Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutBTSCMinutes_2014_10_20Brookings Transportation Steering Committee October 20, 2014 The Brookings Transportation Steering Committee meeting was held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, October 20, 2014 at Brookings City & County Government Center with the following members present: Keith Corbett, Daryl Englund, Al Baker, Jason Harms, Jim Morgan, Les Rowland and Michael Bartley. Jacob Mills and Bob Hill were absent. Others present included: City Manager Jeff Weldon and Communications Specialist Laurie Carruthers. Chair Corbett called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. Approval of minutes. Motion made by Morgan, seconded by Bartley, to approve the amended September 22, 2014 minutes changing Harms to Englund in the first sentence of the 6th Street from Main Avenue to Medary Avenue discussion. All present voted yes, motion carried. Re-consideration of policy position recommendation regarding Highway 14B roundabouts. Englund, Morgan and Harms attended a meeting to further discuss the roundabouts with the SD Transportation Commission and bypass business owners. The Transportation Commission is looking into eliminating the roundabouts, keeping the bridge as is and adding left turn lanes on both sides of the bridge. Traffic would not be able to stack on the bridge. Harms advised that the business owners believe this is not the ideal plan, but okay. The SDDOT has not provided any drawings of the new plan. The committee discussed this change would not affect the Sunrise Ridge Road construction, but they will recommend a speed limit evaluation. Bartley stated that Brookings gains nothing out of this plan, no roundabouts or 3-lane bridge. Morgan advised the businesses would rather have this plan than the roundabouts. Bartley asked what had changed between the February meeting and now. The traffic has not changed, this proposal was not part of the February meeting and there were no costs, drawings or proposals with the new plan. Corbett advised the roundabouts are not happening. Englund explained that this change began as a mill/overlay project and became a safety issue at the ramps. Harms advised that Brookings gains by not receiving a poor design that was originally proposed. Bartley stated that safety was the first issue from the state. They advised roundabouts were safe; lights were not as safe. The committee discussed roundabouts would not solve the camber of the bridge issue because traffic would be through the roundabout prior to the bridge. This may cause a safety issue at the 2-lane bridge. Weldon commented that the idea of a bypass is to keep traffic moving. Englund said that Secretary Bergquist did not advise if traffic lights would be used during the construction. Motion made by Morgan, seconded by Harms, to approve the letter to Secretary Bergquist with the addition of “and the elimination of roundabouts” at the end of the first sentence of the fourth paragraph. Discussion: This project is an action item on the agenda for the October 21 City Council Study Session. Bartley questioned if the letter should come from the City Council rather than the Transportation Steering Committee. He doesn’t think the City Council would want to elude this issue. Corbett responded the Transportation Steering Committee was granted the power by the City Council to advise on the transportation strategies for the City of Brookings, and the Committee needs to act upon the Charter. Motion made by Bartley, seconded by Rowland, to amend the letter to be addressed to the City Council. Bartley and Rowland voted yes; England, Morgan, Harms, Baker and Corbett voted no; motion failed. On the main motion to approve the letter to Secretary Bergquist with the addition of “and the elimination of roundabouts” at the end of the first sentence of the fourth paragraph, all present voted yes; motion carried. Other. Lawrence Novotny distributed packets of information on the petition he and Phyllis Cole-Dai organized in opposition of the proposed widening of 6th Street to five lanes. Novotny asked if the public comments from the April 28 SDDOT meeting could be posted on the City’s website. Carruthers will post the comments. Englund asked that the committee look at the global picture for the next agenda items. Weldon cautioned that there are many members of the public who attend the meetings when the 6th Street from Main Avenue to Medary Avenue project is on the agenda. In the interest of the public, this project should be separated. The committee discussed the 20th Street I-29 overpass project as the next pressing issue due to the environmental review studies and asked if they could also get a schedule from SDDOT for the Main Avenue to Medary Avenue Project. Adjourn. A motion was made by Morgan, seconded by Harms to adjourn. All present voted yes; motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 3:52 p.m. Submitted by Laurie Carruthers.