COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC HEARING AND PUBLIC MEETING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON STREETS AND SERVICES - - - Room 400 City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, 10/28/99, 10:30 am - - - BILL NO.'S 990162, 990163, 990164, 990184, 990335, 990336, 990426 - Establishing parking regulations. BILL 990452 - Withdrawn at request of sponsor. BILL 990534 - Authorizing Filbert Street Associates, LP, to. . . BILL 990535 - Authorizing revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 121. . . BILL 990536 - Authorizing Christopher Ryan. . . BILL 990561 - Establishing a parking regulation. BILL 990567 - Authorizing all-way stop signs. . . BILL 990568 - Authorizing all-way stop signs. . . BILL 990569 - Authorizing all-way stop signs. . . BILL 990571 - Granting permission to Frank Milorey to. . . BILL 990572 - Held at request of sponsor. BILL 990606- Granting permission to Level 3 Communications to. . . BILL 990618 - Authorizing all-way stop signs. . . BILL 990619 - Authorizing all-way stop signs. . . BILL 990620 and 990621 - Authorizing street name changes. BILL 990622 - Establishing a parking regulation. (Full text of all bills contained herein.) PRESENT: COUNCILMAN FRANK DICICCO, Chairman COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN COUNCILWOMAN DONNA MILLER COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER COUNCILMAN DARRYL L. CLARK COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO - - - VINCENT VARALLO ASSOCIATES, INC. Registered Professional Reporters Eleven Penn Center, Suite 600 Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 561-2220 2 10/28/99 STREETS & SERVICES COMMITTEE I N D E X PAGE BILL NO. 990162 Pat DeCina, Parking Authority. . . . . . . . . 4 BILL NO. 990163 Pat DeCina, Parking Authority. . . . . . . . . 5 BILL NO. 990164 Pat DeCina, Parking Authority. . . . . . . . . 6 BILL NO. 990184 Pat DeCina, Parking Authority. . . . . . . . . 7 BILL NO. 990561 Pat DeCina, Parking Authority. . . . . . . . . 9 BILL NO. 990335 Charles Trainor, Traffic Engineering, Streets 10 BILL NO. 990336 Charles Trainor, Traffic Engineering, Streets 12 BILL NO. 990462 Charles Trainor, Traffic Engineering, Streets 13 BILL NO. 990622 Charles Trainor, Traffic Engineering, Streets 14 BILL NO. 990534 John Cunningham, Right-of-Way Manager, Streets 16 BILL NO. 990535 Paul Lonie, Survey Bureau Manager, Streets . . 18 Mary Soffer, Planning Commission . . . . . . . 19 20 David Gifford, Esq. . . . . . . . . . . . . . M. Presta, President, West Girard Bus. Assoc. 21 BILL NO. 990620 Paul Lonie, Survey Bureau Manager, Streets . . Paul Deegan, President, PIDC . . . . . . . . . 24 23 BILL NO. 990621 24 Paul Lonie, Survey Bureau Manager, Streets . . 29 Pal Deegan, President, PIDC. . . . . . . . . . 25 3 10/28/99 STREETS & SERVICES COMMITTEE (Index, cont'd.) BILL NO. 990536 John Cunningham, Right-of-Way Manager, Streets 30 BILL NO. 990571 John Cunningham, Right-of-Way Manager, Streets 32 BILL NO. 990606 John Cunningham, Right-of-Way Manager, Streets 34 BILL NO. 990572 John Cunningham, Right-of-Way Manager, Streets 36 Patricia Woods, Yorktown Resident. . . . . . . 37 Diane Blanden, Private Citizen . . . . . . . . 43 Sarah Austin, Temple Area Resident . . . . . . 47 BILL NO. 990567 Charles Trainor, Traffic Engineering, Streets 49 Bernadette Ampthor, St. Lucy's Parish. . . . . 53 Robert Medlock, St. Lucy's Leadership Council 57 Rose Canicci, St. Lucy's Parish. . . . . . . . 63 Josephine Cofone, Private Citizen. . . . . . . 64 Irene Madrak, Exec. Dir., No. Lake Comm. Ctr. 65 Robert Polson, Private Citizen . . . . . . . . 85 BILL NO. 990568 Charles Trainor, Traffic Engineering, Streets 95 BILL NO. 990569 Marilyn Shaffer, Lower Indian Queen Lane Assoc. 98 Marjorie Greenfield, East Falls Resident . . . 101 Charles Trainor, Traffic Engineering, Streets 104 BILL NO. 990618 Charles Trainor, Traffic Engineering, Streets 128 BILL NO. 990619 Jim Morris, Private Citizen. . . . . . . . . . 133 Charles Trainor, Traffic Engineering, Streets 138 4 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990162 P R O C E E D I N G S
Good morning, everyone. The Committee on Streets and Services is now session. In attendance this morning: to my far left is Councilwoman Miller, Councilmember Cohen, Councilmember Mariano, who's running the controls, and I am Frank DiCicco, and I'm the Chair of this committee. What we will do is, we will read -- we will first do the parking bills because there are about nine of those, and we can get through those quickly. So is there anyone here from the Parking Authority? Come up, please, and the clerk will read the title of the first bill.
Bill No. 990162, an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Seventh Street, both sides, Christian Street to Carpenter Street.
Pat DeCina. I'm from the Philadelphia Parking Authority. Bill No. 990162, introduced by Councilman DiCicco by request, this bill 5 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990163 establishes a parking regulation on Seventh Street, both sides, Christian Street to Carpenter Street. The new regulation has been in effect for a period of eight months, with no apparent problems. The Philadelphia Parking Authority recommends favorable consideration of the bill.
Are there any questions for this witness from the committee? (No questions.)
Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against this bill? (No response.)
Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 990163, an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Clarion Street, west side, Jackson Street to Wolf Street.
This bill establishes a parking regulation on Clarion Street, west side, Jackson Street to Wolf Street. The regulation has been in effect for a 6 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990164 period of at least eight months, with no apparent problems. The Philadelphia Parking Authority recommends favorable consideration of this bill.
Are there any questions for this witness? (No questions.)
Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against this bill? (No response.)
Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 990164, an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Clarion Street, west side, Dickinson Street to Tasker Street.
Bill No. 99164, introduced by Councilman DiCicco, this bill establishes a parking regulation on Clarion Street, west side, Dickinson to Tasker Street. This new regulation has been in effect for a period of at least eight months, with no 24 apparent problems. The Philadelphia Parking Authority recommends favorable consideration of 7 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990184 this bill.
Are there any questions for this witness? (No questions.)
Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against this bill? (No response.)
Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill. Before the clerk reads the title of the next bill, let the record reflect that Councilmember Darryl Clarke and Councilmember Rizzo are now in attendance.
Bill No. 990184, an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on York Street, both sides, Jasper Street to Front Street.
Bill No. 990184, introduced by Councilman DiCicco, this bill 22 establishes a parking regulation on York Street, both sides, Jasper to Front Street. This new regulation has been in effect for a period of eight months. The Philadelphia 8 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990561 Parking Authority recommends favorable consideration of this bill.
Are there any questions for this witness? (No questions.)
Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against this bill? (No response.)
Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 990335, an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Rhawn Street, both sides, from Jeans Street to Tabor Road.
That's not a Philadelphia Parking Authority bill. We only have one more on the second page. That's not the Parking Authority.
Do you have one, Bill No. 990426? 9 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990561
Bill No. 990561, an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Christian Street, both sides, 17th Street to 18th Street.
Bill No. 990561, introduced by Councilman Kenney, this bill 11 establishes a parking regulation on Christian Street, both sides, 17th to 18th Street. The new regulation has been in effect for a period of at least eight months, with no 15 apparent problems. The Philadelphia Parking Authority recommends favorable consideration of this bill.
Are there any questions for this witness from the committee? (No questions.)
Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against this bill? (No response.)
Hearing none, the 10 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990335 clerk will read the title of the next bill. And thank you, thank you for your testimony.
Bill No. 990335, an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Rhawn Street, both sides, from Jeans Street to Tabor road.
Good morning. Please identify yourself for the record.
Good morning, Councilman. Charles Trainor from the Streets Department, Traffic Engineering. With reference to Bill No. 990335 proposing to establish a no-truck-parking regulation on the north and south sides of Rhawn Street, from Jeans Street to Tabor Road, the following report is submitted: Rhawn Street is 40 feet wide, two-way, with parking on both sides. In July of this year, Traffic Engineering posted on a trial basis no 22 park-trucking anytime on the north and south sides of the 500 through 1100 blocks of Rhawn Street. This was done in response to a request from Councilman O'Neill on behalf constituents. 11 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990335 This regulation has been in effect for several months, without any complaints, to our knowledge. Therefore, the Streets Department has no objection to the proposed ordinance.
Are there any questions for this witness from the committee? (No questions.)
Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against this bill? (No response.)
Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill. We'll do all Charlie's bills, right?
Bill No. 990335, an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Rhawn Street --
I'm sorry, I didn't check it off. My apologies. Bill No. 990336, an ordinance 25 establishing a parking regulation on Verree Road, 12 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990336 both sides, from Hartel Street to Ripley Street.
With reference to Bill 4 No. 990336, proposing to establish a no-truck- parking regulation on the east and west sides of Verree Road, from Hartel Street to Ripley Street, the following report is submitted: Verree Road is a 50-foot-wide, two-way street, with parking on both sides. In July of this year, Traffic Engineering posted on a trial basis no truck-parking anytime on the east and west sides of the 7800 and 7900 blocks of Verree Road. This was done in response to a request from Councilman O'Neill on behalf of his constituents. This regulation has been in effect for several months, without any complaints, to our knowledge. Therefore, the Streets Department has no objection to this proposed ordinance.
Are there any questions for this witness from the committee? (No questions.)
Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against the bill? (No response.) 13 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990462
Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 990462, an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Susquehanna Road, both sides, from Pine Road to Verree Road.
With reference to Bill 9 No. 990426 proposing to establish a no-truck- parking regulation on the north and south sides of Susquehanna Road, from Pine Road to Verree Road, the following report is submitted: Susquehanna Road is 40 feet wide, two-way, with parking on both sides. In November of this year, Traffic Engineering will post on a trial basis no truck-parking anytime on the north and south sides of the 400 through 700 of suspended Road. This will be done in response to a request from Councilman O'Neill on behalf of his constituents. Traffic Engineering does not anticipate any complaints. Therefore, the Streets Department has no objection to this proposed ordinance.
Are there any questions for this witness from the Committee? 14 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990662 (No questions.)
Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against this bill? (No response.)
Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 990452 has been withdrawn at the request of the sponsor. Charlie, which is your next bill?
Bill No. 990622, an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Dunk's Ferry Road, both sides, from Mechanicsville Road to the county line.
With reference to Bill 19 990622, proposing to establish a no- truck-parking regulation -- I'm sorry, a no- parking regulation on the east and west sides of Dunk's Ferry Road, from Mechanicsville north to the City limits, the following report is submitted. Dunk's Ferry is a 22-feet-wide, two-way country road, with parking permitted but not 15 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990662 practiced on both sides. In November of this year, Traffic Engineering will post on a trial basis no parking anytime on the east and west sides of the 12900 blocks of Dunk's Ferry Road. This will be done in response to a request from Councilman O'Neill on behalf of his constituents. Traffic Engineering does not anticipate any complaints. Therefore, the Streets Department has no objection to this proposed ordinance.
Thank you. Are there any questions for this witness from the committee? (No questions.)
Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against this bill? (No response.)
Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 990534, an ordinance authorizing Filbert Street Associates Limited Partners, 150 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19102, owner of the property bounded by 12th Street, 13th Street, 16 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990662 Filbert Street, and Cuthbert Street, to construct and maintain various building footings under the abutting footways of Filbert Street and Cuthbert Street, all under certain terms and conditions.
Good morning. Please identify yourself for the record.
Good morning, Councilman. My name is John Cunningham, Right-of-Way Manager for the Department of Streets. Returned herewith his Bill No. 990534, an ordinance authorizing Filbert Street Associates, LP, 150 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19102, owner of the property bounded by 12th Street, 13th Street, Filbert Street, and Cuthbert Street, to construct and maintain various building footings under the abutting footways o Filbert Street and Cuthbert Street, all under certain terms and conditions. The Department of Streets has no objection to the passage of this ordinance Bill No. 99053 a an ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 121 striking vacating and reserving and placing on the City 17 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990535 Plan a right-of-way for drainage and water main purposes within the lines of Street being stricken from the City Plan vacated under certain terms and conditions.
