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[DRAFT] Intersection Control Evaluation SRF Consulting Group, Inc. County Road E at Snelling Ave N (CR 76) 14 November 30, 2021 of the study will likely require access restrictions or closure of its driveway nearest to the intersection with any alternative due to the close proximity. · Transportation System Considerations Currently, intersections in the greater study area operate with a mix of traffic signal control, all- way stop control, and roundabout control. All alternatives would, therefore, be expected forms of traffic control. · Multimodal Considerations Currently, there is a marked pedestrian crossing on every approach, with mixed-use trails on the northwest and southeast quadrants heading north and east, respectively, from the intersection. Plans are already underway to add a trail heading south from the intersection, and initial planning has begun on constructing trail heading west from the intersection. Based on MnDOT research, a roundabout provides a safer pedestrian experience compared to all-way stop control and signalized control. Recommendation Based on the results of this Intersection Control Evaluation, the County Road E and Snelling Avenue N intersection is recommended to be constructed as a single-lane roundabout with one entry lane on all four approaches. This recommendation is based on: · The existing all-way stop traffic control intersection does not currently have an operations issue under typical peak hour volumes; however, an increase of just 10 percent in traffic volume would put a considerable strain on the intersection under the all-way stop (reflective of the Forecast Year 2043 analysis) and why there are days currently where delays and queues are longer. The all-way stop cannot accommodate changes in traffic volumes as well as a traffic signal or roundabout. · The traffic signal and roundabout alternatives are anticipated to be warranted based on Opening Year 2023 and Forecast Year 2043 volumes. · The operations analysis indicates the roundabout is expected to perform better than the traffic signal under peak hour volumes. Roundabouts also typically have lower delay in the off-peaks compared to a traffic signal due to the clearance intervals associated with a traffic signal. o A traffic signal is expected to have longer delays under Opening Year 2023 peak hour conditions compared to all-way stop control. · The overall safety performance of the roundabout is expected to be similar to a traffic signal, but roundabouts typically have fewer fatal and severe injury crashes due to the lower speeds and the angles of the conflicts. · While the initial capital costs for the roundabout are higher, it is expected to be the cheaper alternative in the long term, due to lower maintenance and operations costs compared to a traffic signal. · No additional permanent right-of-way is anticipated to be needed to construct the roundabout.