DeKalb Times

City of Naperville Transportation Advisory Board met Aug. 3.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

A. CALL TO ORDER:

Chairman Melaniphy called the August 3, 2023 Transportation Advisory Board Meeting to order.

This was closed.

B. ROLL CALL:

This was closed.

Present 6 - Mary Howenstine, Suzanne Hart, Scott Hurley, Michael Melaniphy, Inga Orolin, and James Webb

Absent 4 - Janet Blubaugh, Michael Brown, Matthew Seeberg, and Jennifer Bruzan Taylor

C. PUBLIC FORUM:

Marilyn Schweitzer is a public speaker. She would like the City to pay the full share for the sidewalk program. She states that sidewalks are a public asset used for everyone in the community. She states that residents are maybe scared to be in favor of the new sidewalk program because of the potential cost share.

Deputy City Engineer Andy Hynes states that it depends on the situation for the cost share on percentages for the city and the homeowner. He states that the sawing contract is a new contract that has recently been expanded and that should help with the maintenance.

Hurley asks why sidewalks have the cost share and not roads.

Hynes states that he doesn't have the full history on the reason for that.

This was closed.

D. REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

Approve the minutes of the June 1, 2023, Transportation Advisory Board Meeting

A motion was made by Webb, seconded by Hart, approved. The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 6 - Howenstine, Hart, Hurley, Melaniphy, Orolin, and Webb

Absent: 3 - Blubaugh, Brown, Bruzan Taylor, and Seeberg

Receive staff’s evaluation on the DuPage River Trail crossing at Gartner Road and Edgewater Drive

Hynes gives a presentation on the request from residents to take a look at the Gartner and Edgewater trail crossing.

Hart states that she uses the crossing thousands of times and loves the trail. She states that the trail is a very safe intersection and does not see any need for further improvement.

Hurley asks what the recommendations are.

Hynes states that crossing will get new signs at the crossing to alert drivers of the crossing.

Seth Deegan states that he takes the trail frequently for biking and for commuting. He state the crossing is very dangerous especially for the SB/WB bicyclists. He states that the road width needs to be reduced as speed is a large issue. He likes the recommendation but he would like the speeds reduced.

Hynes states that on the east side of the bridge marked chokers were installed and that an after study for the effectiveness will be done in October.

Marilyn Schweitzer states that the additional warning signs will be a large help and she hopes the residents will not have to wait a year for the installation of the signs as they had to for some measures from the previous study. She states that the in-pavement sign is only in place for half the year and for the other half there is no indication right at the intersection. She says that it would be helpful to do a study when the in-pavement sign is not in the road.

She states that at night the intersection is not well lit and pedestrians/bicyclysts are difficult to see. She states that staff claims that there is sufficient gaps for pedestrians/bicyclysts to safely cross at the crossing. She states that having sufficient gaps does not mean a crossing feels safe because vehicles do not slow down.

She also states that the trail comes in at a 45 degree angle from the north, because of this you have to come out into the crosswalk to be seen by people coming over the bridge. She states that statistics may show that nothing further is warranted, which is great for the city but not so great for the individual who experiences risk every time they cross. She would like the signage installed and for staff to consider lighting and to investigate narrowing the road down.

Howenstine asks if she wears any reflective devices while using the crossing.

Schweitzer states that she does not wear a reflective vest when it is 90 degrees and that she would understand it at night. She also states that if the city is taking the approach that for public safety on a public sidewalk, citizens are expected to wear a reflective vest when walking downtown to a council meeting or to get groceries that it is a little extreme. She understands the concern but does not believe that should be put on the citizens.

Hurley was surprised by the data collection having more traffic on Monday compared to Sunday.

Bob White states that the traffic calming toolkit that was used on Gartner does bring drivers closer to the median line but the speeds are still high. He states that vehicles are increasing in number because Gartner is used a cut through to get from northeast Naperville to the southwest.

Webb states that Memorial Day was the Monday that data was collected.

Hynes states that staff may not have been aware of that when the cameras were placed.

This Report was received.

Approve the recommendation to amend the existing truck route ordinance

Hynes gives a recommendation to amend the existing truck route ordinance.

Webb asks how they calculated the new fee.

Hynes states the Finance department uses staff time and current staff wages to make that calculation.

This Report was approved.

Aye: 6 - Howenstine, Hart, Hurley, Melaniphy, Orolin, and Webb

Absent: 3 - Blubaugh, Brown, Bruzan Taylor, and Seeberg

Approve a recommendation to modify parking restrictions on the north side of Benton Avenue east of Webster Street

Hynes gives a recommendation to modify the parking restrictions on Benton Avenue.

Hurley asks if there is more area for parking.

Hynes states that that is correct.

A motion was made by Hurley, seconded by Orolin, approved. The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 6 - Howenstine, Hart, Hurley, Melaniphy, Orolin, and Webb

Absent: 3 - Blubaugh, Brown, Bruzan Taylor, and Seeberg

E. OLD BUSINESS:

Hynes states that currently utility relocation is the main construction that is going on at the Washington Street Bridge. He states that potentially there could be four lanes of traffic during the winter time.

This was closed.

F. NEW BUSINESS:

Hurley states that previously the board approved limiting truck parking on Cantore and now trucks are parking on Forgue Drive. He states that it is a public safety issue and asks whether anything can be done?

Hynes states that Forgue Drive is a private roadway and that staff has had similar concerns expressed to them. He states that it is on the property owner to address the issue.

Hurley asks what the property owner is able to do in this case.

Hynes states he will have to reach out to the traffic sergeant to find out more information on that.

Melaniphy asks what would prohibit the property owner from putting up no truck parking signs on Forgue.

Hynes states they would be able to. Webb asks if thisis a zoning issue. Hynes states that he will look into that.

Hart asks if staff has been made aware of the tractor trailers on Hamlet.

Hynes states that he will find out more information on what was done in the past.

This was closed.

G. ADJOURNMENT:

A motion was made by Howenstine, seconded by Hart, to adjourn the Transportation Advisory Board Meeting at 7:53 p.m. The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 6 - Howenstine, Hart, Hurley, Melaniphy, Orolin, and Webb

Absent: 3 - Blubaugh, Brown, Bruzan Taylor, and Seeberg

https://naperville.legistar.com/DepartmentDetail.aspx?ID=35596&GUID=82D799BE-2C86-46BD-A0C3-775FE99EE8C5