Are there any questions for this witness from the committee? (No questions.)
Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against this bill? (No response.)
Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill. Please identify yourself for the record.
Bill No. 990535, an ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 121 by striking and vacating Chang Street from Girard Avenue to Poplar Street, and reserving and placing on the City Plan a right-of-way for drainage purposes and water main purposes within the lines of Chang Street being stricken from the City Plan and vacated by this ordinance, under certain terms and conditions. 18 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990535
My name is Paul Lonie, Survey Bureau Manager, and the Streets Department would like to offer the following testimony on Bill No. 990535. This is not an Administration ordinance 11 but an ordinance requested by Mr. Phillip Lick, Esquire, of the Pavilion Suites, No. 621, 261 Old York Road, who represents the 27th and Girard Trust. The purpose of this ordinance is to combine three parcels and eliminate a portion of Chang Street, which borders and separates these parcels, in order to facilitate commercial development. This ordinance is supported by the Department of Streets and is recommended to your committee for favorable action.
Thank you. Are there any questions for this witness from the committee? (No questions.) 19 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990535
Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Marty Soffer, from the Planning Commission. The purpose of this bill is to remove an unneeded minor street adjacent to a development parcel to permit future commercial development. The City Planning Commission staff reviewed and tentatively approved this action on April 20, 1998. Therefore, the staff recommends that Bill 13 No. 990535 be approved. Thank you.
Thank you. Are there any questions for this witness from the committee? (No questions.)
Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against this bill? (No response.)
Do you guys have anything else? Marty, Paul, do you have anything else? 20 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990535
Well, while you're there, why don't we do those two, all right?
Oh, I'm sorry. I apologize. (Unidentified persons approach the witness table.)
I apologize for that, gentlemen. Please identify yourself for the record. And we're still on Bill No. 990535; is that correct?
Good morning, members of Council. My name is David Gifford. I'm an attorney representing the owner of the property. With me this morning to testify is Mario Presta (ph.), who is president of the local business association for Girard Avenue. 21 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990535
Good morning. My name is Mario Presta, and I am the president of West Girard Business Association. We support this project. This project will realize our community residents and they will have employment opportunity in this project. Project will also take away from us this old dinosaur that we have over there on Girard Avenue, it will stimulate growth to their other business. And we did have a different meeting with our other business people over there, and they all support this project. So we will be happy to have that. Thank you.
Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Presta, has there ever been any community meetings to talk about your proposed development?
And were there records taken at those meetings? 22 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990535
Well, every time we doe have a meeting, we have a sign-in sheet from the community.
Were there any petitions in support of or letters signed in support of this particular proposed development?
Okay. You had mentioned earlier that it was a dinosaur on this site currently?
And can you tell me for the record, what type of dinosaur was it? (Laughter.)
Let me tell you something. I've been there -- staying every day on Girard Avenue over there, and that is the one thing we've been actually praying to go, that building over there -- which has been already vandalized. We already saw yesterday part of the wall falling down, so -- either from one side or the other. I mean, it's -- you could really -- 23 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990535 we'd be happy, and I think the community will be happy to tear this building down.
Okay. As a result of that vacancy being there, has it decreased the level of shoppers on Girard Avenue?
And you anticipate this new development will enhance your ability to --
I think it will increase all the -- improve the area, but it also will be improving the other business.
Thank you, gentlemen. Any other questions for these witnesses? (No questions.)
Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against this bill? (No response.)
Hearing none, the 24 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990620 clerk will read the title of the next bill.
On , Bill No. 990620, an ordinance authorizing the changing of the name of a portion of Hornig Road from a point approximately 1,000 feet southeast of Kubach Road to Woodhaven to Corney Drive.
Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. My name is Paul Lonie. I'm Survey Bureau Manager and I'm representing the Department of Streets, and the Streets Department would like to offer the following testimony on Bill No. 990620. This is not an Administration ordinance 15 but an ordinance requested by Mr. Paul Deegan, Senior Vice President of PIDC. The purpose of this ordinance is to change the name of a portion of Hornig Road and the Byberry West Industrial Park to Corney Drive. This ordinance is supported by the Department of Streets and is recommended to your committee for favorable action.
Good morning, Mr. Chairman. Paul Deegan, D-E-E-G-A-N, Senior Vice President of PIDC. 25 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990620 As Mr. Lonie stated, these are street change names. Really, 620 and 621 are companion ordinances. And both ordinances, they change the name of two streets: one to Byberry East industrial Park, and one to Byberry West Industrial Park, on the other side of Roosevelt Boulevard. Bill No. 990621 has been submitted at the request of the new businesses on Corney Road, who determined that they wanted a street name that reflected their business activities, with a few high-tech companies on there. Compudata is the last company to buy a parcel on that road and start construction. So the companies met among themselves and they decided that "Commerce Way" would be the name of the street that they would like to be located on. But because Corney Road has been named after an old and prominent Northeast family, the District Councilman and PIDC agreed that the name should be preserved somewhere in the industrial parks in the Northeast, so we're changing the name of a portion of Hornig Road on the west side of the boulevard to Corney Way. 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990620 And I think the testimony's wrong. I think it should be "Corney Way," not "Corney Road"? And that will preserve the name of "Corney" in our industrial parks.
C-O-R-N-E-Y. It's a family name of a family who were active developers in the Northeast before World War II. And twenty years ago, when we acquired this property from the State, they had requested, through the District Councilman, that if one of the streets in the industrial park be named after their family, the Corney family.
Okay. We need to change that -- amend it to Corney Way?
Corney Way will be the new street in Byberry West Industrial Park.
It's written that way in the ordinance. It's our testimony that's flawed.
I hope it's my testimony and not the ordinance that's incorrect.
On the pink, it's 27 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990620 "Corney Drive."
I think I'm losing my grip on these two bills. It used to be Corney Road; now it's going to be Corney Drive on the west side.
And it should be Commerce Way, which will be the new street to distinguish it from Commerce Street, which is in Center City. So the Streets Department reviewed it and determined that there wouldn't be any conflict with other street names throughout the city.
We just wanted to know which way to go, okay. All right, thank you.
I think we're on the right 28 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990621 road now or the right way.
Are there any questions for these witnesses from the committee? (No questions.)
Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against this bill? (No response.)
Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 990621, an ordinance authorizing the change of Corney Road, from McNulty Road to a dead end northeasterly therefrom to Commerce Way.
I would just ask that my previous testimony be incorporated into the record. Do you have copies of my testimony? I have a number of copies here that --
I'm sorry. I should have handed this out earlier. It may have clarified some of these points.
All right, thank you. 29 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990621
Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Paul Lonie, Survey Bureau Manager in the Streets Department. I would like to offer the following testimony on Bill No. 6 990621: This is not an Administration ordinance, but an ordinance requested by the abutting property owners on the street. The purpose of this ordinance is to change the name of "Corney Road" in the Byberry East Industrial Park to "Commerce Way." This ordinance is supported by the Department of Streets and is recommended to committee for favorable action.
Thank you. Are there any questions for this witness from the committee? (No questions.)
Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against this bill? (No response.)
Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill. 30 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990536
Bill No. 990536, an ordinance authorizing Christopher Ryan, owner of the property of 726 North 24th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19121, to construct and maintain various encroachments onto and over the south footway of Meredith Street adjacent to the property 726 North 24th Street, all under certain terms and conditions.
Good morning, Councilman. My name is John Cunningham, Right-of-Way Manager for the Department of Streets. Returned herewith is Bill No. 990536, an ordinance authorizing Christopher Ryan, owner of the property at 726 North 24th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19121, to construct and maintain various encroachments onto and over the south footway of Meredith Street adjacent to the property at 726 North 24th Street, all under certain terms and conditions. The legal footway of Meredith Street is eight foot wide. These encroachments, which include a Dumpster enclosed by a fence and a vestibule will leave between 4 and 4.5 feet 31 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990536 respectively for pedestrian travel. This is primarily a residential area with relatively low pedestrian travel. Therefore, the Department of Streets has no objection to the passage of this ordinance.
Thank you. Are there any questions for this witness from the committee? (No questions.)
Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against this bill? (No response.)
Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 990571, an ordinance granting permission to Frank Milorey, owner of the newsstand located on the northwest corner of 12th and Market Street, to construct, 32 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990571 use, and maintain an electrical conduit and service line and a fiber optic conduit and phone service line in and under 12th and Market Street, for the purposes of supplying electrical service and phone services to his newsstand, under certain terms and conditions.
Good morning, Councilman. My name is John Cunningham, Right-of-Way Manager from the Department of Streets. Returned herewith is Bill No. 990571, an ordinance granting permission to Frank Milorey, owner of a newsstand located at the northwest corner or 12th and Market Streets, to construct, use, and maintain an electrical conduit and service line in and under 12th and Market Streets for the purpose of supplying electrical service and phone service to his newsstand, under certain terms and conditions. This proposal was reviewed and approved by the Department's Committee of Highway Supervisors. Therefore, the Department of Streets has no objection to the passage of this ordinance.
Thank you. 33 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990606 Are there any questions for this witness from the committee? (No questions.)
Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against this bill? (No response.)
Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 990606, an ordinance granting permission to Level 3 Communications, LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company registered to do business in Pennsylvania, and its successors, assigns, and agents, to construct, maintain, and operate, replace and remove a telecommunications system in and under the public rights-of-way and City streets and/or to place such telecommunications system within the existing facilities owned by Bell Atlantic-PA, PECO Energy Company, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, CSX Corporation, Norfolk Southern Consolidated Rail Corporation Shared Assets, or other entity holding a grant pursuant to other City ordinances, all under certain terms 34 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990606 and conditions.
Good morning, Councilman. My name is John Cunningham, Right-of-Way Manager for the Department of Streets. Returned herewith is Bill No. 990606, an ordinance granting permission to Level 3 LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company, registered to do business in Pennsylvania, and its successors, assigns, and agents to construct, maintain, and operate, replace, and remove a telecommunications system in and under the public rights of way and City streets, and/or place such telecommunications systems within the existing facilities owned by Bell Atlantic-PA, PECO Energy Company, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, CSX Corporation, Norfolk Southern, Consolidated Rail Corporation Shared Assets, or other entity holding a grant pursuant to other City ordinances, all under certain terms and conditions. This is not an Administration ordinance 24 but an ordinance requested by Level 3 Communications, Incorporated, located at 2010 35 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990606 Corporate Ridge, Suite 700, McClean, Virginia. The purpose of this ordinance is to construct and maintain a fiber optics network and telecommunications system in and under the public rights-of-way at various locations along their route, as specified in the ordinance. The Department of Streets has no 9 objection to the passage of this ordinance.
Thank you. Are there any questions for this witness from the committee? (No questions.)
Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against this bill? (No response.)
Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 990572, an ordinance amending Title 11 of the Philadelphia Code relating to streets by amending Chapter 23 11-200, entitled "Openings and Excavations in the Streets," by changing various requirements relating to the granting of permits that entail 36 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990572 closure of City streets, under certain terms and conditions.
Good morning, Councilman. My name's John Cunningham, Right-of-Way Manager for the Department of Streets. Councilman, we are not prepared to give testimony on this bill today. We were under the impression that this bill would be tabled until the next committee until we had a time to review it.
We'll talk to the sponsor of the bill. Councilmember Clarke?
Thank you. What we're going to do today, we have members from the community who wanted to testify, so I would like to afford them an opportunity to testify on the bill. And at the appropriate time when you're ready to testify on behalf of the Administration, we'll make that available to you, if that's okay with the Chair.
That would be fine. And with that, would those folks in the audience who wish to testify on this bill please 37 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990572 come forward. (Community members come forward.)
Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the Streets and Services Committee and other Councilmembers who are present. I am Priscilla Woods, from Yorktown, a neighborhood in the North Central Philadelphia community. I'm here today with some of my neighbors to express our support for Bill No. 11 990572 relating to opening and excavations in the streets. I respectfully request that you carefully consider this bill from a perspective of the opportunity to abuse the Department of Streets' liberal policy of granting extensions on permits for construction projects. The measure is particularly significant to our neighborhood that, for the past two years, has had no access to a main northbound thoroughfare. In this instance, the extension process was repeatedly utilized long after the completion of the project for which the original permit was granted. You may recall that during the spring and early summer of this year, representatives 38 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990572 from a coalition of North Central Philadelphia neighborhood groups attended the weekly meetings of this Council in protest to Temple University's fenced and gated close of 13th Street and Montgomery Avenue. We also expressed our outrage that the Department of Streets would continue to grant one extension after another to the institution. It was clear to everyone that the lengthy closure and repeated requests to the Department by the University was a methodical self-serving tactic designed to blatantly disregard and arrogantly attempt to undermine the needs and hopes of the community at large. This was nothing less than a myopic attempt to close a portion of 13th Street permanently, from Cecil B. Moore Avenue to Norris Street, to create a secured green promenade for the exclusive use of the University. It was not necessary, critical, or essential to the completion of a project. Bill No. 990572 will provide an appropriate and much-needed mechanism for institutions, developers, and contractors to set and adhere to realistic timelines. It will also 39 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990572 foster a heightened consciousness of developers to the impact of their projects on the long-term residents of communities where they do business. Most importantly, the measure will serve as a deterrent to the outright abuse of the policies of a City department. We encourage you to return this bill to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Thank you.
