Plan Commission OKs most North Quincy street closures, holds Vanderbrack for more information

The Green Bay Plan Commission on Sept. 29 voted to move forward with most of a city proposal to reduce motor-vehicle conflict points along North Quincy Street but held a decision on the closure of Vanderbrack Street.

City staff told the commission the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads (OCR) had issued orders requiring the city to address dangerous crossing configurations near the railroad. The proposal would reduce the four-lane segment on North Quincy to two through lanes by cross-hatching the outer lanes, and would close the intersection of North Quincy with Vanderbrack Street and the westbound lane of Eastman Avenue between North Jackson and North Quincy.

Staff said the Traffic, Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission recommended approval and that agency comments were solicited; the fire department said it had no objection to the lane reduction provided pavement remains and that a compliant turnaround is installed where a new dead end results (citing IFC Appendix D Table 103.4). New Water and Wisconsin Public Service told staff they had no objection on the condition that pavement and right-of-way remain in place to preserve access to utility facilities. Several property owners submitted concerns about trucking access and sight lines.

At the public hearing, Kevin Keane, owner of Keane Printing and a property owner on the corridor, said semi-trailer parking by an adjacent business often obscures sightlines to the tracks and urged enforcement of rail-right-of-way parking rather than street closures. "When the trucks are there, you have to almost be on the train tracks to see past the trucks," Keane said, adding that closures could hamper truck turning and loading at long-standing industrial properties.

Commissioners pressed staff on the data and process behind selecting specific crossings. Staff said the city had sought multiple extensions from the railroad office and that the closures were targeted where incident and near-miss data and the angle and proximity of the tracks to intersections created the most conflict points. Staff also said traffic counts showed low vehicle volumes on the affected side streets and that alternate routes and turning options exist for emergency and truck traffic, though long-term turnaround or easement solutions are being discussed with fire and public works.

The commission voted to advance the recommended package while holding the Vanderbrack closure for further study and discussion. The chair announced the tally as five in favor and two opposed. The items approved will be forwarded to the City Council for final consideration.