Minutes - Public Works Committee - 11/21/2000

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Consensus of the Committee was that the existing water tower should have the same color scheme as the new water tower. Case//3: Discuss Extending Center Median on County Road #116 East of Trunk Highway #47 City Engineer Jankowski stated that the access onto County Road #116 from the Rivers Bend Plaza shopping center has long been problematic from a couple of aspects. First, it has been a location for a high number of accidents. Police data documents 41 accidents at this location during the period of 1993 through 1998, which is an average of more than one accident per two month period. I have attached police accident repons from the current year to illustrate the types of accidents that are occurring. A second issue associated with this access is that it attracts cut through traffic from vehicles wishing to avoid delay from the traffic signals on Trunk Highway #47. Perhaps with the addition of three more traffic signals on Trunk Highway #47, neighborhood residents of the Rivers Bend subdivision particularly those on Waco Street NW, may have a concern about the level of this cut through traffic increasing. The purpose of this case is to solicit various viewpoints on modifying the median islands to prohibit left tums into and out of the Rivers Bend Plaza. The positive aspects of this median extension would be safer traffic conditions on County Road #116, and a decrease in this cut-through traffic. The negative aspects would be those economic impacts associated with limiting access to the Rivers Bend Plaza. Perhaps, an alternative to movement closure by median extension might be posting left turn restriction during peak hours. Councihnember Hendhksen inquired as to why the median was not extended previously. City Engineer Jankowski explained that when the median was constructed it did prevent left turns in and out of the Rum River Plaza, but the owner of the mall moved their access. Councilmember Zimmerman inquired as to what the impact would be on the businesses in the mall and if the County should be addressing the issue rather than the City. City Engineer Jankowski replied that he has talked to the County and they would be very supportive of the extension. Councilmember Zimmerman inquired if the City would be expected to pay for the extension. City Engineer Jankowski replied that if the City makes the request then yes, they would have to pay for it. Councihnember Hendriksen suggested conducting a public hearing on the issue to allow the businesses the opportunity to comment on the extension. City Engineer Jankowski suggested sending out notices to the businesses as well as the residents of Rivers Bend. Public Works Committee/November 21, 2000 Page 4 of 10