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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-09-18 Board of Selectmen Supplemental Materials Memorandum TO: North Andover Board of Selectman FROM : William J. Scott, Community Development Director RE: Traffic Advisory Council (TAC) Recommendations Date: September 18, 1996 At the regular meeting of the TAC the following items were voted as recommendations for consideration by the Board of Selectman. Several of these items require further review by the State Massachusetts Highway Department. The TAC is intending on inviting representatives from MHD to tour the community and review all of these and other issues to expedite the projects. Abbot Street Request: Due to the location of the school and the Rae earth removal operations there is a concurrence of school children walking along Abbott and trucks proceeding to the Rae facility. A method to exclude trucks was requested. Issues: A resident along Abbot brought this to the attention of the TAC based on his observations of unsafe conditions. The trucks were asked to avoid Abbot however this only created an issue for residents on neighboring streets. Recommendation: To avoid long term impacts on streets surrounding Abbott , while protecting the safety of the school children the TAC recommends a truck exclusion on Abbot for the time periods prior to school opening and after school closing. A permanent truck exclusion would create a diversion of traffic that would not be acceptable to other streets. The exclusion would be from 7:30 to 9:30 am and 2:30 to 4:30 PM. A study in cooperation with the Mass Highway Department is required prior to establishing an exclusion. Vote: That the TAC proceed with the necessary analysis toward establishing a truck exclusion on Abbot Street for the time periods that reasonably coincide with the opening and closing of the Sargent School. Such exclusion shall become effective upon the appropriate approval by the Massachusetts Highway Department, and the erection of signs indicating such exclusion. Main at St. Michael's Church Request : The church has requested that a pedestrian actuated crosswalk light be allowed to facilitate safe crossing between the church and school and the parking lot. They have offered to pay for the construction of the light. Issues : Currently the traffic cone has not provided safe passage for children and those using the parking lot. A planned expansion of the Church may exacerbate the problem. The light will provide a definitive ability to stop traffic. In addition the light will serve to warn motorists that they are entering a pedestrian area, the downtown. Recommendation : The recommendation is to allow the church to construct the light within the requirements of the Mass Highway Standards and with local approvals after the preparation of a plan. The TAC is determining the level of assistance that MHD may provide to this project in the form of engineering and or installation. Vote: That the TAC and St. Michael's Church proceed with the necessary analysis and plans toward establishing a pedestrian actuated crossing light to allow safe crossing for the church and school at the churches Main Street location. That the Board of Selectman approve the crossing and light subject to approval by the Town Police Department, Town Department of Public Works and conformance with Mass Highway Standards. Salem and Boxford Streets Request : Residents on the area are concerned regarding those areas that are not posted, and are therefore considered to be 40 MPH, allow speeds that are excessive. They are requesting a lower speed limit. Issues : Sergeant Soucy has reviewed Salem and Boxford Streets and has indicated that the speed limit changes throughout the distance of the street. Not posting speed limits creates a default to 40 MPH. Due to increases in development in the outskirts traffic has increased and so has the speed of traffic. Recommendation : Post those areas that are not already posted with speed limit signs limiting to 35 MPH. Therefore at no point on Salem or Boxford Street would the speed limit be allowed greater than 35 MPH. Vote : That the Police Department and Department of Public Works proceed with the necessary steps and approvals to post all areas, on Salem and Boxford Streets, now allowing speeds in excess of 35 mile per hour to be reduced to 35 mph per hour. Further that those areas which are posted at 35 miles per hour or less shall remain as such. Main & School Street Request : Address a problem caused by long term live parking using spaces for businesses and parking for residents. Issue: This area attracts long term live parking which is a problem for the businesses and residents in the area. Parking is not available due to persons parking for extended periods. Limiting parking to a time period will resolve the long term use problem, however the residents will not be able to park on the upper portion of School Street. Recommend : Recommend a 30 minute parking restriction on School Street. In addition allow a resident identification program which provides School Street residents with long term parking over the 30 minute restriction in the area of upper School street. Vote : That parking shall be limited to a period of 30 minutes on School Street and that qualified residents in the upper School Street area shall be provided with identification for their vehicles to allow parking longer than 30 minutes on the upper portion of School Street, as determined by Police Department. Further that the Police Department shall establish a method for identification of resident vehicles and the Department of Public Works shall erect signs appropriate to this limitation. Main Street at Municipal Parking Lot Exit Request : To address the poor site line visibility for traffic for Senior Citizens exiting from the municipal parking lot onto Main Street. Issue: The visibility when exiting from the parking lot is difficult due to cars parking to the curb edge. Recommendation : Open Saunders Street gate for egress only from the municipal lot. Determine the possibility of closing the gate after closing of the Senior Center. Vote : Allow the use of the Saunders Street access as an egress only from the municipal parking lot, and if possible based on staffing, the use of the egress shall be limited to, the regular operating hours, and during events held, at the Senior Center. Cleveland & Main Request: The original request was to eliminate parking spaces at the intersection of Cleveland and Main Streets. The Selectman voted to authorize no parking along a section of Cleveland to allow for better visibility. Issue: The Main Street spaces were kept to avoid reducing parking spaces in the downtown. The person making the request is asking that the Main Street spaces be reconsidered. Recommendation : Reduce the two parking spaces along Main Street at either side of Cleveland to compact vehicle spaces and post accordingly. Vote : That the two parking spaces along Main Street at either side of Cleveland Street be reduced to compact vehicle spaces and that the space be shortened and signs be placed accordingly.