Passed unanimously by the Board of Directors.

Traffic Committee…August 25, 2010

Priorities:

I.  Enforcement (short term)

            1.  Additional enforcement coordinated by the Precinct and Highway Patrol at those times when most of the speeding occurs. 

                        a.  in particular, this should be accomplished at the beginning of the school year and at the beginning of each KCC semester.

            2.  A second meeting with KCC President Peruggi to include KCC Security personnel in order to continue a dialogue with students and staff. 

II.  Traffic Signals*, Signage and Traffic Calming Measures

*It is assumed that all standard traffic signals have “walk/don’t walk” signage along with push button pedestrian controls.

            1.  Speed limit signs should be prominently posted along with SCHOOL ZONE SIGNS LIMITING SPEEDS posted at intersections near our schools.  (Dover—Exeter/ Jaffray—Irwin/ Mackenzie—Norfolk—Oxford) on both Oriental and Shore Boulevards.

            2.  All current and new traffic signals on Oriental and Shore Boulevards must be standard traffic signals.. 

                        a.  Standard traffic signals can be adjusted to create “blinking red/yellow” after hours so that motorists aren’t inconvenienced late in the evening or during the early morning hours.

            3.  The Traffic Committee, along with Councilman Nelson’s staff and the Community Board met with a traffic consultant who made us aware of the fact that there are “sensors” that can be placed in the roadway that can technically adjust the traffic signals when there is significant traffic or when there is speeding.

                  The traffic consultant also discussed other traffic calming methods including a comprehensive (relatively inexpensive) radar system and speed bumps.

            4.  The standard traffic signal at Shore Boulevard and Ocean Avenue was misplaced and should be moved to Exeter Street and Shore Boulevard. 

                        a.  This traffic signal would eliminate the dangerous condition that exists for pedestrians going to and from Sheepshead Bay over the Exeter Street Bridge.    

                        b.  A standard traffic signal at Exeter Street would also help to slow speeding at the dangerous curve in the road between Coleridge Street and Exeter Street where numerous accidents have occurred. 

                        c.  In the likely event that DOT refuses to move the standard light from Ocean Avenue and Shore Boulevard, the Traffic Committee recommends that a standard traffic signal be placed on the corner of Dover Street in order to stop the speeding at that curve in the road. However, we recognize that safe pedestrian crossing at Exeter Street will not be accomplished.

            5.  Two additional standard traffic signals should be placed on Mackenzie Street at Shore Boulevard and on Oriental Boulevard.

                        a.  The placement of these additional signals will stop speeding; deter those who would speed down side streets to avoid traffic lights; keep intersections open for vehicles needing to turn onto side streets; and allow for additional safe pedestrian crossings.

III.  Zebra Stripes on Oriental Boulevard

            1.  Originally a six month “experiment” by DOT, the zebra stripes are dangerous, confusing and have been the cause of accidents and deaths.  The MBCG has been requesting DOT to remove the “experimental zebra lines” ever since they were placed (without consultation) on Oriental Boulevard

            2.  DOT refuses to recognize the dangers caused by these lines since they do not deter speeding and cause more danger to turning vehicles as well as pedestrians when other vehicles ride improperly on these ill-placed lines.

            3.  The Traffic Committee is demanding removal of the zebras.  Since DOT believes narrowing Oriental Boulevard is the only way to curtail speeding, DOT can accomplish this by putting turn lanes next to the median.  This would eliminate the zebras and the problems they create.    

IV.  Planters and Plantings

The “original” planters ordered for the mall on Oriental Boulevard were low in height.  The planters that arrived and are currently in place are TOO high.  Adding foliage to the planters makes them even higher and continues to cause blind spots for drivers.

In addition, new trees have been planted on the corners of each median further compromising the ability of drivers to see on-coming traffic especially after dark. 

BOTH OF THESE ISSUES MUST BE ADDRESSED since the danger they cause overrides their “beauty”.

V.  Bicycle Lanes

The current placement of bicycle lanes on Oriental Boulevardcauses them to be dangerous to bicycle riders who have to contend with busses, trucks, emergency vehicles, cars, motorcycles, pedestrians.  The bicycle lanes go over sewer grates and through bus lanes, they come from nowhere and go nowhere! 

In examining the history of Manhattan Beach, we are informed that there were bicycle lanes on Shore Boulevard.  Those lanes were on the outside portion of the park strip where there currently is a walkway.  If there are to be bicycle lanes, we propose that the bicycle lanes be moved back to their original location and completely removed from Oriental Boulevard.

VI.  Speed Bumps and Corrugated Pavement

The Traffic Committee has looked into the feasibility of certain types of speed bumps along with corrugated pavement.

            a.  There are down sides to these traffic calming devices that should be discussed further.

VII.  Parking

            a.  Residents who live on Pembroke, Oxford, Norfolk and Mackenzie Streets have major difficulty parking on their streets.  The Traffic Committee is in the process of looking into various methods of alleviating this situation. 

Respectfully submitted,

Traffic Committee

Judy Baron, Chairperson

Marilyn Chernin             Susan Klapper

Marty Edelman               Flori Kostoff

Kathleen Higgins            Sheila Pass

Mike Jacobs                   Sue Yellin

Stan Kaplan

Please make every effort to attend. We will be discussing the latest events.

Last week was not the first time that their President has “bashed” us and it probably won’t be the last.It was also implied in that meeting and afterwards that the MBCG was invited to a meeting with the NYC Public Advocate, Edmund Dweck (MBNA) and Teresa Scavo (CB 15). That is blatantly untrue, a cold lie.

