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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-10-21 Infrastructure Committee Minutes Infrastructure Committee Minutes October 21, 2013 ATTENDEES Councilors: Benjamin Sprague Pauline Civiello James Gallant Joseph Baldacci Neslon Durgin Charles Longo Staff: Art Morgan Cathy Conlow Dana Wardwell Tanya Emery Others: Scout (Name not Elise & Peter Nowell, 172 Kenduskeag provided) Ave. Agenda Meeting started approximately 6:00 with Councilor Gallant hearing Item # 2, Infrastructure Improvements, West Side Neighborhood before Item #1. 2. Discussion: Infrastructure Improvements, West Side Neighborhood Dana Wardwell informed the Committee work was anticipated to take place in the Fall and Spring at the locations on Third Street from Union Street to Buck Street and Third Street from Main Street to Second Street raising the canopy on the trees and around the lights for better visibility in the Second Street, boarding of Second Street Park area. Construct an eight foot wide paved sidewalk through the center of the park, also boarding Second Street. The City anticipated installation of street lighting through park, LED like the ones at the waterfront this fall. Next spring it is anticipated to do sewer work on Cedar Street and Sanford Street before paving Sanford Street and sewer work on First Street, from Union Street to Cedar Street. They will be performing inspections for potential spot repairs on sewer lines at Sanford and Warren Streets before paving the streets and sidewalks from Sanford from Union to Warren and Warren Street from Third to Second. The Bangor Water District would be installing a water main and the City would work with them before paving. In late Spring/early Summer work to install the median on Main and sidewalk paving from Dutton Street to Railroad Street would begin, also, Union Street paving from Hammond Street to Union Street with granite curbing. Councilor Baldacci inquired about available funds and the costs of the projects. Dana stated the trees estimate at $57,000.00, Second Street park area at $130,000.00, manhole at Sanford and Cedar $25,000.00, sewer on First Street approximately $200,000.00 of which $100,000.00 would come from Community Development Block Grant and the other $100,000.00 from the sewer fund. Councilor Gallant requested Tanya provided an overview of the Neighborhood Revitalization Project. She informed the Committee the funds were federally funded from the Housing Authority and additional funds available from rehabilitation loans that were paid. There was citizen concern in the area for safety, homeownership, infrastructure, aesthetics, and rental housing and the City was taking a focused approach on improving and investing in the neighborhood. The planned improvements would be without an extra burden on the taxpayer. Not only would the funds be available for this neighborhood but also other areas of the City as well, provided they met the qualifications with qualified projects. It was important to utilize the funding now, to avoid losing that level of funding in the future. Future steps to include Council approval on the steps and setting neighborhood meetings to acquire feedback which would require prior HUD approval. Councilor Gallant and 10/23/13 1:00p.m. 1 Councilor Sprague concur that this would be a model location to acquire baseline data to apply for future projects in other areas of the City. Request was made of Staff to focus and quantify on the before and after affects with regards to vacant buildings, property values, new businesses, and incidents in the community. Cathy Conlow stated they were using the GIS database system that offered a uniform language to track progress and receive continued data. Councilor Gallant requested the revitalization plan be placed on the City website. Steve Hicks, from ”West Side Village” asked about the extent of the work to be performed in the area, in particular the Cedar Street and Second Street intersection and Cedar and Third Street intersection. Also, the gully area on Third Street as a collection point for stormwater, located half way between Warren Street and Cedar Street, and whether there would be more public meetings. Councilor Gallant responded that this was a working palette, a piece of it was the available funding, performing the work before snow fall, and yes, more meetings would be held. Councilor Longo stated he spoke with a citizen regarding traffic calming measures in the Walter, Sidney, Larkin, Lincoln area, as these streets were cut through streets. Tanya responded it was suggested in the plan to perhaps do speed humps and that it was the recommendation that in the future Art would need to evaluate based on the criteria for calming measures. If it didn’t meet the criteria, at that time, they would keep watch of it in the future. Vote: No Action Necessary 1. Discussion: Traffic Calming Policy Art Morgan stated the Policy was adopted in 2008 and outlined the measures and conditions to be met before implementation. Some traffic measures could cost up to $25,000.00. Criteria for a street to be considered from Section 3.1:  Speed limit is 25 mph.  Street may not be designated state or federal highway.  No more than two lanes.  At least 75% residential frontage.  