Thank you. Any questions for this witness from the committee?
Miss Woods, can you tell me what specifically the neighbors have done to attempt to get the street open? Have you talked to the any departments or any elected officials in trying to gain access to that street during the last year or so?
Yes, we have. We had a letter-writing campaign to the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. We wrote letters to Mr. Moy, the 40 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990572 Commissioner of the Streets Department. We had conversations with the administration at Temple University. And we've also expressed our concerns and our own aspirations for the community to the 5th District, our Council office, and our concerns were supported by the 5th District Councilperson -- at the time, Mr. Street -- and also to your office.
Okay. Have you gotten any responses from those other individuals or institutions?
No, we have not. We did receive information. We had an ongoing dialogue with the Commissioner's office. Someone there, Wendy, asked for information, would give us information that additional extensions had been granted. Our letters -- I don't think anyone, and these are some of the residents of the community who wrote letters to the Mayor, I don't think any of those letters were acknowledged. The Mayor did invite us very recently 41 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990572 in, and he gave us some information that suggested that if we did not allow the street to be closed, we would be responsible for jobs not coming to Temple University. So. . . And we know that there have been many businesses that have left the City -- Breyer's Ice Cream left, the Navy Yard left. I don't recall seeing where the Mayor actually accused the community of being responsible for those jobs leaving. So that was how we perceived the information that we received from the Mayor recently, but our letters to the Mayor were back during the spring, and we received no response, not even an acknowledgment.
Miss Woods, could you share with us what the response was from the Commissioner of Street was? What was the reasoning they were giving you for the extensions?
The response from the Community Relations Representative from the Commissioner's office was that there was more work 42 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990572 that needed to be done underground, that steam vents needed to be put in. And I think the last extension, we saw a copy of the letter, and I didn't really see any justification for the continued closing.
With the District Councilperson's permission, I'd like to, at some point in time, get a copy of the correspondence. And when you mentioned that the representative from the Streets Department indicated that there was additional work that needed to be done -- steam vents and whatever else it was -- did they say that it was not a part of the original contract? Did they indicate whether it was a part of the original contract?
I don't recall any explanation, that it was something additional or anything like that. I don't recall any of those terms.
All right, thank you. It would be helpful if you could -- I'd like to see a copy of that correspondence.
Thank you. 43 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990572 Ma'am, do you wish to testify?
Excuse me for a second. Councilman, that was a verbal correspondence. This was on the telephone, conversations to the representative, the Community Relations Representative, but there has been some documents that were made available to us that we do have in our --
Okay. I would appreciate it if you would share them with the Chair, please.
My name is Diane Blanden (ph.), and I am also a member of the community group that has been active to reopen 13th Street at Montgomery through Norris. I just wanted to say that I concur with everything that Miss Woods has said this morning. 44 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990572 What we experienced was a blatant misuse of government authority and any type of authority that (unintelligible) to persuade the Streets Department to keep the streets closed throughout the length of time that they had.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Miss Woods, Miss Blanden, during the recent extensions, were there any visible evidence of any construction taking place?
Nothing there taking up -- no excavation activities going on?
The closing of the street actually inconvenienced most -- all of the 45 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990572 neighborhood. We had to travel out of our way to get to our homes. Children had to -- children were in jeopardy by the increased traffic on 11th Street. Children were not able to cross the streets, school-age children. So that -- I don't feel that --
Thank you. Are there any other questions for these witnesses? (No questions.)
Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against the bill? (No response.)
Thank you. Thank you, ladies. Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill as it relates to --
Mr. Cunningham, do 46 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990572 you have anything else to add to the testimony on that last bill?
I'd just like to reiterate what I said earlier, which was that the Commissioner was under the impression that we would not discuss the ordinance at all today because there was time need to do analyze it in depth, and so I just want to say again that we do not want the bill passed until we've had time to analyze it. We would certainly like to say to the people here, however, that we do apologize for that inconvenience, and we are looking at our entire right-of-way management policies to ensure that things like that do not happen in the future.
Thank you. Do you happen to know -- and this is no disrespect to you -- how much more time the Commissioner may need to analyze this problem?
Okay, thank you. The clerk will read the title of the next bill. 47 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990572
Yes, ma'am? If you wish to testify, you need to come to the witness table. Is it on this bill? UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: It's on the bill 17 that Miss Woods was just talking about. I was just wondering if --
Please, you need to come to the table and identify yourself for the record, ma'am. (Unidentified woman comes forward.)
My name is Sarah Austin. I'm a resident over in the Temple area. My question to this gentleman is, what is that you 48 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990572 would have to analyze? If you built a foundation, don't you think the vents and stuff should have been put in before?
Ma'am, you need to direct your questions to the Chair, and then --
Okay. Well, my question is, if you're building a foundation, if you're putting vents and whatever it is necessary to put into a building, doesn't that have to be put in before you put the top of the building on?
It seems like to me, I don't see a reason why this street is still even in question of being closed.
We need to get that information. I think one of my questions was, as Miss Woods indicated in her testimony, Miss Woods says that the Streets Department, or a representative from the Streets Department, indicated that there was additional work. Now, by "additional," was that work outside the scope of the original contract or was that something that they encountered problems that when the excavation 49 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 began? So before I can comment on that either way, I would like to see the testimony -- or the correspondence, and we can get into this dialogue later on.
Thank you. Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against the bill? (No response.)
Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill. Thank you, Mr. Cunningham.
Bill No. 990567, an ordinance authorizing the installation of all-way stop signs at the following intersections on Green Lane: Silverwood Street and Baker Street.
Before the testimony begins, let the record reflect that Councilmember Nutter is here today. Thank you.
Good morning, Councilman and committee. Charles Trainor, of the Streets Department Traffic Engineering. The Department of Streets offers no 50 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 objection to the passage of Bill No. 990567 authorizing the installation of all-way stop signs at the intersection of Green Lane and Silverwood and Green Lane and Baker Street in a manner consistent with PennDOT regulations.
In a manner consistent with PennDOT regulations. Are you saying that you are going to install these things?
Councilman, I'm saying that we have no objection to the passage of the bill authorizing the signs in a manner consistent with PennDOT regulations.
Thank you. Mr. Trainor, to be more specific, the locations in question, are they all in accordance with PennDOT specifications? And if they are, are the signs going to be installed?
Past studies have shown that they do not justify all-way stop signs.
So you're telling us that you're okay with the legislation, but we're 51 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 not going to get the stop signs.
If the legislation authorizes the installation of the stop sign in a manner consistent with PennDOT regulations. If we restudy the intersections and they are justified by PennDOT regulations, they would be installed.
I want to ask another question. If the Administration, your commissioner, ordered you or authorized you to install those stop signs, could you do it?
But he would say no to City Council. Okay, Councilmember Nutter? I'm sorry. Are you through?
So you're telling me that administratively, the Commissioner could -- at what level could you authorize these signs to be installed, at your level?
I would only authorize the signs -- installation if they are consistent with PennDOT regulations.
But if you were told by the Commissioner of your department to install 52 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 the signs would, you install them?
But if City Council authorizes it by way of legislation, you're saying unless you get the approval from your commissioner, you would not install the signs.
Okay, he speaks for the people and we don't, okay. Councilmember Nutter.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. What I would like to ask, Mr. Chairman, your indulgence, is, prior to getting into any discussion with Mr. Trainor, I have constituents who are here, who have taken the time to come here this morning, and I'd like them to have an opportunity to make a record based on their views of living in the neighborhood and why they've been so sincere in trying to pursue this issue. And I have been working with them, and that's the result 53 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 today of the legislation and the public hearing. And so I'd like them to have an opportunity to state on the record their concerns and their issues and why they feel so strongly about this.
Thank you. Ma'am? Or whoever's going to start, please yourself for the record and bring the microphone as closely to you as possible and speak directly into it.
Okay, is this all right? I want to say good morning first to all of the Councilmen, to Councilman Frank DiCicco, and I want to say good morning to all the boards.
All the members of the board. All right. My name is Bernadette Ampthor.
And would you 54 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 spell that last name.
Thank you. Just tilt that microphone down a little bit so that you won't have to stretch up. That's it. Thank you.
Okay. I am a member of St. Lucy's parish, and I am also a member of St. Lucy's Leadership Team. And I live on Wilde Street, located one block off of Green Lane. I believe that these two stop signs, which are being discussed today, at these locations, Green Lane and Baker Street, and also Green Lane and Silverwood Street, would result in decreasing the speed of traffic in this area -- be it trucks or cars on Green Lane as a whole, but particularly at Green Lane and Baker Street, the site of many accidents, including 17 accidents from the period of January to July of 1999, according to the 5th Police District report. I might add that there have been a total of 51 accidents from the period of January to July, 1999 from Green Lane and Ridge Avenue and Green Lane and Main Street. These stop signs, in my opinion, may 55 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 also possibly help in lowering the portion of traffic at Green Lane and Main Street, according to the (unintelligible) of the traffic light at the approach of Green Lane Bridge, thus allowing more vehicles to pass onto the bridge at that intersection and alleviate the bottleneck experienced every morning. I believe that these stop signs are needed for the safety of the 225 school children, the many, many seniors who attend church services and various church events. From Manayunk Avenue to Main Street, there are no -- there are currently no stop signs which would slow down traffic. This allows cars and trucks alike coming down the hill to have a free-for-all and to far exceed the school zone speed limit of 15 miles per hour. This is a steep, curvy slope of nearly half a mile. As early as 6 a.m., while walking my dog, I observed cars as driving on a speedway actually in the middle of Green Lane, another free-for-all. If my dog ever broke loose and crossed the street, I know that she would be killed. 56 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 Drivers do not even slow down for the crossing guard in front of St. Lucy's Church and School. And on several occasions, speeding cars have just barely missed an older parishioner, and myself included, while I tried to assist her across Green Lane to attend daily mass. Most recently, on October 20, 1999, shortly after 8:30 p.m., an accident occurred once again at Green Lane and Baker Streets. It was serious enough to have an ambulance summoned. In the early part of this summer, one of our team members, and a long-term parishioner, was hit while driving across Silverwood by a car speeding up Green Lane at the intersection of Green Lane and Silverwood streets. Thankfully, she and her daughter passenger suffered no 18 injuries, but her car was totaled. A stop sign for Green Lane traffic at this intersection could have prevented -- hopefully prevented -- this accident much. I thank you so much for the opportunity of presenting my testimony about the danger of Green Lane traffic.
Thank you. Thank 57 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 you, ma'am. Is there anyone else who wishes to testify?
Good morning. Identify yourself for the record, please.
Good morning, Council. My name is Bob Medlock. I also am a member of St. Lucy's Leadership Council and am a parishioner of St. Lucy's.
Santa Luccia, patron saint of eyesight, or something, isn't it? Thank God you have good eyes; you may have passed that intersection. Thank you.
