Minutes - Washington County

Traffic Safety Commission
900 Lang Street
West Bend WI, 53090
MINUTES
WASHINGTON COUNTY TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION
PRESENT: Norbert Neuser, Chairman; Tom Wondra, Coordinator & Secretary, Washington
County Highway Department; Tom Heydel, Wisconsin DOT.; Dale Schmidt, Washington
County Sheriff Department; Ken Pesch, Citizen; Brian Bausch, Citizen, Dean Schmidt, Village
of Slinger Police Department; Cedric Rembert, Wisconsin State Patrol.
GUESTS: Dave Rank, West Bend Daily News; Kwame Amegashitsi, Wisconsin DOT.; Dennis
Meyers, County Board Supervisor; Chris Walter, Washington County Highway Dept., Heather
Robers, Washington County Highway Dept.
CALL TO ORDER
The Washington County Traffic Safety Commission meeting of September 3, 2014 was held at
the Washington County Vehicle Maintenance and Storage Facility, and was called to order by
Norbert Neuser at 9:00 a.m.
The Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Minutes of June 18, 2014 were approved as presented
on the motion of Ken Pesch, seconded by Dale Schmidt. Motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
Driver’s Privacy and Protection Act: Mr. Wondra followed up with Deputy County Attorney
Chris Ohlis on whether or not a recent case decision in New Richmond had been issued. County
Attorney Ohlis found that while there had been a decision it did not have any impact or
precedence in Washington County at this time, as the case was specific to a different venue.
There could be a decision with statewide impact coming from the court of appeals, and this
decision may have an impact for Washington County. She will follow up when and if it has
implications for any changes that could influence how municipalities release names on accident
reports.
Crash Numbers for High Crash Locations: Mr. Heydel introduced a Kwame Amegashitsi, a
WisDOT Engineer, to the committee. Mr. Amegashitsi prepared an Locations Of Interest Report
(LOIR) list, previously known as the 5% list, which identifies annually the top five percent of
crash locations exhibiting the most” severe” safety needs. The criteria used to identify and
analyze the areas are the injury severity in crashes, the crash data, the crash rate, crash history,
Washington County Traffic Safety Commission Minutes
September 5, 2014
the roadway’s functional classification, and whether it is urban or rural. The purpose of the
LOIR handout is to identify areas that might be able to be improved through a grant program
called the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). If there are segments that do not
qualify for the HSIP funding, other funding programs are considered. Additionally, quick
improvements can be considered such as to pavement markings, signal timing or adding or
changing signage. The timeframe with areas of interests spans a five year look back period, and
considers the needs for engineering, education and enforcement.
Mr. Bausch asked Mr. Amegashitsi about CTH H and STH 45. At this time there are
improvements in progress including improving signal timing, adding reflective sheeting, and
slowing down the signal changes.
Mr. Pesch asked whether or not it was possible to determine how much of an accident was
related to a driver not being familiar with an area versus other contributing factors such as
engineering or inattentive driving. Mr. Amegashitsi stated that at this time there is no definitive
way to look at what percentage of accidents are due specifically to lack of knowledge of the area.
Mr. Bausch asked if a targeted area led to an increase in enforcement. Sheriff Schmidt responded
that there had been times where areas were patrolled more heavily but that it had not
demonstrated any decrease in accidents in those areas.
STH 60 & CTH C Roundabout Crash History: Police Chief Schmidt led a discussion about
whether the number of accidents at the STH 60 and CTH C roundabout demonstrated that there
was a problem in the area. After reviewing all of the accident history of 18 accidents at the
location of 2012, Mr. Heydel commented that there was a 4.5 % injury percentage versus the
remainder as property damage. The purpose of roundabouts is to decrease personal injury
accidents and increase operational functions. Based on the review, there had been a decrease to
the amount of personal injuries and increase in the amount of property damages, which was
expected. At this time Mr. Heydel is in the process of collecting recommendations from the
Bureau of Traffic Operations in the Madison Office. These recommendations will be available
at the next meeting and could include items such as changes to pavement markings, or changes
to signage.
Washington County Road Construction from Assistant Commission Walter:

