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I: <br /> i' <br /> Mr.Bruce Westby,PE r <br /> March 21,2017 <br /> Page 2 <br /> performedAM peak eak hour (6-9 am), mid-day (It-I pm), and PM peak hour (3-7 pm) turning <br /> movement traffic counts to determine typical weekday traffic patterns at this intersection. <br /> SEH also obtained crash data for the intersection for the 5 year period of 2011-2015 from the <br /> State's crash website. SEH then completed a brief field review of the signal system to confirm <br /> that the existingtraffic signal plans correspond to the current installation of the signal system and <br /> g <br /> take into account the current intersection geometrics. SEH also reviewed traffic signal cabinet <br /> components to determine if additional electrical equipment would be required to be provided in <br /> p <br /> order to allow for flashingyellow arrow operation to be used. I <br /> Y � <br /> E <br /> As part of the signal system installation, each intersection approach was set up to operate with <br /> protected left turn phasing (3-section RLA-YLA-GLA signals). The intersection has a newer <br /> Econolite ASC--3 controller unit and Reno MMU--1600-GE conflict monitor, both of which are <br /> fully compatible atible with upgraded left turn (i.e. flashing yellow arrow) operations. The controller <br /> pg �:- <br /> cabinet has sufficient load switch bays available to accommodate flashing yellow arrow <br /> operations. Thus, the existing controller and cabinet have the capacity and capability to <br /> p r; <br /> accommodate future flashing yellow arrow operations for all four intersection approaches <br /> without requiring this equipment to be significantly upgraded or revised. <br /> As Y <br /> art of our analysis, SEH utilized the Minnesota Department of Transportation's (MnDOT) <br /> p <br /> flashing yellow arrow installation criteria from their "Traffic Signal Timing and Coordination <br /> Manual" to analyze extended usage of flashing yellow arrow operations for each intersection <br /> approach. A copy of this criteria is attached for your information. Based on comparison of <br /> available data with the MnDOT criteria,the following can be inferred: <br /> The design of this signal system included the initial recommendation of protected left <br /> turn phasing for each intersection approach due to the higher posted speed limit of 55 <br /> m h on CSAH 83 (as is typical Anoka County practice) and the presence of a dual left <br /> p <br /> turn lane for the westbound Sunwood Drive approach. <br /> With regards to utilizing Flashing Yellow Arrow operations for each left turn movement, <br /> g g g <br /> the following should be noted: <br /> • According to the current edition of the AASHTO Geometric Design of Highways <br /> and Streets manual, left-turning drivers "need sufficient sight distance to decide <br /> when it is safe to turn left across the lanes used by opposing traffic." This <br /> stopping sight distance along CSAH 83 for the design/posted speed of 55 mph is <br /> at least 495 feet of clear sight distance to the north and south. For both Sunwood <br /> F <br /> Drive and 147th Avenue Northwest, the recommended stopping sight distance at <br /> 30 mph is as least 200 feet to the east and west. Based on a field review of <br /> intersection g eometrics, the southbound, eastbound, and westbound intersection <br /> approaches are straight for several hundred feet in each direction with no <br /> impediments to the sight distance (other than possible sun issues for eastbound <br /> F <br /> !r <br /> is <br /> ff <br /> f <br /> i <br /> r. <br /> I <br />