This letter -- I've got the pleasure of reading this letter. This is from Mrs. Mary Jo Santore. She is the crossing guard at Green Lane, in front of St. Lucy's School. "I'm writing this letter, not only as a concerned neighbor, but also as a very concerned crossing guard. "First of all, I have lived on Baker Street most of my like, and I never remember as many accidents on Green Lane and Baker Street. I 58 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 feel that part of the problem is that some of the people coming up Green Lane think they are still on the expressway, and they come up the hill sometimes doing 40, even 50, miles an hour. I don't know if they are even aware that one block up the hill begins a 15-mile-an-hour school zone. The people who live right here in this neighborhood know how bad this corner is and inch their way out of Baker Street, especially when there is a car parked on the corner of Green Lane. "I don't know when the Streets Department did their survey for how many people travel this intersection, but this is a heavily traveled road. Also, evidently, the figures for the accidents that happen on this corner must be wrong because there already has been at least two to three accidents in a one-week period here. All of the neighbors keep saying, What is it going to take to get an all-way stop sign here? Does someone have to get hurt really bad or maybe even killed? "Well, last Wednesday night, we thought that had happened. I was sitting in my house, which is a half a block down the street from Green 59 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 Lane on Baker, when around 8:30, I heard this screech, a big bang, and the horn of the car continuously blowing. I pictured in my mind that this must be the big one and said, Dear God, please let the people be all right. In hearing the horn blowing, all I could picture was a person slumped over the car dead. Luckily, the two people involved in this accident were all right. The horn had gotten stuck in the accident. You could really see the relief on everyone's faces when we got to the corner and found the people to be okay. "On a personal experience, I can tell you about the day my daughter was inching her way around the corner since a car was parked and blocking her view. A woman coming up Green Lane blew her horn from Cresson Street, which is one block down, until she hit the side of my daughter's car. Now, if she could blow her horn from one block, would it have been so hard for her to slow down or to stop her car before slamming into my daughter. Just an example of how fast people come up Green Lane, acting as if it was still the expressway. 60 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 "I could go on and on about different people I know that have been involved in accidents on this corner, but I won't because you can get all the information from police records. "As a crossing guard who crosses children at Green Lane and St. David's Street, which is one block up from this intersection, I could safely say there is almost one accident a day that I can see from my corner. m. m. I counted an average of 820 to 850 cars coming up and going down Green Lane. It just happened that on that Friday, a lot of areas were flooded out because of Hurricane Floyd, and Green Lane was the only way to get the expressway. That morning, I counted 1600 cars and then stopped counting. Granted, that was an exceptional day, but there will be others like that when there is another flood or trouble on the highways. "I really feel that the safest thing for everyone is to put up an all-way stop sign at the intersections of Green Lane and Baker Streets, and that this may possibly save someone's life one 61 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 day. "Another thing I see a lot of being a crossing guard is the 18-wheeler trailers that are traveling up Green Lane. There used to be a sign that said "no through trucks" on the Manayunk Bridge. Construction was started on this bridge, and the sign disappeared.
, an 18-wheeler got stuck at Richie Street and Green Lane. I had to try to direct traffic down away from the truck and cross the children at the same time. I had children coming down the street, walking on the pavement where they belong, and now there were cars jumping the curb to avoid hitting the truck and trying to avoid hitting a child walking, where he or she was supposed to be. It was a very dangerous situation. "I called for the police, and when they came, the truck had finally got up the hill a little bit. But from my understanding, they did pull him over and ticket him. "A child walking to school takes the same route every day. They cannot go through side streets when a tractor-trailer's creating a problem. Cars can detour, but children cannot. 62 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 "For the safety of the children, I really hope you pass the ban on tractor-trailers on Green Lane. Also for the good of our neighborhood and for all the people that travel on Green Lane, I hope that you pass this bill, 990567, before someone really gets hurt. "I guess now this is in God's hands and yours. I hope that God will be watching over this intersection and help you come to the right decision about putting an all-way sign on Green Lane and Baker Streets. "May God bless us all, especially the children that travel on Green Lane. "Sincerely, Mrs. ".
Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. Are there any other witnesses today that wish to speak?
Councilman DiCicco, my name's Rose Canicci (ph.), and I am a member of St. Lucy's parish. I have a letter here written by one of our team members who could not be present because she is a crossing. 63 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 "My name is Linda Adderno (ph.). I am a school crossing guard for the 5th Police District in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia, and am a member of the Manayunk Council Leadership Team. From a crossing guard's perspective, I strongly feel that the implementation of stop signs at the above locations is a grave necessity to ensure the safety of the school children, the pedestrians, drivers, church parishioners, senior citizens, and the community as a whole who must utilize Green Lane on a daily basis. "From compact cars to 53-foot tractor-trailers, this uniquely narrow, hilly, curvy, residential street is very heavily traveled, and in my opinion, at times resembles the Manayunk version of the Atco Speedway due to the complete disregard of its posted speed limits, especially during school hours. "In view of the many recent traffic accident reports investigated and filed on record with the 5th Police District concerning these above-mentioned locations, along with endless Leadership Team studies, community surveys, and various petitions to City government, this request 64 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 should be considered a no-brainer. "My only hope is that these stop signs will be installed as soon as possible in order to prevent a needless fatality to the staunch neighborhood community. As a uniformed City employee in the Philadelphia Police Department, I thank you for considering my request."
Good morning, Councilman. My name is Josephine Cofone. "To Councilman Frank DiCicco and City Council: On September 13, 1996, we had a very bad accident at Green Lane and Baker Streets, as have many people. There was a truck parked on the corner of Green Lane, and a young man ran the stop sign coming from Baker Street. Our car was very badly damaged. "When the police came, they or anyone could judge from the scene that the young man, instead of inching his way out of Baker Street, came full force and ran the stop sign. "Two days later, we passed by in a rented car, which our car was in for repairs, and 65 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 the stop sign was no longer there. Thanks to Sergeant Moore at the 5th District, he had the sign put back up within a short time. "My husband was driving. Due to having a hard condition, I spent the night at Roxborough Memorial Hospital. I cannot understand why the young man was not given a ticket, but the officer at the accident informed me he could not give a ticket because he didn't see it. "There should be no-parking signs at the corner of Green Lane and Baker Streets at least to the middle of that block for this problem not to happen so often as it has. "Hopefully, this will be resolved. Thank you. Anna Stumpo (ph.)"
Good morning, Councilman. My name is Irene Madrak, and I'm the Executive Director of North Lake Community Center, and that's just about a block's distance up the street but on the opposite side from St. Lucy's. Just to give you an idea of the number 66 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 of kids and the frequency of crossing, the children from St. Lucy's School use our gymnasium for gym classes and cross as a class probably four times a day. The children from St. Lucy's also come to our after-school program. So it is a very busy street. There is quite a bit of speed picked up because there aren't any stop signs for, you know, a long distance. And it really is pretty hairy when kids try to cross the street. We also have children that come in the early evening and after school generally from the neighborhood, and a lot of the kids we serve are the other side of Green Lane. And so there's crossing and it really is the kind of thing where kids stand there and false starts, and it's really an accident waiting to happen. So I just wanted to add that children cross this street all the time, and there is no 21 safe place to cross once the crossing guards are not there.
Thank you. And for me, while I recognize and respect everyone's testimony here, often we get 67 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 requests for traffic device signals or stop signs at various intersections, but the most compelling testimony today for me is that two crossing guards who we charge with the responsibility of crossing children have made the recommendations, and their they're on behalf of the stop signs, and I think that's something we should not be ignoring, regardless of what the State warrants provide. Councilmember Nutter?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. What I would want to ask, with the Chair's indulgence, I've distributed a packet of information. I would ask that this material be included as a part of the record. We'll make sure that the stenographer gets a copy. But I would ask, with the Chair's approval, that the memo that starts with the cover sheet of Bill No. 990567 and the two attached letters be made official a part of this record. Secondly, I would like to inquire of Mr. Trainor about what appears to be some discrepancy between the letter from Mr. Moy and the memo from the 5th District commanding officer at the time, Captain McCarty, to Mr. Moio (ph.).. 68 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 Mr. Trainor, can you provide any explanation as to the information provided in the letter dated June 25, 1999 from Mr. Moio to Father Sabatini of St. Lucy's, in articulating in Warrant 2 that according to police accident records from 1990 to December 1998, there were only five reportable accidents. That's in Mr. Moio's letter. But Captain McCarty, in a memo dated August 25, 1999 to Mr. Moio, obviously after Mr. Moio had written his letter to Father Sabatini, makes the report that he has completed a survey of auto accidents reported to police radio on Green Lane and Baker Street for the period of January 1999 to July 1999, a six-month period this year, and reports 17 accidents. And for the same time period for the length of Green Lane, from Maine to Ridge, reports 51 accidents in the same six-month time period. Can you please explain the discrepancy between these figures?
Councilman, to the best of our knowledge, as the captain said, he checked the record as to accidents reported to police 69 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 radio. Those accidents, from what we understand, can be identified as Baker Street and Green Lane, but when a police officer shows up out there, it is not Baker and Green Lane, it is actually -- three houses down from that location is where the accident is.
It may be on Green Lane, it could be on Baker. It's not part of the -- it is not at the intersection. The accident records that we --
The intersection is as the police officer defines it, and we do go within about feet on either side of it. 19
So then what 20 difference does it make if it's three houses up the street then?
That's -- that is up -- it is not then an intersection accident. Could be a rear-end accident, it could be an accident that is a fixed object, which could include a parked 70 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 cars. Those are the types of mid-block accidents. They're not at an accident involving two cars at right angles to each other.
Let me ask you this question, then. Tell me about the four accidents that took place in January of 1999 at Green and Baker. What kind of accidents were they?
Councilman, I cannot answer that. I do not have that information with me.
Okay. What kind of accidents were the two accidents in February of 1999?
Again, Councilman, I have not -- I did not bring any data with me to testify on these bills.
What was the accident in March at Green and Baker, of 1999?
Councilman, again, I cannot answer. I did not bring any data.
What about April of 1999, where there were five accidents? Tell me about those then.
Councilman, again, I 71 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 cannot answer. I do not have the data with me to determine what they were. In addition to that, the --
Did Mr. Moio have that information when he made his determination in his June 25, 1999 letter? Did he know about these accidents?
Councilman, the Traffic Engineering Division does not have accident records from the Police Department past March of 1999. We are reviewing accident records through January of 1990 through the last date, which, as I said, just happens to be March 1999. We receive them after they are coded into the police accident system. We do not use the radio call system; we use the actual coding that the Police Department places into the system based on the report of the investigating officer at the scene.
So your testimony is, you are never up to date on what's going on at 72 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 any particular intersection of about six to eight months, and you disregard whatever police radio says as reported accidents. I think that apparently seems to be a term of art -- "reported accidents to police radio." So as far as you're concerned, the 8 accidents that were reported at Green Lane and 9 Baker for the first 7 months of 1999, that's a 10 virtually irrelevant, non-bearing statistic to the 11 Streets Department. 12
Only the accidents up 13 until March of 1999 are the accidents that we have 14 at the present time. These accidents, as they go 15 through the system, they will be included into our 16 -- at this time, it's a hard-copy database for 17 our use. But what is reported to the Police Department is --
So then what's the relevance when Mr. Moio writes a letter to Father Sabatini on an issue that is of deep importance to people in the community, and he writes a letter on June 25, 1999 and says: "Warrant 2. Relates to accident experience. Police accident records of 5 73 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 or more reportable accidents within a 12-month period correctable by a multi-way installation satisfies Warrant 2. According to police accident records from 1990 to December 1998, there were only five reportable accidents."
He's writing a letter in June of 1999 and he's talking about a period in 1998 and 8 years prior, but has no 11 relevant information in 1999 that says that there were 17 accidents at or near that intersection.
The accident history for the previous nine years is relevant, it shows what is going on out there. It also shows us what is a report of --
Well, I think the previous accident history for the seven-month period from January to July is very relevant also.
Councilman, it also shows us what is a State-reportable accident, which is not necessarily an accident that the police radio room receives.
I have no idea what you just said. 74 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567
The police radio room 3 receives a call regarding an accident. The accident is not necessarily a State-reportable accident.
A State-reportable accident, according to the State Vehicle Code, is an accident where there is an injury, a fatality, or the vehicle cannot move. That is a State-reportable accident, and those are the type of accidents that are used for the study or to justify an all-way stop sign.
So unless a car is totaled in the accident, that's the only accident that really counts.
If you dent my fender, if you bust up my door, if you smash in the back of my vehicle and the gas tank explodes, that's not a reportable accident because maybe you can still move the car. Is that your testimony?
Up until possibly the gas 75 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 tank exploding, that would be my testimony, yes, sir.
So two cars have an accident, they smash their fronts together. If they are able to limp away from the scene, that's not a reportable accident. But if one flips over and the other has the roof crushed, that is a reportable accident. And you're telling me that there is a difference between those two in terms of life safety at that particular intersection?
They are the regulations that we have in the state of Pennsylvania. They are also the guidelines provided to the states by the Federal Highway Administration.
Well, what about common sense and engineering judgment? Where does that fit in in any of this?
Engineering judgment, Councilman, would fit in when we're looking at a angle-type accident or possibly 4 reportable in a 12-month period and 4 or 5 non-reportable's. That's the ones that are the fender-benders that are angle type. We are talking about a borderline 76 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 situation based either on accidents or volume.
