Peoria Standard

The Peoria Transportation Commission met April 19.

The Transportation (formerly Traffic) Commission is responsible for making recommendations to City Council on matters pertaining to traffic safety, roadway improvement, traffic education and land use. The commission meets at 3:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month at 3505 N. Dries Lane.

Here are the meeting minutes as provided by the Peoria Transportation Commission:   

CALL TO ORDER

Call to Order showed the following Transportation Commission Members in attendance:

Commissioners Present: Commissioner Dan Adler, Commissioner Nathaniel Herz, Chairman Joe Hudson, Commissioner Lon Lyons, Commissioner Patrick McNamara, Commissioner Joe Messmore, and Commissioner Randall Ray - 7.

Commissioners Absent: Commissioner Mary Jane Crowell, Commissioner George Ghareeb, Commissioner Brandon Lott, and Commissioner Michael Vespa - 4.

Others in attendance included Brian Burelli, Todd and Lisa Richardson, Christina Stalker, and Ilga Williams of the Moss-Bradley neighborhood area, Innovations Team (i-Team) Director Anthony Corso, City Traffic Engineer Nick Stoffer, Greater Peoria Mass Transit District (CityLink) Planning Administrator Joe Alexander, and Public Works Administrative Specialist Ruth Blancaflor.

ANNOUNCEMENTS, ETC.

Transportation Alternatives Program Funding Request – Rock Island Greenway

Mr. Stoffer announced one year’s allotment for 2015 TAP funding had been granted as a result of his grant application. He said the funding would be used to extend the Rock Island Greenway over the vacated railroad bridge over War Memorial Drive. He said another request would be submitted for funding to continue the trail further south, eventually to the river.

Tri-County Regional Planning Commission’s Regional Bike Plan Committee

Mr. Stoffer announced he is serving on the Regional Bike Plan Committee for Tri-County. He said it would be a lengthy process and that he would be providing periodic feedback to the Commission regarding those efforts.

2016 through 2018 City of Peoria Consultant Master Services Agreements

Mr. Stoffer explained the next round of engineering consultant selections had been finalized in the form of three-year agreements approved by City Council. He said this enabled city staff to have engineering consulting help available on a retainer type of basis rather than entering a selection process each time assistance was needed.

SmartGrowth America Webinar – April 28, 2016 at 11:00 a.m.

Commissioner McNamara announced a webinar to be held by SmartGrowth American on Thursday, April 28th, at 11:00 a.m. He said it would be beneficial to schedule the Public Works Conference Room for the Commission and Staff to attend the webinar, as it related to Complete Streets and their educational component. Mr. Stoffer stated he would schedule the meeting, as requested and pursuant to the conference room’s availability.

City of Peoria’s Complete Streets Ordinance Submitted to SmartGrowth America

Mr. Stoffer stated he was in the process of submitting the City of Peoria’s Complete Streets Ordinance to the SmartGrowth America group to be included on their web site with those of other cities.

MINUTES

Commissioner Messmore moved to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Transportation Commission held on March 15, 2016, as printed; seconded by Commissioner Ray.

Approved by unanimous viva voce vote.

ITEM NO. 1: Consideration of a Motion to MOVE UNFINISHED BUSINESS ITEM #1 Forward for Discussion Regarding CONSIDERATION of a REQUEST to CONVERT FREDONIA AVENUE, Between COOPER STREET and WESTERN AVENUE, from TWO-WAY TRAFFIC to ONE-WAY TRAFFIC.

Commissioner Messmore moved to move forward on the Agenda for discussion at this time, Unfinished Business Item #1, the Consideration of a Request to Amend the Traffic Code of the City of Peoria to Convert Fredonia Avenue between Cooper Street and Western Avenue from two-way traffic to one-way traffic; seconded by Commissioner Lyons.

Approve by viva voce vote.

CONSIDERATION of Proposed Request AMENDING the TRAFFIC CODE of the City of Peoria, As Needed: A CONSIDERATION of a REQUEST to CONVERT FREDONIA AVENUE, Between COOPER STREET and WESTERN AVENUE, from TWO-WAY TRAFFIC to ONE-WAY TRAFFIC. (Letter of Request from Moss Bradley Residential Association and Location Maps Attached) [District 2]

Mr. Stoffer explained that the item had been discussed at the March 15 Regular Meeting of the Commission but the Commissioners requested representatives of the Moss-Bradley residential area be present at the meeting to address the request. He stated several members of the neighborhood were in attendance at the meeting, and he introduced Mr. Brian Burelli, President of the Moss-Bradley Residential Association.

