Agenda - Public Works Committee - 08/19/2009

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CASE # I CONSIDER CROSS WALKS ACROSS ALPINE DRIVE AT ALPINE PARK By: Steven Jankowski, Assistant City Engineer Background: At the July 21st Public Works Committee a request providing cross walks across Alpine Drive to the residential neighborhood north of Alpine Park was considered. The chief concern is the ability to access the park safely across Alpine Drive which has a 50 mile per hour speed l~mit and a daily traffic count of2400 vehicles per day. The Alpine Acres subdivision neighborhood includes 22 single family units fronting on l53rd Way that accesses Alpine Drive via Zirconium Street, and 16 single family units fronting on l53rd Court which accesses the west end of the park. Figure 1 illustrates the Alpine Addition neighborhood and also the residential area to the north. Recall that a crosswalk providing safe access to the western portion of the neighborhood was determined to be available at the intersection of Alpine Drive and 1 53 Court at a relatively modest cost of $2,200. However a crossing location for the eastern neighborhood was found to be more problematic and no action was taken by the Committee. Staff was to directed to provide additional information on several issues including; a) requesting MnDot to conduct a speed study which possibly could lower the current 50 mph speed limit on this segment of Alpine Drive; b) cQnsider an access point located somewhere in the middle of the park; and, c) connection of these crossings to the surrounding neighborhoods. Staff has reviewed the records and found that a letter requesting a speed study on Alpine Drive had been made on October 11, 2006. When contacted MnDot was unable to locate this request and a follow-up request by staff has been made. A location having an adequate sight distance has been identified at a point approximately 200 feet west of the intersection with Zirconium Street. This location has the advantage of requiring a minimal distance of "extra travel" for pedestrians from the eastern neighborhood that wish to go to the playground area which is east of Zirconium Street. A crossing at this location would require; a) 300 feet of trail, b) cross walks with signage, c) concrete steps down the grade, and pedestrian ramps. The estimated cost for the~e improvements is $38,000. There is also a question of compliance with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) since steps would not make this access usable to wheelchair users. Staff contact with the Department of Justice, which administers the act, and was advised that a facility (the park) required only one accessible point. However, if an access were to be considered the main entrance, then a handicap access should be seriously considered. This would not be the case since there are two other access points on both the east and west sides of the park.