Agenda - Council - 05/12/2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Randy $aclcous, 14148 Argon Street NW, stated that he would think people on Dysprosium would be in favor of closing l42"`~, l le stated that if .143 ~d Avenue, is hilly and dangerous, it would seem to make more sense to reduce traffic, no matter how many cars you believe move through the neighborhood,. He stated that there are three issues that started this whole thing are public safety issues, which are serious. He stated that traffic counts show that I, I00 cars pass through this. intersection on a daily .basis. He stated that there were other counts taken that showed even higher numbers. He stated .that sooner or. later we deed to start believing the science,. He stated that our residential streets are designed for 300' cars per day, hie discussed repair issues that these traffic counts generate. He stand that the likelihood of accidents is ' directly related to the number of cars, so there is a greatly increased public. safety issue for residents and their children that has nothing to do with letting kids play in the streets. He stated that the bus stop concerns are valid because of the cut through traffic. He stated that according to MnDot there have been 3 times as many accidents than expected at this type of intersection. He stated that he thinks it is important that we don't just talk about cut through traffic,. but also about the intersection because Nick Sodergren was killed at the intersection and a father of one o:F his son's friends was also killed -there last year. He stated that he doesn't want another family to lose a loved one while we are still debating dais issue. He stated that the other issue is access to businesses and any solution must not prevent access tq local businesses, He stated that any real solution must reduce volume of turning traffic, rrzust reduce volume of cut .through traffic between Dysprosium anal TH 4fi and must preserve access for 22,300 cars to the Iacal businesses along TH 47, lie stated that the solution recoznrmended by staff will. not address all these issues. hie .stated that the only solution that will address them is the closure of 142~d Avenue left of the frontage road. He stated that the only cost wi11 be the inconvenience of traveling around the neighborhood to get to TH 47 or the businesses. HE stated that it will only take about 90 seconds to travel around at 20 mph. He stated that he thinks it is prematLZre to say that there ' won't be a consensus, hIe asked what the. citizens can do to help the reroute of TH 47 move forward. Councilmember Dehen stated that Arzolca cannot figure out how they want to route it where it comes to Bunker Lake Blvd. Public Works Director Otson stated that the State of Minnesota has jurisdiction of T'H 47. Leroy Stromenger, stated that he has lived here for years when Dysprosium was a dead end street, He stated that the problem was when the City came and opened it up .to Nowthen, He stated that this street was intended to be a dead end. Dan Currier, 5342 142nd Lane, stated that he would welcome anybody to come live at his"house and look at the traf#~c, He stated that he has small children and from 4 p.rr~, tc 7 p.m., leis kids cart°t ride their bikes in the street- because of traff c, He stated that he thinks the closure is what they need. He stated that he knows it will inconvenience people froze getting thei,x~ coffee and sandwiches, but feels. it will be worth it. Greg Rygg, 14279 Argon. Street, stated that there was a house in the neighborhood. that was condemned because it was hit by a car. He stated that the trees are an issue, but-the people that turn there take the curve too short. He stated that he has saw four accidents in January and asked i'ublic Works Committee /February 17, 2409 Page 8 of ~.9 _117-