Mr. Brian Burelli, President of the Moss-Bradley Residential Association, stated the problems of traffic congestion, speeding, and traveling the wrong way on neighborhood streets was again brought to his attention at the February meeting of the Association. He said they discussed several suggested measures such as additional STOP signs and speed limit signs, but changing this one last block from two-way traffic to one-way traffic seemed to be the best way to help the people directly affected by the problem.

Mr. Todd Richardson, resident of 610 N Cooper Street, Peoria, expressed concern regarding traffic congestion in the area when Whittier School students are being dropped off in the morning and released in the afternoon. He said buses are not able to pass. He said drivers would back up and cut through and speed through any street or alley that they could in order to avoid the situation.

As a result of further discussion, Commissioner McNamara determined the problem was at its worst in front of the school and that District 150 representatives had communicated with the parents about what they could do to help the situation.

As a member of the Peoria Public Schools Board, Commissioner Adler stated he would follow up on the matter with the School District, as well.

Mrs. Lisa Richardson, resident of 610 N Cooper Street, Peoria, stated motorists parked anywhere in the area, including in front of her garage, and she expressed concern about Bradley charter buses adding to the traffic concerns. She spoke in favor of the conversion to one-way traffic, as she said it would force traffic out to Western Avenue.

Ms. Christina Stalker, resident of the Moss-Bradley residential area of Peoria, spoke in favor of the conversion. She discussed the narrow streets and stated the one-way traffic pattern made for an easier situation.

Ms. Ilga Williams, resident of 614 N Cooper Street, Peoria, showed pictures of the traffic parking and congestion problems. She stated the problem was worse in the afternoon because of Whittier parents parking and waiting to pick up their children.

Commissioner Messmore moved to recommend to the Peoria City Council the adoption of an Ordinance Amending the Traffic Code of the City of Peoria to Convert Fredonia Avenue between Cooper Street and Western Avenue from two-way traffic to one-way traffic; seconded by Commissioner Adler.

Approved by viva voce vote.

Commissioner Adler stated any action taken on the matter by School Board would be done administratively.

Mr. Stoffer explained that the proposed Ordinance would be presented to the City Council for adoption at a meeting in May. After its adoption, he said the appropriate signs and striping would be installed during the summer, and he said he would work with Mr. Burelli on neighborhood flyers to be emailed to the Association’s group list in order to re-educate the neighborhood on the traffic pattern conversion.

ITEM NO. 2: REPORT BACK RE: BICYCLE LANE STRIPING for LOCAL RESIDENTIAL STREETS and/or RESIDENTIAL COLLECTOR STREETS

Mr. Stoffer outlined the contents of the Report Back, and Commissioner Ray said he appreciated the answer to his concerns and that he supported the information provided.

No official action was taken.

ITEM NO. 3: PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION Regarding City of Peoria’s Ordinance Submittal for SMART GROWTH AMERICA COMPLETE STREETS CITIES LIST.

Mr. Stoffer reiterated he had contacted SmartGrowth America regarding submitting Peoria’s Complete Streets policy for inclusion on their web site, as he said he hoped it would help in bringing other cities on board. He said he had not yet heard back from the group.

Commissioner McNamara referred to the comparison study he had prepared between the SmartGrowth America example city for Complete Streets guidelines and its weighted points and Peoria’s Ordinance. He said he produced a rated list showing Peoria’s policy captured 99 percent of the important points. He noted the only area he felt that it was short on was in the implementation criteria where it called for naming a staff person or a board or commission member to have authority for it. Even though that item was lacking, he said he encouraged Mr. Stoffer to submit Peoria’s Complete Streets policy to SmartGrowth America.

ITEM No. 4: OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST to the Transportation Commissioners:

A UPDATED Transportation Commission WORK ITEMS CHARTS

a. task content and timing; timeframe (length) for each task; ranking and order; any additional tasks (i.e. criteria for neighborhoods submitting traffic requests)

Commissioner McNamara outlined the updated Commission Work Items Chart and proposed time lines that he had drafted based upon the Commissioners’ rankings. He said it should help the Commission get started on these things.

Mr. Stoffer said he would be able to guide the discussion of these items regarding what could or could not be done to implement them, depending on existing budgets.

Commissioner Herz commended Commissioner McNamara for taking the lead on the task and bringing the document forward to them. He said it would be a helpful tool when they break out each task.

