Traffic Calming Task Force Draft Minutes
Monday, June 15th, 2009
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Those present: Sasha Mayer (Summit House), Dave Hile (Summit House), Virginia Reilly (Booth Manor), Pat Hafvenstein (World Mission Prayer League), John Van Heel (110 W. Grant), Mary Bujold (Summit House), Sunny Floum (Summit House), Anita Nerhus (Summit House), Frank Schneider (Summit House), and Jana (CLPC Coord.)
Meeting called to Order by Sasha - 6:30 p.m.
Next meeting will be 3rd Monday in July, 6:30-7:30 p.m., July 20th; Loring Park Office Building/430 Oak Grove, Room 207
Introductions were conducted.
Announcements:
• The Woman’s Club of Minneapolis is a selected site of the Mpls. Public Schools to serve lunches from 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. and snacks from 3:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday beginning June 15th through August 12th, 2009 (except July 3rd when they are closed). Jana asked that all help get the word out to organizations and building in the neighborhood, where there may be a need. Outreach also being done to MCTC students. It was reported at the MCTC Health Fair that there are many homeless MCTC students that spend the evening in the Library. There may be a need for lunch with and for some of the students.
• Loring Park Art Festival – the 1st Sat. and Sunday in August.
• St. Mark’s Sculpture/Bicycle Rack Celebration – Invitation sent around to all. Sunday, June 21st at 10:00 a.m at St. Mark’s Episcopal church, the bike rack will be dedicated. RSVP if attending to Judy at #952-926-0762. Jana reported that both CLPC and Lowry Hill contributed to this project.
It was requested that this Task Force be added to the calendar on our website and that agendas and minutes be posted to keep people informed. It should be encouraged that even if folks cannot attend a meeting, that they can email in comments. Jana will compile and get to Sasha. Sasha will report on these incoming comments at each meeting. Minutes on the web also provide an opportunity for neighborhood stakeholders to keep informed, even if they are unable to attend a meeting.
Hennepin/Lyndale Design Charette - John Van Heel
John opened up with the definition of a charette upon questions from the group. The word is French and it represents an intense study session on a particular topic. Participants gather to intensively draw out ideas and brainstorm solutions to issues identified. There is creative investigation to identifying both issues and solutions. It is usually set for a 1-day, limited period of time and all stakeholders, as well as staff expertise is at the table. For this Hennepin/Lyndale Charette, it was held on April 24th, 2008 at the Walker Art Center skyroom. It was sponsored by AIA Minnesota (Tom DeAngelo, Dustin Nygard), Lowry Hill (Craig Wilson, David Graham), and Loring Park (John Van Heel). John distributed for review, handouts and photos from the day as well as referring all to the Loring Park website, where all the information is accessible.
The focus area of the Charette was from the Basilica to Franklin Ave. along Hennepin/Lyndale. A walking tour of the area (in a blizzard) began the session. Planning outcomes were divided into Long Term goals (50 years+, like extension of the Lowry tunnel) and Short Term goals. Short term goals (15 years) include items like improve the landscaping, replace fencing along the Avenue/freeway areas, improve lighting, public art, improve the Loring Park gateway into the Park, improve the bike/pedestrian path along Hennepin Ave. by St. Mark’s, ensure that trash is picked up regularly, design public spaces. The ideas is to deal with the fabric of the corridor and improve it through partnerships, available funding and opportunities as they arise.
John distributed an overview of the day written by Tom DeAngelo, Architectural Alliance and President, AIA Minnesota. It is also available on our website.
There is federal funding for 15th Street bike lane striping, as well as additional funds to create an improved entrance into Loring Park at HN/Lyndale/15th. Richard Anderson is our point person on this. There was one meeting held and issues/comments were solicited. (Detail of this document will be added to the minutes, once we get it electronically). John talked about the upcoming public meetings on the Gateway and use of grant funds which will be facilitated by the Park. Jana will follow up, get details, forward that information, and put into the minutes.
Traffic Counts - Mary Bujold
Mary did research and provided all a document which reflected the average daily trips from Hennepin to Nicollet Ave. along 15th St. The 15th Street traffic volumes were:
• 2003 = 11,900
• 2005 = 10,700
• 2007 = 10,900
Mary will research further with the city to see if she can draw down more specific numbers at various times of the day. She will also contact Mike Monihan from SRF to see if any 15th St. traffic counts were done as a part of the Eitel Hospital development. Jana reported that Patti Weber, at a National Nite Out planning meeting, had expressed the Woman’s Club interest in this project, and connected us with a MNDOT District Manager. Sasha brought the contact information tonight and Mary will follow up. Another traffic count is due in 2009, since they are done every 2 years. Usually, information is not released until 2010, but because we are doing a Master Plan, Mary will pursue getting this information from the City, sooner.
