TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING
October 16, 2013
ATTENDANCE:
Dave Sharples, City Planner, Russell Timmons, Police Captain, Matt Spencer, Major, Paul Robidas, Director of EMS, Brian Tapscott, City Counselman, Keith Hoyle, Fire Chief, Jenni Mosca, Superintendent of Schools, Bob Belmore, City Manager and Tom Willis, Director of Developmental Planning.
AUDIENCE:
Lindsey Ballou: 2 Squire Drive.
Meeting began at 2:00PM.
Past business: Tom was against section III C of last month’s meeting. Jenni made a motion to accept all past minutes, Tom seconds it and all minutes were accepted. 8 yes, 0 no. Motion granted. A couple housekeeping items were made to last month’s minutes, no dramatic change to the minutes
I. Lindsey took the podium for a Salmon Falls traffic complaint. Lindsey said that on a daily basis between 4:30-7:30 AM there are 18-wheelers going above 50 miles per hour down the street. She has spoken to Berwick PD about putting up speed enforcement signs. Lindsey suggested getting the road repaired, and the breakdown lane portion along with more traffic enforcement by Somersworth Police.
Russell spoke with Strafford County Planning Committee who did a one week study (10/1-10/7) of the area in question. They found that there is a heavy volume of traffic showing 13,694 vehicles during the week. 85% of the vehicles were going 35-43 miles per hour. It was also stated that officers do regular patrols of the area, and during the study there were not a high volume of 18 wheeler’s seen.
The group talked about the speed limit statues for the area and Salmon Falls Road being a Class V road. State Police Troop G will be notified with Stealth Findings and after officers witness more flow of tractor-trailers.
Lindsey also requested the brush be cut back along the soft shoulders so people could safely walk.
Tom said that they would be doing brush cutting on the sides and also fixing the cracks in the road. Matt requested the exact depth of the asphalt from Tom.
Matt talked about getting a speed-reader from Berwick and Rochester Pd’s. The group felt that that would just cause more of an issue, as vehicles in the past have tried to race them.
OUTCOME: Continue with directed patrols in the area, have the highway department made repairs, will give update during next meeting.
II. Capt. Timmons read an e-mail that had been sent by Gina Vino from 475 High St., about the turning lane off of High Street and going into the Plaza. The e-mail talked about how it was causing a traffic hazard because instead of waiting at the lights, people were turning into the parking lot of AAA. There had been past conversations with the plaza about closing the entrance of AAA but it was declined. Cost of the project was a concern.
OUTCOME: Have police patrol the area and keep an eye on traffic hazards.
III. Second item read by Capt. Timmons an E-mail sent regarding speeding and crosswalk violations near Idlehurst School. E-mailer felt children could not walk safely due to traffic going at a high rate of speed and also not stopping at crosswalks. Dave suggested breakaway sticks in the double yellow line. Matt talked about teachers being able to walk kids to the crosswalk. Russell sent the statistics for September to the e-mail writer, which included 12 citations for speed and crosswalk violations.
OUTCOME: Keep officers patrolling the area and enforce more citations for violations.
IV. Brian received e-mail from a Union Street resident at the corner of Walnut Street that had a blind driveway. Homeowner was looking to get a blind driveway sign.
OUTCOME: Capt. Timmons to do a site visit with Brian and report in next month’s meeting whether a sign should be put up.
V. Resident of 311 Green Street looking for a sign for “watch out for children.” Bob believed that too many signs become distractions. In the past these requests have not been acted on by the committee.
OUTCOME: No sign.
VI. OLD BUSINESS:
A. Speed on Route 108 was brought to counsel. Nothing has been acted on yet due to pending results from the state.
B. The crosswalk on West High Street has been recently painted along with putting visible signs up, and there have been no motor vehicle accidents since.
Jenni made a motion to end the meeting, Tom seconds it. 8 yes, 0 no. Motion granted at 3:06 PM.