HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works February 25 20031
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Public Works and Capital Projects Committee
February 25, 2003
The meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m. by Committee Chair Barbara
Brenner in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: Absent:
L. Ward Nelson Sam Crawford
Also Present:
Dan McShane
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING A REQUEST BY CITIZENS IN THE GENEVA
NEIGHBORHOOD TO HAVE A STOP SIGN INSTALLED ON LAKEWAY
DRIVE (AB2003 -097)
Brenner stated the Council received this request last year. Mr. Citron knows
that the Public Works Department doesn't feel that a stop sign is warranted,
however he still feels it is necessary.
Joe Rutan, Assistant Director of Public Works, stated he has the original
petition and a series of letters. He distributed a letter from former County Engineer
Bruce Mills to the County Council on May 6, 2002. It is a summary of the Public
Works recommendation on this issue.
Nelson stated the community is concerned about the traffic flow. They can't
get on and off of Lakeway. People get backed up on the side streets.
Brenner stated she is sympathetic to the citizen's concern. The letter says
that the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices ( MUTCD) is clear that stop signs
should not be used for speed control. However, they use stop signs for speed
control a lot. A driver has to stop when he or she comes to a stop sign. That
controls speed.
Rutan stated that it would be in error to say that there are not stop signs in
the county that were not installed to control speed. The question would be whether
or not they were installed with the Public Works Department recommendation. The
department follows the MUTCD for recommendation on installing stop signs, which
is a guideline. The staff uses its professional judgment. This is a serious thing.
They don't want to train people to disregard signs. If they are putting signs up in
places where there is no reason, people will start ignoring them. That is his
recommendation.
Public Works and Capital Projects Committee, 2/25/2003, Page 1
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
Nelson asked if there are mechanisms to change streets from two -way to
one -way. Rutan stated the question for him is Geneva Elementary School's
approved safe walk route. He is interested in finding that out to determine if the
safe walk route is appropriately chosen and signed. They could do some widening
of the shoulder areas.
Brenner asked Mr. Rutan to look into this and report back with any ideas.
Rutan stated he would. He never wants to take a dangerous situation and make it
look safe when it is not safe. He has some ideas for how to create signage for the
pedestrian and bikes.
Brenner stated she is sympathetic to the issue, but would like to wait until
she hears Mr. Rutan's suggestions on the issue. There are ways to change people's
habits, including having a patrol car at the location.
Todd Citron, citizen, stated he knew that this does not meet the Engineering
Division's rules, which is why he is bringing it to the Council. It is an issue for
everyone in his neighborhood. There is a place for the people who live in a
neighborhood to maintain the character of a neighborhood and incorporate safety
for the families. It is a 25 miles per hour street that is not an arterial. The
population has increased in that area. The County repaved Lakeway Drive a year
and a half ago. Now it is an invitation to speed. Kids may or may not follow the
appropriate safe route. The school's park -like grounds attract families during all
hours. He asked the committee to step outside the Public Works Department
analysis and consider the reasons for installing a stop sign. Installing berms in the
middle of the road is another option that's being done in the City of Bellingham.
Rutan stated berms are traffic calming designs. That is what they are trying
to achieve here. The use of stop signs to calm traffic has been an issue in the
realm of public works. There are other options for traffic calming, such as speed
bumps and road surfaces. They can't do speed bumps because they are dangerous
for bikes and motorcycles. Another option is called a roundabout. The most
effective way to slow people down is to narrow the road at the intersection by
bumping out the sidewalks. Those are the types of things they should look at for
traffic calming, not the use of stop signs, although there are places where that has
been done.
Brenner asked Mr. Rutan to come up with other options.
2. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE AUSTIN CREEK BRIDGE ON LAKE
WHATCOM BOULEVARD IN SUDDEN VALLEY (AB2003 -098)
Brenner asked if the letter from Pete Kremen satisfies the concerns.
Steve Greiser, Sudden Valley Community Association General Manager,
stated they received a copy of Executive Kremen's response. He is encouraged by
Public Works and Capital Projects Committee, 2/25/2003, Page 2
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
it. There are not a lot of details other than to encourage moving it up the list. He's
followed that project on the transportation list for years, and it is slowly creeping
up. The population in Sudden Valley keeps growing. It will still be four or five
years before anything is done to the bridge, and by that time it will be a real
problem. He would like it moved up on the list.
Brenner asked if they would have to move it up on the six -year road
program.
Joe Rutan, Assistant Director of Public Works, stated that is correct. He and
his staff developed a lot of questions that they need to ask the community
association to get a better handle of the problem. That bridge is a difficult bridge to
widen. After this meeting, he will get his traffic people involved with the Sudden
Valley board and put together options for the committee to review. If he proposes
a new bridge, for example, he will look at whether they want to do just the bridge
or a larger project. In talking with Executive Kremen, it is a high priority for staff
to work on.
Nelson asked how soon they could bring this information back to the
committee. Rutan stated he would like to bring it back this spring.
Nelson asked how long it would take for permitting if it were approved this
spring. Rutan stated that if they do a full rebuild of the bridge and he has the
plans, it could take two years to get permitting. A number of agencies are going to
want to review this. Right -of -way may also need to be purchased.
Nelson asked for an update periodically on this issue before spring.
Brenner suggested an update for the committee in four weeks.
McShane stated the Lake Louise Road improvements were highly ranked on
the list. Those improvements are to encourage traffic to follow that road. They
could close the Lakeway- Austin Creek Bridge permanently. Rutan stated that if
they do close that bridge to work on it, Lake Louise would become an important
alternative route.
Nelson stated he'd like to look at the whole construction plan. The reason
this has taken so long may be because financially it makes sense not to redo a
bridge, and then come back and redo the road. Rutan stated he will look at the
whole package and see what they recommend as an appropriate package and
sequence. If there is another portion of the project that will delay permitting, they
may proceed with fixing just the bridge. They are going to take a dangerous
situation and make it safe, but they still have an interim time when there is a
dangerous situation out there. There have been suggestions in the past. There are
differing opinions on what signage should be installed. One of the signs he's seen
that may fit this situation is at Deception Pass Bridge. It warns pedestrians and
Public Works and Capital Projects Committee, 2/25/2003, Page 3
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DISCLAIMER: This document contains the Whatcom County Council or Committee
minutes, as approved. However, unless an attested signature page is attached, they
are not the final approved minutes.
bikers that it is an unsafe bridge to cross. He'd like to focus on warning the
pedestrians and the bikes.
Brenner agreed with doing that and also doing something that would allow
people to walk across the bridge. Rutan stated they could do some interim signing
to make people using the bridge be aware of the situation.
Brenner asked if they could make the bridge one way, with a stop sign at
each end. Rutan stated it is an option. He doesn't know the ramifications of that
option yet.
Greiser stated the planning process was scheduled to begin this year, so they
haven't pushed it forward at all. The thing now is about pushing up the planning.
Rutan stated that is about the entire project. He is talking about focusing
just on the bridge, which may push the project forward.
Brenner stated an interim solution could be the one -way bridge.
Greiser stated he liked the idea of the sign similar to the one on Deception
Pass Bridge. It warns both pedestrians and drivers. It catches people's attention
because it is different.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 2:18 p.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
ATTEST:
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Barbara Brenner, Committee Chair
Public Works and Capital Projects Committee, 2/25/2003, Page 4