Monday, June 14, 2004
7:30 PM
Village of Lombard
Village Hall
Transportation & Safety Committee
Trustee Rick Soderstrom, Chairperson |
Trustee Steven D.Sebby, Vice Chairperson |
Greg Gron, Thomas Gibbons, John Schwarz |
Arthur Kuehl and William Lepins,Thomas Murphy |
Staff Liaisons: Deputy Chief Dane Cuny, Patrol Division, Police, |
Justine Gembala, Civil Engineer, Public Works |
Meeting Minutes
Transportation & Safety Committee
Meeting Minutes
June 14, 2004
1.0
Call to Order and Roll Call
Meeting called to order at 7:30 PM by Chairperson Soderstrom.
Chairperson Trustee Rick Soderstrom, Greg Gron, Thomas Murphy, Arthur |
Kuehl and William Lepins |
Present:
Vice Chairperson Trustee Steven D. Sebby, John Schwarz and Thomas |
Gibbons |
Absent:
2.0
Public Participation
Theresa Carney 564 W. Harrison Lombard |
Matt Berberich 661 N. Charlotte Lombard |
Adina Schisler 660 N. Charlotte Lombard |
Jennifer Jendras 664 N. Charlotte Lombard |
Edward Garvey 2800 S. Finley Downers Grove |
Jim Watson 241 S. Edson Lombard |
Ginny Macaione Lombard School District 44 |
Ron Schulze 656 N. Charlotte Lombard |
3.0
Approval of Minutes
It was moved by Murphy, seconded by Gron, to approve. The motion carried by a |
voice vote |
4.0
Unfinished Business
030835
Residential Traffic Speed and Enforcement |
Cuny: reviewed item with the committee and public in attendance. Gron: we should |
continue on with this. It is very good information. |
030841
Inspection of Union Pacific Railroad Intersection Pedestrian Crossings. |
Soderstrom: reviewed this item with the committee members.
030882
F. Recommendation of Transportation & Safety Committee - Traffic Calming |
Recommendation of the Transportation & Safety Committee to not establish a traffic |
calming policy at this time. |
Gron: remember from in the past that the Fire Dept. was completely opposed. Would |
like to see Fire Dept. and Police Dept. recommendations before this committee reviews |
any further. Soderstrom: asked Cuny to come back with PD comments and Justine to |
contact Chief Seagraves for his comments. Bring back to next committee meeting. |
5.0
New Business
040242
GG. Transportation and Safety Recommendation - Madison School (Ordinance |
on Second Reading) |
Recommendation of the Transportation and Safety Committee to install "No Parking" |
signage at Madison School. (DISTRICT #6) |
Ginny Macaione representing Lombard School District 44. Macaione: support this issue |
because of the bus traffic. Gembala: reviewed this item with the committee members |
and residents in attendance. Cuny: PD also supports this recommendation. Murphy: |
questioned where the children will be picked up? Kuehl: north lot is where busses |
are/south drive & circle drive are there any busses there? Macaione: no more busses |
there. East parking lot is where all of the busses are. Soderstrom: actually a two-fold |
problem here - busses and safety of the children. Kuehl: is the time frame long |
enough? Macaione: traffic is normally flowing well by that time. Gron: is 550 feet |
enough? Gembala: covers entire school property. |
It was moved by Kuehl, seconded by Lepins, that this matter be recommended |
to the Board of Trustees for approval. The motion carried by the following vote: |
Aye:
Gron, Murphy, Kuehl and Lepins
4 -
Absent:
Sebby, Schwarz and Gibbons
3 -
Enactment No: Ordinance 5535 |
040243
N. Transportation and Safety Recommendation - LeMoyne |
Recommendation of the Transportation and Safety Committee not to install "No Right |
Turn" signs at both driveway exits on LeMoyne at West Suburban Bank and not to post |
a 30 MPH speed limit. (DISTRICT #4) |
Ed Garvey in attendance representing West Suburban Bank. Garvey: we have 2 |
driveways on LeMoyne - one is very steep. Started having staff observe traffic/which |
cars were exiting turning right. We believe it is premature to make this kind of |
judgement. Feeling is that residents are targeting the bank with problems that are really |
not from caused by bank traffic. Berberich: need to double the numbers when counting |
the numbers on exiting traffic. We would like to see some other type of control. People |
use our neighborhood as speed run. Real issue is speed, not necessarily volume of |
cars. Soderstrom: at this point the village has no policy in place for traffic control. |
Berberich: I would like to see an officer sitting at the corner clocking traffic for a couple |
of nights a week. Also, noise at the bank is an issue. Schulze: what do you mean by |
"targeting the bank"? Garvey: is more restrictive to our customers. Schulze: I wouldn't |
mind going around the block to keep things safer. Jendras: if your numbers are correct, |
then there are not a whole lot of customers being affected. Back to issue on the "No |
Right Turn" signs. We are a small subdivision. Lots of children out playing, riding bikes, |
etc. There is really no reason people should be coming down this street unless they |
belong there. Would like a sign on the street ( No Outlet) at LeMoyne for the cul-de-sac. |
There are a wide variety of speed humps, write "slow down" on the street, signs that say |
