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were prior to the improvement. The Council also expressed concern about the southbound to <br />eastbound left turn and had questions about the volumes that led to the decision to eliminate the <br />southbound through lane. Mr. Olson stated Chris Roy, Area Manager of MnDOT, and Greg <br />Coughlin, North Area Engineer of MnDOT, are present to discuss this intersection with the <br />Council. <br /> <br />Chris Roy, MnDOT, discussed transportation issues with the Council, including the following: · Highway 47 from County Road 66 to Highway 10, focusing on the volumes on Highway <br /> 47 and the crashes at individual intersections <br /> · Future plans of MnDOT for Highway 47 <br /> <br />Mr. Roy provided a recap of the TH 47/Pleasant Street intersection project. He indicated <br />MnDOT completed a mill and overlay project at the TH 47/Pleasant Street intersection in August <br />2005. With that project a lot of things happened that resulted in less than desirable operations in <br />that intersection. When the mill and overlay was completed, for about one week the signal was <br />on pre-timed operations until they were able to get the loop detectors back on line. This resulted <br />in the lowest capacity at that intersection. The new traffic signal poles were not available until <br />the end of November, and the striping needed to be changed. In the second or third part of <br />December, the intersection was operating the way it was designed. They have now had about 1- <br />½ months to review how the signal operates. He explained they were not able to add a lot of <br />capacity in the area because of the shortage of right-of-way. There is now a southbound left turn <br />lane to travel eastbound, which is operated by a left turn arrow. There is also a northbound left <br />turn lane and arrow that does not come up unless there is an emergency vehicle; otherwise the <br />operations of the northbound signal are virtually identical to how they were prior to the project. <br />Mr. Roy stated MnDOT received a lot of questions and calls about the operation of the signal; <br />however, they have not received any since it has been operating as planned since December. <br />MnDOT feels the intersection is working similar to how it worked previously. MnDOT <br />reviewed the left turn warrants for left turn lanes at this intersection, and they were warranted for <br />both northbound and southbound directions. <br /> <br />Assistant Public Works Director Olson inquired how many of the 15 crashes at Pleasant Street in <br />2004 were left turn vehicles. <br /> <br />Mr. Roy replied he will provide this information. <br /> <br />The discussion of the TH 47/Pleasant Street intersection included the following issues: <br />possibility of a left rum signal dedicated southbound, as opposed to a left-through signal due to <br />stacking; possibility of a longer signal following a train to clear the traffic; continued monitoring <br />of the signals. <br /> <br />Greg Coughlin, MnDOT, indicated approximately one month ago there was a meeting with the <br />cities of Ramsey and Anoka, Anoka County and MnDOT. It was agreed to continue to look at <br />Highway 47 and determine what should be done in terms of its existing alignment or future <br />realignment. He and Kate Garwood of Anoka County have been working on an RFP that <br />identifies specific scope of services they would like to have done on Highway 47. This includes <br />looking at a number of different concepts, and includes a preferred alternative, an environmental <br /> <br />City Council Work Session / February 7, 2006 <br /> Page 2 of 11 <br /> <br /> <br />