Agenda - Public Works Committee - 06/17/2014

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Public Works Superintendent Riemer stated the crossing at Alpine Drive and Helium Street could potentially use Safe Routes to School funding but the other locations are not near a school. Councilmember Riley stated pedestrian crossing safety has been discussed several times already and since it keeps coming up, it shows that residents think this is important. Public Works Superintendent Riemer stated this signage is not included in the CIP but the Sign Budget could cover one per year. Mayor Strommen stated since the City wants to be consistent, a conversation should be held with Anoka County about their standards. She agreed this issue keeps coming up and asked if there is data to correlate flashing lights increases safety. City Engineer Westby answered in the affirmative. Mayor Strommen stated that could then be used to correlate this cost with increased resident safety. Councilmember Riley agreed that this type of flashing sign attracts the attention of the driver. He supported staff holding a conversation with Anoka County to assure consistent standards and that the other locations should then be prioritized and funds budgeted. City Engineer Westby reported that with the Armstrong project, south of Riverdale, that intersection does not meet warrants for a signal but it will be set up to be signalized in the future. The plan is to install a similar electric powered (not solar powered) crossing. Public Works Superintendent Riemer stated the Public Works Committee may also want to tie the request into road speeds and traffic counts to establish parameters where they will be considered. Councilmember Riley agreed and suggested staff draft such a policy. The consensus of the Public Works Committee was to recommend that the City Council approve the use of a pedestrian activated crosswalk system at select crosswalk locations and for staff to draft a policy that includes parameters where flashing pedestrian crossing signs will be used. 6. COMMITTEE / STAFF INPUT 6.01: Update on Center Street — Sunwood Drive to Ramsey Parkway City Engineer Westby provided an update on the construction of Center Street between Sunwood Drive and Ramsey Parkway. He noted the City had received a development grant in the amount of $650,369 through the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Program to design and construct the segment of Center Street between Sunwood Drive and Ramsey Parkway East. He advised that the grant requires this construction to be completed by April 30, 2015, so staff is drafting an Public Works Committee / May 20, 2014 Page 6 of 8