Mary also volunteered to prepare a comparison chart of traffic counts at different times and along a variety of streets for the next meeting. She will also pursue what the functional classification (A-F) of 15th Street is. This classification is utilized by traffic engineers and based upon the original design for use, as well as actual use of the street. Members talked about other lakes, parks, and school and the safety mechanisms put into place in these areas. Though Loring Park may be unique, since 15th Street is utilized as a transit/commuter way, passages to the park still need to be safe and accessible. Discussion on the handicapped-accessible curb cuts determined that research should be done to see if there was a long-term vision for improving the crosswalk at 15th and Oak Grove to the Park.
Anita read a STRIB article to the group about how in Russia they were making cardboard cutouts of Brad Pitt in an Officer uniform. The direct result was an immediate reduction in speed as people took a second look to see if it really was Brad Pitt. Sasha and Sunny encouraged anything, creative thinking, that would work and we will create a list. Reminded was Dave Hile’s idea of last month for having traffic flags at the intersection available for folks to use when crossing. Jana brought up 301 Clifton’s idea of “protesting and laying in the street, calling in the media” as a way to affect change.
Minneapolis Police Report - Emailed by Lt. Matt Clark and distributed. All points were reviewed. Lt. Clark had followed up based upon ourlast meeting and review of our minutes.
Lt. Clark emailed the following:
1. Officer Subject and Dubay worked 15th St. last week. They parked in the lot next to the Coffee shop and watched for speeders (as well as other traffic violators). Both officers noted the change in driving speeds when they were present. In total, they conducted 3 stationary details last week. All of the drivers stopped were given verbal warnings. These officers will continue stationary details this week and next week. I’ve asked the officers to move towards citations vs. warnings as the details progress.
2. I left a message with the Park Police concerning a radar wagon for 15th. This wagon displays the speed of the driver and flashes when it is over the limit. Would you like to have a radar wagon placed on 15th? The agent I spoke thought the radar wagon was broken.
3. If the radar wagon works, would you like to have a permanent radar displayed on 15th. These systems are $2,900.00, but work great to reduce speeds on any street. I’m not sure if we could cover the cost with NRP funds. It has a battery and solar panel (so it is a green project). I have an attached picture below.
4. I’ll ask our night beat officers and traffic unit to work 15th over the next few weeks. I’m sure the speeds are increasing at night. According to Dubay and Subject, the traffic is heavy from 4pm to 6pm. Consequently, there is little chance to speed on 15th.
5. Please let me know how I can best address some of the traffic issues that are discussed in your meeting tonight. I know there were some issues related to Oak Grove.
Task Force members asked for further information – is the radar wagon free and how do we book it? The $2,900 cost is for a permanent sign? What is the process and who through if we want to purchase this and locate it at a particular site? 15th Street is not being viewed as a residential street. Mary will find out the classification of this street. There is Emerson School, several daycares that cross to use the Park, the Jeremiah project, the YWCA, Inner City District School on Hennepin Ave. Sasha suggested that we look at the entire perimeter of Loring Park and ensure safe passage to the Park from all areas of the neighborhood. It was determined that we need to build into our plan, doing a count of children & families that utilize Loring Park on a regular basis.
It was requested that we ask why no citations were given for the latest 2 deaths which occurred. One, the biker on 15th and Park, in a bike lane, killed by a semi-driver because “he was in a blindspot”. Members felt that was a totally unacceptable excuse. Another death was by a MCTC driver who ran over a biker, going across an intersection. If we want to be bike and pedestrian-friendly, the environment must be safe for bikers and walkers.
It was suggested that for the Master Plan, one option for a long-term solution, should be a pedestrian bridge going from the Hill into the park, over 15th St. Others suggested to look into Traffic Humps to slow down speed, as well as lowering the speed limit around the Park, as other areas do. We will follow up with Lt. Clark on questions about the radar wagon, availability and cost / process of a permanent structure.
Jana suggested that our NRP Staff Specialist may be able to run a spreadsheet for us on Traffic Calming ideas funded and put into place by other neighborhoods, city-wide.
Next meeting will be 3rd Monday in July, 6:30-7:30 p.m., July 20th; Loring Park Office Building/430 Oak Grove, Room 207.
The group discussed minutes and assignments. Sasha and Jana will take the lead on draft minutes. They will be circulated to attendees to ensure that nothing was missed or stated incorrectly. We will create a list of projects and circulate. Members can sign up for one or more of these tasks. Then, the “to do” list will be posted at the end of the minutes.
Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.