Agenda - Public Works Committee - 05/20/2014

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Public Works Committee 5. 3. Meeting Date: 05/20/2014 By: Bruce Westby, Engineering /Public Works Title: Consideration of Speed Zone Study recommendation for Green Valley Road Purpose /Background: Staff has received an email from a resident concerned with the speed limit on Green Valley Road /CR 63 between NowThen Blvd and Highway 47. The resident would like to see the speed limit dropped from the current 55 mph to 40 -45 mph, because of the presence of pedestrians and pets. The current 55 mph speed limit on this section of Green Valley Road is a statutory speed limit based on the Basic Speed Law. Even though Green Valley Road is a county highway, changing the speed limit cannot be done by just changing the signing to a different limit. Because all speed limits in the U.S. are part of the basic speed limit law, they can only be changed through the provisions that are provided by that law. In order to potentially change the speed limit on Green Valley Road, a traffic and engineering investigation known as a Speed Zone Study would need to be completed. Speed Zone Studies are completed through MnDOT, and the factors that are considered include the roadway type and condition, the location and type of access points and types of development along the route, the existing traffic control devices, the crash history, existing traffic volumes, and the available sight distance along the route, along with radar speed samples from traffic traveling on the route during various times of the day. Using engineering judgment, MnDOT then evaluates these factors, and determines the 8131 percentile speed (the point at which 85% of the drivers on the route are driving under). Experience has shown that a posted speed limit near this 85% value is the speed limit that a roadway should be signed at. Once a Speed Zone Study has been completed, it is then formally authorized by the State Commissioner of Transportation, and once authorized, the road authority implements the new speed zone by installing the speed limit signs. Because the Ramsey Police Department is responsible for the enforcement of the speed limit of Green Valley Road, we would need to send a written request to Anoka County Highway for a Speed Zone Study to initiate the process. Timeframe: 10 minutes Observations /Alternatives: Green Valley Road/ CR 63 is a rural section of road with curved sections where it intersects with CR 5 and Hwy 47. The most recent AADT count info we have is from 2013, with 1861 vehicles per day (VPD) on the west end of CR 63, and 1890 VPD on the east end. Accident records from 1/1/05 to 5/14/14 show 9 accidents on this section of road. The speed limit of 55 mph is already at the maximum speed for this type of road, so theres no real danger it would be increased. Speed Zone study requests from individual residents are uncommon. Staff time from City, County and State agencies is required to bring the speed zone study to completion. Staff would suggest that the committee refer to our Traffic Control Modification policy when reviewing this request. The policy reads: It shall be the policy of the City that any request for a modification to existing traffic control devices be accompanied by a petition signed by a minimum of five property owners or residents residing within 500 feet of the requested traffic modification. Upon receipt of a qualifying petition staff shall notify the Public Works Committee of the request and shall undertake the necessary studies to evaluate the requested modification in accordance with the guidance provided in the Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic