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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – SEPTEMBER 21, 2020 5 <br /> <br />WSB & Associates to prepare an Intersection Control Evaluation report for the intersection. WSB <br />completed the Intersection Control Evaluation report for the intersection of Old Snelling Avenue <br />and County Road E in November 2018. Staff commented further on the traffic study results with <br />the Council noting there was a crash rate concern for this intersection. He discussed the options <br />available for the Council and requested direction on how to proceed. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant questioned where the County was with this project. <br /> <br />Public Works Director/City Engineer Blomstrom stated Ramsey County has included this <br />project as one of the projects in their capital transportation improvement plan. He reported the <br />County still sees value in the project. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden commented the 2018 analysis is quite outdated. She stated there were <br />so many crashes at this intersection due to road construction forcing more traffic to this area. She <br />indicated the intersection was never properly striped either. She explained Bethel has reduced the <br />number of people on campus. For this reason, she recommended the analysis be reconducted or <br />the project be pushed off for a few years. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant asked if Bethel’s PUD limited the number of students that could be on campus. <br /> <br />Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla explained Bethel had a CUP. He <br />noted he was uncertain of a specific number had been set for the number of students. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant recalled the number being 3,200 students. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden stated she believed this was the correct number. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant agreed the analysis should be redone given the fact traffic patterns have changed <br />due to COVID-19. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes discussed Bethel University’s traffic study and noted this information <br />was seven years old, which was quite out of date. She indicated traffic patterns can change <br />dramatically in seven years. She supported the City waiting for the new normal to be established <br />before moving forward with any changes at this intersection. She commented there may not be <br />enough problems at this intersection for the City to move forward with a roundabout. She <br />suggested the City consider pursue option 3 putting this item on hold indefinitely. <br /> <br />Councilmember Scott indicated he was leaning towards option 2. He believed this intersection <br />merited Council consideration given the level of traffic and severity of the crashes. He commented <br />he supported the City moving forward with the roundabout. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant supported the City looking at this intersection again. <br />Councilmember McClung explained he supported a hybrid approach to this intersection. He <br />understood traffic patterns have changed due to COVID and that a traffic study done now would <br />not be helpful. He suggested the study be completed sometime next year. He recommended the <br />City put the intersection improvement item on the shelf until sometime late next year. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant questioned how much the traffic analysis study cost the City.