Session 05-01 was called to order by Chair Marquardt at 5:35 p.m. on July 26, 2005 at the Homer City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Ave., Homer, Alaska.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Kurt Marquardt, Michael Yourkowski, Steve Smith

ABSENT: Fred Pfeil

STAFF: Deputy City Clerk Johnson

City Manager Wrede

Police Chief Robl

Public Works Director Meyer

AGENDA APPROVAL

The agenda was approved by consensus of the Committee.

SYNOPSIS APPROVAL

A. July 27, 2004 Synopsis

The meeting synopsis of July 27,2004 was approved by consensus of the Committee.

PENDING BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS

A. Homer Intersections Planning Study

Scott Thomas, Traffic Engineer with the State of Alaska, Department of Transportation, participated by telephone. The Committee agreed the Intersections Planning Study as prepared by DOT is a great document with good information. It will be helpful in deciding the best approach for Homer’s intersections.

Mr. Yourkowski said in reading the written comments by public safety personnel they describe roundabouts as unsafe for pedestrians and too confusing. The Committee invited Chief Robl to comment on thoughts of the public safety people. Chief Robl said although he has had no professional experience with roundabouts he has heard no negative information about them.

Scott Thomas said there is currently only one multi-lane roundabout at Dowling and Seward Highway in Anchorage, yet more sites within the city are being explored. When the roundabout was designed pedestrian and bicycle safety was a big question. From first hand experience Mr. Thomas has noted motorists to be courteous and yielding. He has walked the roundabout in rush hour traffic and has found the motorists are focused on him before they get to the yield line. He noted that people deal with one thing at a time. Anchorage police have said there is less congestion in the roundabout.

Chair Marquardt has been studying roundabouts for five years. He noted the majority of public comments received were negative and counter to the research and information available on roundabouts. The perspective is that roundabouts are more dangerous, cause more difficulty making turns and are bad for pedestrians, which is all contrary to research.

Steve Smith said you have to go to the main arterials to get anywhere. Traffic can back up to create a one-minute delay per vehicle and that calculates to eight minutes if you are the eighth car in line. The RSC has made suggestions to open interior roads. Each year that goes by it is talked about and studied but there is no fix. There are frequent crashes at the intersections of the Sterling Highway and Lake, Main, Heath and Pioneer streets. Mr. Smith believes all intersections on the Sterling Highway need to be fixed. He questioned why it has taken so long for DOT to act.

Mr. Thomas explained DOT does not have an active intersection monitoring program, nor is there available staff. He said Lake Street and the Sterling Highway intersection has been on the radar for a number of years. An electronic detention device was placed in the pavement at Lake Street and Sterling Highway readying it for a traffic signal. The intersection study was done to evaluate the whole town. At the present time the study shows an acceptable level of traffic with peak hours creating congestion.

Half of the hardware is placed for a signal at the Lake Street and Sterling Highway. Installation costs of the signal will run between $150,000 and $200,000. There will then be an electric bill and an electronic maintenance fee to check the sensors. The maintenance costs are estimated between $8,600 and $10,000 per year, per site. Mr. Thomas said there is no money in the DOT maintenance schedule for that.

Mr. Thomas recommended moving out of the study phase and obtaining federal funding for the design phase. There are many intersections that fall under the Federal Highway Fund that provide for roundabouts or signals. Projects built with federal funds must provide at least five years of service. The next step is an environmental document to clear the project for design. Mr. Thomas indicated there was no funding available this summer.

Chair Marquardt noted the intersection study indicates the levels of service are generally acceptable, with the exception of peak hours and different times of the year. Pioneer Avenue is congested when school begins and lets out. He questioned if it is worth the time and money to install and maintain the traffic light for a few peak hours. He noted the progress already made with the pedestrian crossings, the signage and the islands. The Intersection Study indicates the level of service will decrease by 2011. Mr. Marquardt said that by moving into the design phase the system would be treated as a whole, rather than just looking at one intersection.

Steve Smith said the level of service is a statistic and indicator. Other factors for consideration are the number of accidents at intersections, different levels of speed and unfavorable site conditions. The document says there is a major problem on Pioneer Avenue and the Sterling Highway and there has been for the last two years. He believes an immediate remedy is needed.

Scott Thomas said the study indicates there have been 21 crashes in ten years and that is below the state average. Police Chief Mark Robl reported since 1999 there have been 15 accidents at Sterling Highway and Main Street and 9 at Sterling Highway and Lake Street. He defined a crash as an accident that exceeds the State reporting requirement of over $2,000 in property damage and injury. Chief Robl noted crashes at signals could be more severe with the installation of a traffic signal, as higher impacts would be seen.

