WAUPACA COUNTY TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION

January 16, 2014

The meeting was called to order at 12:00 p.m. by Patrol Captain Todd Rasmussen.  The meeting location was Hotel Fremont, Fremont, Wisconsin.

Members Present:  Patrol Captain Todd Rasmussen, Sheriff Brad Hardel, Highway Commissioner Dean Steingraber, State DOT Representative Tony Kemnitz, Medical Representative Dr. Jerry Salan, Coroner Barry Tomaras, District Attorney John Snider, County Board Chairman Dick Koeppen, DOT Regional Program Manager Robert Bott, State Patrol Sgt. Carrie Johnson, State Patrol Officer Kendi Linjer, Lee Shaw and Population Representative Bob Flease.

Patrol Captain Rasmussen read the open meeting statement.

Motion by Bob Flease, seconded by John Snider to approve the minutes of the previous meeting.  Motion carried without a negative vote.

Motion by Sheriff Hardel, seconded by John Snider to approve the agenda. Motion carried without a negative vote.

Public Input - None

Patrol Captain Rasmussen - See attached Traffic Report. Waupaca County ended 2013 with 13 traffic fatalities.   Waupaca County had 9 fatalities in 2012.

Dean Steingraber – Nothing

Dr. Salan – Nothing

Barry Tomaras – asked what could be done about the inaccurate report in the Appleton Post Crescent regarding the number of Waupaca County fatalities for 2013.   Their article said Waupaca County had 19 fatalities for 2013.  Sheriff Hardel said he will call them and see where they got their numbers and ask for a correction.

John Snider – Nothing

Dick Koeppen – Nothing

Tony Kemnitz – CTY C, High Risk Rural Road Safety Money,  safety needs assessment was provided to the county.  Tony asked Dean if he was sending the project in for funding and Dean said he would not be.   

Speed zone study on Hwy 22/54 has completed the field check and data collection.  That speed zone declaration submitted and was approved on 12/10/13 in Madison.  The 40 mph over the bridge will be raised to 45 mph up to where it becomes a two-lane.  The speed zone will be 55 mph through the two-lane section up to the bridge over the Waupaca River and then 45 mph north of there.  The signing is in place.  It may need to be adjusted slightly in the spring after the snow melt.  WisDOT has sent letters to law enforcement, notifying them of the change so tickets may be issued.    

The median cross-over crash analysis on Hwy 10, between Erickson and Hwy 10 update is still under consideration for median barrier.  The assessment of highways for cross median crash protection is one of WisDOT’s state-wide safety initiatives.  All cross over median crashes are being looked at on expressways and freeways.  Waupaca County was identified for a potential candidate project.  Final approval should be given this summer with a target of 2016 time frame.  WisDOT anticipates this section of Hwy 10 will get a barrier median based upon the proposed Hot-spot list.

10/Vaughan Road intersection – an advance intersection warning system with side road detection was talked about at our previous meeting.  This system would install a detector on Vaughan Road so that when a truck or car is there, a wig/wag yellow light is turned on Hwy 10 so that drivers will know a vehicle is turning.  WisDOT management has agreed to fund this as a special project through an allocation of ITS money obtained in the last State budget.  DOT is contracting a design firm now and anticipates the advance intersection warning system will be under construction in 2015. 

Hwy 10/Weyauwega temporary parking request – this is over.  The contractor put the signs back up, but some “tweeking” will have to be done this summer to make sure spacing is correct.

Hwy 45/15 signal in New London will be putting in a protected only left turn arrow for southbound and northbound traffic.  This intersection was the #1 crash spot in the latest WisDOT North Central region crash data scan.  Tony is working with the electricians to get this change made ASAP.  This should be done this spring/summer.    

A Hwy 49 speed study had been asked for at the last meeting.  It appears on a speed profile that the speed limit could be lowered to 45 mph, based on how fast people were driving.  The study will be completed this spring and sent to Madison for approval. 

Tony and Dean took a drive to look at areas of concern.  One was Hwy 45/CTY D, where McGiven Road goes over the top of Hwy 45.  Tony believes this intersection was added at the end of the project because the city wanted it, so it is not in the best location.   An intersection sight distance check will be done at this location.  Tony stopped at this intersection before the meeting and timed it with a stop watch for traffic going northbound on Hwy 45.  A fully loaded semi took 12 seconds, which is acceptable. 

Hwy 54 speed study check was conducted between CTY D and Hwy 45.  The current speed is 45 mph.  Tony thinks 35 mph is not going to be realistic speed limit based upon land use and driveway spacing.    

Tony and Dean also looked at Hwy 45/CTY O/CTY D, south of Clintonville.  This area does not have a protective left turn lane.  There are a couple of big businesses in the area.  Tony will look into this.  Dean asked about the possibility of putting reflectors or something on the sign posts so people can see where the intersection is when it’s foggy. 

Sheriff Hardel asked Tony about the Hwy 54/CTY QQ area.  This area will be worked on after Labor Day.  The contracts have been negotiated with the builders and consultants, so it is coming.

Lee Shaw – Nothing

Bob Flease – Nothing

Bob Botts –  Bob is our new representative from the Bureau of Transportation.  Bob was in law enforcement with the City of LaCrosse for 31 years.  Bob was the only reconstructionist on the west side of the state for many years.  He wrote grants for 20+ years.  Bob’s handout was what happened across this state so far this month.  Pending and just enacted legislature was next in the packet.  ATV/Snowmobile drivers are getting a larger voice and are pushing county governments to open up county roads.  Act AB527 talks about municipalities allowing of ATV’s on the roadways.  Starting in July 2014, law enforcement no longer needs to be notified if someone is having a vehicle towed.  Peddle Pubs are now going strong, especially in the Twin Cities.  It is a multiple person contraption that goes from bar-to-bar, using peddle power.  These tend to be prime targets for robberies.  Education for teen driving is available.  Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee has money and they try to find groups in each county for distributing media and information on teen driving safety.  The Governor’s Conference Highway Safety is scheduled for August 26-28, 2014 in Green Bay.  Bob’s goal is to meet with all law enforcement agencies to determine what their needs and wants are for grants.  Bob can help with this preparation. 

Brad Hardel – Nothing

Sgt. Johnson – Trying to set up details around the Clintonville area, with 3 or 4 troopers.  She will attempt to schedule some more.  Captain Rasmussen told Sgt. Johnson to contact him if our officers could be used. 

State Patrol Officer Kendi Linjer - Nothing

The next quarterly meeting will be held on Thursday, April 17, 2014 at 12 noon.

Motion by John Snider to adjourn, seconded by Tony Kemnitz. Motion carried.  

Vickie Thoe, Secretary