"slow, children playing". This street is not a through street. I do think the "No Right |
Turn" signs will be a tremendous help. Berberich: I understand that there is an issue |
with Fire & Police with time delays for emergencies. In favor of a temporary speed |
bump that could be removed at the end of the summer. Schisler: why does the Village |
not have a policy regarding speed bumps? Berberich: is that the direction the |
committee is going? Setting a policy or having no policy at all. |
Gron: we have 2 different opinions here. Can we get some kind of an actual count on |
the bank traffic? I have a problem with cut-through traffic on my street. I rode this |
neighborhood twice. I did not see a lot of cars parked on the street, which is a traffic |
calming suggestion from the police department. I would like to see more information |
before I make a recommendation on these signs. Within the next few days you will see |
a big change in traffic flow. Cuny: this is just a suggestion as far as parking cars on the |
street. It does cause people to normally slow down. Soderstrom: asked for further |
comments. Gron: the sign "No Outlet" will not slow down the traffic. Test cars driving |
down the street, is this a common problem? Berberich: not common, but does occur. |
Murphy: this is happening all over the Village. Traffic is increasing and will continue to |
increase. Public streets are for the public. Limiting access for the Village is not the way |
to go. People that are going to speed are going to speed no matter what. We cannot |
put a fence around the Village and let no one in. Speed bumps we are still looking at. |
They really do hamper emergency vehicles. If we put them in your neighborhood, we |
need to look at spending millions of dollars to put them in every neighborhood. This is |
just not an answer. I would like to see Justine get actual counts on the bank traffic |
before we make any recommendation. Cuny: will do speed counts. Berberich: I do not |
agree with if we get them everyone will want them. |
Soderstrom: 2 issues. To Mr. Berberich - you made the statement yourself that there |
is a speed issue, not a volume issue. Addressed Justine "where is the data?" If speed |
is the issue, then we need to look at that, not a volume issue. Whether it is speed, |
volume, etc. we need to see the statistics, data. Asked Justine to do a traffic study. |
Where are the cars coming from? We are asked to make a recommendation with no |
data. Need documentation. Gembala: would like to do the study once the construction |
is completed. Berberich: asked Cuny how traffic study is completed. Cuny: study is |
performed by PW. Overall it is very accurate. Trailer is used more for speed |
awareness, not traffic counts. Berberich: will you use the trailer as part of the |
enforcement? |
Committee asked for Cuny to supply Speed Study from PD and for Gembala to provide |
Traffic Volume Study/specific impact by the bank. |
It was moved by Gron, seconded by Kuehl, that this matter be tabled. The |
motion carried by the following vote: |
Aye:
Gron, Murphy, Kuehl and Lepins
4 -
Absent:
Sebby, Schwarz and Gibbons
3 -
040245
II. Transportation and Safety Recommendation - Hickory and Edson Stop |
Signage (Ordinance on Second Reading) |
Recommendation of the Transportation and Safety Committee to install a Multi-way |
Stop at Hickory and Edson. (DISTRICT #1) |
Taken out of order due to resident (Jim Watson) in attendance. Watson: this has gone |
before the committee many times before. If something happens, you will be negligent. I |
listen to you say what you cannot do, I want something done, especially on Edson. The |
whole neighborhood is fired up about this issue. It is not acceptable that nothing will be |
done here. This is disappointing that nothing is being done here. You hear this from |
people, this is a high risk. |
Soderstrom: mentioned you were here in April. Our staff is not doing "nothing". Staff |
has done an analysis. You made a request of our committee. Staff completed a study. |
Their findings are in report here tonight for the committee to discuss. Watson: why did |
you request that I get these signatures on a petition? Soderstrom: I suggested the |
petition. I did state that it may not make a difference one way or another. It does show |
neighborhood concern versus an individual concern. Gembala: reviewed memo and |
studies with the committee members. |
Murphy: Justine is right on in the fact that posting 30 mph could encourage people to |
speed up. Possibly a temporary stop sign at a location there to pacify residents. |
Soderstrom: when staff does these studies, it does not mean that the committee cannot |
suggest something different. I know every other street around does have stop signs |
where this one does not. Gembala: pointed out that stop signs do not control speeding. |
Kuehl: I go through there every morning. I feel that we could try a stop sign and see |
what happens. Gron: looking at time slots here. Where are the pads placed on the |
street for speed study? Gembala: could be mid block - not near an intersection. Where |
