Agenda - Council - 01/13/2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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60 gaps per hour which will allow pedestrians to cross the intersection. The desire to make modifications to this intersection relates to the concern for improving its safety. Summaries of the annual accident histories for the years 1998, 1999, 2000 and, 2001 were provided by MnDOT. Since the open house, MnDOT has considered the public comments and has proposed an alternative to the full median closure. A sketch of this was provided to the Committee for their review. This alternative would allow left turns from TH 47 onto 142 Avenue, but would disallow left turns from 142 Avenue onto TH 47. Increasing the safety of this intersection is related to reducing the potential for conflict points between vehicles. Unfortunately the reduction of conflict points comes at the expense of eliminating some permitted movement, which reduces the accessibility of this intersection. It was therefore `staff s recommendation that the City support the modification of this intersection to a 3 /4 median. Wayne Bell, 14336 Waco Street NW, Ramsey, stated that he was not impressed with the amount . of information that MnDOT had in regards to the impact closing the median would have to local businesses. MnDOT indicated at the meeting that they were coming forward with the proposal to close the intersection in response to the one fatality that occurred at the intersection. When Mr. Bell questioned MnDOT as to what they do in other intersections with one fatality they could not provide that information. When TH 47 was upgraded a number of residents pleaded to get lights at the intersection of 142 Avenue and TH 47, but the only response they would get is that the intersection id not meet warrants and that MnDOT would not allow lights to be installed that close to one another. The issue of the lights being too close together is questionable when they seem to have no problem doing it on a State highway. Mr. Bell stated that he knows for a fact that the two signals could be coordinated with one another to minimize the delay the additional traffic light would create. If the intersection is completely closed off they are going to inconvenience several people who live in Rivers Bend neighborhood in addition to seriously impacting the local businesses in the area. Mr. Bell personally did not think that the decision to close the intersection had been well thought out. Another issue he thought the Committee needed to consider is that that _intersection is the main access point to one of the City's biggest parks. Mr. Bell suggested that MnDOT should recount the traffic going through the intersection during peak hours in the spring when school is in session and spring sports have started. City Engineer Jankowski noted that City staff has requested that as part of TH 47 improvements that MnDOT remove the hump on TH 47 south of 167 Avenue. MnDOT has responded that they will remove the hump if there is significant right of way to accommodate the project. Chairperson Elvig stated that he could see the 3 /4 median being recommended for the intersection of 142 Avenue and TH 47as being a benefit for those we are trying to access the City Park and local businesses, but it would not provide any benefit to the residential neighborhoods. TV Rao, 14359 Waco Street NW, Ramsey, stated that the 3 /4 median is an interesting thought. The one thing that has to be considered is that currently anyone trying to make a left turn at Public Works Committee /January 18, 2005 Page 3 of 18 -255—