:30. Clay Thurman made a motion. Melissa Carr seconded the motion. Deshmukh asked ift there were any particular items ofinterest on the matrix to be discussed. He moved forward tot thel last one on1 thel list beingt the collision reports and data requests from the previous meeting. PD has provided a list of the top ten intersections and the information needs to be distilled. A large amount of this information as expected is for US 380 and I-35 at TxDOT large intersections. We need to determine how many of these reports are involving pedestrians or cyclist and should be able to have al better report for the next meeting. We can also include information on the MEWS street project as we: move: forward with the design but might not have al lot to share by the December meeting. Mellisa Carr asked for an update on her previous request regarding the poor signage at Welch near the Pritam Deshmukh commented the street has been closed due to drainage construction. Once the construction activity moves out we can take a look at the lane assignment changes and signage option. Danile Krutka followed up on #9. Station motors and other businesses on the corner of McKinney and Locust where the cars block the sidewalk. Everything in this area is unclear and pushes pedestrians very close to the lane of traffic. Nothing has changed yet. Perhaps the businesses could receive some Pritam Deshmukh noted we would follow-up with enforcement and potential striping option. Jim Owen added a new item at the intersection of Welch and Eagle. When you are traveling down Eagle in a large bus or vehicle turning onto Welch in either direction (left or right) when oncoming traffic has pulled up to the wide strip marking at the intersection it is very tight or difficult to maneuver the turn without hitting the curbed space. Is it possible to move the stop bar marking back away from Union. sort ofnotification ofthe limitations and pendingi improvements. the intersection to increase the turning radius? Pritam Deshmukh acknowledged and we will look into it. Clay Thurman made an additional request. Can we begin looking at protected bike lanes and different options in follow-up to the traffic calming and other elements? What type of pilot project opportunities could be started particularly near schools? Maybe around Newton Rayzor since Malone was just done. Pritam Deshmukh asked if his question was focusing on existing bike facilities or creating brand new Clay Thurman replied, both. Looking at what we have as well as incorporating into new construction Daniel Krutka also suggested Hickory between UNT since there is already a lane there and the square Melissa Carr was curious about Bell as a possibility because of Strickland middle school. Could Jeff King added a new request about the construction I-35 between Teasley and 2439 / State School Road. Provide and update or put on the agenda what the original plan was and where are we with the plani now and the moving forward. Is there information on any significant changes to the current plan? Pritam Deshmukh announced the recent organization changes and the addition oft two (2) new engineers added to the Traffic group. Tracy Beck Traffic Engineer was introduced and Pam was named but not present due to a schedule conflict. Tracy is more on the planning side and Pam is on the signal side. This will provide more help and the ability to get more things done in addition to Mark as the Bike Ped ones. projects including pedestrians. as another area. students ride down Bell since it isa wide street? Coordinator. Jim Owen asked Pritam to share about his recent promotion. Pritam Deshmukh confirmed the new assignment. His new duties assigned include working on Development Review and include a new group under his leadership called Engineering Services that will review all oft the new development going in utilizing the design criteria that have been updated and implementation ofthe requirements focusing on development review. Adjournment: 6:27 pm CONCLUDINGIEMS Under Section 551.042 of the Texas Open Meetings Act, respond to inquiries from the Public Utilities Board or the public with specific factual information or recitation of policy, or accept a proposal to place the matter on the agenda for an upcoming meeting AND Under Section 551.0415 ofthe Texas Open Meetings Act, provide reports about items of community interest regarding which no action will be taken, to include: expressions of thanks, congratulations, or condolence; information regarding holiday schedules; an honorary or salutary recognition of aj public official, public employee, or other citizen; ar reminder about an upcoming event organized or sponsored by the governing body; information regarding asocial, ceremonial, or community event organized or sponsored by an entity other than the governing body that was attended or is scheduled to be attended by a member of the governing body or an official or employee of the municipality; or an announcement involving an imminent threat to the public health and safety ofj people in the municipalitythat: has arisen after the posting ofthe agenda APPROVED bupdae Becky Owens Administrative Assistant Chair Ap5