LA CROSSE COUNTY HIGHWAY SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Law Enforcement Center and Courthouse

Sheriff’s Department Training Room

1:30 p.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Tim Berg, Al Blencoe, John Flynn, Ilona Hansen, Dennis Johnson,

                                      Bill Lubinski, Roland Solberg, Evan Stone, Andrew Winga

MEMBERS EXCUSED:            Matt Gallager

MEMBERS ABSENT:           Mike Allison, Tim Hammes, Sheriff Helgeson

OTHERS PRESENT:             Steve Flottmeyer (WIDOT), Gerald Kammel, Rosella Kammel, Marvin Schaitel (WIDOT)

CALL TO ORDER

Sgt. Bill Lubinski, Committee Coordinator, called the meeting to order.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes of the February 13, 2008 Highway Safety Commission were approved as printed.

STATE HIGHWAY 33 & COUNTY ROAD YY CONCERNS

Sgt. Lubinski showed pictures on the overhead screen of the area being discussed.  The Kammel’s have a concern that someone may be rear-ended when turning into their driveway (which is used by several families).  The Kammel’s say that since the reconstruction of Highway 33, people are having difficulty seeing their driveway.  They feel the road should be widened in that spot.

It was explained that the whole highway is wider than it was before the reconstruction.  The bypasses meet the standards and are only for Town roads and County trunks.  Bypasses are not done for private drives.  They cannot make exceptions for one or everyone else would want a bypass.  The road is safer and improved from what it was before the reconstruction.  Gerald Kammel agreed that overall Highway 33 is safer than it was before the reconstruction.

The DOT tries to stick to the original route of the highway to be the most cost effective.  The DOT holds public meetings and listens to public input.  They have to do what is best for all people, keeping in mind budget and design standards.

The sight distance in this area is good per the DOT and is much improved from before the project.  The Kammel’s say that they had a passing lane before and that the County had added that later.

The DOT did look at the offer the Kammel’s made to donate land for the driveway to come off of County YY.  This area was off the project area and there is a big dip there.  A suggestion was made that the Kammel’s make a driveway on their own on YY if they have a concern for safety.

There was discussion about if it is permissible to signal a left-hand turn before YY or if a person has to wait until after YY to signal.  There were mixed opinions about this as it is possible a driver could be cited for not following an indicated turn.  Drivers need to drive defensively and start slowing in plenty of time before the turn so that following traffic can safely stop or slow down.

At this point no changes will be made to this area as it does meet all standards. 

LA CROSSE COUNTY SPOT MAP/CRASH DATA FOR 2008

State Patrol figures for the 1^st quarter were not available at this time.

There were no crash fatalities in La Crosse County in the 1^st quarter of 2008.  Of 169 reportable accidents with 317 occupants, 278 reported using seatbelts, which is an 87% compliance rate.  Ten of these accidents involved alcohol.

ONALASKA POLICE DEPARTMENT SPOT MAP/CRASH DATA

The Onalaska crash data will be reviewed at a future Highway Safety Commission meeting.  Once the new tracking system is completed, they will go back and complete the data.  This item will not be placed on future agendas until the new tracking system is completed.

WI DOT TRAFFIC SAFETY UPDATE

Dennis Johnson reported that as of today, May 13, 2008, there have been 167 crash related fatalities in Wisconsin compared to 255 through the same date in 2007.  The five-year average is 244.  There was a total of 737 crash related fatalities in 655 crashes in Wisconsin in 2007.  The five-year average is 774 fatalities in 665 crashes.  Improvements may be attributed in part to more people carpooling and driving at slower speeds.

Click It will be starting up soon to emphasize the necessity of wearing seatbelts.

A couple of proposed laws that were not passed involved seatbelt and the cell phone usage.  A law that did pass was Act 68 which adds the ‘move over for emergency vehicles’ law to driving curriculum and driving tests.

The law of the month for March is drivers must provide a safety zone for emergency vehicles.  Drivers must move over if feasible.  If it is not feasible, the driver must slow down from the posted speed limit.  The fine for this would be $249.

The April law of the month concerns absolute sobriety.  Not a drop of alcohol is allowed in a person under 21 years of age.  The penalty for absolute sobriety is a 90-day suspension of one’s driver’s license and a $375 fine.  If there is a person in the vehicle under the age of 16, there is a 6-month driver’s license suspension and a $627 fine.

The law of the month for May is motorcycle safety awareness.  There will most likely be an increase in the use of motorcycles with the high gas prices.  More motorcycles are on the roads on weekends.  In 2007, 110 motorcycle drivers and passengers were killed in traffic crashes compared to 93 in 2006.

Dennis distributed a ‘Kids, Cars & Heat!’ handout.  Children should never be left alone in vehicles.

Dennis asked for input into a Highway Safety Plan.  Members were asked to contact him with ideas.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/DISCUSSION

On April 7, 2008, Andy Winga, Tim Berg, and Sgt. Lubinski attended a road safety audit regarding Highway 53.  Copies of the audit were distributed.  The State is doing an audit in the five areas of the state that had a high frequency of crashes.  Highway 53 was the second or third on the list of areas.  An independent team of engineers, law enforcement personnel, planners, etc. is to generate reports on these areas. 

The study was from 2001 – 2004.  Sgt. Lubinski added additional information for 2005 – 2008.  A reason suggested for the high number of cross-over crashes is that the road is so well built that it make it attractive for high speeds and possibly even racing.

The high tension cable guard is to be installed the length of the highway between the divided lanes.  This project will begin in about a month.  Two different types of cables will be used to see which is more effective.  The vehicles should not bounce off of the cable, but instead stop by the cable.  The posts are designed to break off. 

If there is no damage to a vehicle, the vehicle is just removed and no accident report is completed.  With the new cable, there will probably be more damage to vehicles, but that is a small price when compared to losing lives or injuring people.

The bicycle training was held in April.  Trainers can be sent to an area requesting such training.

AGENDA FOR AUGUST 13, 2008 MEETING

Items to be included on the August 13, 2008 agenda include La Crosse County spot map/crash data for 2^nd quarter of 2008, and Wisconsin Department of Transportation traffic safety representative update.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m.

The above minutes may be approved, amended, or corrected at the next Committee meeting.

Roxanne Felde, Recorder