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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-09-10 Government Operations Committee Minutes � � GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE � MINUTES � September 10, 2003 � Councilors Present: Gerry Paimer, Anne Allen � StafF Present: Bob Farrar, Chief Winslow, CMief Cammack, Joe McNeil, Jim Ring, Ron Gastia � Others Present: Larkin Street and Third Street residents � The meeting convened at 5:00 p.m. Consent Agenda � 1. Ambulance Billin A reements with Machias Ambulance Service and 9 9 Hampden Fire Department � These agreements will authorize the City of Bangor Fire Department to provide ambulance billing services for the Machias Ambulance Service and Hampden Fire � Department. These service agreements are similar to several other agreements currently in place for ambulance billing including the Towns of Orono, Carmel, Hermon, Bar Harbor and Downeast Ambulance Service. � The Committee recommended approval of the consent agenda to the full Council. � Regular Agenda � 2. Larkin Street—Third Street Intersection —Safety and traffic concerns. � Chief Winslow said that Councilor Palmer had requested this item on the agenda. He noted that there was an accident on August 25"' at this intersection that was relatively serious. Winslow presented an accident history on the intersection. He � said that there were a total of four accidents from ]anuary 2000 until the present, the most recent being August 25"'. He said that it appears that in the last four accidents, the person on Larkin Street failed to stop at the stop sign � completefy or failed to yield after stopping at the stop sign. He said that one of the drivers admitted to not stopping because he did not see the sign. The driver in the August 25"' accident claimed that he did stop, but did not see the other �� � � � car, however in reviewing the accident, Winslow said that he believes that he did not stop. Winslow said that he has reviewed the area, as well as Jim Ring and � Bob Farrar, and that there does not appear to be any line of sight issues. Palmer asked about the large tree as you are coming down Larkin toward Main � and wanted to know if this presented a challenge. Winslow said that it provides for a brief blocked view, but would not prevent you from seeing a whole vehicle. Winslow said that there are a number of intersections that pose a much more � serious risk than this particular intersection. He suggested installing a stop ahead sign on Larkin Street to draw more attention to the stop signs that are already in existence. Winslow said that the intersection of Cedar and Third has �, by far the most accidents along that corridor. Palmer asked Joe McNeil to talk about the fact that this intersection is on the � BAT/Community Connector route. McNeil said that the drivers have not depicted this area as a problem as they have with Mt. Hope Avenue. � Palmer asked for members of the public to come forward and speak. One resident of Larkin Street commented on the volume and speed of traffic, and was � surprised at the high level of�each. She said that she called 911 when the accident occurred on August 25�'. She heard the impact from her backyard. She noted that there had been numerous close calts at this intersection. Palmer � wanted to know if she had some ideas as to what might improve the intersection. She suggested having stop signs at every intersection on Third � Street to stop the fast flow of traffic. Palmer mentioned the schools in the area, and asked if she had any thoughts regarding the safety of school children walking in or near this intersection. She said that this is just another accident � waiting to happen, with children watking to school. She said that there are signs on Third Street about school crossing, although she has not seen any on Larkin Street. � Another resident of Larkin Street said that in August of 1999 there were accidents on three Sundays in a row. He said that they got to know some of his � neighbors by coming out during crashes. He said that the speed on Third Street needs to be lowered. He said that he is scared to let his children go near the intersection. , � Winslow suggested placing the speed trailer in the area. He said that he could � review the accident history even further back than 2000. Allen wanted to know if the traffic problem was greater at any particular time. � The Larkin Street resident said that mid afternoon/evenings and weekends were the worst. :� � � � � Palmer wanted to know if they thought there were any visibility problems. The residents said that speeds of 50 mph were too high for Third Street, which would not allow drivers to stop quickly. � Another resident claimed that when she was a chiid she was not ailowed at this � intersection, and that the accidents were prevalent back then. She said that there would probably be a lot more accidents, except that most of the neighborhood does not go near the intersection. �, Another resident said that the traffic will increase due to the Shaw's traffic, with cars coming down the side streets. � Another resident said that he has spoken with the City Clerk who drives this route daily, and claims she said that this is a dangerous intersection. He said � that he disagrees with Chief Winslow in regards to the big tree, which he feels blocks visibility. He said that his other concern is that the last accident could have been much worse if a pedestrian had been nearby and that something has � to be done. He suggested having the tree removed and having crosswalks painted on Third and Larkin. He said that we must act now to prevent a possible fatality. � Allen asked about the use of flashing lights. � Jim Ring said that when there is a history of accidents, we look for a reason. He said that they examine whether there is adequate sight distance and the distance � between lots. He said that it appears that speed is a factor. He said that typically flashing lights are used for visibility issues, and that this appears to be more speed related. He said that a four way stop sign would be more appropriate at the crest of the hill. � _ Palmer inquired about the traffic density and flow. Ring said that we could get ' some info on Third Street. Palmer read a letter from Heinrick Snyder, a resident of Third Street, who � recommended a four way stop on Third between Buck and Cedar. Similar stops on Garland, Fern and Forest have contributed to better speed management. � Another resident commented that we need to install speed limit signs from Main Street to Third Street. He said that in the winter, kids walk in the street due to � sidewalks not being cleared. � � � � Another resident asked if there was something that the residents of the neighborhood could do, such as take down license plate numbers. Palmer said �� that the citizens of the neighborhood are doing exactiy as they should by coming forward to this committee. A Third Street resident said that comin from Larkin Street to Third Street in the � 9 winter, you could potentially slide through the intersection if there is a patch of � ice on the road. Barrett discussed the potential use of video cameras that will