Agenda - Public Works Committee - 08/21/2018

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Public Works Committee 5. 1. Meeting Date: 07/17/2018 By: Bruce Westby, Engineering/Public Works Title: Consider Speed Limit Reduction on Quicksilver Street Purpose/Background: Purpose: The purpose of this case is to consider a request to reduce the speed limit on Quicksilver Street, south of 167th Avenue and north of Elmcrest Park. Background: Staff received a request from the property owner at 16601 Quicksilver Street to reduce the speed limit on Quicksilver Street, south of 167th Avenue and north of Elmcrest Park. This property owner has reported excessive speeds along this segment of Quicksilver Street, and recently experienced damage to their landscaping and mailbox due to vehicles leaving the roadway. Attached are three figures showing the segment of Quicksilver Street under consideration and all accesses into Elmcrest Park. This section of Quicksilver Street currently has no posted speed limit, but based on its functional classification as a local street and the properties it serves, this street could be posted at 30 mph. Minnesota Statute 169.14 establishes statutory speed limits on most typical roadways under ideal conditions. All other speed limits are set by the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) based upon an engineering and traffic investigation (speed study) in which the following factors are considered: • Road type and condition • Location and type of access points (intersections, entrances, etc.) • Sufficient length of roadway (1/4 mile minimum) • Existing traffic control devices (sign, signals, etc.) • Crash history traffic volume sight distances (curve, hill, etc.) • Test drive results The most common speed limits observed throughout Minnesota are: • 10 mph in alleys • 30 mph on streets in urban districts • 55 mph on other roads • 65 mph on expressways • 65 mph on urban interstate highways • 70 mph on rural interstate highways Where speed limits are not posted, these are considered the default speed limits. Local road authorities (cities, townships, and counties) can determine advisory speeds for local roads and post the roads with advisory speed signs without authorization from the MnDOT Commissioner. Local road authorities can also pass a resolution requesting a speed study investigation by MnDOT. The local road authority that owns and operates the segment of road to be studied is responsible for submitting the request to