you can get the most speed. Gron: will this really do anything at all? Kuehl: this is |
more people control, not traffic control. Watson: maybe a stop sign will slow people |
down. Could we put up "children playing" signs? Kuehl: hopefully we will not have |
people come back to this committee if we go ahead with the stop signs and complain |
about the squealing tires when people come to a stop. Murphy: I do understand your |
frustration. Things take time. When the committee states that something is not |
warranted, it does not mean that you do not believe that there is a problem. We tend to |
try and follow these warrants and polices that are established by people that study these |
things for a long, long time. Watson: I imagine you get a lot of people in here that are |
emotionally involved. |
It was moved by Kuehl, seconded by Murphy, that this matter be recommended |
to the Board of Trustees for approval. The motion carried by the following vote: |
Aye:
Soderstrom, Murphy, Kuehl and Lepins
4 -
Nay:
Gron
1 -
Absent:
Sebby, Schwarz and Gibbons
3 -
Enactment No: Ordinance 5535 |
040244
HH. Transportation and Safety Recommendation - Fairfield Avenue Speed Limit |
(Ordinance on Second Reading) |
Recommendation of the Transportation and Safety Committee to reduce the speed limit |
to 25 MPH on South Fairfield between Wilson Road and Central Avenue. (DISTRICT |
#6) |
Gembala: reviewed item with committee members present. Soderstrom: 1. this is a |
follow up request from the resident in the area (first requested 2 years ago). I am |
supportive of this request in this area. An extremely long block. Young |
neighborhood/wide open. Not a lot of natural traffic calming. HEAVY cut-through in this |
area. During this survey, there were just a touch over 6000 cars in 2 days. Report talks |
about average speed - I did the math here. Devices do have some flaws in them. In 2 |
days, 500 + cars exceeded 40 mph. If the volume wasn't here, this probably would not |
be as much of an issue. 2. Southbound almost half are exceeding the speed limit. 3. |
When Fairfield from Central to Roosevelt is improved, it will increase the problem. In |
lieu of the lack of traffic calming that is available, I do support this request. Gembala: |
limits are Roosevelt to Wilson on Fairfield? Murphy: I tend to agree with this, I live in |
the area. This is a major cut-through. Gron: is it a cut through or a through street? |
Kuehl: it is a through street. |
It was moved by Murphy, seconded by Kuehl, that this matter be recommended |
to the Board of Trustees for approval Area is South Fairfield from Roosevelt Rd. |
(Rte. 38) to Wilson Ave. The motion carried by the following vote: |
Aye:
Gron, Murphy, Kuehl and Lepins
4 -
Absent:
Sebby, Schwarz and Gibbons
3 -
Enactment No: Ordinance 5535 |
040246
JJ. Transportation and Safety Recommendation - Emerson Traffic Control |
(Ordinance on Second Reading) |
Recommendation of the Transportation and Safety Committee to install traffic control |
on Lodge, Lewis, and Edgewood at Emerson. (DISTRICT #5) |
Gembala: reviewed item with committee members present. Gron: are we treating these |
individually, or as one? Soderstrom: as you feel is correct. |
It was moved by Kuehl, seconded by Lepins, that this matter be recommended |
to the Board of Trustees for approval. The motion carried by the following vote: |
Aye:
Gron, Murphy, Kuehl and Lepins
4 -
Absent:
Sebby, Schwarz and Gibbons
3 -
Enactment No: Ordinance 5535 |
040247
KK. Transportation and Safety Recommendation - Maple Street Speed Limit |
(Ordinance on Second Reading) |
Recommendation of Transportation and Safety Committee to reduce the speed limit to |
25 MPH on Maple Street between Vance Street and Addison Street. (DISTRICTS #1, |
#4, #5) |
Gembala: reviewed item with the committee members present. Gron: is each dot one |
accident? Gembala: yes. Soderstrom: have the same problem on Maple that we had |
on Fairfield. Murphy: a lot more schools, businesses, etc. that generate more traffic. |
Soderstrom: 2 other major thoroughfares have been lowered to 25 mph. I would like |
some justification as to why we would not lower this street also. Gron: I have issue with |
the Library area. There is too much speeding there. One concern could be with some |
of the businesses? Murphy: most of the businesses are service oriented. |
It was moved by Gron, seconded by Kuehl, that this matter be recommended to |
the Board of Trustees for approval. The motion carried by the following vote: |
Aye:
Gron, Murphy, Kuehl and Lepins
4 -
Absent:
Sebby, Schwarz and Gibbons
3 -
Enactment No: Ordinance 5535 |
6.0
Other Business
7.0
Information Only
Soderstrom: probably will have a July meeting on July 12th. One item will be the |
crosswalk at Main and St. Charles. Gron: need a forum discussion between Police, |
Public Works, Fire Department and our committee re: traffic calming. Needs to be |
addressed. Soderstrom: once we come back in to full swing in the fall, we will give time |
and consideration to this. |
8.0
Adjournment
It was moved by Gron, seconded by Lepins, to adjourn. The motion carried by a |
voice vote |