Agenda - Public Works Committee - 11/16/2004

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CASE # / CONSIDER REQUEST FROM SAVANNAH OAKS RESIDENTS REGARDING SPEED AND NOISE CONCERNS By: Steven Jankowski,-City Engineer Background: Attached is a letter received June 25, 2004 and a subsequent letter received Septemberl6, 2004 fi-om residents of the Savmmah Oaks senior apm-tment building regarding noise and speed concerns from traffic in the area of the apartment building. The residents have expressed concern primarily over the issue 0fnoise, which relates somewhat to speed but also to driver attitude and condition of vehicles. In addressing the noise concerns, a review of the speed limits in the vicinity of the apartment building is in order. The speed limit on TH 47 is 50 miles per hour north ofCSAH 5 and 45 miles per hour south of this intersection. The speed lmfits on TH 47 were last reviewed by MnDOT in 2002. The speed limit on CSAH 5 is 55 miles per hour, but there is a 35 mile per hour advisory speed posting for the se~nent southeast of Dysprosium Street approaching the TH 47 intersection. The speed limits for CSAH 5 have just been reviewed by MnDOT, and are being discussed as another issue on this evening's Public Works Committee agenda. The speed limit on Dysprosium Street is 30 miles per horn'. The residents have also suggested consideration of a noise mitigation barrier. In order to effectively reduce noise levels a'solid barrier must be constructed between the Ii.ne of sight of the source of the noise and the receptor site (the apartment building). Because the aparm~ent building is considerably lfigher than the road, it would be teclmically and economically infeasible to construct a solid wall sufficiently lfigh to effectively reduce the noise level. The residents suggest that plantings may help to buffer the noise. P1 antings are effective in buffering visual impact of the roadway, but are significantly less effective in providing noise reduction. In an~ event there are a number of evergreen and deciduous trees along the CSAH 5 between the highway mhd the building. Enforcement of noise standards is an area which could be effective in improving the situation. Certainly, enforcement can be more effectively focused if it can be assisted by the residents of the apartment building in providing the Police department with information. Residents should be encouraged to report loud vehicles and inappropriate acceleration to the police along with vehicle description and peak activity periods, if possible. Recommendation: Staff recommends that the residents report inappropriate activities to the police and that the police concentrate patrol efforts during problem periods identified by apartment residents.