01-18-22-WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - JANUARY 18, 2022 B. MnDOT Highway Speed Signs City Administrator Perrault stated that last year the city worked to get a speed sign installed on southbound Highway 51 in the Snelling Avenue, Glenhill Road intersection area. During previous discussions, Council requested looking at a northbound sign somewhere along Snelling. There is an existing sign in inventory so the city would only be paying for installation costs of about $2,700, and potential permit fees. The city received an email suggesting Council also consider a speed sign on eastbound 96. Any work or installation permit on Highway 96 would have to go through Ramsey County. Mayor Grant noted that there were two fatalities at the intersection on the Old Snelling access to Highway 96. When going eastbound on 96 to make the turn to southbound Old Snelling, the cars sneak up on you deceptively fast, partially because they're coming uphill. Councilmember Holden said she was thinking it should go on northbound Snelling. But because the speed limit isn't being enforced between County Road E and 694, putting the sign there doesn't seem worthwhile. Putting it on 96 might have some extra merit, compared to putting it on Highway 51. Councilmember Radziej stated that he would lean towards going north on Snelling but south of County Road E, north of the Snelling connection, around Hamline or the city boundary. Councilmember Holmes commented that she wanted to advocate for both locations. On Snelling there are people merging off of County Road E and further up there are people merging from Red Fox Road. She thought it should be closer to E. She sees people slowing down by the sign on Old 10. On Highway 96 were they talking about the intersection crossing the bridge to the stoplight? Mayor Grant said he was thinking somewhere just east of the Holiday gas station, maybe about halfway or a third of the way down. But there is only one sign available. Councilmember Holmes said if there was only one, she would go with 96 because that was a problem in the past. Councilmember Scott stated that he didn't think northbound Snelling is a huge priority, there are pretty good sight lines northbound. There are a couple of spots on Highway 96 that he would prefer to have a sign, focused around Keithson. Councilmember Holmes felt the Mayor's idea of having it by the Holiday gas station was a better idea because of the left-hand turn. Mayor Grant added that particular turn is the one students use to drive to the high school and during periods of the day there is a pretty solid amount of left turn traffic. If we put a sign somewhere between the Holiday and that turn, people will slow down and hopefully not pick their speed back up as they go toward Keithson. Councilmember Holmes said maybe our traffic engineer could study this before it comes to the Council for approval.