04/12/1976 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e -. ----- - -- those streets that solutions would be sought. Too, he noted, the principle talks about capacity criteria only. A different criteria might be involved if places are discovered where drivers are avoiding congestion and overflowing into neighborhoods. As it now stands, any street in danger of exceeding Level E would fall into the category of a major problem area. Al Williams, Traffic Engineer, clarified that, when talking about Level E, the congestion would be for an hour-long condition. There may be situations in which a street meets Level E for 10 or 20 minutes. When the guidelines were put together,he said, it was the intent to make it clear that E is a substantially higher congestion level than the metro area is experiencing at present. Planning engineers went overboard in that direction, however, since the public may not choose to accept that congestion. Councilman Williams does not believe the community will accept a system in which street improvement is not even considered for places exceeding Level E. To not plan for a reasonably uncongested transportation system, which includes all lTDdes, seems very unwise. Mr. Murray thought it should be remembered that discussion is being confined to level of service when in fact the plan is much broader than.that. It is implausJble to him that Co~cil could collectively reach an opinion that the community is demanding any simj1en-'thing. It seems wise only to assure that there is some reasonable plan for the future. Mr. Williams reiterated his concern that he does ,not believe the community wishes to congest the area to a point worse than what it is now experiencing. - Mrs. Beal felt that previous testilTDny indicates the population does not want lots of traffic. She wondered, though, if it is desirable to discourage use of the auto by making traffic movement so difficult people will seek other IOOdes. Mr. Murray also alluded to the possibility of planning for street improvement when the community decides it has had it with congestion and demands improvement. Right now that condition does not exist, he added, and it seems devisive to build roads not fallOred by the public. In answer to Mr. Murray, Mayor Anderson noted a point overlooked, that there should be sufficient lati tude to at least plan for improvement before a road becomes so congested as to cause traffic hazards and impede alternative flows that are considered important. The word "exceed" bothers him and he suggested it would perhaps be mre comfortable to stipulate "reach level E". ME. Williams moved seconded by Mr. Hamel to reconmend to the other jurisdictions that, under Principle No.8, the word "reach" be substituted for "exceed", to read that "streets and highways will be considered for improvement where vol ume is projected to reach the maximum capaci ty (level of service E) ." Ccrrun 3/31/76 Approve Mr. Hamel expressed pride in staff and Council efforts in the past; as the area has grown, they have not been one step behind but rather right in line in planning efforts, he said. -- Public Works Director remarked that, in arri ving at Level E, the engineers in no way meant that they would design at Level E. 1'~ 4/12/76 - 19