Agenda - Council - 04/14/2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Regarding crosswalk signing, State Aid Staff recommended not installing Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons (RRFB's) if the speed limit remains at 50 mph as they have not had positive results on roads posted with high speeds, which is considered 45 mph or greater. If the speed limit is reduced to 40 mph, RRFB's would be considered acceptable, as long as advance warning signs are included. Standard pedestrian crossing signs (no lights), including advance warning signs, would also be considered an allowable option by State Aid. Interactive speed limit display signs, similar to the Sunwood Drive signs near City Hall, were discussed as a potential use to help deter speeding through the intersection of Variolite Street and 161st Avenue. 4.2. c.2Traffic Calming To make the pedestrian crossing most effective, and to address general concerns over existing travel speeds along Variolite Street, Staff looked at options for traffic calming. Options looked at, but not found feasible, were center medians including raised concrete, raised and landscaped, lowered with a center ditch, and stripped. Industry consensus is vertical elements and tighter "feeling" streets are effective at reducing speeds. Staff is therefore proposing to reduce the width of the drive lanes and parking lanes to meet the minimum requirements of State Aid for a 40 mph rural road south of 163" Lane. The drive lanes will be reduced from 12-feet to 11-feet, and shoulders will be reduced from 8-feet to 6-feet. If off-street paths are available, the shoulder could include 2-feet of pavement next to the drive lane, and aggregate for the remaining 4-feet, to make the street feel even tighter. However, due to right of way constraints and costs this was not found feasible. The shoulder must therefore continue to serve as a bike lane. Ramsey Police Depaiinient Staff approve of reducing the speed limit south of 163' Lane to 40 mph. However, to effectively enforce speeds along the corridor they requested that bump -outs be provided mid -block on both sides of Variolite Street, one set on either side of 161st Avenue, to allow police vehicles to safely park outside the shoulder and turn around as needed. 4.2. d Trails & Sidewalks Off -road bituminous trail exists from 159th Avenue to one-half block past 163" Avenue where it terminates. This project proposes to remove the one-half block section of terminated trail, as there is no future route or plan in place for this trail to continue north. Due to the proposed pedestrian refuge island at 161st Avenue, the intersection at 161st will be widened, and a section of trail will need to be replaced. All trail street crossings are proposed to be upgraded with ADA compliant concrete pedestrian landings. 4.2. e Other Considerations Driveways: Existing driveway aprons may need to be reconstructed to varying degrees. The limits of construction will vary with each driveway apron based on the elevation of the street abutting the driveway and the driveway pavement type. During design, Staff will evaluate the construction limits for each driveway and will incorporate this into the plans, but as with all street reconstruction projects, the exact limits of construction will be determined in the field during Feasibility Report Variolite Street Reconstruction City of Ramsey Project No. 20-01 8