HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-16-07 Item 2E, Intersection Safety Study
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EN HILLS
MEMORANDUM
DATE:
July 16, 2007
AGENDA ITEM 2.E.
TO:
Mayor and City Council
Michelle Wolfe, City Administrator
Greg Hoag, Public Works Director~
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Intersection Safety Study
BACKGROUND
At the December 18,2006 City Council Work Session, staff requested City Council consensus to
request that Ramsey County Public Works conduct a traffic study at the intersection of County
Road E and Old Snelling Avenue. This request was brought to the City Council at the request of
the Parks Trails and Recreation Committee (PTRC) who at their November 21,2006 meeting
unanimously passed a motion to recommend that this study be completed. Attached are the
minutes from the December 18th City Council meeting for your review. The discussion at the
meeting became more of a general discussiou about crosswalks. It was also identified that there
were possibly other intersections in the City that may benefit from a similar study. In an effort to
identify which intersections in the City could be studied staff has compiled a spreadsheet of
intersections in the City. This list only contains intersections of streets that are classified as a
community street or greater in their classification function. It does not include residential and
neighborhood streets. The spreadsheet also contains information on who has jurisdiction of the
roads, what type of traffic control devices are present, (note that ifit is listed as "none" it means
that not all legs of the intersection are controlled), if crosswalks are present, and posted speeds.
At this time staff is recommending that if any studies are requested, that intersections which have
only stop signs as the traffic control device on all legs ofthe intersection be reviewed to see if
the intersection would meet current standards for the installation of a signal. These three
intersections are highlighted in yellow on the spreadsheet. It should be noted that by State Statute
any intersection is deemed a pedestrian crossing whether it is marked as such or uot. Crosswalks
are a sign to motorists that this is an area that they can expect to see iucreased pedestrian activity.
Ramsey County Public Works has indicated that they can provide accident data for any
intersection requested. They also are able to provide their most current traffic counts for any
particular area. Any study that would be completed would produce data related to whether a
signal would be a better form of traffic control, and it would also review the speeds traveled in
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the area. This could have an adverse effect as the study may indicate that the speeds should be
increased.
If pedestrian safety is the primary component of this study it should be noted that one of the best
ways to provide a safe area for pedestrians would be to provide pathways and sidewalks to
remove the pedestrians from the roads.
As noted earlier in this memo, crosswalks should also be reviewed. Providing crosswalks at
intersections without trails could cause unsafe pedestrian movements. Mid-block crosswalks
should only be in place where trails and sidewalks cross a street or near schools and parks. These
are areas that a motorist would expect to see increased pedestrian traffic. It would be advisable to
create a written guideline on the installation of crosswalks in the City. It is an important
consideration that a majority of the crosswalks in the City are on Ramsey County roads. The City
can request that they maintain their crosswalks to a higher level, however the County will most
likely maintain them at a similar level as today based on the need throughout the County and the
staff and funding available to maintain them.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION
Staff is seeking City Council input as how to proceed with further studies and data that may be
needed.
ARDEN lllLLS CITY COUNCIL - December 18, 2006
COWlcilmember Elect McC1Wlg said that he would prefer that the Karth Lake Improvement District
become a voluntary lake home association.
City Attorney Jeny Filla stated that the City could create a non-affiliated tax district for Karth Lake
where the residents handle their own regulations and have taxing authority.
Karth Lake Improvement District Board Member Susan Johnson said that Karth Lake is a land locked
lake which makes it VeIY difficult for the residents to initiate improvements without some form of
assistance from the City.
Members of the City COWlcil recommended that the Karth Lake Improvement District survey the
affected residents to see if they would like to become a lake home association or a different
improvement district option and report back to the City COWlcil with the residents input.
Traffic Study at County Road E and Old Snelline:
Parks and Recreation Manager Michelle Olson noted that COWlty Road E and Old Snelling intersection
has seen increased traffic volume over the past few years. With this intersection being identified in the
City of Arden Hills Trail Strategies as a major connection within the proposed trail system, increased
pedestrian safety may have to be addressed.
The following is a list of the proposed trails that would connect to this intersection:
. COWltv Road E from Connellv to Old Highway 10: In September of 2006, staff
submitted an application for a MnDOT cooperative agreement for a trail along the
north side of the bridge at County Road E. Staff has not received word on the status of that
application The City COWlcil also voted in favor of constructing a sidewalk on the north
side of COWlty Road E from Connelly to Old Snelling.
