Agenda - Public Works Committee - 05/15/2012

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Notification: The organizer of the petition has been notified that this item is being placed on the Public Works Committee agenda. Observations: The Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MNMUTCD) provides guidance on the placement of stop signs. The manual states that in many low traffic volume situations with no unusual history of intersection crashes, no control is an effective strategy because each driver is required to assume responsibility for proceeding safely through the intersection. This uncontrolled intersection can be considered a low volume intersection as is evidenced by the daily traffic counts shown above, therefore the installation of stop signs does not appear to be a good solution for this intersection. The south leg of the intersection (150th Lane) is by far the busiest as it functions as a collector route off our our MSA system to both Alpine Drive and Th 47. While speed was not a concern on this roadway; average speed of 20 MPH, maximum speed of 31 MPH, and 85th percentile speed of 24 MPH, the roadway curvature and mid -block City trail crossing do provide some special circumstances that may warrant additional investigation. A speed study could be requested from the state Commissioner of Transportation, in an effort to determine whether this section of street could receive a lower posted speed limit. An in -street pedestrian crossing may also further accentuate the striped trail crossing and serve to slow traffic through the area. Street chokers could also be consider for the roadway section at the location of the trail crossing, and could be incorporated into the design when this area is due for road maintenance activities, which is currently due for a sealcoat application. This type of improvement would be additional work beyond the scope of a typical sealcoat. Future road maintenance and reconstruction throughout the City are currently being discussed by the Council, and the timing for this street will be budget dependent. Funding Source: The investigation and analysis of this petition request has been and will continue to be accomplished utilizing staff time. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends the following: • A stop sign not be posted on this intersection. • Staff should investigate the opportunity to include enhanced signage and chokers on 150th Lane when future maintenance activities are completed in the area. Since this is an improvement that is more than what is typically done, and is at the request of the residents in the area, additional assessments may be required. Additionally, if the Council and residents should desire, a request could be forwarded to the state Commissioner of Transportation to request a speed study be conducted on this segment of 150th Lane. Committee Action: Based upon discussion. Location Map Petition Map Petition Attachments Form Review Inbox Reviewed By Date Brian Olson Kathy Schmitz 05/11/2012 10:48 AM Kurt Ulrich Kurt Ulrich 05/11/2012 11:50 AM Form Started By: Tim Himmer Started On: 05/08/2012 05:09 PM Final Approval Date: 05/11/2012