Agenda - Public Works Committee - 01/20/2009

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CASE # J C.ONSIDER REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL STREl~T LiGHTING ALONG NO\VTHEN BOULEVARD IN TIlE NORTfmRN PORTION OF THE CITY H)': Tim I-Iimmer,Assistnnt City Engineer Background: On December 1, 2008 stuff received ~\ letter from a resident at 7031 173ruAvenue NW requesting consideration for additional street lighting along Nowthen Boulevard in the northern portion of the City, The letter appears to be most focu:lcd on the spacing of existing lights, and the associated safety concerns. The City Council adopted the current street lighting policy on November 14, 2006. This policy references two distinct classUications of street lights: 1. Priority lights, which are placed at key intersections and other locations (mostly along high speed, high volume rondWLtys) as a public SLlfety measure. These lights arc trnanced through the general fund Lmd a City.wide street lighting utility. 2. Subdivision ligltts,which arc placed in new subdivisions and established neighborhoods for greater pedestrian sl:tfcty and irlcrC~tscd crime deterrent. In new developments, these lights llre timmccd inititllly by the developer, 'll1d Ol1~going mtlintenance und opemtion costs are paid by tht;: residents of thnt neighborhood. Existing neighborhoods can petition the City for additional street lights, with the costs assessed buck to the benetlting residents in that neighborhood, Obscrvntions: The l'cqm:st received could be c.ategorized into the priority street lighting category, ancl thel'ethre must meet the cIlgibUity requirements outlined in the approved policy. . High frequency of nighttime accidents - over the past year 3 motor vehicle accidents were reported in this area to the police department, all of which involved vchicle.animal collisions. . Marked pedestrian crossings - none exist in this location of the City. . Location used by a high number of pedestrians near parks and schools - not applicable in this area. . Selected intersections on neighbmhood collector streets where traftic volumes are significantly higher than on adjacent residential streets - this would most likely apply to the intersections of Nowthen Blvd, with 175th Avenue and Green Valley Rmtd. . Within the Ramsey Town Center - not applicable in this area. Currently all residential streets in the nOl'thern portion of the City that connect to Nowthen Blvd. hav~ a street light located somewhere at the intersection, with the exception of 173rll A venue, The existing gap between intersections (and thus lights) varies along this COl'ridor, with the gremtest spacing being in excess of Y. mile. This mmdmum spacing gap occurs in two locations along this segment of roadway. One coincidentally occurs between l70th Avenue and 175th Avenue, and the other occurs between Green Valley Rmld and 18ls1 Avenue. By adhering to current City policy and placing a street light at the intersection of 173ru Avenue and Nowthen Blvd., one of these gaps could be reduced tQ approximately 1/4 mile. Since there are currently no residential streets tbat intersect Nowtben Blvd. between Green Valley Road and 18lst Avenue, something outside of City policy would be required to reduce the gap in this location.