That's a very interesting term, Mr. Trainor, because according to every letter I've received from the Department, there is nothing known as "a borderline situation." Every letter that I get starts with, At whatever intersection, we are not dealing with a borderline situation. There is nothing in the Department that has ever been described as "a borderline situation." So tell me, what is a borderline situation?
Again, Councilman, it's when we are talking about a situation where we are, from a volume perspective, during the midday peek or midday operation, we are talking about an 80 percent of the volume requirement. That would be approximately 160 vehicles and/or pedestrians crossing the main street. That could be a borderline situation. With a number of accidents that are below five, maybe three, that could be considered a borderline situation.
All right, that's 77 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 all well and good. Now, tell me this, we've had testimony from a half a dozen people, we have accident reports from the Police Department -- whether they're reportable in your world or not, these things actually do happen, we didn't make them up. If kids are crossing the street four or five times a day, younger people, older people, a lot of people, what is the Department's response to the traffic safety issues out on Green Lane? And what do you guys propose to do?
We have already placed continental crosswalks at both Silverwood and at St. David's where the school crossing is. The school crossing not at Baker. We have made recommendations for the enforcement, and we would be glad to extend the corner clearances on the south -- parking clearances on the south side of Green Lane to increase the sight distance on Green Lane, for vehicles coming up Green Lane.
And what is the solution to the speed of the traffic on Green Lane? 78 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567
Kids and other people should not have to virtually take their lives into their hands every day as they try to get back and forth across the street.
And the 5th District, as you well know, like every other police district in this city, is not going to post a uniformed police officer out there to watch cars go by every day. They have a couple other things that they need to do with themselves.
Councilman, I'm sorry. That is the answer. The enforcement of the speed limit --
-- for both the posted 21 speed limit and the 15 school speed limit that is 22 out there, not a speed-control device. 23
Councilman Nutter, 24 could I ask a question at this moment? 25
You talk about the setbacks, you talk about identifying the crosswalks and things. What is it that the Philadelphia Streets Department is so worried about if they would put in a stop sign, a four-way stop sign at this intersection? What is it that you're so concerned about? You have all this testimony, you have police reports, you have citizens testifying about the problems there. And I know we have rules and regulations and all that stuff, but what are you worried about? If we put the stop sign in and say, The hell with the warrants and what the State is, this is what the citizens of Philadelphia want, this is what the Councilperson who represents the district wants. It is police reports, not just John Doe who says, Hey, I think you should have a stop sign there. You have police reports, you have testimony from two crossing guards. Put the damn stop sign in, Charlie. What is it that you're worried about will happen to you or Commissioner Moy if you don't put the stop sign in? I can't get through to you guys 80 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 yet.
I don't comprehend this. Is it a lawsuit? The hell with the lawsuit. We'll take that lawsuit.
Forget the justifying -- we're justifying it in this room 11 today, Charlie. Put the stop sign in. You think the State's going to send down an inspector to go look at every intersection in the City of Philadelphia and say, The stop sign wasn't warranted here, Philadelphia, lawsuit. Let them sue us. Put the stop sign in, Charlie.
Excuse me, Charlie. Put the stop sign in. Let's stop negotiating these things day in and day out and wasting everyone's time. I got a lot of things to do today -- I have constituent phone calls, probably 40 of them waiting for me. And you're going to sit here tell me that the taxpayers and 81 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 the elected officials in this city don't have as much say as your commissioner. He's appointed. We're elected by these people. Put the stop signs in and let's get on with it, Charlie. Forget those State warrants, and if the lawsuit comes and you get sued, I will personally get an attorney to represent you free of charge. This is four years of this stuff. I've been conducting these meetings and I get the same stuff day in and day out. It's ridiculous. Councilman Nutter, are you finished yet?
Mr. Chairman, I deeply appreciate your comments and your support on this particular issue. I think that many of us are just very, very frustrated by this. It is, if not actually, it is almost embarrassing that we find ourselves in a situation where I have to ask and contact my constituents who have asked for something that we is necessary and justified. We have public testimony on a lot of different things, and sometimes people really do need to come in. We just find ourselves in the 82 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 bizarre situation that we've recently begun this process of dealing with traffic signals and installation by way of bills and ordinances, and some of have been passed, and subsequently action has been taken. I believe that the citizens of this city deserve better and shouldn't have to go through this particular process. I appreciate them coming down here today. It's a good group. We have other people who are here. And they have tried to work with us and to work with the department. The Mayor's Office has indicated their great interest in this whole issue and their support to have something for the folks who are here and others to follow. So I mean, I can't -- I mean, I've received a response -- I don't think I got an answer, but I got a response to the question that I laid out, and the material is included as a part of the record. I would certainly implore the committee to take the appropriate action under these circumstances. So I'm concluded on this particular bill, and thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. 83 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Trainor, could you please provide to the Chair the installation records of four-way all-direction stop signs for the last months 9 and identify that the warrants have been made on 10 every installation of all-way stop signs in the 11 City of Philadelphia. 12 And I'm asking you directly, every 13 four-way stop sign, all-way stop sign that's been 14 installed in the last 24 months, have they all met 15 the criteria of PennDOT? Have there been any 16 exceptions made? Have you gotten a phone call 17 from the Mayor's Office? Have you gotten a call 18 from the Streets Department from the Streets 19 Commissioner's office and said, Charlie, like 20 Councilman DiCicco just said put an all-way stop 21 sign up. Has every one met the criteria by 22 PennDOT for the last 24 months? 23
I will provide that list 84 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 to the Councilman.
I will provide the list of locations and the warrants that were met, sir.
Has any all-way stop sign been put up that you know of that hasn't met the warrant, the criteria?
Thank you. I'm asking you again, on behalf of the sponsor of the bill, put a four-way stop sign at this location. Thank you.
Is there anyone else who wishes to testify? UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Could I say something?
Yes, sir. Please 85 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 approach the witness table.
Yes. My name is Robert Polson (ph.).. I want to apologize first to this body. I wasn't apprised of these problems during the -- I guess after the a.m. hours. I do apologize for not knowing what was going on. But I'm just here mainly for Green Lane since it's three, maybe four years now since they did the bridge work. And it's been nothing but chaos 'cause nobody wants to put it back to normal where it was. And Councilman Nutter is my councilman, and I think the body right here can help us out. We need help up there -- not just the stop signs. I agree with this, and I do apologize to them again. There's more than 2,000 cars that go through Green Lane Bridge in the morning. I know it's not a part of this --
But please can I just say -- I go to civic groups and I get turned off. We get promises. Jablonski's (ph.) not here, he 86 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 moved out and Moy took over. He says, We're going to pave Green Lane for you, then we'll re-mark everything, and that was before school started that didn't happen. We got ruts, we got holes, and you got to come down there slow; otherwise, your car can get thrown into the other traffic or onto the pavement. I know this I drive it every day, and it's a.m. and p.m. It stinks, it's terrible. We got to do something for the Manayunk people that live there, not for the people that come into the restaurants and stuff like that. The residents are being -- how would you say this? "Raped," I guess, is the word. Maybe not. Shortchanged. Whatever. Really, this is a problem. And I know it's been worked but we're not getting nowhere with it, and has to be looked at it. Really, somebody has to look at it and do something. Stop signs are needed for the kids -- that's the biggest thing. And I know Mary Jo and I know Josephine here. Again, I do apologize. I'm sorry, I didn't know the whole thing about this, but I came 87 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 down from Green Lane, and we need help. Please, somebody look at it.
Mr. Chairman, could I just follow up on something Councilman?
Again to Mr. Trainor, I think there's another situation that we can resolve easily, and it might be working with Councilman Nutter's office on this. But it's the issue of the truck traffic. When I approach that -- when I go over the Green Lane Bridge from the expressway, I see a small sign that says "Trucks," and the arrow points both east and west on Main Street. To me, that is not adequate because it's just not big enough. There is apparently a sign, you heard earlier, that was there prior to the construction. That's been removed. Do you know, Mr. Trainor, are trucks prohibited from traversing Green Lane from Maine if they want to make it up to Ridge? Isn't that something you can fix quickly? If already that is 88 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 a prohibition, can't we just order signage to replace the one that once existed?
As far as we know, our records indicate that trucks were never prohibited. What we had out there at Maine and Green Lane was a warning sign. It was a yellow-and-black sign informing trucks of the hill and basically directing them north or south for Main Street -- on Main Street. We have subsequently, because of the construction of railroad bridge, or the rehabilitation of the railroad bridge, we have replaced that sign, and I believe we placed another sign actually on the Green Lane Bridge. I think we now have two -- one west of Main Street and one right at the intersection. These signs have been supplemented with the grade of the street to show that it's the 12 percent grade.
In addition to that, we have that particular sign -- it may not be at Ridge Avenue. It's within the stretch from Ridge to Maine for the westbound traffic. I'm not sure 89 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 which -- it may be at Manayunk Avenue, I'm not sure. We've also placed, and we are placing, green-and-white directional signs for I-76, and we're taking 'em up in a different manner from Ridge Avenue. So we've got a sign for northbound Ridge at Green Lane that's directing trucks, or directing anybody really, north on Ridge Avenue to pick up 76.
Now, you say that trucks have never been prohibited from Green Lane, from using Green Lane, and I don't know how long ago Traffic Engineering looked at that, but they were the days when we had a maximum length of a vehicle. Could I ask that that be revisited to see if -- could you explain what it would take to prohibit trucks? Because, Charlie, I don't know if you have ever used that roadway. You don't want to be coming in the opposite direction of an articulated vehicle on Green Lane when one's coming the other direction. It is absolutely scary, even if you're an extremely skilled driver. What does it take to prohibit trucks on 90 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 Green Lane?
Part of the biggest thing that is required is, where do you send 'em? Where do you send the trucks and where are you putting the trucks, what street, to get basically from the Riverside up the hill to Ridge Avenue? There aren't that many movements with a direct connection from, if you will, Main Street north. And each one of those streets -- and I can think of -- is it Leverington and Sherry's Lane, they also have residences and homes on 'em. They've got parked cars on 'em. So you've got the same situation. You may not have a steeper grade, you've got a grade. Don't have the winding roadway, as you do on Green Lane. So it's a question of where you're sending them to, or how do you direct them now up to Ridge Avenue and what pops up over there. Right now, we've given them a choice of which way to go. We're sending them north on -- we make the recommendation based on 12 percent grade that they go north or south on Ridge Avenue.
Could you -- if you're suggesting that they go north-south, could 91 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 you prohibit them and require them to go north-south?
We could post, I believe, again a green-and-white sign, which is not necessarily a regulatory sign; it's a directional sign and post it as a truck route.
If someone tells us what truck route they want us to take these things through, I think we can post it, based on that.
Well, you're the Traffic -- the Sanitation Division on Domino Lane, I believe, has a process to keep their big trucks out of the residential area. I mean, I'm not a traffic engineer, but it's a no-brainer to send them over Umbria Street and up Domino lane.
In actuality, Councilman, Umbria Street, and I don't know where this came from, this predates my 1973 start in Traffic Engineering. I believe Umbria Street, at Leverington, prohibits trucks at night. So. . .
Yeah. Because the trash trucks were rumbling through there at all hours of the night when that incinerator was an 92 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990567 active incinerator. Now it's shut down and it's signs as usual. I always wonder when I drive through the city and I see sign that says "Deaf Child," that they might already be dead and buried. You know, they could be 70 years old, 80 years old by now.
On the Main Street end, if Councilman Nutter wishes, we will post a truck routing with green-and-white signs to use Leverington Avenue.
We'll have a discussion with the St. Lucy's Leadership Team about that and on any other issues out there, but I think the issue for today is what the folks came down here for. And, again, I would ask for the City's support on that particular report.
