Agenda - Public Works Committee - 02/16/2010

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CONSIDER ACTION RELATING TO THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF 142 AVENUE By Steven Jankowski, Assistant City Engineer CASE # Background: March 17, 2010 will mark the one year anniversary of the temporary closure of 142 " Avenue between TH 47 and Argon Street. The Council ordered the closure for a one year period to study its impact on the traffic levels in the Flintwood neighborhood, and whether the closure would reduce accidents at the intersection of TH 47 and 142 " Avenue. Council also directed that safety improvements be considered for the Flintwood neighborhood. Attached to this case is a chronology summarizing this issue, which was initiated in late 2004 with the discussion of an improvement project involving TH 47. Staff has also attached the Public Works Committee case and minutes of February 17, 2009 where alternatives were considered and extensive public testimony was taken. Notification: Staff has mailed a letter dated February 4, 2010 to Flintwood residents and commercial property owners in the area advising them of the discussion of this topic at this evenings Committee meeting. In addition to the invitation to participate in this evenings meeting, written comments were solicited. Comments received at the time of this writing are attached to this case. Comments received afterward will be presented at the meeting. Observations: Exhibit A illustrates the before and after traffic volumes within the Flintwood neighborhood. The preclosure counts were taken during September and October of 2008. The post closure counts were taken during the last week of October and the first week of November 2009. There has been a substantial reduction on Argon Street and 143 Avenue, where current volumes are 27% and 38% of the preclosure levels. It is apparent that the closure has eliminated a significant volume of cut through traffic through the neighborhood. A review of the police accident reports at the intersection of 142 " Avenue and TH 47 shows a total of two reported accidents since the closure of 142 " Ave on March 17, 2009. Based upon average daily traffic volumes this represents an accident rate of 0.3 accidents per million vehicles entering the intersection. This is a reduction of 73 % from the previous accident rate of 1.0 accident per million vehicles entering the intersection reported last year. Following are some options for consideration: 1. Make the temporary 142 " Avenue closure permanent 2. Extend the temporary closure for a second year to see whether lowered accidents rates at TH 47 and 142 "d Avenue continue.