Agenda - Council - 03/24/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CASE CONSIDER TRAFFIC CALMING FOR 149TH AVENUE AREA By: Steve Jankowski, City Engineer Background: At the March 17, 1998 Road and Bridge meeting, Staff was directed to prepare a case considering a traffic calming plan for the 150th LaneAJranimite Strcet/149th Avenue corridor. This residential corridor provides a convenient pathway for traffic to proceed in an east/west direction between Armstrong Boulevard (C.R. #83) and Ramsey Boulevard (C.R. #56). At the present time there is no convenient arterial alternative to this corridor, however, such an alternative is anticipated with the construction of C.R. #116 between C.R. #83 and C.R. #56 which is scheduled to commence construction in late summer 1998. In approaching this directive, Stafffelt that a number of alternatives might be considered by the Council. The Cul-De-Sac Alternative This alternative is considered to be the most drastic alternative, both in terms of impacts on local traffic patterns and long-term operational impacts to public works and emergency service providers, particularly the fire department response. It is possible to cul-de-sac 149th Avenue at Uranimite or other locations, however, there are good indications that neighboring streets would make similar requests to divert the increased traffic. There are also very serious concems regarding the impact to fire department response. Emergency vehicle response into cul-de-sacs should be avoided whenever possible due to the fact that the turning radius of large fire apparatus severely limits mobility. Also consideration must be given to the fact that this area is a non- hydrant area; water must be brought in via truck. Staff is recommending against consideration of this alternative, particularly until the completion of C.R. #116 extension and the following alternatives are deemed unsatisfactory. Alternative A This alternative proposes the installation of speed humps at roughly 800 foot intervals along the straight section of the corridor and along 149th Lane which would become a likely alternative pathway. The figure labeled Alternative A illustrates the approximate location of eight speed humps. The humps would be constructed with a base width of 12 feet and a maximum height of 3-1/2 inches. Each hump would be striped for visibility and marked with a warning sign. The cost of this alternative is estimated at $2500 per hump, or $20,000. Alternative B This alternative proposes to control speeding and discourage through traffic by the placement of a stop sign on 150th Lane and Willemite Street; at 150th Lane/149th Lane and Uranimite Street; and at 149th Avenue and Peridot. The signs would only stop the east/west traffic which is the cut-through traffic. Intersection traffic counts have not been taken, but it is unlikely that