Thank you. One other thing, Mr. Trainor. I apologize for the tone of my voice. We've had several shouting discussions over the four years I've been here. And I understand your position, I understand the pecking order at the Department of Streets, and you do have to answer. Regardless of 93 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990568 what the warrants are and your interpretation of the PennDOT codes, you do have to answer to the Commissioner. And with all due respect from you, I believe in the future, when we have these issues, that I'm going to ask the Commissioner to come down to testify. Because, as you said, in the end, it's what he says what you will do. So, again, I apologize for the tone of my voice, but the Commissioner will be the person who will be attending these hearings when it comes to issues such as this. Thank you. And thank you all for coming. Will the clerk please read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 990568, an ordinance authorizing the installation of all-way stop signs at the intersection of 65th Street and Lansdowne Avenue.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To the best of my knowledge, there is no one to testify in person on Bill 990568, but I would, again, with the Chair's approval, like to 94 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990568 put forward a package of letters that are attached to the cover sheet of 990568 and ask that they be entered into the record as if they were read. Those letters are from Mr. Barry Drossner the principal of Cassidy School; Miss Armita Sims, who is the Overbrook Cluster Leader; and a resident, Miss Nancy Stone, at 842 North 56th Street. The issues at this intersection involve -- Cassidy School is within one-half block of this intersection. There many children crossing the street, there's a large traffic volume of cars and trucks, poor sight lines. It's reported that there are no traffic controls on Lansdowne Avenue between 66th and 63rd, and that there was a child hit by a car at this intersection last year, and also an accident between a school bus and a car. I don't have -- the one thing I believe I do not have is a letter, at least in my possession, from the Streets Department. We actually do have a letter from the Streets Department; I just don't have it in my possession at this time. I don't have any particular questions 95 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990568 for Mr. Trainor. Quite honestly, we might end up in the same discussion that we just had on the previous bill.
I think we can just get the testimony from the Streets Department and move on from there. Thank you.
The Department of Streets offers no objection to the passage of Bill No. 14 990568 authorizing the installation of all-way stop signs at the intersection of 65th Street and Lansdowne Avenue in a manner consistent with PennDOT regulations.
Not to be ever accused of looking a gift horse in the mouth, but what exactly does that mean when you add in the provision "in accordance with. . ." -- are you putting in stop signs? 96 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990568
Councilman, if the intersection if warrants a stop sign in accordance with PennDOT regulations, we will install an all-way stop sign.
Okay. So your testimony is not actually that you're going to do it.
Your testimony is that you're going to study it, and if it complies, you will do it. If it doesn't, you won't, notwithstanding the existence of Bill No. 990568, or the passage of Bill No. 990568.
Councilmember, I think you're engaged in conversation on the prior bill, which was the same testimony, and that's how we got into this debate.
Thank you. Are there any questions for this 97 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 witness? (No questions.)
Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against this bill? (No response.)
Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 990569, an ordinance authorizing the installation of all-way stop signs at the following intersections on Indian Queen Lane: Haywood, Krail, Wiehle, and Vaux Street.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There are members of the community who have stepped up to the witness table, and I'd like, again, with your indulgence to give them the opportunity to be heard.
Thank you. 98 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 Good morning. Please identify yourself for the record.
Thank you. Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee and Councilpeople. My name is Marilyn Shaffer. I represent the Lower Indian Queen Lane Neighbors Association, which includes Indian Queen Lane, Wiehle Street, Krail Street, and Haywood. For three or four years now, we have been trying to alleviate the traffic problem at Indian Queen Lane and Wiehle. There have been many accidents and countless near-accidents -- and I was going to say mysteriously absent from police records, or unsubstantiated by the police, but our previous discussion shows that, obviously, these accidents weren't a State-reportable accident. However, I do have several examples of accidents that I would like to tell you about that have happened at this location. One of my neighbors skidded on the ice several years ago and didn't make the turn and smashed into my father's car. He asked that the repairs not be reported to the police because he didn't want it on the insurance record, so that was done -- so that's 99 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 why that one wasn't on the police record. There was a bad bicycle accident wherein a bicyclist was hit while coming out of Wiehle. He was in a coma. He was -- it was a hit-and-run accident and he was left for dead, he was left for dead. Some of the neighbors found him lying in the street, called the ambulance, and he was in a coma for two months. He is now all right. However, it doesn't mitigate the -- that accident. Just on Monday night, a large moving van ripped off the front side of a parked car from the rear window forward. The car was parked right past this curve, it's a blind curve, it's a dangerous curve. Finally, this year, the Traffic Division came out for a public peripatetic meeting, and they were besieged by angry neighbors at Indian Queen and Wiehle. They finally put up a "Children Crossing" sign, a "Blind Intersection" sign, curve chevrons and a 25-mile-an-hour sign. This intersection has the Old Academy Players, where hundreds of subscribers park their car and go across the street to attend the play 100 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 where Grace Kelly got her start. It's the only pedestrian entrance to the McDivitt playground, where hundreds of children from East Falls go to play summer and winter. The elderly live on the street, as well as the elderly who attend the two churches on the street on Sunday and for church meetings, are all endangered. I spoke to a traffic official only yesterday who said that they could only post or 12 35-mile-an-hour signs because I mentioned to him 13 that I thought the 25-mile-an-hour sign was still 14 too fast. And he said that they could only post 15 the 25 or 35. I informed him that there was a 16 20-mile-per-hour sign on the Mayor's street, where 17 there is a much less dangerous curve, and he 18 suggested that the police should be out there to 19 get the speeders, and then he informed me that, of 20 course, the budget cuts in the City made it 21 impossible for the police to be out there to 22 control speed. 23 And I -- and he also told me that the 24 reason that the Streets Department won't easily go 25 along with it is that when a stop sign is put up 101 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 that doesn't meet the PennDOT regulations, the Streets Department has to pay for that Streets sign. If the stop sign meets the regulations, then the Streets Department only pays for 5 percent of the cost, with PennDOT picking up the rest. Well, I informed him that I pay my taxes and that I wanted some of those taxes to go to put a street sign on my block. So I ask you, please, a stop sign will prevent further accidents, further injuries. Please pass our request. Thank you very much.
Good morning. My name is Marjorie Greenfield. I am a resident of East Falls, a vice president of East Falls Community Council, and I chair the Zoning and Land Use Committee. I appear before you today on behalf of all of the residents of East Falls. It is true that we've been trying to work with the Streets Department. In some areas they're responsive; in this area, they have not been responsive in regard 102 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 to the stop signs. I speak on behalf of the people who use and who live on Indian Queen from the top to the bottom and the adjoining streets, which include Haywood and Vaux, Krail and Wiehle. I speak on behalf of the many, many children who go to McDivitt and live in the neighborhood and the elderly who live there and who use the streets, the people who patronize the theater there and the new restaurant on the corner of Krail and Indian Queen. This street is a through-street. It runs all the way down to Ridge from Henry Avenue. It is used in the morning as a major thoroughfare, despite the fact that it is narrow, curvy, and has parking on both sides of the street. It is a deadly place to drive. People do not obey the traffic signs. We know we're not going to get a policeman out there to control traffic. And the only way you're going to slow it down is to put in stop signs that we've asked for. We know there have been many accidents there where either because people don't want to wait for the police or because of other reasons, 103 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 they don't get into the books. That is not a reason not to put the signs there. This community needs those signs. We need to discourage the use of that street by commuters. There are other wider streets where it is more appropriate to have through-traffic. We need to protect the children. We shouldn't have to fight for four years to get a playground sign. We shouldn't have to fight to get any kind of traffic control on that street. It's just the disregard of the needs of the community and an inflexibility which has generally been demonstrated by the Streets Department, except when it is convenient. And we don't have any politicians who are living on that street, but I don't think that's a reason not to take care of this neighborhood. In other areas of the neighborhood, we've gotten a little better treatment, but that street is a disaster area. And we don't need somebody killed there before something happens. Now, I would like to know from the Streets Department, and I would appreciate your asking whether, in fact, what Miss Shaffer was 104 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 told is actually true, about the payment for the stop signs.
Well, somebody told her yesterday that if you comply -- if they do things within the warrants from the State, that the State pays most of the cost of the sign; and that if it is not within the warrant, the City pays for it. And I'd like to know whether that's true or not.
Mr. Trainor, you heard the question. I'm not familiar with that.
Councilman, I'm not sure. The way it was quoted, it is not true. The cost of the traffic-control devices are borne by the City of Philadelphia. Confusion can run into play when we start talking about federal aid programs and federal aid-funded projects, whether they are new reconstructions or whether they are resurfacing. If it's new reconstruction, which, includes traffic-control device upgrading, the federal government, through the State of Pennsylvania, 105 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 picks up 75, 80 percent of the tab, depending on the particular bill. If it is a resurfacing contract that we are using federal funds for traffic-control devices, specifically stop signs, they have to be justified before that street is resurfaced using federal funds. So there's some confusion. It could very well be within my unit, but I will --
I can understand that. Would a street that is a State highway, would that impact on whose responsibility or where the cost would lie?
The traffic-control devices are the responsibility of the City, whether it is a State highway surface street, or whether it is a non-State highway surface street.
Do we get reimbursed if it is either one of those from the State?
We do not get reimbursed directly from the State for those devices. Part of the Liquid Fuel Tax, State Liquid Fuel, and I believe, County Liquid Fuel Tax money is budgeted to the Traffic Engineering Unit. 106 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569
Okay. I can understand the confusion because I'm still a little confused after that explanation. No 5 disrespect the way you explained it, but State warrants and so forth, okay.
There was a period of time, I believe, in the early '90s, maybe later, that numerous traffic signals were removed throughout the City and replaced with stop signs, either all-way or just one way, I'm not sure exactly what the scenario was there. There was a significant savings, both for electric energy and also on maintenance, of those electrified intersection traffic-control devices. Have all of those -- have any of those traffic signals been reinstalled because they were really, truly needed?
Councilman, the Intersection Conversion Program was initiated by the Streets Department, number one, for a safety 107 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 perspective. The traffic signals that we wanted to convert to either an all-way stop sign or conventional stop sign did not meet the warrants for signals, and our studies over the years where we have converted a couple, almost a thousand, I think, intersections over years, showed that we 8 could expect a 50 percent reduction across the 9 board when we convert signals. 10 There are a few locations that, after 11 the conversion and after a few years of operation, 12 it was determined that we did not decrease safety 13 or increase safety, that we were having accidents 14 out there, and we did reinstall some of the signals -- only a few, many only a handful.
So it's not a given that every traffic signal that was removed was replaced with a four-way stop sign. 'Cause I know one I'm thinking of right now that just turned out to be a two-way stop sign after the traffic signal was removed.
We converted approximately 180 intersections, and I believe it was done back in 1993. I believe there were a few non-all-way stop locations. Where they were and 108 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 how many there are, I don't recollect, but there were a few that went back to --
My point: all of those conversions to either all-way or two-way met PennDOT's warrants to go backwards. In my opinion, it's gone backwards. I understand what you're saying about how four-way stop signs control all the traffic and, hopefully, bring all cars to a stop at an intersection where a traffic signal doesn't do that. But every one of those locations where an electrified signal was removed, it had to meet a warrant for a stop sign or an all-way stop sign? Or was that a given, that if it had a traffic signal, that it automatically met that warrant?
It was more of a given to bring it down to an all-way stop, except in specific locations. And, again, I can't specifically -- I don't remember the specific locations that we went to conventional. But in the majority of the cases, the intersections that we were converting had an ADT of 5,000 on the main street, and the balance of traffic between the two, between the main street 109 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 and the cross street, were quite close together. They weren't equal. The main street was still higher, but it was a pretty close match from the hourly perspective of volumes. And we felt that from a safety perspective, going from a signal down to the all-way, which we had documented reduced accidents across the board -- it reduced the number reduced, it the severity, all types of accidents at that intersection specifically. But within the database, I believe there was a 50 percent reduction across the board. And that's when we went to the all-way. There's another thing. As a part of the warrants, we only refer our letters to really two of the warrants for the all-way. One is the volume and the other one is the accident. The first actual warrant, I believe, for an all-way is if a traffic signal is justified, it meets the PennDOT warrants for a traffic signal, you can put an all-way in as you are waiting to put the traffic signal in. Now, there's a -- we normally don't do that because usually we're looking at that on a signalized corridor, and you don't want to put an 110 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 all-way in the middle of a signalized corridor, especially if it's a coordinator corridor.
Well, a tremendous amount of money was obviously realized by doing this number of conversions that you've said?
Again, I just want to end this by going back to what Councilman DiCicco said. What's the real deal here? Is it money, is it just -- I don't want to use this word, but I can't think of a better one. Is it "engineering ego"? Why can't we just deal with these situations because we're talking -- what does it cost your department to install a four-way stop sign?
On average? I 111 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 mean, if there's a four-way --
In order to install an all-way stop, which basically would require us to install two to four signs, assuming that the other cross street already has their signs, we're talking in the vicinity of $300 to $500 -- I don't have the specific figures. The problem is not cost, Councilman. It is -- and I don't want to use the term "engineering ego," but --
It is engineering, sir, it is engineering, that the traffic, transportation, engineering industry has recognized that there is a threshold for installing traffic-control, intersection-control devices. That if you install the device prior to meeting that threshold, you've actually decreased safety and decreased the efficiency of movement of traffic.
