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Minnesota Department of Transportation <br /> <br />Metropolitan Division <br />Waters Edge <br />1500 West County Road B2 <br />Roseville, MN 55113 <br />September 29, 2003 <br /> <br />Office: 651/582-1499 <br /> Fax: 651/634-2162. <br /> <br />Steven J. Jankows 'ld, P.E. <br />Ci~ of Kamsey <br />15153 Nowthen Boulevard NW <br />R_amsey, MN 55303 <br /> <br />SUBJECT: <br /> <br />Cit-y request for review of access modification options on TH 47 <br />between Anoka County Road (C.R.) 116 and 142"d Avenue <br /> <br />Dear Mr. Jankowski: <br /> <br />In early June, Mn/DOT received a letter from you requesting an evaluation of access <br />modification options on TH 47 bem,een C.R. 116 and 142~d Avenue in the City of <br />Kamsey. Yag~o7 Colby had been retained by the owners of the River Bend Plaza to <br />determine these options. One of the options opened up the median on TH 47 about <br />600 feet north, of C.R. 116 and added a southbound left-turn lane, which would have <br />changed an ex/sting right-m/right-out access condition. Mn/DOT can't support this <br />option and will not allow the median to be opened at this location. <br /> <br />Mn/DOT has developed Access Management Guidelines that g/ye guidance to the <br />type and spacing of access along var/ous types of roads. There is a significant amount <br />of research that indicates that too much access along a road leads to greater accident <br />rates. This section of TH 47 fails under a category that would allow full movement <br />intersections located at a minimuTM of 1/4 mile apart and Conditional secondar7 <br />intersections located at a minimum of 660 feet apart. The current access condition <br />that ex/sts along TH 47 meets this guideline. 'Opening the'median would lead to <br />additional conflicts due to the left turns, so Mn/DOT won't allow the opening. <br /> <br />Another opdon recommended by Yaggy Colby closed the median that allowed access <br />directly to the tLiver Bend Plaza from eastbound C.R. 116. This fails under _&noka <br />County jurisdiction, but Mn/DOT staff feel that this option will almost certainly <br />reduce accidents ar this location. <br /> <br />It is my understanding that the City of Ramsey had previously requested that~ <br />Mn/DOT smd), th.e feasibilit7 of a si~o-nal at the intersection of TH 47 and 142~ <br />Avenue. It had apparently not met the warrants neces.sa_tT for.signal installation. If <br />the cig, determines that traffic patterns are modified by any implemented access <br />changes, the city may request a signal warrant study by contacting Cassandra Isackson <br />at 651-634-2145. <br /> <br />An equal opportunity employer <br /> <br /> <br />