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