And lastly, we are flattered that the MBNA would take our traffic ideas/projects as their own. Because what’s important is getting the job done, not getting the credit.

Letter from the Manhattan Beach Community Group Traffic Committee

Dr. Alan Ditchek’s comments, relative to the so-called ineffectiveness of the Manhattan Beach Community Group (MBCG), to solve the traffic problems that have plagued our community for decades, are incomprehensible!  Along with his partner, Edmund Dweck, both long time residents and former Directors of the MBCG, he had to have been aware of our traffic concerns.  However, neither Ditchek nor Dweck made any effort in the past, while Members and Directors of the MBCG, to work towards any solutions.  They could not have been unaware of the prolonged efforts on the part of the many past Presidents of the MBCG ( Link, Schreibman, Salzman, Singer, Nieporant, Fleischer, Geller, Borell, Klapper, Chernin, Biondo, Zalcman to name a few), in addition to our elected representatives as well as past and present Chairs of the Community Board to rectify these problems.   It is hard to believe that Ditchek and Dweck were not aware of the fact that despite past community-wide efforts to solve problems, City agencies unilaterally added zebra stripes, poorly placed bicycle lanes, vision blocking planters along with Mayor Bloomberg’s blinking yellow traffic signal on Oriental Boulevard.  All of these actions taken against the wishes of everyone concerned!   

The MBCG Traffic Committee has recognized all of the many concerns with traffic in our community and we have been addressing them with short and long term solutions.  The Ditchek/Dweck team had to have known all along that almost all of the traffic “solutions and suggestions” they just proposed and are taking credit for, were  discussed in depth at MBCG open Board meetings in October 2009, in May 2010 and discussed at other Board meetings as well.  These proposals came directly from the MBCG Traffic Committee after many deliberative sessions.  We are well aware of the fact that some members of the Ditchek/Dweck team attend MBCG meetings and it is a fair assumption that some report to Ditchek/Dweck with the details of our Traffic Committee reports.

I suppose we should be flattered that the Ditchek/Dweck team thought so highly of our proposals that they made them their own!

In order to improve the worsening traffic conditions in our community, the MBCG has been working with Community Board Chair, Theresa Scavo.  Ms. Scavo has heard our proposals at our open Board meetings and has had numerous discussions with me on these matters. In trying to find more creative ways to solve the problems, our Traffic Committee enlisted the help of a traffic expert.  His recommendations were also made public at our open meeting in May, 2010 and miraculously his ideas and suggestions are now part of the Ditchek/Dweck plan.  Let’s give credit where it is due.

With regard to Alan Ditchek’s “bashing” of the Manhattan Beach Community Group for not attending a meeting with the Public Advocate’s office regarding traffic concerns, let me set the record straight:  we were NEVER invited to a meeting with the Public Advocate’s office!

It is common knowledge that because there are two groups in Manhattan Beach, the Departments of Transportation and Parks have made it clear that as a result of this “division” in the community, these City departments do not have to do anything!  This division was caused by the Ditchek/Dweck team as a result of their founding of a second small group in this community.  If they truly care about all of the people in Manhattan Beach, they will put aside their egos, disband their group and come back to the MBCG where, together, we can accomplish what will otherwise be impossible under the current situation.

In my opinion, two groups trying to solve long standing common problems in a community not only creates confusion, but gives those City agencies that thrive on inertia, the ability to continue to do so. 

Judy Baron

Chair, MBCG Traffic Committee

New York City Officials have been approached and are very interested in using the MBCG plan for the Solar Bath House as a model for New York City owned vacant, unused buildings throughout the city. It is estimated that one million additional people will be living in New York City by the year 2030. Will there be enough energy? Yes, because the sun is still shining and it keeps on begging us to use its’ free gift.

We will keep you posted.

It has been brought to our attention that a resident of Manhattan Beach received a telephone call on Thursday, July 22, from a company informing the resident that there is drinking water contamination in the area and that this company has been subcontracted out to do tests in his home.

The Environmental Committee of the Manhattan Beach Community Group (MBCG) has been in touch with the Department of Environmental Protection of the City of New York (DEP) and as of Friday, July 23, 2010, we were informed that DEP has no knowledge of any water contamination in Manhattan Beach. 

We caution residents to be vigilant when they receive calls of this nature.  Please use  common sense with any stranger calling or ringing your bell. Feel free to contact us and we will gladly research any question you have.

The first thing we should do is move the traffic light from Ocean Avenue and Shore to Exeter and Shore. People coming off the wooden bridge are at danger trying to cross the street at Exeter and Shore. Let me rephrase that-Great danger trying to cross without a light, without a crosswalk. Also a light at  the Exeter intersection will stop or slow down traffic coming to the curve from both directions. It will serve more pedestrians and drivers at this new location.

Why there is a light at Ocean and Shore is a good question? It should have never been placed there in the first place. It is a block away from the Bridge and a block and half away from the turn in the road.

We will be also asking the police for more enforcement at night when the beach empties on both Oriental and Shore Boulevards. A lit highway sign should temporarily be placed on Shore between Coleridge and Beaumont Streets saying- “Fatality occurred here-Slow down.”

In the meantime, we’re also requesting a decoy parked scooter or police car on Shore and Exeter near the exit/entrance of the bridge.

SLOW DOWN. Tell your friends to slow down. Put your politics away and help us save lives. If you can’t help us, get out of our way. We’re not stopping now. What could be better than saving a life?