record license � plates and that the State legislature has not authorized municipalities to use this method. He said that he is may ask some the residents to write a letter to the State legislature at some point in the near future. � Palmer asked Farrar about the time frame for staff to return with suggestions/recommendations. Farrar said that within 2-4 weeks staff should � have some preliminary information to work with. Palmer requested that we notify neighborhood residents of the next meeting that this issue would be on the agenda. � Winslow said that along with the City Engineer, he will comprehensively examine � the area and noted that Public Works has the ability to record data and radar with new sign boards. He thought that this intersection might be a good place to start. � 3. BAT/Community Connector—Service Improvement Update • Implementation date for new/expanded routes � • System-wide fare changes _ • Promotion and marketing activities associated with route and fare changes Farrar noted that we have completed a lengthy study on the public � transportation system and Joe McNeil and I would like to present the upcoming changes/activities. � He outlined the following operational issues concerning the BAT/Community Connector: �i 1. Implementation date for new/expanded routes. New and expanded route � service will become effective Monday, October 6"'. Additional drivers have been hired and trained and new BAT schedules have been printed and will be � distributed over the next several weeks. '� � � � Improvements for Bangor include: (1) the new"Mall Hopper" route which � provides service between the Bangor Mall — Broadway Shopping Center— Airport Mall; (2) splitting the current Mt. Hope run into two separate routes— a Mt. Hope route from Pickering Square to the Bangor Mall Area and a � Stillwater route from Pickering Square to the Bangor Mall area; and (3) a consolidated Center Street Run which will connect directly with the`�Mall � Hopper" route. - He noted that maps of current and new service routes have been provided. � Allen commented that we should try to announce the changes before university students went on their fall break. � 2. In addition to recommended route changes, the Transit Study proposed a series of changes to the fare structure. In accordance with Federal � Transportation Administration regulations the proposed changes have been published and advertised for a 60-day period prior to implementation. There were no requests for a public hearing on the proposed changes. These � changes have been reviewed by the Strategic Issues Committee and the BACTS Transit Advisory Committee during the spring and recommended for � implementation. The changes, which are scheduled to become effective October 6"'� are outlined below: � • full cash fare will increase from 75� to 85� • monthly pass will increase from $30 to $34 per month • strips of 5 ride tickets will continue to cost $3 per strip • there will no longer be difFerent tickets required for travel on different � routes • all transfers will be free � • there will no longer be zone fees on the route serving Veazie, Orono and Old Town • a $17 monthly pass will be introduced for high school and younger ' children • the University of Maine Card for students, faculty and staff will be � expanded to include the entire system. (Currently in place) Additionally, all participating communities and the University have been � advised of the changes and we have received no expressions of concern. Farrar requested that this be referred to the Bangor City Council for their � approval. Allen made a motion to refer this to Council. She asked about the routes being available for placement on the Government Channel. McNeil � � � � said that he has been working on getting the routes in the right format for piacement on television. � Palmer wanted to know if there were alternate locations for riders to purchase tickets. He aiso wanted to know if the tickets could be used as � marketing tools in radio station give-aways, etc. McNeil said that we have a new ticket that will make the use of the BAT more user friendly. He said that part of the promotion process is working with local schools. Allen wanted to � know if kids could purchase tickets at the school. McNeil said that we are in the process of negotiating this. � � 3. Promotional and Marketing Activities � In conjunction with the route and fare changes noted above, a variety of � promotional and marketing activities are being planned over the next several weeks: • New schedules and informational brochures have been printed and will be � distributed in a variety of locations, including an insert in "The Weekly" section of the Bangor Daily News tentatively set for September 25"'. � • A media release outlining the new/expanded service and fare changes. • Advertising campaign in selected locations including — BDN, radio stations, � on buses, Community Access Channel, among others. • Free fare days for the new Stillwater and Mall Hopper routes October 6�' to 10�' � • Drawing for several monthly and 90 day passes — both regular and students • Coordination with high schools within transit service area � • Promotional items including —water bottles, pens, magnets, etc. featuring BAT logo and colors, for free distribution • Coordination with Bangor Mall marketing department to promote new Mall ' Hopper route • Introduction of new red BAT tickets. Staff is continuin to develo and finalize the ctivities t il � g p a de a ed above, but we wanted to provide the Committee with a general overview of the events � which are currently being planned. Allen inquired about the possibility of engaging celebrities as part of the � promotional activities. Palmer said that the Mall Hopper Route should create _ excitement. McNeil presented the new BAT stop signs that the consultant designed. � � � � � Palmer said how happy he was with the new Riders Guide and suggested � using the services of the Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau. Farrar noted that this was the first major change in our system in 15 years. � i ickets t I c i sh in centers. McNeil Allen wanted to know about seli ng t a o a opp g � said that several years ago, we inquired about this and they were somewhat reluctant to do so. McNeil will check with them again to see whether there is interest. � Paimer wanted to know how the stafF feels about the changes. McNeil said that everyone is very excited about the changes. He said that one of the � reasons we have moved in this direction is because of time problems on the runs, and the new routes reflect a positive move and the drivers are pretly excited about it. � The Committee approved the proposed changes and will forward this item to � full Council. McNeil noted that there has been great collaboration on this project and � offered praise for his Administrative Assistant, Laurie Linscott. Palmer said that not only do we have the best Police and Fire Departments in the state, we have the best public transportation system and conveyed his appreciation � of the dedication of City staff to this project. The meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m. � � � � � � � �