HomeMy WebLinkAboutRE: Pedestrian Traffic Control - Blue Lakes Closure
Mike Plane
From:Jonathan Caton
Sent:Tuesday, May 7, 2024 14:47
To:Tracy Ahrens
Cc:Josh Baird; Troy Vitek; Lee Glaesemann
Subject:RE: Pedestrian Traffic Control - Blue Lakes Closure
I received a call today from the Federal Highway Administra?on, his first name was Russ. I am expec?ng an email follow
up from him. He received an ADA complaint in the vicinity of Blue Lakes and Commercial and Canyon. The concern was
that a pedestrian could fall into a trench and a concern about sidewalk access, he sent a photo of traffic candles on the
sidewalk.
Russ wanted to understand the Traffic Control Plan and if the inten?on was to close the sidewalk. I explained that the
inten?on was for it to remain open and that cones on the sidewalk blocking peds was not acceptable. I asked him to
forward me the picture so we could address it with the contractor. I also explained that we already addressed open
trench with the contractor. He said he had several pictures of the project, so I asked him if he had any other concerns or
sugges?ons, I specifically asked if he thought we needed a barrier for the peds on the sidewalk, he said he didn't think
so and that I had addressed the concerns he could see.
He also explained that the State was no?fied on this same complaint and someone from District 4 may be out to take
pictures.
-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Caton
Sent: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 12:50 PM
To: 'Tracy Ahrens' <TAA@jub.com>
Cc: Josh Baird <JBaird@?id.org>; Troy Vitek <tvitek@?id.org>; Lee Glaesemann <Lglaesemann@?id.org>
Subject: FW: Pedestrian Traffic Control - Blue Lakes Closure
Tracy, would you mind passing this along to the Transporta?on Group for their sugges?ons? I'd like to have them
review/comment on the Traffic Control Plan that is currently in place and a?ached, and the comments from Mr. Root
below. I have added some thoughts as well, they are:
1. We addressed the open trench issue with the contractor by reminding them of the specifica?on requirements.
2. It's not clear to me that the TCP has affected the movement of pedestrians, so I am wondering if we need to provide
addi?onal provisions for pedestrians. Do we need con?nuous detectable edging? Or what would be an appropriate
barrier if needed? Channeling devices? any addi?onal items?
3. I personally don't find the detour to be confusing, but I am certainly open to feedback, I may ask Mr. Root for
addi?onal input. We did not require reduc?on in speed in accordance with MUTCD 6B.01 because we agreed that it may
not change driving behavior. "Reduced speed zoning (lowering the regulatory speed limit) should be avoided as much as
prac?cal because drivers will reduce their speeds only if they clearly perceive a need to do so."
Thank you,
-----Original Message-----
From: Josh Baird <JBaird@?id.org>
Sent: Monday, May 6, 2024 5:10 PM
To: 'Trevor' <trevorroot@gmail.com>
Cc: Travis Rothweiler <trothweiler@?id.org>; Jonathan Caton <jcaton@?id.org>; Troy Vitek <tvitek@?id.org>
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Subject: RE: Pedestrian Traffic Control - Blue Lakes Closure
Trevor,
Thanks for your email. You bring up some good points and concerns for us to look into. I've copied the City Engineer,
Troy Vitek, and the Project Manager, Jon Caton, on this email so they are aware. I contacted Jon Caton this a?ernoon
and shared your email with him. He plans on reviewing the points you bring up with the Contractor and Engineer
shortly. Thanks again!
Joshua R. Baird
public works director | city of twin falls
phone: (208) 736-2274
jbaird@?id.org
-----Original Message-----
From: Trevor <trevorroot@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, May 3, 2024 9:55 PM
To: Josh Baird <JBaird@?id.org>
Cc: Travis Rothweiler <trothweiler@?id.org>
Subject: Pedestrian Traffic Control - Blue Lakes Closure
\[EXTERNAL SENDER\]
Josh,
I drove past the Blue Lakes construc?on site earlier tonight and have some vehicle and pedestrian safety concerns.
There's a trench that was le? open overnight a?er construc?on was shut down for the day - or maybe for the weekend. I
haven't looked into the regula?ons for Idaho, but even on fully fenced-off solar field construc?on sites in the middle of
the Texas desert it was standard prac?ce that we at least put up cau?on tape around every open trench over 12 inches
deep. Please ensure traffic and pedestrians are both warned in accordance with applicable laws and best prac?ces.
It' been my experience in other states that trenches adjacent to ac?ve roadways are required to be plated every night,
but I would expect cau?on tape or barriers at a minimum. Please verify.
I didn't see any provisions for pedestrians in accordance with MUTCD Chapter 6C. I received the Temporary Traffic
Control Plan through a records request and didn't see any provisions for pedestrians in the submi?ed plan either. Please
ensure sidewalks are either properly closed in accordance with MUTCD and ADA requirements, or ensure they are
separated from the construc?on site with appropriate barriers.
I personally found the North-bound closure to be confusing with both the thru-lane and right-turn lane detoured right. I
would expect either the right turn lane or the thru-lane to be closed further south. I didn't see any speed reduc?on signs
for south-bound traffic.
Please review.
It wasn't obvious to me whether the orange dots on the TCP were intended to represent tubular markers or drums, but
considering the ?me dura?on of the closure and the trenching, it would be good to clarify that the contractor installed
the intended device the City/Engineer assumed while approving the TTC plan.
I didn't see any engineering contact informa?on on the TCP, so I'm hoping you can follow-up on this area with the
appropriate contacts to make sure this closure is safe for pedestrians, and appropriately limits the risk of a
vehicular/worker accident in a City-managed construc?on zone.
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I a?ached some snapshots of the construc?on site for reference as of 6pm tonight.
Thank you,
Trevor Root
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