12-21-2020-WS - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Feasibility Report Page 6 Snelling Avenue North and County Road E - Street and Utility Improvements City Project Number PW 20-0100 DRAFT 2.3 Intersection Conditions In April 2018, the City Council entered into a cooperative agreement with Ramsey County to conduct a traffic study and Intersection Control Evaluation (ICE) for the intersection of Snelling Avenue North and County Road E. The ICE study was completed in November 2018. A copy of the report is provided in Appendix B. The purpose of the ICE report was to evaluate the existing (2018) and future (2038) traffic control layout for the intersection of County Road E and Snelling Avenue North and recommend potential improvements. The report identifies two key points related to the existing intersection function. 1. The County Road E corridor is projected to see an increase in traffic over the coming years with the Bethel University Expansion. 2. MnDOT’s Crash Mapping Analysis Tool (MnCMAT) database indicates there have been 9 crashes at the intersection between January 2013 and December 2015. Existing crash patterns show that the intersection experiences an extremely high rate of 0.68 crashes per million entering vehicles compared to the average rate of 0.34 for all-way stop intersections. The crash rate is higher than the critical rate of 0.65 and the severity rate of 0.76 is higher than the Statewide average severity rate of 0.5. The intersection was simulated with a traffic model for both the AM and PM peak traffic hours using existing (2018) traffic volume data as described in the ICE report. The traffic operations analysis showed that the intersection currently operates at an acceptable Level of Service (LOS) “A” during the AM peak hour and LOS “B” during the PM peak hour. The report concluded “The analysis results indicate there are not major queuing issues currently at the intersection. However, based on field observation during the peak hours, the intersection seems to perform far poorer tha[n] what the analysis is indicating.” The study then continued with further analysis of the intersection, substituting traffic volume data from the 2013 Bethel University Expansion Traffic Stud y in lieu of existing 2018 traffic volume data. This alternative analysis assumed traffic volumes of approximately 30 percent more than measured volumes and identified that the intersection is forecasted to fail during the PM peak hour under current conditions. The study further predicted that the intersection would continue to operate poorly during the PM peak hour under projected increases in traffic volume in the year 2038. The installation of traffic signals are guided by a series of standards, or warrants, that define the minimum conditions under which installing a traffic signal could be justified. The ICE report reviewed existing traffic characteristics and determined that traffic signal warrants are not currently met for the intersection of Snelling Avenue North and County Road E. Installation of a signal would not be justified at this time. The traffic study further reviewed the intersection to determine if warrants are met for installation of a single lane roundabout. Although no formal traffic warrants for roundabouts currently exist, the MnDOT Intersection Control Evaluation Manual states that if a traffic signal or an all-way stop warrant is met, a roundabout should also be considered as a traffic control device. All-way stop warrants are currently met for this intersection, therefore the