Agenda - Public Works Committee - 04/19/2005

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CASE CONSIDER REQUEST FOR SPEED STUDY FOR RIVERDALE DRIVE BETWEEN RAMSEY BOULEVARD AND TUNGSTEN STREET By: Steven J. Jankowski, City Engineer Background: Staff has received the attached email request from Mr. Jerry Sherman, a resident of the Rivenwick subdivision, to have a speed study performed between Sunfish Lake Boulevard and Dolomite Street. In discussing Mr. Sherman's request over the phone, staff has learned that his intention is to cause the speed limit to be raised as it is his opinion that a realistic limit is higher than the current posted limit of 30 miles per hour. State Statues 169.01.59 permits local units of government to post a speed limit of 30 miles per hour in urban areas. All other speed limits are to be established by the Commissioner of Transportation following an engineering study which would be performed by the Department of Transportation. This roadway has been constructed in wtrious segments between 1989 and 2003. City records show no evidence that such a speed study has ever been performed on any segment of Riverdale Drive. In preparing this case the Police department corlected current traffic speed information during mid week periods on three separate dates approximately two weeks apart in March and April. These studies show that the 50% speeds range between 31 and 34 miles per hour and that the g5th percentile speed, the measure which is heavily weighted in setting appropriate speed limits range between 37 and 39 miles per hour. Sta£f has a concern that the present land use along the road is undeveloped and that futurer safe speeds might be lower after development occurs and therefore it could be necessary to lower the limit in the future if it were to be raised following this speed study. Still it is hard to dismiss the fact that the driving habits of motorists are telling us that speed limit is cun'ently set too low. It is the opinion of staff that a reasonable speed along this street segment would be 35 miles per hour. It has been staff's experience that there has been consultation between the local road authority and MnDOT before the Commissioner's order is issued: During such a consultation staff will strongly pursue the position for holding the speed limit to 35 even if the data suggested that it might be higher citing the fi~ture development potential along this corridor. Recom~nendation: Staff recommends that the Committee recommend to-the City Council that a resolution be passed requesting that a speed study be conducted along the length Riverdale Drive from Ramsey Boulevard to Tungsten Street for the purpose of establishing appropriate speed limits through this segnnent of roadway. Staff further recommends that the limits of such a study be extended west to Ramsey Boulevard and eastward to Tungsten Street so that the entire contiguous length of this roadway will be considered. It is possible that the