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CASE # <br />CONSIDER REQUEST FOR STOP SIGNS <br />AT ALPACA STREET AND RIVERDALE DRIVE <br />By: Steven Jankowski; City Engineer <br />Background: <br />The attached petition was received dated August 1, 2007 which was signed by nine <br />residents of the Alpaca Estates subdivision located south of Riverdale Drive requesting <br />that Stop signs be placed on the east and west legs of the intersection of Alpaca Street <br />and Riverdale Drive. Staff was directed by City Council on October 9, 2007 to conduct <br />an investigation to determine whether it is appropriate to place Stop signs on any two legs <br />of the intersection of Alpaca and Riverdale Drive. <br />The location of this intersection is illustrated on the attached figure. Staff has reviewed <br />the intersection and offers the following information as background in considering this <br />request.. <br />• Accident history A review of the police department records dating back for a five <br />year period from January 1, 2007 show no reported accidents at this intersection. <br />• Traffic Traffic counts were taken on October 8, 2007 for all four legs of this <br />intersection. The peak hour count represents an average value of 10% of the total <br />daily traffic volume. The results of this traffic volume study are as follows:. <br />Daily Peak <br />Street Leg Traffic Hour <br />Alpaca North 231 23 <br />Alpaca South 118 12 <br />Riverdale East 193 19 <br />Riverdale West 353 35 <br />Intersection 448 45 <br />• Sight Distance There is an adequate sight distance across the northwest, <br />southwest, and southeast corners of the intersection. The northeast corner of the <br />intersection has a grouping of Siberian elm trees with branches extending down to <br />ground level. There is an encroachment of a few feet into the 50 foot vision <br />triangle at this location. <br />Discussion: <br />The Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MNMUTCD) provides <br />.guidance on the placement of Stop signs. The manual states that iri many low traffic <br />volume situations with no unusual history of intersection crashes, no control is a cost <br />effective strategy. The sight lines can and should be improved by trimming and /or <br />removal of the Siberian elms located on the northeastern corner. Furthermore, the Manual <br />offers that research shows in most cases increasing the level of intersection control will <br />_161 _ <br />