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<br />One of the solutions to making the intersection safer is adding elements that can control traffic <br />and make the signal system more responsive to the traffic at that location, essentially directing <br />safe and efficient maneuvering in those trips. While most of the work on this project is on <br />Sunfish Lake Boulevard, the work is an effort to make the intersection at Highway # 1 0 operate <br />more efficiently and safely, and to eliminate many of the crashes at the primary intersection. Mr. <br />Fischer provided an overview of the proposed project for the Sunfish Lake Boulevard <br />reconstruction. He indicated there will essentially be four southbound lanes and two northbound <br />lanes. The project includes raised median channelization, which has been a successful technique <br />for the County and is very common. Mr. Fischer indicated the County would like to review the <br />comments that have been received regarding the project with the Council this evening. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen commented that there does not appear to be more accidents at this <br />intersection than others in the City to which Mr. Fischer presented a three-year crash history <br />diagram of the Sunfish Lake Boulevard/Highway #10 intersection. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen inquired about reasons for a higher amount of accidents at this <br />intersection. <br /> <br />Mr. Fischer outlined problems resulting from the stacking of cars due to the railroad tracks. He <br />indicated following the project there will be two dedicated turn lanes to move more traffic <br />through the intersection; improving the efficiency improves the safety. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen inquired about the possibility of tweaking the signal to make it operate <br />more efficiently with the present road conditions. <br /> <br />Mr. Fischer indicated more green signal time taken away from Highway #10 will not eliminate a <br />lot of the rear ender type of crashes. With this project the signal will be optimized and move the <br />cars through more efficiently. <br /> <br />Councilmember Look expressed that in his opinion the train is the cause for the congestion at <br />this intersection, and that accidents cannot be reduced at this intersection until the train is gone. <br /> <br />Mr. Fischer stated the project will allow them to address the capacity coming down on Sunfish <br />Lake Boulevard, free up additional green time on Highway #10, and make the whole system <br />operate better. <br /> <br />Councilmember Look stated traffic heading south on Sunfish Lake Boulevard is not creating the <br />problem, and it is difficult to see how the hard channelization will solve the problem. He stated <br />the project is based on traffic projections to 2020 or 2025. Flexibility needs to be built in to <br />allow the median to be put in at a later time. The timing should be that median changes can be <br />done in the future when there is acquisition of the Sunfish Commons properties. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated he cannot see putting a band aid on something that will be major, and the <br />funds will not be available if the project is not done. He noted the effect the project will have on <br />the Sunfish Commons Shopping Center. He expressed concern regarding the safety associated <br />with the u-turns that will likely be done in this area. <br /> <br />City Council Work Session / June 26, 2007 <br />Page 4 of 10 <br />