Agenda - Public Works Committee - 02/17/2009

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UPDATE ON TH 10 MEDIAN OPENING AT COUNTY LICENSE OFFICE By: Steven Jankowski, City Engineer CASE #_5 Background: Concern has been raised over the number and severity of the accidents on Highway 10 at the median opening opposite the County Licensing Bureau on the north side of the highway. This topic was discussed by the Public Works Committee on October 21, 2008. There was a general consensus at that meeting that if MnDot was approached by the City with concern over the accident history at the median opening, there would be little consideration of any alternative other than its complete closure. Since 2003 there have been ten reportable accidents (causing personal injury or property damage greater than $1,000), including one fatality. A relative of that fatality victim has expressed concern over the layout of the median. The staff direction from that meeting was to pursue the development of alternatives to a complete median closure that might be reviewed by the Committee prior to making contact with MnDot. The options that staff had proposed included the following: 1. Install a pork chop island at the entrance into the Licensing Bureau 2. Restrict eastbound to west bound U -turns 3. Reduce the width of the median opening and reorient its location After discussion with the Committee Option 3 above was not favored due to its impact on long wheel bases rigs turning into Lano Equipment which is located on the south side of the median opening. An additional suggestion from the Committee that emerged from this meeting was the suggestion of a frontage road that would transfer traffic to the west entrance of the Outpost. After considering this last option staff observed that such a road would allow traffic to flow between the Outpost and the License Bureau which is presently not possible because of the parking lot curbing. It appears that a frontage road could increase the use this median opening making it useable to more vehicles. Recommendation: The Committee must decide whether it Wishes to bring a safety concern over this median to the attention of MnDot with the knowledge that MnDot may take action as they deem most appropriate for public safety, in spite of the City's suggestions. If that is the course of action decided upon by the City, staff would recommend that the communication to MnDot suggest it consider a reconfigured median which would include: (1) better alignment of the opening to the north and south driveway openings; (2) the replacement of the concrete north driveway median with a pork chop to prevent left• turns from the Licensing Bureau; and (3) the restriction of U- turns in both directions from this median. 53