Agenda - Council - 06/12/2018 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Our Mission: To wok together to respcsibty grow Our community, and to provide quality, cest,effective, and efficient government services. CC Regular Session 7. 4. Meeting Date: 06/12/2018 By: Bruce Westby, Engineering/Public Works Information Title: Adopt Resolution #18-111 Accepting Bids and Approving Joint Powers Agreement for Sunwood Drive and Armstrong Boulevard Flashing Yellow Arrow Improvements, Improvement Project #17-08 Purpose/Background: Purpose: The purpose of this case is to adopt Resolution #18-111 accepting bids and approving Joint Powers Agreement for Sunwood Drive and Armstrong Boulevard Flashing Yellow Arrow Improvements, Improvement Project #17-08. Background: Flashing yellow arrows (FYA) are gaining momentum as an alternative to a simple green ball light for left -turning motorists. They signal to the motorist that it is safe to turn left so long as they yield to oncoming vehicles, which have the right of way. These permitted left turns are unlike protected left turns, where the left -turning motorist does not need to consider opposing traffic because those vehicles have a red light. The Anoka County Highway Department constructed FYA modifications to signal systems at eight different intersections across Anoka County in 2017. Three of the signal systems were located in the City of Ramsey along Bunker Lake Boulevard/CSAH 116 at the intersections of Dysprosium Street/Thurston Avenue, Sunfish Lake Boulevard/CSAH 57, and Ramsey Boulevard/CSAH 56. These FYA's are operational during different times of the day at different intersections. Anoka County annually budgets approximately $100,000 to convert 4 to 10 of their 200 signal systems to FYA operations each year. Typical costs to convert newer signal systems to incorporate FYA operations run between $20,000 and $50,000 per signal system. Anoka County utilizes SEH, Inc. to study their signal systems for FYA conversions. The County requested that the City also use SEH to study the signal system at the intersection of Armstrong Boulevard/CSAH 83 & Sunwood Drive/147th Avenue for potential FYA modifications when City staff contacted County staff to discuss public requests for adding FYA operations to this signal system. Anoka County uses SEH solely to help ensure that evaluations are performed consistently County -wide for safety and liability purposes. In 2016, SEH was authorized to study the signal system at Armstrong Boulevard/CSAH 83 & Sunwood Drive/147th Avenue for potential FYA improvements. This analysis was completed and a copy of the SEH Study is attached. SEH's Study generally showed that FYA's could be considered for nearly all times of a typical weekday, as well as the entire weekend. However, initially they recommended that FYA operations not be used on weekdays between the hours of 6 and 9 am, and again between 3 and 7 pm, due to the higher posted speeds and traffic volumes. Anoka County is reviewing operations at this intersection to determine allowable hours of FYA operations, which may then be expanded in the future if there are no safety issues or significant increases in traffic