Traffic Calming Commission Meeting Minutes

Committee Members Present: David, Paul, Dan, Peter, Chris, Walter, Pat

Members of the Public: John, Fred Lawrence, Norma Shakun

I. A brief history of the Traffic Calming Committee efforts was reviewed.

II. A plan of action was discussed to identify a few possible solutions, conduct research on those ideas and present to the Selectboard for discussion and hopeful approval.

III. We spoke of identifying hotspots in town by posting a large town map in a public location

IV. Item # 1 on our evening's agenda was to explore various traffic calming (we interjected the word control since we would entertain telling a motorist what to do not just suggesting reasonable vehicular behavior)

V. Ideas included:

· 3 way stop signs at various intersections including South Newfane, Baker Brook/ Post Office and Timson Hill/Dover Road. These stops would include crosswalks as well.

· Rumble strips on the east and west end of South Newfane Bridge

· 3 season speed bumps on the straighaways

· Curbing and sidewalks in the villages to provide road definition and narrowness

· Bump outs three feet into the road coordinated with tree planting committee to provide visibility breaks

· Increased signage including speed limit signs and pedestrian signs

· Banner across Main Street Williamsville thanking courteous drivers

· Lawn signs stating 25 mph speed limits (citizen volunteer effort)

· Educational effort with press releases etc.

· Create poor highway quality

· Develop a laser like machine that spray paints cars as they speed pass with a shameful message.

· Radar gun activated stop light

· Cash incentive for driving courteously by photographing all law abiding citizens (camera is attached to Sheriff’s Trailer). Monthly photos are thrown into a lottery for a $200 reward.

VI. We identified four items we felt quite confident the Selectboard would consider supporting. The topics and the individual who will research the topic are listed below:

a. Three way stop signs Dan

b. Education programs Pat

c. Lawn signs Paul

d. Varied signage Chris

VII. The second item on the agenda was enforcement. A bit of history around local enforcement was provided to the committee. We talked of other options to the Sheriff’s Office including a town constable, an outside agency such as Hunter North. Dan mentioned that the Selectboard will request specific hours and locations in the monthly Sheriff’s report and will investigate the idea of a quota of tickets. Dummerston stated a zero tolerance policy for speeders that resulted in increased Sheriff efficacy. Entertaining an outside option is an interesting idea because the town budget has a line item for law enforcement not specifically the Sheriff’s Department.

VIII. The next meeting of the Traffic Calming Committee, 2005 will be on Monday May 16th at 7:00 pm in the Williamsville Hall.

All edits, deletions and additions are gratefully received. Thank you.

Respectfully,

Pat Halloran