CTH P Reconstruction
o Paving began August 30, 2014 and should be complete by September 12, 2014
o Road scheduled to be open the week of September 15, 2014

STH 28 Reconstruction
o Bridge expected open with two lanes by this week
o Following Labor day, they plan to be paving surface course in the Village and
pave binder asphalt in the rural limits
o End of November final project completion
o
Washington County Traffic Safety Commission Minutes
September 5, 2014

STH 144/ 41 Interchange
o US 41 full freeway closure Sept 5, 2014
o Bridge deck scheduled to be poured mid September
o Paving of 144 end of September
o Mid November final project completion

Menomonee River Bridge on US 41/US45
o Project started August 18, 2014
o Completion date of June 15, 2015
o 3 lanes maintained throughout construction with the exception of temporary
overnight/off peak lane reductions

CTH P Kerry Ingredients access
o Type C access work began Sept 2, 2014
o New commercial access on CTH P just south of STH 60

Reconstruction of Paradise Park & Ride in West Bend
o Temporary location is Jackson Park & Ride
o Construction time is approximately 1 month
Mr. Meyer asked why there isn’t any signage on the on ramp from Lannon Road to US 41 for
the new construction on Menomonee River Bridge project. Additionally, with the project
going through June of 2015, rumble strips should be covered up on both sides so that cars
that are being forced over do not have to drive on rumble strips, or get in accidents trying to
avoid them. Assistant Commissioner Walter stated that he would pass along the feedback to
the Project Manager and Mr. Heydel stated he would look into the rumble strips.
Mr. Pesch asked about the construction at the Paradise Park & Ride in West Bend. It was his
understanding that the pavement was not that old and should not be failing. Mr. Wondra
replied that there had been asphalt failing and the DOT was also adding a bus turn around
area, new markings, curb and gutter, and that there had been drainage issues.
Review of Fatal Accident: Sherriff Schmidt led the discussion on the eight fatalities from six
accidents so far in 2014:
1) On January 23, 2014, an accident on CTH A East of CTH M in Farmington.
2) In April 25, 2014, an accident on STH 164 north of CTH Q in Richfield
3) June 2, 2014, an accident on River Road in West Bend
4) June 12, 2014, an accident on STH 33 west of STH 175 in Addison
5) June 18, 2014, an accident on CTH H east of US 45 in Farmington
6) August 8, 2014, and accident on STH 144 near US 41 in Polk
The committee reviewed the circumstances behind the crashes and the areas involved.
Washington County Traffic Safety Commission Minutes
September 5, 2014
Mr. Bausch asked State Trooper Rembert if the findings from fatal accidents were used to do
educational and informational talks on such matters such a texting or speeding with younger and
less experienced drivers. Trooper Rembert explained programs such as “Every 15 Minutes”,
insurance companies, and even the State Patrol do attempt to go into high schools and other
venues that may increase awareness.
REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS:
Mr. Heydel passed out the August 2014 Wisconsin Traffic Safety Reporter Newsletter.
Commissioner Wondra passed out a flyer he received while attending a Governor’s Safety
Conference in Green Bay entitled “A Dozen Stats for a Baker’s Dozen of Years” that highlighted
the decline an accidents in Wisconsin.
ADJOURN:
The Commission Meeting was adjourned at 10:37 a.m. upon motion by Mr. Wondra and a
second by Sheriff Schmidt. Motion carried.
The next meeting is scheduled for December 3, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. at the Washington County
Vehicle Maintenance and Storage Facility.
For agenda items, please contact Tom Wondra by email [email protected] or
telephone (262) 335-4437.
Respectfully submitted,
Commissioner Tom Wondra, Coordinator
TW/hkr

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