Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAbout09-22-94 TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMISSIONP 0 AGENDA ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE LYNWOOD TRAFFIC AND PARKING COMMISSION TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1994 AT 6:00 P.M. OPENING CEREMONIES 1. CALL FOR ORDER - CHAIRMAN EDWARD PACHECO 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF POSTING 4. ROLL CALL OF COMMISSIONERS MARGARET BRIGHT WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM EDWARD PACHECO RICK SANCHEZ RODNEY WHITE 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES PUBLIC ORAL COMMUNICATIONS SCHEDULED MATTERS 6. THREE -WAY STOP SIGN REQUEST JOSEPHINE STREET AND WRIGHT ROAD REVIEW OF UPCOMING ITEM INFORMATIONAL ITEMS COMMISSION ORAL COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED CITY OF LYNWOOD CITY CLERKS OFFICE SEP 1 979- AN Pm 7 1 8 1 9 1 10 11 1 112111213 A A 6 T94 -09A P 0 A REGULAR MEETING OF THE TRAFFIC AND PARKING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LYNWOOD Minutes of the August 25, 1994 Meeting CALL TO ORDER Chairman Pacheco called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner White led the Commission in the pledge. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF POSTING Mr. Valtierra acknowledged posting of the Traffic and Parking Commission agenda on August 25, 1994. ROLL CALL Commissioners William Cunningham, Rodney White, Rick Sanchez and Chairman Pacheco answered roll call. Commissioner Bright arrived at 6:00 p.m. Also present was Mr. Christian Valtierra, Public Works Division Supervisor. APPROVAL•OF MINUTES A motion was made by Commissioner Cunningham to accept the minutes as they were. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sanchez and the minutes were approved unanimously. PUBLIC ORAL COMMUNICATION There were no Public Oral Communications. SCHEDULED MATTERS ITEM 6. THREE WAY STOP SIGN REQUEST FERNWOOD AVENUE AND WRIGHT ROAD The Commission was given an overview of the results of the survey that included overhead, accident history, traffic counts, advantages, and disadvantages. Concerns were brought up by Commissioner Cunningham regarding the stop sign on Fernwood having no "limit lines" to assist drivers. Commissioner White said that if drivers traveling south on Wright Road are speeding they will not be able to see cars coming off Fernwood. He also stated that the problems on Fernwood are visibility obscured by the brick wall and the curve of Wright Road. He personally traveled in that area and could not see traffic coming from any direction. 0 0 Commissioner Cunningham said the curve makes it a "cold blind intersection." One cannot see past the obstacles at the intersection. The visibility problem was reiterated by Commissioner White. He saw the problems during the day, and pointed out that it would be worse at night and become a high risk. Speeding is most likely to take place in that type of area. By the time drivers realize there is somebody else on the road, it could be too late. A definite need for some type of sign declaring the speed limit, and warning of a cross section at Wright Road was stated by Commissioner Cunningham. The Commission was informed of the Public Works Department proposing a "Cross Traffic Ahead" sign on Wright Road. It was asked by Commissioner White if the signs were visible at night. He was informed that they were, and that they were reflective signs that would be visible at night. He went on to state that coming up Wright Road from under the bridge one cannot see Fernwood Avenue at all, and suggested installing buttons in the street in large numbers to inform drivers that there is some change in the road conditions ahead. A recommendation was made by Chairman Pacheco to install signs saying "SLOW." The signs may be helpful in notifying the drivers, but if they are speeding, it still may be too late. Because of light traffic in the area, the Commission agreed that speeding is most likely to occur. The bridge, the brick wall, the location of the stop sign, and the fence make this a very hazardous intersection. Commissioner Cunningham acknowledged that the pictures shown on the overhead were very thorough and all items are very important. Due to the high percentage of Spanish speaking and illiterate people, Commissioner White said that many may not be able to read the signs. He suggested that bilingual signs be posted for non - English speaking people. The study shows very little traffic in the area and Commissioner Sanchez said this may be due to the street being closed for such a long time, and just recently reopening. Commissioner White said that speeding is occurring in the area because the people who travel the road are used to light traffic. It was added by Commissioner Cunningham, that once people realize they can take Fernwood to Wright Road and travel to Rosecrans without any traffic, drivers will flock to the street and the problem will escalate. 0 Additions to Item #6 were asked for by Chairman Pacheco. Commissioner Cunningham added that a limit line, speed limit sign, and warning of intersection (cross traffic ahead) sign need to be posted in the area. Installation of a warning light, stop sign, or blinking light was recommended by Commissioner White. Commissioner Cunningham stated that blinking lights have a tendency to draw drunk drivers, and he suggested that the Commission put the matter on a six -month hold to see a pattern and'review it then. The Commission agrees on this issue. A motion to move immediately with preliminary marking was made by Commissioner Cunningham. The motion was seconded by Commissioners Sanchez and White. There being no further discussion on Item 6, the Commission moved to review of upcoming items. REVIEW OF UPCOMING ITEMS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS The Commission was told of upcoming items: 1. Review Traffic Safety Evaluation, Enforcement and Engineering analysis by the Institute of Transportation Studies. 2. Review and ranking of signalized intersection by number of accidents. 3. Proposed Alley vacations. 4. Review of pedestrian /traffic safety on Long Beach from MLK to Tweedy Boulevard. 5. Review of Traffic safety on Long Beach and Los Flores. 6. Review protected left turn phasing at traffic signals Citywide. The Commission was given a brief report on the status of the Public Works Department Capital Improvement Projects. The Department of Public Works monthly report for June, 1994 was attached for the Commission's review. Cl COMMISSIONER ORALS Approximately two meetings ago, Commissioner Sanchez mentioned a situation at the intersection of Norton and Imperial Highway. There is a stop sign at this intersection and also a "No Left Turn" sign that states a time, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. but no days are specified. He said it should specify days because drivers don't think it applies to weekends, when there is not much traffic, and have received tickets because they made the turn. He also stated that the Sheriff who attended the meeting also believes there should be specific days listed, but as long as there are not, people will continue to get cited. Chairman Pacheco added that people will enter the back parking lot and exit out their driveway in order to make the left turn and still get a ticket. On Norton traveling east or west at Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. there are old "No Right Turn" signs posted. Commissioner Cunningham states that the old signs should be replaced with new universal signs so that non - English speaking people could understand them. Commissioner White stated that lights throughout the City should be synchronized so that traveling would be much smoother. He also stated his concerns about the different water rates that Park Water Co. customers and City of Lynwood customers pay. He feels that all Lynwood residents should pay the same amount for water, regardless who they are serviced by, and it is the City officials' responsibility to adjust the differences. The Commission was informed that the lights throughout the City are synchronized and are often thrown off due to short power outages from Edison Co. They were also informed that the City's water rate increase was put on hold for further public responses. Commissioner Bright reported that she was taken on a tour of the City by a City Engineer and was fascinated with what she learned. She was impressed with the different projects going on in the City and suggested that the Commission go on a tour together. She also toured the new Justice Center and was again impressed and felt the Commission should tour this facility too. Concerns regarding parking in the area surrounding the new high school were brought up by Chairman Pacheco. He stated that there is no student parking being constructed at the new site and the residents in the area are concerned about the number of student cars that will be parked on the side streets. He feels the City should coordinate with the School District and come up with a plan to add student parking at the facility. The Commission was notified that the City is in contact with the District and is discussing possibilities of adding a student parking lot to the facility. 0 M There being no further business, Chairman Pacheco made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Bright seconded the motion, and the meeting was adjourned for August 24, 1994, at 7:07 p.m.