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<br />[DRAFT] Intersection Control Evaluation SRF Consulting Group, Inc. <br />County Road E at Snelling Ave N (CR 76) 12 November 30, 2021 <br />Alternatives Assessment <br />Right-of-Way Considerations <br />No additional right-of-way is anticipated to be needed for the all-way stop control or traffic signal <br />alternatives. Based on the concept sketches of a single-lane roundabout, no additional permanent <br />right-of-way is anticipated to be needed, although temporary easements maybe needed for <br />construction. The driveways for the business (Lindey’s Prime Steak House) in the northeast quadrant <br />nearest the intersection will likely require closure under a roundabout design. However, even with a <br />traffic signal or under the existing all-way stop, the driveway is close to the intersection and would be <br />recommended to be closed. <br />Transportation System Considerations <br />Currently, intersections in the immediate study area operate with a mix of traffic signal control and <br />side-street stop control. However, none of the adjacent intersection control dictates the preferred <br />alternative at this intersection. The nearby traffic signal at the TH 51 interchange does cause some <br />platooning into the intersection, which would be better accommodated by a traffic signal or a <br />roundabout. <br />Multimodal Considerations <br />There are existing marked pedestrian crossings across all approaches of the intersection. There are <br />trails in the northwest and southeast quadrants. Another trail is anticipated to go south of the <br />intersection in the near future and another one in the planning stages going to the west. These trail <br />improvements are anticipated to increase pedestrian and bicycle activity through this study <br />intersection. <br />The design of signalized intersections can create a safer environment for pedestrian crossings with the <br />use of pedestrian signal phasing. This phasing allows pedestrians to cross an intersection while adjacent <br />vehicular movements are served. Depending on the signal timing, there can be longer wait times for <br />pedestrians to legally cross with signalized control. The design of a roundabout allows pedestrians to <br />cross one direction of traffic at a time on each leg of the roundabout and recent MnDOT research <br />indicates that roundabouts have improved safety performance for pedestrians compared to signalized <br />control. <br />Local Acceptance <br />All the proposed alternatives are common forms of traffic control in Ramsey County. Roundabouts <br />are the newest form and many of the existing roundabouts are multi-lane or have large radii. The <br />current roundabout concept is a much simpler single-lane and smaller diameter that would fit better <br />into the project constraints.