In discussion with Commissioner Herz, Commissioner McNamara said there were a variety of communities listed on SmartGrowth America which had implemented their Complete Streets Implementation Plans, as discussed in Item #3. He said the Commission should review those cities’ successes in order to formulate Peoria’s Plan.

Commissioner Herz said he looked forward to the discussion of these items on future agendas and he suggested they begin with implementation plan reviews.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None.

NEW BUSINESS

Innovations Team Updates

Innovations Team (i-Team) Director Anthony Corso said he concurred with the Commission’s desires to institutionalize metrics and targets and he thought it was a very worthwhile effort.

Mr. Corso said he met with the Peoria Urban Forestry Board this month, to discuss revitalizing the street tree program, which is supportive to complete, walkable streets as well as green infrastructure for CSO reduction. He said Complete Streets principles should be incorporated as projects in the Capital Improvement Program moved forward, and it was helpful to use the criteria determined by other cities as to what made sense in a given area, instead of taking one strategy and using it everywhere.

Commissioner Messmore left the meeting at 4:07 p.m.

Mr. Corso discussed the city’s proposal to the US EPA for CSO solutions utilizing green infrastructure measures and the steps and goals for green streets. He discussed the necessity for metrics and targets to inform what worked well in specific areas. Currently, he said, there was a proof of concept pilot project to be constructed at the edge of the Warehouse District, on Adams in the two blocks between Pecan and Persimmon. He said the pilot project was meant to demonstrate to the EPA that the green infrastructure CSO solution the city was proposing would work. He said the project was planned for this year and that he would provide periodic updates to the Commission.

Mr. Corso explained there were also many opportunities for complete streets and green streets concepts to be incorporated in projects outside those funded by the CIP. For example, he discussed the striping strategies utilized on MacArthur Highway, and the planters at the corner of Columbia Terrace and University Street, as lower cost interventions incorporating complete streets concepts.

Commissioner Herz invited Mr. Corso to forward any information on these topics that would be helpful to the Commission and Staff.

The Commissioners thanked Mr. Corso for the information he provided.

Greater Peoria Mass Transit District/ CityLink Updates:

CityLink Planning Administrator Joe Alexander gave an update to the Commissioners about recent CityLink business activities. He said CityLink was strongly considering the former CEFCU site on Brandywine Drive for its new transfer center. He said it met their needs for their center because it was in the heart of the city and it would streamline their processes with transfers to the Big Hollow area near Target. He said they were considering solutions to the lack of sidewalk at the site and were setting aside capital funds for environmental assessments and geological testing that would be necessary. Also, he said it would need to be rezoned to Industrial-1.

Mr. Alexander described the area along Brandywine Drive as having become a destination point due to the hotels and restaurants on the route. He said a transfer center at this location would work well for park and ride service, and he explained that 5 buses would provide transfer opportunities there and one bus would travel back and forth to Northwoods Mall, eliminating the problem for pedestrians to cross 7 lanes of traffic. He further discussed CityLink’s plans to provide services on the half hour, which he said would better serve a community of Peoria’s size.

In response to Mr. Corso’s question of whether his studies identified any areas he would consider to be job hubs, Mr. Alexander stated he had just met with the Peterson Hotel Group near Grand Prairie and IL 91. He said a number of their employees used CityLink’s services and that they said the Sunday bus service allowed Peterson to retain and hire new employees. He said the Louisville Slugger stadium, the new assisted living facility on IL 91, and the current and proposed hotels in the area around Route 6 provided a good demand for transportation to and from the area. He said they were studying sites for new bus stops in that sector, as well.

Finally, Mr. Alexander stated a new bus shelter on Dries Lane by Landmark Health Club would be finalized within the next two weeks. He invited the Commissioners to provide feedback to him about any requests they may hear about CityLink services.

The Commissioners thanked Mr. Alexander for the updates.

Online Project Updates

Mr. Corso briefly discussed the work being done to provide online project updates to the Public. He said i- Team staff was reviewing the use of Google Maps because the top software for the endeavor was very expensive. He invited the Commissioners to provide input on the project data they believed should be provided to i-Team member Kate Green or Information Officer Stacy Peterson.

PUBLIC COMMENT

No one came forward to address the Commissioners.

Next Meeting

The next regularly scheduled Transportation Commission meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 17, 2016, at 3:00 p.m.

Adjournment

There being no further discussion, Commissioner Adler moved to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Commissioner Lyons.

Approved by viva voce vote.

The Transportation Commission meeting adjourned at 4:29 p.m.