Chambana Sun

City of Urbana Traffic Commission met March 2

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

1. Call to Order

The meeting began at 3:59 p.m. Roll was called. A quorum was present.

2. Approval of Minutes:

Rich Surles moved to approve the minutes of the December 1, 2021 meeting. Shannon Beranek seconded the motion.

The minutes for the December 1, 2021 meeting were unanimously approved by a 3-0 vote. 3Bishop – Aye; Beranek – Aye; Surles – Aye

Additions to the agenda:

There were no additions to the agenda.

3. Public Input

Jennifer Hardesty and Zuri White expressed their concerns about traffic in the Savannah Green subdivision.

4. Unfinished Business

There was no unfinished business.

5. New Business

The Commission discussed items A-E concurrently since the items were within the same general location.

A. Discussion of traffic control on Ogelthorpe Avenue at Rainbow View.

B. Discussion of traffic control on Montgomery Street at Rainbow View.

C. Discussion of traffic control on Michigan Avenue at Ogelthorpe Avenue.

D. Discussion of traffic control on Michigan Avenue at Abercorn Street.

E. Discussion of traffic control on Michigan Avenue at Montgomery Street.

Shannon Beranek discussed the request for traffic control in the Savannah Green subdivision. She stated that while looking at traffic at that intersections of Ogelthorpe Avenue at Rainbow View and Montgomery Street at Rainbow View, it was decided to install traffic control at additional intersections within the subdivision. Shannon Beranek indicated that stop signs were warranted to indicate major and minor streets within the Savannah Green subdivision as defined in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), specifically, the criteria for the installation of a stop sign on a minor street states that a stop sign may be installed if one or more of the following conditions exists:

A. An intersection of a less important road with a main road where application of the normal right-of-way rule would not be expected to provide reasonable compliance with the law;

B. A street entering a designated through highway or street; and/or

C. An unsignalized intersection in signalized area.

Shannon Beranek indicated that both A and B criteria were met for these locations. She added that there had been no accidents at those locations, but it was important to indicate right of way for motorists.

Zuri White asked about the installation of a four-way stop at Michigan Avenue and Smith Road. She noted that the high speeds on Smith Road made it difficult for cars to stop on that street for cars and pedestrians crossing at Michigan Avenue.

Shannon Beranek explained that the warrants were not met for adding a four-way stop. She reinforced what was discussed at an earlier meeting that stop signs were not used to control speeding. She added that the City was looking at a traffic calming policy to try to reduce motorists’ speeds in certain areas of the city.

Rich Surles said that there had not been any reported crashes in Savannah Green that would have been avoided with the installation of traffic control devices.

Chaundra Bishop moved to install stop signs for northbound traffic on Ogelthorpe Avenue and Montgomery Street at Rainbow View, eastbound Michigan Avenue at Ogelthorpe Drive and Michigan Avenue at Abercorn Street, and westbound Michigan Avenue at Montgomery Street.

Rich Surles seconded the motion.

The motion was unanimously approved.

Bishop—Aye; Beranek—Aye; Surles—Aye

This is item will go to the Committee of the Whole for discussion.

F. Discussion of traffic control on Tatman Court and Industrial Circle. Shannon Beranek discussed the concern brought to the Traffic Commission by a United States Postal Service employee. The employee expressed concern about westbound traffic on Tatman Court not yielding to southbound traffic on Industrial Circle. Shannon Beranek stated that the pavement markings indicated that westbound traffic was to either follow the street to the right onto northbound Industrial Circle or yield to southbound traffic if it was continuing westbound on Tatman Court. She added that eastbound traffic west of Industrial Circle was controlled by a stop sign. She recommended the installation of a warning sign for westbound traffic wanting to continue travelling westbound at Industrial Circle to show that those motorists would need to yield to southbound traffic on Industrial Circle.

This action would be done by Public Works staff after a work order assignment was prepared.

6. Adjournment

With no other business at hand, the meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.

The next scheduled Traffic Commission meeting scheduled to be held on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. at the Urbana Public Works Department, 706 Glover Avenue, second floor conference room.

http://urbanaillinois.us/sites/default/files/attachments/Approved%20Minutes%20March%2022.pdf