HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012_01_25 Traffic Committee Minutes A regular meeting of the Town of Mamaroneck Traffic Committee was held on Wednesday
January 25, 2012 in the Town Court Room at the Mamaroneck Town Center located at 740
West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, New York.
Members Present:
Chairman, Doris Shaw Block
Camille Odierna
Nancy Angiulo
William Zelenka
Donald Southerland
Stephen Bartel
Others Present:
Abby Katz,Town Board Liaison
Nancy Seligson,Town Supervisor
Lt. Paul Creazzo,TMPD
Stephanie Levitsky, Complete Streets Program
Alex Lieber, Complete Streets Program
Denise Cookingham, Town of Mamaroneck Court Clerk
Christina Batallia,Town Clerk,Town of Mamaroneck
Mary Stanton, Assistant to the Town Administrator
New Business:
Chairman Block opened the meeting and recognized Mr. Sam Rosenfeld a resident of the Town
who came to report a situation on Richbell Road near the intersection of Palmer Avenue. Mr.
Rosenfeld said that the fire circle lane for Larchmont Towers nearest Palmer Avenue has a sign
"Fire Lane" that points in both directions making it very confusing. There is no yellow curb
maker to indicate exactly where parking is restricted and he has gotten a parking ticket when
he thought he'd parked far enough away to clear the fire zone. Lt. Creazzo said that he would
look into the situation.
Hommocks Park:
Christina Battalia, Town Clerk of the Town of Mamaroneck brought to the Committee's
attention a traffic situation at the Hommocks Park Apartments. Ms. Battalia stated that traffic
during Hommocks Middle School drop off and pick up times makes it almost impossible to exit
the Hommocks Park Apartments parking lot and enter Hommocks Road. She recommended
putting up a "Do Not Block Exit" or"Do Not Bock Side Road" sign. Ms. Battalia suggested that if
the Committee did not want to recommend another sign in the area then perhaps cones or a
mobile sign could be used at peak times. Lt. Creazzo recommended as a first step that Detective
Bob Reynolds, the Youth Officer, speak with the Hommocks School Administration about
getting the word out to parents that blocking these driveways and parking lot exits creates not
only an annoying but a potentially dangerous situation if emergency vehicles cannot move
through the area. The Committee agreed that this would be a good first step to resolving this
problem.
Update: Murray Avenue/Colonial Avenue Crossing
The Chairman asked Councilwoman Katz for an update on the Colonial Avenue Situation. She
reported that the crossing guard at Colonial was never supposed to cross children on Murray
Avenue. The legal crosswalk is at Colonial, even if it is inconvenient. At first the crossing guard
post was scheduled to be eliminated but later the decision was made to retain it, but the guard
was instructed to cross the children at Colonial only. Children are still running across Murray
creating a dangerous situation. The Town is working with the County to create a legal crosswalk
at Colonial and to replace the flashing amber light there that was damaged in a storm three
years ago. The cost of repairing this light is about $4,000 and Councilwoman Katz is working
with the Murray Avenue PTA to absorb some of this cost.
Old Business:
Complete Streets Program:
Stephanie Levinsky and Alex Lieber two urban planning graduate students from the Wagner
School of NYU met with the Committee to familiarize them with the Complete Streets Program
that is working with the Rye YMCA, the City of Rye, the Village of Larchmont, the Village of
Mamaroneck and the Town to recommend improvements along Palmer Avenue. A first
recommendation is to to paint sharrows on Palmer that would raise awareness of the use of
the Avenue by cyclists. Stephanie and Alex reviewed the inception of the program and brought
the Committee up to date on its work. Complete Streets is currently conducting a survey of best
practices in cities and towns that are similar to the Town in order to create a manual for the
Town to assist in implementing aspects of the Complete Streets program. The Chairman will
keep in touch with these representatives.
Baldwin Avenue Parking:
The Committee postponed discussion of the final draft of Denise Cookingham's proposal for
parking on Baldwin Avenue in order to find out if the residents of Baldwin Place have been
notified of the proposed changes and if local legislation needs to be drafted. This item will be
put on next month's agenda.
Next Traffic Committee Meeting: February 29, 2012.