But how can you -- I hear where you're coming from, and I respect your profession, but how can you -- if we slow the 112 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 traffic down a bit and we lessen the possibility of an intersection accident, it's hard for me to believe that we're here today. I used the same words at this meeting when I went up to St. Lucy's. I was embarrassed to have to go and sit through that meeting, hearing people asking for a four-way stop sign. I just can't understand why Commissioner Moy is playing hardball on this and not just installing these stop signs, Charlie. I mean, it's just beyond me to --
Well, in future meetings, Commissioner Moy will be here to answer those questions directly, and you will no longer be considered "Dr. No." He will be "Dr. No." You will lose your title, Charlie.
And I think that's only fair. You know, you work for the Commissioner and you have to follow your directives, and I expect you to do that. But he can -- like you said earlier, he can change this in a stroke of a pen. I'm sorry. Thank you.
Thank you, ma'am. 113 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 Yes?
I'd like to add a letter, a fourth example of an accident. I had this woman write the letter. She couldn't be here today. "My name is Mimi Trin (ph.), and I'm a third- year medical student at MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine. I'm writing this letter to talk about an accident I was involved in a few months ago. "I live on a street called Wiehle Street, which is a small street that forms a T-intersection with a larger street called Indian Queen Lane. "This past April, I was in a car accident as I was leaving my street to turn left onto Indian Queen Lane. I had come to a complete stop, looked left, then right, and then proceeded to turn left, when a car came speeding around the bend and collided into the side of my car. The front axle and door were destroyed and required close to $4,000 to repair. "Having to go through the process of repairing my car was incredibly frustrating and stressful. However, I'm thankful that the only 114 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 damage done was to my vehicle and nothing else. The accident could have been a lot worse. Had the car been going any faster or had it not hit the front part of my car, but instead gone directly to the driver's door, I could have been killed. "The intersection at Wiehle and Indian Queen Lane is an extremely dangerous one, and although you would think that people driving down Indian Lane would be more careful and drive more slowly because it curves at various points, this is not always the case. I witness drivers speeding down the street on a daily basis, even with blind intersections approaching. There really needs to be a more effective way of slowing down traffic on Indian Queen Lane to make it safer for those who drive it every day." And I might say, to those two walk it every day. "Does it not become a problem until somebody gets seriously hurt or even killed? A simple stop sign on Indian Queen Lane at its intersection with Wiehle Street would make a tremendous difference and would not hinder the traffic flow in any way, while making the streets 115 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 much safer to drive on. "Please don't wait until it's too late to save someone's life. This is a simple way to prevent a serious accident before it happens. "Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Mimi Trin." And I'd like to give you this to put in the deposition.
And only one sign needs to be put in there, not two or four.
Okay, thank you. Any questions for this witness? Councilmember Rizzo?
Just a quick question of Charlie Trainor. I know this is not why we're here, but speed bumps, we talked about that a long time ago, some variation of a device that will at least indicate or slow vehicular traffic. We talked about the legality of it, the lack of -- Are we allowed to do anything on our city streets that can slow traffic? 'Cause I'm 116 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 all over the suburbs -- Montgomery County -- they're all over the place. The rippled asphalt that really gets your attention, especially going into a curve, that lets you know to let up a little bit because --
Councilman, you just described two distinct devices. And I'll start with the first one you referred to, which is speed bumps, with a B.
I'm going to change that to speed "humps." Nobody uses speed bumps except in a parking lot. The speed bump is a lower, longer device. We have investigated into them. They do run into some problems. We have not started a program for their installation. Part of the problems that we run into -- and it's not situational in Indian Queen Lane. We have streets that have driveways, and you don't want to put a speed hump on either side where the driveway is. We've got streets that have parking on both 117 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 sides. If we put a speed hump in, parking's going to have to be removed in advance of, on, and past. So there's a lot of different problems in there. There's also a situation -- there's an engineering way of doing it, especially with elevations. The other device that you referred to out in Montgomery County -- and I can't remember the road, it may have been 73 recently that I was on.
They are noisy. What we are investigating -- we have not done it yet, we have not put down any yet. We're preparing to collect some before-data. We recently heard of what's called "a soft rumble strip." Basically what that is, is that we are using a thermal plastic material for our pavement workings, and it last seven, ten years. You place down a strip perpendicular to 118 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 traffic, approximately double the thickness of what is going down for a stop bar, and do you that three feet on center for about three or four of them, and then you do it another 200 feet down the street. We are investigating that now. As I say, we are looking into running a test at a specific location.
Well, don't you think that when we have a problem at a particular intersection, that the community would like to have four-way stop signs or some other traffic control device, that that would be an opportune time to do a test? Because I think you'd get community cooperation even if they were a bit noisy, they'd rather hear the noise of a rumble strip than a horn that's --
Well, I'm not too sure if they want to hear the noise of a rumble strip.
But what I'm getting at is that there are probably some locations in the city that these can be utilized, without an impact on the --
If I can interject 119 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 for a minute. We had, in the other committee that I'm not the Chair of -- I Was Vice chair at the time of the Transportation Committee a little over a year ago, and we did have some of these discussions. And I'm under the impression that we may have had a hump or something like that in place. But are you telling us, Charlie, that we're going to be doing something? At least any prediction as to when, what the time is?
I know I requested specific data to be collected at a specific location. I don't want to give it out yet.
All right. But when you're ready to do it, if you can let the Chair know, I'd appreciate it. Thank you.
You know, this engineering that says we can't put in a speed bump 120 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 because it will interfere with parking, it sort of sounds to me like what they tried to do with the law, which is an area of which I'm a little more familiar. You know, it's called "plain language." And in this case, I think it's called "common sense." And you don't need a speed bump that runs from curb to curb. It can be in the portion of the road where the cars are, because the cars that are parked along that street at least are parked there all the time, and you don't need speed bumps that go all the way to the edge of the curb in order to prevent someone from going around it. But the bottom line here is common sense and flexibility and responsiveness to obvious needs, and you don't need to be a traffic engineer if you go out on that street in the morning during rush hour and see what happens, and at night and see what happens. It's common sense. There's too much traffic and it goes too fast on a very narrow, curving street, with a lot of kids, dense housing, dense population, and commercial establishments. It just doesn't make 121 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 any sense -- not to mention the railroad crossing and the hospital, which is up off the hill above us, which produces more traffic.
Could I suggest, with the District Councilperson and Traffic Engineering that you consider being one of their test areas?
'Cause it's the kind of thing neighbors want to know about. They're very sensitive on this.
The committee needs to work that out with the District Councilman.
We'd be happy to work it out, we'd be happy to have the neighbors come together and talk and find out about this.
We've been coming 122 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 together to talk about it for three or four years. We just want a stop sign.
And I understand that and I'm not suggesting that you opt for the test as opposed to the stop signs. You have a very capable District Councilperson here. You understood, you heard the testimony here today. We are basically put in a position where people think we're not responding, and it's basically because of some procedure or some laws that say we can't do it. We need to get past that. I think "common sense" is the operative word here.
We're actually looking into with Senator Fumo and we have some folks in Harrisburg that are looking to see if we can relax what the State requirements are and let cities take more or of a responsibility or have 123 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 the ability to do these things without having to deal with State regulations, because every community has different needs. And in this case, we don't get that many requests, and that's why I get to that frustration level. There are some folks who, it could be debateable whether they're reasonable or unreasonable, but I think the testimony today as it relates to these intersections was very compelling, that police reports and other documentation support the need for it. Regardless of what the State warrants, provides or allows for, we as a city need to have the ability to make those decisions at the city level and not worry about what the State level is saying. So there's a number of things we're working on. Councilman Nutter?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First I'd like to thank my two constituents for coming down today, and they represent a whole host of people in the Indian Queen Lane area as well as the larger East Falls community. Again, similar to the St. Lucy's 124 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 Leadership Team, this is a group of folks who have had numerous meetings about these issues, I've participated in them. There have been numerous site visits out to the location, and Mr. Trainor and other Streets Department personnel have come on a couple of occasions, as well as the Police Department and others. This is a very serious situation in a narrow street where it's fairly densely populated. There have been some suggestions and recommendations made to address some of the issues, so I don't want this record to reflect that there have not been some efforts made by the Streets Department. I think some new signage will go up in a couple of areas, but they are not stop signs, it has more to be with some parking, X-in- a-box issues and things like that. But, again, this issue has been going on for sometime. We find ourselves again in the unique and unusual position of having to come to this level of action. And I would implore the committee to look favorably upon this piece of legislation and the others in recognition of the good work that the community has put forward, 125 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 their time and their effort in coming down here today, but also the numerous meetings that have taken place out in the neighborhood. And I'm just pleased to have been a part of those activities, and I support them wholeheartedly.
Thank you, Councilman. Any other questions for these witnesses? (No questions.)
Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against this bill? (No response.)
Well, read it in anyway. You won't be trouble with Larry.
The Department of Streets offers no objection to the passage of Bill No. 24 990569 authorizing the installation of all-way stop signs at the following intersections in a 126 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990569 manner consistent with PennDOT regulations: Indian Queen Lane and Haywood Street, Indian Queen Lane and Krail Street, Indian Queen Lane and Welsh (sic) Street, Indian Queen and Wolf Street.
Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Please identify yourself for record again.
My name is Marilyn Shaffer, I'm with the Lower Indian Queen Lane Association. I'm sorry, Mr. Trainor. Did you leave out Wiehle Street? Or did you mispronounce it?
Bill No. 990618, an ordinance authorizing the installation f all-way stop signs at the following intersections on Valley Avenue: Hagner Street and Wigard Avenue. 127 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990618
Thank you, Mr. Chair. For the situation of Valley Avenue at Hagner and Wigard, there are no residents here to testify with regard to this particular bill, but I would also ask if the material's being handed out attached to a cover sheet with Bill No. 990618 to be entered into the record as if those materials were read. They represent letters -- I'm sorry, petitions, numerous petitions signed by the residents of Valley Avenue. It's a long-term issue. This is one of those situations where there were signs, a repaving took place some number of years ago, and the signs were removed as a part of that process. This is one of these federal highway use of funds, adherence to a higher standard of regulations. You only get the street done if we use these funds for the repaving, and then you get what goes along with it, which is, apparently, signs coming down. The issues on Valley Avenue are: there are many children, school bus stops, a blind curb, 128 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990618 poor sight lines, and speeding.
Charles Trainor, Streets Department, Traffic Engineering. The Department of Streets offers no 8 objection to the passage of Bill No. 990618 authorizing the installation of all-way stop signs at Valley Avenue and Hagner Street and Valley Avenue and Wigard Avenue in a manner consistent with PennDOT regulations.
Just a quick question, Mr. Trainor. Could you connect repaving and signage? I can't get it.
The funding for the repaving of Valley Avenue in this case and for a number of other streets in the City of Philadelphia is from the federal government. These streets happen to be on the Federal Aid Route system. They are city streets not -- they are state highways and city streets that make up the federal aid system. 129 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990618 The Streets Department back in, I believe, 1979, through the legislation of the Federal Highway Administration, we were able to use federal money for resurfacing on these streets as long as federal guidelines, federal regulations, state regulations were followed. The all-way stop locations that were on those streets needed to be reviewed prior to the resurfacing. They needed to be reviewed to justify the installations. If we have a study, a previous study from back in the '60s, late '60s, early '70s, that justified them based on the standards, we could keep 'em. If we could not, we would have to restudy 'em and justify 'em. And in this case, these two do not justify 'em.
One of the things I would suggest, coming from the utility company, you have an arrangement with PECO Energy where you're allowed to attach certain devices to their wood utility poles. It's one of the few cities in the United States that allows that, and that is a significant savings to the Streets Department being able to attach a speed limit sign. But one thing that I've noticed is that 130 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990618 there are a tremendous amount of signs missing that were once in place that are support to traffic control -- speed limit signs, a yellow caution sign that was put up. I believe there was a program many years ago for dangerous curves, that a lot of those signs have been removed. What do we do? Do we do an audit to go back? Or do we just have to wait for somebody to call a Councilperson to say that there's no speed limit signs anymore because a truck knocked 'em down? I just see a tremendous amount of signage picked up by the Streets Department from knock-downs and I rarely ever see them replaced. I see people take signs down because they want a park in their neighborhood and there's just a vacant pole, and the sign's never replaced.
