Minutes - Public Works Committee - 09/16/2008

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Motion carried. Voting Yes: Councilmembers Dehen and Olson. Voting No: None. Abstain: Chairperson Elvig. Public Works Director Olson stated that there will be another neighborhood meeting once the City gets some of this information, so people will be notified of the date. Case #2: Review Accident History and Traffic Volumes at TH 47 & 142nd Avenue City Engineer Jankowski stated that the Council had requested a review of the accident history and traffic volumes in this area. He stated that staff understood that the Council wanted neighborhoods involved, however, depending on which areas are discussed, the neighborhoods involved could vary greatly. He stated that for this reason, staff wanted to present the information to the Public Works Committee first to see what direction the City is going so the neighborhood audience can be targeted appropriately. He reviewed the road modifications that have been made in the area since 2000 as well as traffic counts from 2001,2003 and 2008. He stated that the most recent traffic counts were taken after Labor Day when school was in session. He stated that he did not include traffic counts from 2005 and 2006 because there were significant projects happening at the time, which may have skewed the numbers. He stated that there are higher numbers on 142nd east of Argon Street, than there are on 142nd West of TH 47, which suggests that the frontage road behind Rivers Bend plays a significant role in how traffic filters through the neighborhood. He stated that he thinks traffic counts should also be taken here. He stated that there is aliio significantly less traffic using 142nd from Rivers Bend and the counts have been declining since 2001. He stated that the most substantial increase has been on Dysprosium, which shows a 60-70% increase in the amount of traffic. Public Works Director Olson stated that he thinks there are two reasons for this increase. He stated that one reason is that people don't have to worry about trains on Dysprosium and they don't have to wait for the all way stop that is backed up in the morning before the signal. Chairperson Elvig noted that of the traffic coming down Dysprosium, there are quite a few being lost before 116. He stated that he thinks there was as study done a while ago on Argon and 142nd after the three-fourths median was put in. He stated that hard channel on 116 makes people try to go a back route up to 142nd to Argon and Dysprosium. Randy Backous, 14148 Argon Street, stated that he lives on the comer of Argon and 142nd and agrees that there is a lot of traffic that filters from Dysprosium west off of 5 and takes a left on 143rd, follows it to Argon and out to 47 or to the service road to Super America. Councilmember Dehen asked if people were doing this to beat traffic on 47. Chairperson Elvig stated that it is either that or to pull in and get coffee. Mr. Backous stated that people take the path of least resistance. He stated that he understands that the City gets tired of hearing that "our" neighborhood is unique, but they have 75 homes and with people cutting through to try to beat the lights, it is getting pretty hairy in their Public Works Committee / September 16, 2008 Page 9 of 17