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limit of 50 to 55 miles per hour. It really doesn't matter whether the roadway is classified as an <br />A minor arterial, B minor arterial, or collector roadway because the access spacing guideline <br />remains the same. Full access is allowed at one -half mile increments and conditional secondary <br />access is only allowed at one - quarter spacing. Under this guideline, a conditional secondary <br />access is considered only right -in / right -out. Mr. Olson continued that in late 2010, the County <br />changed their access spacing guidelines by allowing other access consideration as long as there <br />was a benefit provided to the County transportation system. This is done under an exception <br />rule, Number 4, that was identified in the 2010 access spacing guidelines, which he noted are <br />also attached to the Topic Report. This does provide for an exception to the access spacing <br />guidelines but the spacing guidelines remained pretty much the same as before from Ramsey's <br />perspective because the access is still relative to speed limit. The City did benefit from this shift <br />in policy direction as it did allow us to ask for a deviation from the approved policy to get a three <br />quarter access (left -in) at the intersection of Unity Street and Bunker Lake Boulevard. Mr. Olson <br />continued that, of course, the overall goals of the City and the County are the same in that we <br />want to have safe transportation corridors through the City and the County. He stated that it <br />would be unrealistic to think that we could eliminate hard channelization altogether but he felt <br />there could be changes to the access spacing guidelines that could effectively maintain a safe <br />corridor and provide for better access into our local businesses. He alluded to the meetings that <br />have been taking place with the Cities of Anoka and Andover and the County of Anoka and <br />stated that a number of topics have come up that revolve around the spacing requirements. We <br />collectively agree that one - eighth mile spacing would be more reasonable for a conditional <br />secondary access and that there should be consideration for allowing a left in as a conditional <br />secondary access. If we could agree on different spacing — any deviation shall have a detailed <br />traffic study He stated we have identified two primary concerns with the access spacing <br />guidelines. 1) It does not matter what type of roadway they are because they are basing <br />everything on the speed limit. Since we are always on the one -half mile full access and one- <br />quarter mile secondary, it does not provide any flexibility. If you design a road for 55 miles per <br />hour — if you talk about changing speed limits, you will have to ask for a study to be done and it <br />will not have an 85 percentile lower than 55 miles per hour. They have agreed to look at other <br />counties and compile a list of what other Counties do. He noted in the attachment for the 2010 <br />Guidelines, the higher the function, less access and more mobility. In looking at other counties, <br />they all started out with MnDOT's access guidelines but they all tweaked them. Access spacing <br />criteria changes whether urban or rural. There is a dramatic difference as to what we currently <br />have. It is based on speed limits and since all of ours are high, the spacing is high. If they stick <br />with 50 to 55 miles per hour, we feel it's reasonable at that speed limit to have one - eighth mile <br />versus one - fourth mile for conditional secondary accesses and not only right -in / right -out, but <br />left in. Other issues — full access in the urban district in Hennepin County is at one - quarter mile <br />— ours is one -half mile Dakota County's is based on traffic flow versus speed limit. Carver <br />County has not changed MnDOT's spacing whatsoever — so that's even worse than Anoka <br />County. Sherburne County allows for conditional accesses as well — there is no reference to <br />speed limit. The other thing he wanted to share is that they are willing to share the design <br />modification if the traffic study is done by an agency and would have to be supported by the <br />City. Mr. Olson continued that he had talked to Doug Fischer again today and in the next 30 <br />days, he will have the other Counties questions and our survey completed and would like to sit <br />down with Ramsey, Anoka and Andover. <br />City Council Work Session — April 5, 2011 <br />Page 2 of 12 <br />