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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — DECEMBER 20, 2021 2 <br />Councilmember Scott asked if all three solutions would impact moving Lindey's entrance. <br />Mr. Corkle responded that the all -way stop wouldn't change it, but a signal or roundabout would. <br />He also noted that it doesn't take much increase in volume to cause issues at an all -way. The <br />roundabout is able to handle the adjustments. <br />Councilmember Holden felt a traffic signal would be safer for pedestrians than a roundabout. <br />Mr. Corkle said a nice thing about a roundabout is that you are only looking one direction to <br />cross, you get to the median and look the other direction to cross; you only cross half the roadway <br />at a time and traffic is moving in only one direction. <br />Councilmember Holmes asked what the City Engineer thought was the best option. <br />Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen replied that the warrants are met for a signal <br />or roundabout, and so it becomes engineer preference. He likes roundabouts and sees the benefits <br />of having one, but public participation and education is necessary. Ramsey County will have an <br />online survey and open house. They are not far enough into the design process to discuss cost. <br />When designing a roundabout they will need to look at what materials will be used, which will <br />affect cost. The city will pay 1/4 and the county will pay 1/4. <br />Mr. Corkle added that it is a single lane roundabout and they are trying to size it appropriately for <br />the intersection. <br />Mayor Grant noted that Xcel Energy has a large switch station and there were also other utilities <br />in the area. <br />Councilmember Holden felt when people go through roundabout they go fast and continue to <br />accelerate once they leave the roundabout. <br />Mr. Corkle said typically you are yielding for other cars in the roundabout. Speeds within <br />roundabouts are generally 15-18 mph. <br />Ms. Lundquist noted that the type of accident in a roundabout is different from accidents at a <br />signal light. Generally, accidents are fender benders and much less severe in a roundabout. <br />Ms. Lundquist said next steps would be a survey on the County website, and an open house will <br />be scheduled for January. There would be social media blasts, and postcards sent within a half <br />mile, along with flyers for the schools to post. <br />Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen stated that Ramsey County did a postcard <br />mailing for the Lake Johanna Boulevard project open house and he reviewed the list, which <br />should be similar to this project. <br />Councilmember Scott said according to the study, overall projected costs would favor the <br />roundabout due to traffic signal maintenance. He wondered how it leveled out and favored the <br />roundabout. <br />