Agenda - Public Works Committee - 05/18/1999

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Traffic Counts: A 24 hour traffic count shows 1319 vehicles per day on Waco Street, west of the intersection. This amount of traffic is above residential street volumes, and approaches minor collector street levels. The predominant movement through this intersection is the left (northbound) and right (southbound) turn movements continuing on Waco .S,.,g'eet. The addition of a stop sign on the northeast leg would require 500 to 600 stops each day for traffic, which presently has a free right turn. .Speed Assessment: The requester cites the reduction of speed on Waco Street as a benefit of the stop sign. However, stop signs have been shown to be ineffective for speed control, except for a distance of 100 to 200 feet from the intersection, and tend to cause speeds to increase in mid- block areas. Since the predominant intersection movement is a right turn, the speed approaching the intersection should be somewhat reduced under the current free right turn. POTASSIUM AND 143RD Site Distance: The sight distance on ali approaches is good. Accident History.: A review of the five year accident history of this intersection, between January 1, 1993 and December 31, 1997, shows no accidents. Traffic Counts5 A traffic count showed 52 vehicles in a one-hour period during the afternoon per/od. Discussion; The request for stop signs by citizens in residential areas stems from the desire to make their street safer. This concern is the common thread, which runs through all three of the above requests before the committee. Although it provides a degree of reduced speed in the vicinity of the signs, the placement of a stop sign has negative impacts. Studies suggest that a stop sign can: (1) direct traffic to other residential streets; (2) increase noise, emissions and fuel consumption associated with deceleration and acceleration; (3) increase speed mid-block; (4) increase the number of rear-end accidents; (5) foster contempt for the signage because of its proliferation; and (6) present false expectations to both motorists and pedestrian. As the population of Ramsey grows and ages, the City will receive more requests as individuals express similar concerns. The Manual of Uniform Traffic Control has relatively stringent conditions for the placement of stop signs. It might be argued that such criteria have been developed for the collector road system, and perhaps some different criteria might be better suited to residential streets. It is my understanding that the City of Lakeville has developed such criteria. It might also be useful to establish a citizen task force to study the various issues and claims associated. Recommendation: It is staff's opinion that all three of the stop signs requested should not be Placed. The Potassium rd th and 143 Lane and the Tungsten and 144 Lane because the traffic volume is too low and because there have been no accidents, nor are there any conditions that would present a unique hazard to the intersections. G:[usersiCity Shared FilelCOUNC1LClStop Signs 5-18-99. doc 05/14/99