HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-02-03 Birch Meadow Traffic Task Force MinutesBIRCH MEADOW TRAFFIC
TASK FORCE
The second meeting o the Task: Force was 1jrt-~`l d on February 35 1992, in
the Berger 'Room, in the Reading Town Hall. The meeting was called to
order at 7t35 pm by Chairman Dan Ensminger.
In attendance were Dan Ensminger, Al LaHood, Kevin Moran, Steve
Smith, Torn, St.ohlman and .Bill Warren.
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as corrected
The Selectmen's charge to the Tae-•k: Force was reviewed with tl...;e
objective a+ setting intermediate milestones and establishing a
meeting frequency. General agreement was reached on the +ol l c: wwi ng
objectives.
Meetings about every two weeks., next three:
:00 pm, February 25 • t Coolidge ,Jr x High Cafeteria (Mr.
LaHood to confirm date and ;make arrangements). Meeting to
C:bt:.aiti ir°;Fwut from area residents about traffic problems and
possible solutions. Announcement in advance by flyer
prepared and distributed house to house by subcommittee of
Moran, Smith-; and Warren and announcement in the Chronicle.,
6:30 m, ;'larch at Town hall.
Complete listing of traffic: problems
6:30 pm, March 23 at Town hall
Additional milestones
- Mid April
Sort list of Traffic problems into categories set out in
Selectmen's charge: by relative ease and cost o mitigation.
- Early June
Draft listing of findings and recommended solutions.
Late June
Final report
The counter siting subcommittee of Moran, Smith and Warren reported
that no counter- was immediately available and that the town has only
one.
A quotation of $1000 from Scully for four counters for seven days,
and $200 for one counter at the Franklin ice rink: for seven days, was
obtai ped by the Public Works Department a
As an alternative to using counters, video cameras and personal
counting were utilized to obtain data as follows: 'SuVTw-
Jan 21 6,10 SCHOOL)
A. M. P. M.
7-9 4: 3Q--6: 30
f 7--9 4:30-6: 30
7--9,
Jan 28 (SCHOOL)
7-9 4:30-030
Location Type
Forest & Arthur B. Lord video
John Carver & Intervale video
Birch Meadow, east of Oakland visual
John Carver & Interval e
video
Additional video record:-, will be attempted to record
Birch Meadow and Oakland (at•l.kwrr,pt to capture Waverly as well)
John Carver at Hartshorn
Forest and Arthur B. Lord (on a school day,
Review o the existing data from prt`om'1%ioLi=: studies and the new data
was not t::onclt-ts7.Ye, but it was observed:
- That the John Carver traffic had di mmi ni shed from the September-
'91 level „ probably attributable to student car pooling.
That a lot of the traffic is attributable' to school activity
- More study and possibly more data will be necessary to
understand the traffic pattens and to derive "cut through-
commuter traffic level
A memo to the Task Force from Bill Warren outlining traffic problems
at the north end o Bancroft Ave. (in the vicinity of the tennis
courts) had been mailed prior to the meeting and will be taken up at
a later meeting.,
)Preliminary conclusions and objectives from a qualitative standpoint
Solutions for Birch i Meadow area should not adversly impact other
areas.
- John Car've'r i.nt%r'vale heeds a reduction in 'v'olume of traffic-
and speeding.
Birc::h-i Meadow Drive has a parking problem from May through Sept
maybe dangerous. Especially with-, children entering the street
between parked cars.
- Forest Street has more of a speeding problem, than a volume
problem.
- North end of Bancroft Avenue has a parking problem May through
Sept o
The Task-Force doe= not understand the traffic patterns and
processes sufficiently to develop alternative solutions, yet
Fiore problem identification is needed to be sure the Task:
Force is considering enough-, problems.
Task Force Meetings need to be officially announced.
Meeting adjourned at 9:15 pme
VALAIU_,"
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