Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Transportation Study Safety Committee met January 11.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

Member in Attendance:

Dave Tyson, City of Kankakee; Chief Scott O’Brien and Adam McCurdy, Manteno Fire Dept; Lt. Jason LoCoco, Illinois State Police; Mark Rogers, Steve Blanchette, and Diane Redwitz, Kankakee County Highway Dept; Sgt. Sam Miller, Kankakee Police Dept; Dave Tyson, Roger Blakely, IDOT District 3; Chief Jim Travis, Bradley Fire Dept.; Deputy Chief Dave Anderson, Bourbonnais Police Dept.; Chief Phil Perkins, Kankakee Fire Dept.

Others Present:

Jay Keigher, IDOT; Geoff Olson, Kankakee County Planning Department.

Call to Order:

Chairman Tyson called the meeting to order at 9:30 am and welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Public Comment:

None.

Approval of Minutes:

Mr. Rogers made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Chief Perkins. Motion carried.

Presentation on Winter Road Maintenance:

Mr. Jay Keigher, from IDOT Maintenance, gave a presentation about IDOT’s snow and ice removal operations. Mr. Keigher explained that the Counties of Kankakee, Ford, and Iroquois are in the same operations area under IDOT District 3. Plow crews use a combination of road salt, salt brine, and hot brine depending on the road conditions and temperatures. The hot brine consists of calcium-chloride, instead of sodium-chloride, which works better for temperatures under 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Mr. Keigher said the area is expecting to get a handful of new trucks this summer, which will be nice because the current fleet is aging.

Mr. Keigher explained that two ways for plow crews to be called out can begin with either a call from Illinois State Police about road conditions or the central communications centers. The protocol for crews is to work in two 12-hour shifts and to continue until roads are clear for drivers to safely drive at regular speed limits. After a couple questions and answers, Mr. Keigher arranged for a plow to be available outside for a walk around and up-close look.

2016 Third Quarter Serious Injury Crash Data:

Mr. Olson gave a presentation to the committee about the preliminary 2016 third quarter serious crash data. The presentation contained third quarter data for 2012 – 2016. Third quarter A- injuries and fatalities were higher than last year, but the total number of serious crashes was less. Mr. Olson gave a quick reminder of what the required performance measures are, which the MPO will have 180 days after IDOT adopts their goals. The performance measures include rolling averages of total fatalities and A-injuries and rolling averages of fatalities and A-injury rates, as well as a total combined fatal and A-injury rolling average of pedestrians and bicyclists. The goal is to reduce those metrics as a means of making roadways safer. Mr. Olson said he expects the Safety Committee and Land Use/Transportation Subcommittee to be instrumental in establishing those performance targets. Chairman Tyson suggested that the Crash Subcommittee take on the task of establishing goals for the Safety Committee.

Report On Hands Free Cell Enforcement Issue:

There were no updates.

Traffic Safety in the Media:

There were no updates.

New Business:

Chief O’Brien suggested that everyone read “Traffic” written by Tom Vanderbuilt. He said it is very informative about driving tendencies and habits.

Old Business:

Mr. Olson said a letter was received about the changes made at IL-102 and 3000W Road. Staff from IDOT and Kankakee County Planning and Highway Depts. have searched for crash reports at the intersection have only found two filed crash reports. Mr. Olson said crashes will continue to be monitored for that intersection to report on the changes.

Next Meeting:

Mr. Olson informed the committee that he would unlikely be able to attend the March 15, 2017 meeting. Chairman Tyson said a date will be sent out to member for the Crash Safety Committee meeting when it becomes available. The next Safety Committee meeting is tentative for May 10, 2017 at 9:30 am.

Adjournment:

Chairman Tyson asked if there was any more business to discuss. Hearing none, he adjourned the meeting at 10:21 am.

http://planning.k3county.net/files/committee/2017_01_11_safety_minutes.pdf