We are doing a preventive maintenance sweep involving our investigators where they are driving the intersections and driving the streets twice a year. We do not have, though, a specific inventory showing where the sign is on the street or any street. So their it's knowledge and their experience if something is missing, other than a 131 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990618 phone call, to determine what was there.
So you're telling me that if I came over and I wanted to see what was in the 8900 block of Germantown Avenue, you couldn't show me a print that showed every piece of signage that was installed there? You couldn't see four speed limit signs, no parking here to the corner? In other words, we're not to the point where we actually have an inventory on a piece of paper that you could roll out on that table and show us every sign?
Any other questions for this witness? (No questions.)
Is there any other anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against the bill? (No response.)
Hearing none, the 132 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990619 clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 990619, an ordinance authorizing the installation of all-way stop signs at the following intersections on Houghton Street: Roxborough Avenue and Walnut Lane.
(Inaudible, off mike). . . Mr. Morris is here. He's been a -- well, he's lived in the area for a little while, and maybe he'll share with you how long he's been there. The issues at this location are traffic volume, poor sight lines, speeding, and the fact that there were stop signs at this location which, we believe, were taken down as a part of a repaving project. So. . .
Proceed, sir. Would you please state your name for the record.
My name is Jim Morris, and I live right on the corner of Roxborough Avenue and Houghton Street. I've lived there, this January the 4th coming up, 50 years. I'm 73 years 133 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990619 old. I was a professional chauffeur and bodyguard for three presidents of a major company, and I drove Mr. Rizzo's father. I have complained about this intersection being a speed, a drag strip, from Henry Avenue to Ridge Avenue. There are people passing at that intersection, my guess at those speeds going by, were at least 60 miles an hour. Buses stop on that corner to pick up kids, to take 'em to private schools and to City schools. Right on the corner. Old folks go across, not top end of the teenage groups like me, but older folks go across these streets. (Laughter.)
And I worry about 'em. I sit there, I sit in my garage. I have what I call a playpen, a two-and-a-half-car garage that I have right on my property, and I see these cars. I sit there and watch 'em, and I'm just waiting. We've had plenty of accidents. Mr. Nutter has been a big help. He has a secretary by the name of Arlene in our area. We complained, I complained, and we started this 134 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990619 about a year and a half ago. She wrote a lovely letter to whomever it was supposed to go. That answer that came back was so ridiculous, I told my wife it's a lost cause, it's lost. They're not even going to listen to me, why should they listen to me? They don't listen to anybody else. Then three or five days ago, I got a call from Arlene and she said Mr. Nutter is addressing this and he's hitting 'em with it. Would you go down with 'em? I said I sure will, and here I am. I have told you what I saw, that people coming from north to south on Houghton Street cannot see out on Roxborough Avenue. And Arlene is one of those people. She lives down on one of those streets, and she comes out and she's concerned. There's a bus stop sign on Roxborough Avenue going west and that's-- you can't even tell what it is. And they can't even pull in there because there's cars parked from there to the corner. Then when you come out, going southbound, you can't see down there. Here comes a guy 50, 60 miles an hour. You come out and you hit the 135 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990619 brakes and you're hit. And it's happened many times where they ended up into my (unintelligible). Excuse me. They went into this lady's property, through the two other ones and tore up and ended up in the mud. And this is why we would like to have an all-way, which is a three-way stop sign put there, if possible. Can I read her letter?
"To who it may concern: This letter is in reference to the urgent need for stop signs for the corner of Roxborough Avenue and Houghton Street. "I moved into the neighborhood in 1991. There have been numerous accidents and near-fatal misses. At least a hundred times a day, you hear screeching of tires and horns blaring. Cars are traveling up and down Roxborough Avenue, driving entirely too fast. They never abide by the speed limit. Cars and people who are trying to cross over Roxborough Avenue on Houghton Street take their lives into their own hands each time. There are too many 136 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990619 near-misses. "It is difficult for school children to cross each morning and afternoon. The elderly people in the neighborhood cannot cross because of the cars speeding along. Sooner or later, there's going to be a fatal accident. "Two years ago, in the morning, a truck tried to cross over Roxborough Avenue, when it swerved and almost hit a UPS truck. It jumped the curb, hit a fence, knocked down, crossed my lawn and went through two more before it stuck in the mud. "Normally, there are at least three to five children playing in the front of our homes. My daughter is one of them. Thank goodness she was sitting in my living room, eating breakfast. If it had been a half an hour later, there could have been a tragedy. "There is a definite need for stop signs on the corners. We also need a 'Do Not Enter' sign on the corner of Houghton Rector Street. People drive down Rector Street past the hospital and make a left turn onto Houghton Street, which is a one-way, going the wrong way. 137 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990619 Going the wrong way up Houghton Street, adding to the problem on Roxborough Avenue and Houghton Street. The cars come flying past our houses, going way too fast in the wrong direction. "Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. If you need additional information concerning this urgent matter, please contact me at 215-482-3628. I do have pictures documenting the truck accident if you need them. "Sincerely, Denise Christianson." And then on this sheet here, my wife and Mrs. Christianson got a whole bunch of people to sign this. A lot of them are working, a lot of them are teaching school and doing other jobs that couldn't come down here with me today. I've tried for a week to get some, but I've got names, addresses, phone numbers. Thank you.
We understand that, sir, and we thank you for your testimony and thank you for your patience in being here today. And I believe that in the end, Councilman Nutter will come through, and you will have the stop signs that you're looking forward to having 138 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - 990619 installed in that location. Are any other questions for this witness? Councilmember Nutter.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is not a question again, but I again just want to thank Mr. Morris for coming down today. We greatly appreciate your taking the time to share with us your experience at that corner. We appreciate your 50 years at the location and we wish you many more. Thank you very much. Thanks for coming.
The Department of Streets offers no objection to the passage of Bill No. 20 990619 authorizing the installation of all-way stop signs at Houghton Street and Roxborough Avenue and at Houghton Street and Walnut Lane and in a manner that's consistent with PennDOT regulations.
Thank you. 139 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - Pub. Meeting Any questions? (No questions.)
This concludes the public hearing on the Committee of Street and Services. We'll take a two-minute recess. We're waiting for a quorum so we can vote the bills out of committee. Thank you. (Short break taken.) - - - (Proceedings resume.) - - -
We will now move into our public meeting. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Cohen for a motion on Bill No. 990162.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 990162 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and with a request for a suspension of the rules.
It's been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990162 be reported out of this committees with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. 140 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - Pub. Meeting All those in favor will signify by saying aye. Then any? The ayes have it, and the bill is approved. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Cohen for a motion on Bill No. 990163.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 990163 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and with a request for the suspension of rules to permit first reading.
It's been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990163 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The bill is approved. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen for a motion on Bill No. 990164.
Mr. Chairman, I move 141 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - Pub. Meeting that Bill No. 990164 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and with a request for a suspension of rules for first reading.
It's been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990184 be reported out of -- I jumped of myself, I'm sorry. It's been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990164 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. The bill is approved. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Cohen for a motion on Bill No. 990184.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 990184 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and with a request for a suspension of the rules to permit first reading. (Duly seconded.)
It's been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990184 be reported out of committee with a favorable 142 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - Pub. Meeting recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it, and the bill is approved. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Cohen for a motion on Bill No. 990335.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 990335 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and with a request for a suspension of the rules to permit first reading at the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
It's been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990335 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and that the riles be suspended. All those in favor, signify by saying aye? Those opposed? The ayes have it, and the bill is approved. 143 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - Pub. Meeting The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen for a motion on Bill No. 990336.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 990336 be reported out with a favorable recommendation and with a request for suspension of the rules to permit first reading at the next Council session. (Duly seconded.)
It's been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990336 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor of the bill, signify by saying aye? Those opposed? The bill is approved. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Cohen for a motion on Bill No. 990426.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 990426 be reported out with a favorable recommendation and with a request for suspension of rules to permit first reading at the next Council session. 144 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - Pub. Meeting (Duly seconded.)
It's been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990426 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor of the bill will signify aye? Those opposed? The bill is approved. Bill No. 990452 has been withdrawn at the request of the sponsor. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Cohen for a motion on Bill No. 990534.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 990534 be reported out with a favorable recommendation and with a request for suspension of the rules to permit first reading at the next Council meeting. (Duly seconded.)
It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990534 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be 145 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - Pub. Meeting suspended. All those in favor will signify by saying aye? Those opposed? The bill is approved. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Cohen for a motion on Bill No. 9905345.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 990535 be reported out with a favorable recommendation and with a request for suspension of the rules to permit first reading at the next Council session. (Duly seconded.)
It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990535 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor will signify by saying aye? Those opposed? The bill is approved. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen for a motion on Bill No. 990536. 146 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - Pub. Meeting
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 990536 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and with a request for suspension of rules to permit first reading at next Council session. (Duly seconded.)
It's been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990536 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor, signify by saying aye? Those opposed? The bill is approved. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen for a motion on Bill No. 990561.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 990561 be reported out with a favorable recommendation and with a request for suspension of the rules to permit first reading at the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
It's been properly 147 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - Pub. Meeting moved and seconded that Bill No. 990561 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor, signify by saying aye? Those opposed? The bill is approved. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen for a motion on Bill No. 990572. I'm sorry. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Cohen for a motion Bill No. 990567.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 990567 be reported out with a favorable recommendation and with a request for a suspension of the rules to permit first reading at the next Council session. (Duly seconded.)
It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990567 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and that the of Council be rules suspended. All those in favor will signify by 148 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - Pub. Meeting saying aye? Those opposed? The bill is approved. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Cohen for a motion on Bill No. 990568.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 990568 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and with a request for a suspension of the rules to permit first reading at our next Council session.
It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990568 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor will signify by saying aye? Those opposed? The bill is approved. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen for a motion on Bill No. 990569.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 990569 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and with a request for suspension of rules to permit first reading at 149 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - Pub. Meeting the next Council session. (Duly seconded.)
It's been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990569 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor, signify by saying aye? Those opposed? The bill is approved. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Cohen for a motion on Bill No. 990571.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 990571 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and with a request for suspension of rules to permit first reading at the next Council session. (Duly seconded.)
It's been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990571 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. 150 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - Pub. Meeting All those in favor will signify by saying aye? Those opposed? The bill is approved. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Clarke for a motion on Bill No. 990572.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I make a motion that Bill No. 990572 be held. (Duly seconded.)
It's been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990572 be held at the request of the sponsor. The bill will be held. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen for motion on Bill No. 990606.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 990606 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and with a request for a suspension of the rules to permit first reading at the next Council session. (Duly seconded.)
It's been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990606 be 151 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - Pub. Meeting reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor will signify by saying aye? Those opposed? The bill is approved. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen for a motion on Bill No. 990618.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 990618 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and with a request for a suspension of the rules to permit first reading at the next Council session. (Duly seconded.)
It's been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990618 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor, signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The bill is approve. 152 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - Pub. Meeting The Chair recognizes Councilmember Cohen for a motion on Bill No. 990619.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 990619 be reported out of committee with a favorable and with a request for a suspension of the rules to permit first reading at our next Council session. (Duly seconded.)
It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990619 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The bill is approved. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Cohen for a motion on Bill No. 990620.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 990620 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and with a request for a suspension of the rules to permit first reading at our next Council session. 153 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - Pub. Meeting (Duly seconded.)
It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990620 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The bill passes. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Cohen for a motion on Bill No. 990621.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 990621 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and with a request for a suspension of the rules to permit first reading at our next City Council session. (Duly seconded.)
It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990621 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor will signify by 154 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - Pub. Meeting saying aye. Those opposed? The bill is approved. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Cohen for a motion on the last and final bill, Bill No. 990622.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 990622 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and with a request for a suspension of the rules to permit first reading at the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990622 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The bill is approved. Thank you all for being here. This concludes the public meeting of the Committee on Streets and Services. Thank you. 155 10/28/99 STREETS & SVCS. - Pub. Meeting (Adjourned at 1:00 p.m.) - - - 156 C E R T I F I C A T E I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of Thursday, October 28, 1999, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of same. RE: COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON STREETS AND SERVICES BILL NO.'S 990162, 990163, 990164, 990184, 990335, 990426, 990452, 990534, 990535, 990536, 990561, 990567, 990568, 990569, 990571, 990572, 990608. 990618, 990619, 990620, 990621, 990622 __________________________________, JOSEPHINE CARDILLO, Registered Professional Reporter