Laserfiche WebLink
February 28, 2020 <br />Page 17 <br />K:\014908-000\Traffic\Traffic Study\Lake Valentine Road Study.docx <br />RECOMMENDATIONS <br /> <br />Using data collection from drone video, vehicular and pedestrian turning movement volumes, and <br />many hours of field observation, safety and operations issues were identified on Lake Valentine <br />Road in the area of Mounds View High School. Through stakeholder meetings and investigation <br />of the operations in the area, several alternatives were presented to the City Council in a <br />workshop. Two preferred improvement alternatives were selected for further analysis. <br /> <br />Based on findings from modeling and analysis, considering access management and pedestri an <br />safety strategies, the recommended alternative to improve pedestrian safety and vehicular <br />operations on Lake Valentine Road is combining the relocation of the west parking lot access with <br />a central pedestrian crossing controlled by a traffic signal. <br /> <br />The realignment of the access would create a standard four-legged intersection, eliminate an <br />unsafe offset intersection, and allow for two full accesses to/from the north parking lot at all times <br />of day. It would facilitate the elimination of eastbound left turns from the east parking lot access, <br />which would allow for a small raised median and pedestrian refuge that aligns with the westbound <br />left turn lane. An access that extends toward the north end of the parking lot would provide <br />exclusive turn lanes onto Lake Valentine Road and increase safety for pedestrians by keeping the <br />majority of vehicular traffic on the north side of the lot and pedestrian traffic toward thesouth side <br />of the lot. Additionally, fencing could be extended farther west and then north along the access <br />driveway to channelize pedestrians to the signal-controlled crossing and away from the access <br />intersection. <br /> <br />The centralized traffic signal controlled pedestrian crossing would improve both safety and <br />operations on Lake Valentine Road. Pedestrians would cross all in one location at a spot where <br />only through movements are occurring on Lake Valentine Road. This would also improve <br />operations at pick-up / drop-off and parking access locations as vehicles would not be delayed <br />while yielding to pedestrians. Along with improvements made on the Mounds View School <br />campus, pedestrians on the south side of the road would follow the sidewalk and not need to <br />cross traffic twice as they presently do. <br /> <br />For Lake Valentine Road users outside of peak times, operations would be unchanged, as the <br />signal would rest in green for Lake Valentine Road so that vehicular traffic is unaffe cted. When a <br />pedestrian is present and uses the push button, the signal would provide a red light for vehicles <br />and a WALK sign for pedestrians. The time from pushing the button to receiving the WALK signal <br />should be minimal, and the total pedestrian phase is estimated to be less than 20 seconds. <br /> <br />The School Speed Zone Limit was previously recommended under a separate technical <br />memorandum. <br />