20230216 - CSAC Minutes

CSAC Meeting-- February 16, 2023-- MINUTES

ATTENDEES:

CSAC Members/ Liaisons: Anastasia Bamberg, Sheila Brogan, Charles S. Di Marco, Shayan Farooqi, Jovan Mehandzic, Mary Micale, John Prieto, Henry Ratcliffe, Jane Remis, Councilmember Lorraine Reynolds, Barbara Sacks, Officer Raymond Tarino

Others: Susan B. Di Marco, Rurik Halaby, James Ochoa, Kerry White

OLD BUSINESS:

1)  Franklin Avenue Corridor-- Repaving and New Pavement Markings completed. County review of Corridor Concept Plan continues-nothing new to report. Village completed upgrade of Pedestrian Signals and conduit work at Oak Street.

2)  Pedestrian/ Bike SRTS Grants-- Council approved extra payment for additional work. Construction may begin in 2023 after inspection services are secured.

3)  CBDAC-- Discussions continue on simplifying parking zones and fees. Pedestrian Plaza schedule not set-- likely to start in May on weekends.

4)  Glen Avenue Sidewalks-- Engineering has completed plans. Walls selected- awaits budgeting.

5)  CSAC Tracking of Safety Issues-- Mr. Prieto developed a spreadsheet which he will maintain and distribute to CSAC monthly showing status of items reported by members and public. Mr. Mehandzic suggested limiting entries to private reports since repair items between municipal entities are routinely handled internally by e-mail.

6)  Franklin Turnpike/ Nagle Street-- an In-Street Pedestrian Crossing Sign has been installed. No additional measures are needed. Officer Tarino reported the plans to purchase up to 10 additional signs to replace damaged installations and install at additional locations.

7)  East Glen Avenue/ Bogert Avenue-- Village evaluating additional street lighting and In-Street Pedestrian Crossing Signs. Sidewalk enhancements are planned under SRTS Grant.

NEW BUSINESS:

1)  Ms. White reported a sight distance and visibility issue at Garber Square involving overgrown vegetation and the "KEEP RIGHT" sign and bollards at the median island. She  suggested the need for a separate turn phase signal and pedestrian interval to reduce potential pedestrian-vehicular conflicts. Mr. Mehandzic will review the location and offer any practical measures to address the issues.

2)  Mr. Halaby related his observation of inadequate street lighting at Franklin Avenue and North Broad Street.-- a situation most acute for eastbound drivers emerging from the underpass when pedestrians are crossing North Broad Street walking east. Mr. Mehandzic and Officer Tarino discussed the plans being coordinated with PSE&G to increase lighting levels at this location as has been completed at several other Franklin Avenue locations. Basic underground supporting infrastructure was recently installed to accommodate this improvement.

3)  Mr. Mehandzic explained the process by which property owners are required to maintain sidewalks and the Village's process for issuing warnings and summonses for non- compliance. 

 4)  Mr. Halaby suggested a STOP sign be installed along westbound East Ridgewood Avenue's approach to Broad Street as he had offered at the March 17, 2022 CSAC meeting. The summary of the CSAC's review, analysis of crash data, MUTCD warrants and other pertinent factors as detailed in the Minutes of the April 21, 2022 meeting was discussed.  In the absence of a significant change in the data and/or physical conditions, no further review by CSAC is planned.

5) In response to Mr. Halaby's comments on the poor surface condition of streets in the CBD, Mr. Mehandzic reported plans to re-surface the side streets between East Ridgewood and Franklin Avenues ( including Chestnut, Oak and Walnut Streets) during the summer of 2023.

6)  Officer Tarino and CSAC members discussed the need to review certain intersections having "Right Turn On Red" where conditions for pedestrians were challenging. Improved lighting, signage and driver education were discussed.

NEXT MEETING: Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 7:30 PM in the Garden Room at Village Hall.