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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/23/2017 Southold Transportation Commission Southold Town Hall October 23, 2017 Meeting Called to Order: 10:02 AM by Chairman Neb Brashich. Members Present Councilman William Ruland, Town Engineer Jamie Richter, Planning Director Heather Lanza, Jim Baker, Jim Kalin, Greenport Trustee Mary Bess Phillips, Nick Mazzaferro, Highway Superintendent Vincent Orlando and Tom Fox. Approval of September 18, 2017 Meeting Minutes On page 2 - Request for a Traffic Signal – Boisseau Avenue, line 4: should read “advised him that.” A motion to approve the corrected minutes was made by Ms. Phillips, was seconded by Jim Baker and was carried. East End Transportation Council - Update Neb and Ms. Phillips attended the EETC meeting on October 18, 2017. Neb reported that a New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) draft proposal noted that North Fork roads need improvement. He also noted that the type of bus shelters and maintenance issues are still outstanding and that SCDPW would issue RFP’s in October 2017, although no SCDPW rep had attended the meeting. NYSDOT advised that $2,800,000 in funding would be requested for availability by March 9, 2018 to implement NYMTC’s proposed Bike Program. The NYS Pedestrian Action Plan may seek a TIGER grant for funding. Two towns must apply for the grant, which would be administered by NYS. Ms. Phillips noted that parking issues are having an economic impact on the North Fork. Moreover, traffic has become saturated to the extent that emergency services access has been impacted and repeat visits by tourists are declining due to congestion. She suggested that “outside the box” solutions will be needed within five years. Neb and Heather Lanza suggested that political action is required at local, state and federal levels. A discussion for developing a plan for the coordination of East End efforts should be on the agenda of the October 25, 2017 meeting of the East End Mayors and Supervisors Association. A meeting of the Towns of Riverhead, Southold and Shelter Island and the Village of Greenport should also be convened to discuss North Fork traffic and parking issues and possible solutions. Councilman Ruland will discuss that possible meeting with the Town Board. Increased LIRR service improvements are currently constrained by an insufficient number of diesel locomotives. Neb advised that the North Fork Trolley Shuttle trial has been very busy and that Denis Noncarrow will brief the Commission on the program. Status Report – Town-wide Parking Inventory Detailed inventories of parking spaces in Southold hamlets and VGPT noted 945 spaces and 1 325 spaces, respectively, for a total of 1,270. Other non-government spaces such as schools, unused private parking lots should also be inventoried for consideration as parking venues. Public Requests Request for a Traffic Signal – Boisseau Avenue and SR25 - Southold Councilman Ruland advised that he had spoken again with Mullen Motors (Dick Mullen and his sons) about the status of that request and that he has heard nothing further from them. Request for Two Speed Limit Signs - Mary’s Road & Pike Street - Mattituck Highway Superintendent Orlando reported that two speed limit signs would be placed on those roadways in accordance with NYSDOT speed limit regulations. New Suffolk Civic Association Parking Needs & Requests st Highway Superintendent Orlando reported that striping on the east side of 1 and placement of parallel parking signage are traffic safety issues. Request for a Stop Sign at the Southeast Corner of Main Bay View Road and Cedar Beach Road - Southold While observing activity at intersection, Councilman Ruland reported having seen three local residents who failed to observe the stop sign on CBR when entering MBVR. He also noted that a pedestrian with a baby stroller was walking on the wrong side of the roadway. Neb and Jamie Richter will draft a memo concerning those observations. Supervisor, Town Board & Town Trustees Requests Boat Ramp at Hashamomuck Creek Update - Southold NYSDOT’s letter of September15, 2017 advised that it had concluded its investigation concerning the proposed reconfiguration of SR25 and Old Main Road. The letter advised that due to budgetary limitations and the necessary taking of right-of-way, preparing an environmental analysis, utility relocation, NYSDOT is currently unable to undertake a project at this location. The Commission deemed NYSDOT’s letter to be “non-responsive.” Neb and Jamie Richter will draft a letter to NYSDOT with copies to local and state legislators urging action. Thereafter, should NYSDOT fail to undertake reconfiguration of that intersection thereafter, the Commission will consider suggesting that the Town should redesignate Old Main Road as an eastbound one-way road. Weight Limit on Peconic Bay Boulevard Review Request It was suggested that the Town of Riverhead should be consulted concerning its experience with enforcement of weight limits on the roadway. As a residential street, traffic on PBB has generally included automobiles, local delivery trucks, school buses and landscapers. However, a closer review of the current nature of traffic should be considered. Weekend Farm Traffic – Tim McManus Recommendation Mr. McManus’s letter of October 6, 2017 suggested a change of traffic patterns on Sound Avenue and the Main Road during peak weekend hours in September and October. He recommended that between Northville Turnpike and Factory Avenue, Sound Avenue should be restricted to eastbound traffic only, while the Main Road should restricted to westbound traffic only. Moreover, traffic agents should be stationed at turnoffs on both roadways where there are no traffic lights. The Commission has no recommendation and Neb will draft a response to Mr. McManus. 2 Planning Board Requests Town Comprehensive Plan The Transportation and Infrastructure Chapter of the Plan will include the final conclusions of the Commission’s Parking Options Review. Current Transportation Issues - Updates NYSDOT Paving Maintenance – SR25 NYSDOT will undertake roadway maintenance at a date to be determined. Southold / Greenport Bus Shelters –– No Installation Contract – Next Spring Neb reported that SCDPW has advised that there will be no contract from that agency for installation of the shelters until the spring of 2018. (See EETC update, above.) Old Business North Fork Trolley Shuttle Proposal for Southold Town – North Fork Promotion Council Denis Noncarrow will update the Commission concerning the results of the trial periods. Peconic Water Taxi Proposal Tom Fox will follow up with Hampton Jitney’s management concerning the proposal. However, the proposal should be presented to EETC for its input, with a view toward securing NYS funding for a feasibility study. Traffic Signal with Overrides – Intersection of SR25 and CR58 - Greenport Jim Baker suggested the placement of a traffic signal with override capability at that intersection. However, funding for a traffic study for a traffic circle has been budgeted. SCT – S92 Schedule Changes Jim Kalin reported that schedules for that service will be revamped on October 31, 2017 and that a new “app” reporting bus ETA’s is now operative. New Business None. Next Meeting The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 13, 2017 at 10:00 AM in the conference room at Town Hall. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 11:57 AM. cc: Town Clerk Respectfully submitted, Thomas F. Fox 3