Minutes - Council Work Session - 08/03/2006

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County Roads in urban areas when there were schools in the area. He stated his number one job was to ensure safety for the citizens and he had been informed that the County's job was to move traffic through the County. He indicated he was going to have a hard time supporting this with the higher speeds on the County Roads. Ms. Garwood responded, in this case, because of TH47 and the river blocking alternate paths, they have asked the WSB to look to see what would happen on other corridors. She recommended as they were taking a look at the other corridors, they needed to look at 5 next and see what they could do to alleviate the safety issues. She indicated the first step would be TH47 and then look at the other corridors. Councilmember Jeffrey stated the map told him that the two major intersections on both sides of an elementary school showed major accidents and they needed to do something on Highway 5. He indicated they need to look at what were the residents' concerns. Ms. Kiesow stated crash rates at intersections that were signalized were higher than crash rates at two-way or four-way stops and they expected when a traffic signal was put in they expected higher crashes. Mayor Pro Tern Cook stated they wanted to reduce the speed on Highway 5 and not necessarily add signals. Ms. Garwood noted TH47 was a State road and they had different parameters. She stated on Highway 5 the development has grown and she was hearing loud and clear that those issues had to be addressed. She noted the answer might not be to slow the speed down and indicated the State regulated the speed and they would need to look at alternatives. Councilmember Jeffrey stated at National Night Out the main concerns and comments he heard was what were they going to do about Highway 5, when was TH47 going to be completed, and how could they get to Highway 10. He stated the State might say Highway 5 had to be 55mph, but then he challenged the County to look at other areas where there is an elementary school and the speeds are slower. Ms. Garwood noted this was the first opportunity they had to look at everything and now they understood there was an issue with Highway 5. She stated they needed to know this, but she wanted the Council to know that the County did not control the speed. Mayor Pro Tern Cook stated Ramsey did not care anymore whose problem it is, they want to see it fixed and the problems have does to be solved. Ms. Garwood stated MnDOT is also on the table on this. City Council Work Session / August 3, 2006 Page 3 of8