A traffic signal at Lake Street and the Sterling Highway will benefit traffic as it will create gaps for Heath Street. As to the congestion that is anticipated by the location of Fred Meyer at the same intersection, Mr. Thomas remarked that there will be some impact. In Homer it has been observed that residents already make the trip to the post office and other shopping. There would not be a significant increase in the amount of trips made, as people would stop at the large retail store as a pass-by trip.

Mr. Thomas remarked that roundabouts are not the answer every time as there are places where they won’t work. Double trailers are two 40 ft. or 48 ft. trailers pulled by a sleeper cab. There are trucking firms that haul doubles and the Sterling Highway and Lake Street intersection would need a 190 ft. radius for them to make the turns. He explained a single lane roundabout requires a radius between 100 ft. to 130 ft. He said there is ample room at each intersection for roundabouts and they would not require property from businesses at the intersections to function.

Mr. Thomas said DOT’s recommendation is that the Heath and Lake Street intersections on Pioneer Avenue be treated differently from the intersections on the Sterling Highway. Mr. Thomas was asked about placing a traffic signal at Lake Street and Sterling Highway immediately without doing anything to the other intersections, and responded that it would still benefit traffic. He added that signals give pedestrians a false sense of security. Single signals run on a detector and are less efficient than roundabouts due to the delay time. It will help Lake Street by creating gaps for Heath Street, although it may not help congestion on the Main Street and Pioneer Avenue intersections. All-way-stops were discussed, particularly at Lake Street and Sterling Highway. This could cause traffic to backup past Heath Street.

Mr. Thomas recommended that the City go forward with two projects to secure federal funds for, namely the Sterling Highway intersections and Pioneer Avenue intersections.

Public Works Director Meyer said DOT’s presentation to the City Council indicated the improvement designs are not driven by accident and safety issues, but rather the lay and the level of service issues. He said the number of crashes is relatively low.

Chair Marquardt said DOT’s preferred alternative is roundabouts and it is clear in the Intersection Study. For the long term solution and safety considerations they lean towards the roundabout. Steve Smith pointed out that federal dollars can be obtained to build roundabouts, but not to maintain a traffic light. Both the Committee and the City Council are on board to solving the problems, sooner than later.

YOURKOWSKI/SMITH – MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL:

l. Traffic light at Lake Street and Sterling Highway intersection as a TEMPORARY measure.

2. Accept the DOT Intersection Study and recommend pursuing funding for two projects:

*Intersections on the Sterling Highway

*Intersections on Pioneer Avenue.

The Committee believes the signal at Lake Street and Sterling Highway will be an eye opener and that it may cause problems at the intersections behind it. Just treating one problem will not be the remedy for all. Some suggestions were to reduce the speed limit and install stop signs.

City Manager Wrede said Council discussed an all-way-stop sign at the Lake Street and Sterling Highway intersection. Concerns included placing it in the later part of the season would create more accidents. Council decided against the all-way-stop, but told DOT a stop light was needed as soon as possible. The Council relayed to DOT that a light was needed in early fall rather than waiting until spring. Council wanted to look at the whole system before recommending the stop light to find the impacts at the other intersections.

City Manager Wrede suggested the resolution include a whereas clause that the Committee is not making judgment on stoplights versus roundabouts right now. Those decisions will be made later.

Steve Smith commented that DOT will do their own thing if there is no specific direction from the city. He said the Committee’s input gives DOT something to work with. City Manager Wrede said there are state roads everywhere and DOT has the right to do what they want with them. DOT has been reluctant to act without the opinion of the City Council. Chair Marquardt said he is happy DOT is cooperating the way they are.

VOTE: YES. NON OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

Motion carried.

Chair Marquardt said it was a productive meeting and thanked the Committee members and the participating audience.

INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS

A. Resolution 04-78(S) – Support ADEC Efforts

B. Resolution 04-91 – Support Sterling Highway Enhancement

Project

C. Memorandum from Mike Heimbuch, Re: East-West Corridor

Through Town

D. Ordinance 04-55 – Amend Road Maintenance Map

E. Memorandum from Kevin Walker, Re: Homer Traffic/Intersection

Study

F. Ordinance 05-35(A) – Adopt Homer Transportation Plan

PUBLIC COMMENTS

City Manager Wrede commended the Committee on their good work.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Committee the meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.

____________________________________

JO JOHNSON, DEPUTY CITY CLERK

Approved: _________________________