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Chairperson Elvig inquired if the 3/4th median would eliminate the type of accident that occurred <br />in the fatality. <br /> <br />Director of Public Works/Fire Chief Kapler replied no. <br /> <br />Councilmember Cook stated that it clear based on the accident reports that accidents in the <br />intersection have been increasing and he agrees that something has to be done, but he was not <br />sure if constructing the median was the right choice nor was he sure that signalizing the <br />intersection was the right thing. <br /> <br />Mr. Hienrichs stated that with today's technology it is possible that lights on TH 47 would only <br />need to turn red if there was a car waiting to turn from 142nd Avenue. He personally did not think <br />that signalizing the intersection would impact the flow of traffic on TH 47 that significantly. <br /> <br />Dave Engstrom, Program Support Engineer for MnDOT, explained that signal justification and <br />speed zoning are part of his responsibility at MnDOT. His focus has always been on safety and <br />trying to improve highways and general speaking traffic signals provide a misconception. The <br />reality is that traffic accidents go up with signals because they are focusing people to stop <br />increasing rear-end accidents. Currently MnDOT has 120 intersections that are considered high <br />accident areas and about 100 of those intersections are signalized. When they look at signalizing <br />an intersection they look at bettering the intersection and this particular intersection does not meet <br />volume requirements on the minor streets so they have looked at the best option for the <br />intersection. At this point the best option is completely closing the median, but recognizing the <br />fact that he is a traffic engineer and doesn't deal with economics he does understand that some of <br />the businesses might be impacted by a full closer of the intersection so he is willing to compromise <br />with a 3¼ median being installed at the intersection. <br /> <br />Assistant Director of Public Works Olson asked Mr. Engstrom to address some of the comments <br />made about the traffic volumes and the timing of the study. <br /> <br />Mr. Engstrom explained that during a traffic analysis they collect an hour-by-hour scenario from <br />Monday morning to Friday afternoon. He stated that it would be possible for MnDOT to do <br />another traffic analysis in the spring to account for school traffic, but he would like review all of <br />the information they have gathered on the intersection before committing to a new study. <br /> <br />Assistant Director of Public Works Olson inquired if left turning vehicle counts were included in <br />the most recent analysis. <br /> <br />Mr. Engstrom replied that turning traffic is counted as part of the analysis. He noted that trying <br />to account for traffic that may utilize the intersection would be difficult to count. <br /> <br />Mr. Hienrichs noted that he knows for a fact that there were no bell hoses in the left turn lane on <br />TH 47 at 142nd Avenue so none of the u-turn traffic was counted. Many of the people that utilize <br />the businesses in the area make a u-turn at the intersection to be able to get back to Anoka <br />because it is a lot safer than having to take a left hand turn from 142nd Avenue onto TH 47. <br /> <br />Public Works Committee/January 18, 2005 <br /> Page 5 of 27 <br /> <br /> <br />