Agenda - Public Works Committee - 02/17/2009

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2 Council granted and assigned to discussion at this meeting. Below is a listing of considerations suggested and a discussion of their relative advantages and disadvantages. Make no changes — Maintaining the status quo is always an option. Advantages — no impact to the existing situation Disadvantages - existing problems will tend to increase over time as traffic increases; neighborhood dissatisfaction will continue. Close 142 Avenue between the TH 47 Frontage road and Argon Street - This option illustrated on Figure A was the recommendation of the PW Committee and the City Council resulting from the November 2008 PW Committee meeting. Advantages — reduce accidents at TH 47 & 142nd Avenue intersection due to fewer turning movements; decreased neighborhood cut through traffic. Disadvantages — longer trips for some neighborhood properties, particularly those on the south end of Argon Street; reduction in access to TH 47 businesses from neighborhood. Close Argon Street south of 142 Lane — This option is illustrated on Figure B. Advantages decreased neighborhood cut through traffic. Disadvantages — reduction in access to TH 47 businesses from neighborhood; would be difficult to make permanent due to additional property needs for a permanent cul de sac; isolates properties south of the closure to a single access point onto TH 47; may not reduce turning movements at TH 47 & 142" Avenue as it forces all properties south of the closure to utilize this intersection Close 143 Avenue &142 Lane east of Dysprosium Street — This option is illustrated on Figure C. Advantages — decreased neighborhood cut through traffic. Disadvantages — would be difficult to make permanent due to additional property needs for a permanent cul de sac; would shift additional neighborhood traffic to Barium Street and 141 Avenue; 143`' Avenue would be particularly difficult to plow without a cul de sac; Install a traffic signal at TH 47 & 142 Avenue — This option would need to have the cooperation of MnDot as the City has no jurisdiction over TH 47. Signalization of this intersection was discussed with MnDot in 2005. MnDot will not consider signalization for intersections on their system which do not meet standard warrants. Statewide data gathered by MnDot shows that signalization more than doubles the accident rate per million vehicles entering an intersection of this type. This is attributed to rear end collisions greatly exceeding the side impact crashes that signalization reduces. Advantages — reduction in the severity of accidents might be expected