. Old Snelling/Highwav 10 from Highwav 51 to Highway 96: The Parks, Trails, and
Recreation Committee has identified Old Snelling/Highway 10 for a future trail within the
City Strategies. The Arden Hills section of Snelling from Highway 51 to County Road E is
proposed to be reconstructed in 2010 and that may be the most logical time to construct
this trail segment.
. North Side of Lake Johanna Boulevard: Ramsey County Parks and Recreation
has identified in their Tony Schmidt Regional Park Master Plan Draft, plans to
construct an off-road paved trail along the north side of Lake Johanna Boulevard
extending from County Road E 1D Old Snelling.
The proposed trail connections would cross at the intersection of County Road E and Old Snelling.
Depending on final design, trails could approach and leave the intersection from different sides of the
street. In the past, City staff have also heard concerns from residents regarding traffic levels, back ups,
and vehicular safety at this intersection.
ARDEN IDLLS CITY COUNCIL - December 18, 2006
Parks and Recreation Manager Michelle Olson said that City staffhas spoken with Dan Soler, Ramsey
County Traffic Engineer, and he confirmed that it has been a number of years since a traffic study was
done at this intersection
Councilmember Holden suggested that the City evaluates the safety of other cross walks in the City and
that City staff should paint the cross walks that are currently not being maintained by Ramsey County.
Mayor Elect Harpstead said that he is not opposed to conducting a traffic study, but he would like to
have the study take into consideration Bethel University and other variables that may impact the study.
Councilmember Elect Holmes asked what is included in a traffic study.
Civil Engineer Kris Giga said that that a traffic study would monitor the movements of vehicles.
Mayor Elect Harpstead recommended that the City Council forward a list of intersections that may be
. problematic to Public Works Director Greg Hoag.
Councilmember Grant asked if Ramsey County would pay for a percentage for traffic signal since it is
considered part of a county roadway.
Councilmember Elect David McClung asked if this intersection truly warrants a traffic light Are there
any negatives to conducting a traffic study at this time?
Civil Engineer Kris Giga noted that the only negative she can foresee is if the traffic study calls for a
traffic signal and the City does not have an opportunity to budget for this expense.
Councilmember Elect Holmes asked why this intersection was targeted by the PTRC.
Parks and Recreation Manager Olson said that this location was targeted because it is located in the
City's Safe Routes to School grant proposal area.
Mayor Elect Harpstead asked the other City Councilmembers what other means parameters could be
used to evaluate the different cross walk locations.
Councilmember Grant recommended that accident reports provided by the Ramsey County Sheriffs
Department be used to evaluate cross walk safety.
Councilmember Holden agreed that accident reports should be reviewed in prioritizing cross walk
improvements in the City.
Councilmember Grant noted that the County Road E traffic is typically going towards Bethel University
or the freeway.
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ARDEN IllLLS CITY COUNCIL - December 18, 2006
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Councilmember Larson stated that the Cily has always been reactive to resident concerns in regards to
pedestrian traffic. Typically traffic is not a problem for County Road E in the evening.
Councilmember Elect McClung suggested that traffic reports for different intersections throughout the
Cily be reviewed to identifY potential trouble spots.
Members of the Cily Council agreed to postpone the traffic study discussion until 2007. Cilystaffwill
work on developing fonnal criteria for reviewing dangerous intersections in the Cily and report back to
the Cily Council in February 2007.
Town Hall Meetine: Discussion
Assistant Cily Administrator Schawn Johnson reported that Cily staffhas begun preparations for the
2007 Cily of Arden Hills Town Hall Meeting. The date for the Town Hall meeting is January 16,2007
from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
The agenda for the January 16,2007 Cily event:
1. Public Gathering at 6:00 PM;
2. State of the Cily Address- 7:00 PM;
3. TCAAP Status Update-7:45 PM;
4. Event Concludes at 8:30 PM.
The following is a list ofCily aftiliated groups that ~Il be invited to set-up informational tables at the
Town Hall Meeting. These groups will be located in the basement and, if necessary, the upstairs area at
Cily Hall.
. Lake Johanna Fire Department
. Ramsey Counly Sheriffs Department
. Ramsey Counly Emergency Management and Homeland Securily
. Rice Creek Watershed District
. Mounds View School District
. League of Women Voters
. US Army
. Arden Hills Library
. Economic Development Commission (EDe)
. Parks. Trails, and Recreation Committee (pTRC)
. Planning Commission
. Communily Development
. Public Works Department-Future Pavement Management Project Information
. Northwest Youth and Family Services
. National Guard
. Minnesota Department of Transportation
. Ramsey Counly Traffic Engineers
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