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I Ie re I I I I I I. .. I I I I I I I. Ie I ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNen. - AUGUST 29, 1994 3 Hicks expressed appreciation for the number of good points made in Mr. Mulcahy's resolution and stated tbat perhaps the Council should reconsider tbis issue. He said he though it had been a political decision on the part of MNIDOT to close the northbound crossover on Highway 51. He also said he believed that engineers from MN!DOT did not have good rationale for closing the crossover other than that the current candidAte for County Attorney at the time wanted it closed on the basis of one accident resulting in a death. However, he said, drivers have since not respected or abided by the closing and have driven over tea.pUJ"'Y flags in the mem:m. If that turning Jane is going to be closed, he contim1f'il, the southbound Jane on Nmnline Avenue should also be closed. He would support a request to MNIDOT to reconsider opening tbis intersection, but felt it may be a waste of time. However, he didn't think the City should not try. Malone stated that there had been a lot of pressure on the City to close the intersection. He noted that there tends to be the feeling among the public that whenever something negative happens, then a law should be passed to avoid that possibility in the future. In reality, though, living in the world carries personal accountability and risk. There were injuries and accidents at tbis intersection, but it's bard to determine if the number warranted closing it. Mr. Mulcahy points out tbat the warrants for closing the intersection were not consistently applied, but tbis is not clear. Legislation cannot make the world perfectly safe. He has noticed with some interest that after the intersection was closed, there have been tire tnlcks cutting around the stakes, but he is not aware of any other accident in a year's time. It may be an lInn....~ exercise in paperwork to pass tbis proposed resolution because the City does not have jurisdiction over the intersection so he is not sure what can be accomplished. Acting Mayor Aplikowski noted that the intersection was closed without the agreement of the Council. She SlIggested the issue be revisited on a future worksession agenda. She agreed that the southbound tIaffic lane is almost as dangerous as the northbound lane and directed staff to gather as much information as possible on tbis issue. Ms. Pauline Bass, 1420 W. County Road E, stated that she would advocate reopening the intersection safely. The intersection was never intended to be reopened in its present condition. It is a dead issue for political reasons. She has investigated the legalities involved, and it is not possible to sue the state. The City has settl~ for the idea that the intersection is the way it is. She requested that the Council lake positive action to review the tIaffic patterns of two major intersections in the City: the downtown intersection and at the Highway 51 bridge. She said tbat the community has more traffic than ever and it will only get worse, so it is time to review tIaffic patterns and address what can be done to a11eviate them. The Twin Cities Federal Bank area is a disaster. Traffic cannot get in or out between the video store and the bank. Since the closing of the T.H. 51 crossover intersection. there have been over 14 accidents on the exit ramp off of County Road E. Should action be delayed until someone dies? Citizens want the COlDll1uaity to be known as a safe place to raise children. At tbis time there are lakes and parks that cannot be used ber..n~e of current tIaffic patterns. She understands the Council does not have the power to open the intersection, but she requested that the whole issue of safety in the COmmqnlty be reviewed,