Minimum of twelve dwellings per 1,000 foot of frontage, counting on each side.  Residents of the street request that action be taken in accordance with initiation procedure. th If conditions are met, then speed of the street is looked at and Traffic Engineer’s typically look at the 85 percentile or average used. The speed must be at least seven and preferably ten miles per hour over the posted limit. The Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) exceeds 1,000 with at least 30% cut through traffic, and a minimum of three accidents on the street or segment within the last twelve months. If one of the three were not met, alternatives existed such as no sidewalk, street posted at 15 mph for school zone, or there was a designated crosswalk. Councilor Sprague asked about the procedure if a citizen wished to have traffic calming measures considered. Art responded first they would need to contact Engineering, then the location would be checked to see if it met criteria, a petition would be provided with 50% concurrence on that street, and then presented to the Infrastructure Committee. Councilor Sprague requested an update on Kenduskeag Avenue, which Art th responded the preliminary study was complete and found the 85, with the speed at 33 mph, 3,500 AADT, and the pass through traffic at 80%. Montgomery to Harlow section and Madison/Kenduskeag do not meet the third criteria with only two accidents in the section. Cathy explained they were unaware the policy was in place and with the speed study recently done, no action necessary at this time, only the review of the Policy by the Committee and this would come back the first part of November. There was some Council concern about procedures coming to the forefront to offer to citizens. Councilor Civiello requested a masterplan be in place for policies and when to expect that date. Councilor Baldacci suggested incorporating the policies during the Council training and Councilor Gallant also requested review of the policies and requested the Traffic Calming Policy be placed on the City’s website. Elise Nowell, 172 Kenduskeag Avenue spoke of her concern for pedestrian/ joggers and the cars speeding more than 33 mph with cut through traffic, and urged the gravity of the speeding situation. She stated she provided a 10/23/13 1:00p.m. 2 copy of the policy when meeting with Lt. Gastia and Art approximately a year and a half ago, but was glad the policy was found. She was also concerned about the requirement of a minimum of three accidents and hated to wait for an incident to occur. Peter Nowell, also addressed the Committee and stated the study was weak and suggested that the un-marked DOT car, with radar, perform a more concise study during early a.m. and mid to late afternoon for at least a two hour time period. Art stated that they would be willing to do additional studies. Councilor Gallant asked about possible grants available for locations that had never had a sidewalk in place before. Dana responded that there were enhancement grants the City could apply for. Councilor Gallant requested a favor of “Mr. Scout”, to provide, via email, the locations from address to address on Kenduskeag Avenue the locations that did not having sidewalks. Vote: No Action Necessary 3. Discussion: Broadway Traffic Update Art stated he met with Rob Kenerson, Director of BACTS to move forward with the study. As a result of the st meeting BACTS would prepare the RFP and advertise for the study. January 1 the funding would be available and award could be made to a consultant. The City would pay only 20% of the study and Art recommended moving forward and utilizing BACTS for the process. Cathy explained the infrastructure recommendations could st be provided before July 1. However, the access management portion would take longer as they would also need public input. Councilor Durgin was concerned with turning traffic and speeding and suggested Western Avenue in Augusta be considered during the process, as that had the same attributes of Broadway. Western Avenue had a small amount of left turns with a divider in the highway to control traffic. Councilor Sprague moved and Councilor Baldacci seconded to proceed with BACTS and the RFP process. Vote: Unanimous Councilor Gallant requested an update be provided and Art stated he would update the Committee of the ongoing progress of the process. 4. Discussion: Buck Street Update Dana stated there was a Traffic Movement Permit performed by the Maine DOT. Dutton Street was the main entrance and the TMP changed it to Buck Street, with the traffic pattern with one lane in and the far right going out and the center lane would alternate direction, as needed. Councilor Durgin expressed concern for the back- up that occurs during events and requested the signal lights be looked at. Councilor Gallant suggested that perhaps they could turn off the signals and utilize the Bangor Police Department for traffic control during events. Art responded to Council inquiry that Ocean Properties on Dutton Street wouldn’t have enough trips to prompt a study. There was also Committee concern about access during the construction season and the closing of Dutton Street during events. Vote: No Action Necessary Motion made by Councilor Baldacci to adjourn and it was seconded at approximately 7:00 p.m. 10/23/13 1:00p.m. 3