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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION DATE: 7/26/04 ITEM NO.: 3 j Department Approval: Manager Reviewed: Agenda Section: '�,�/ �I Item Description: Applewood Pointe Public Street Open to Traffc Consent Background: The residents of Orchard Ridge at Applewood are scheduled to start moving in to their new homes during the first week of August. One of the conditions for construction of the Applewood Pointe Development was that the construction traffic not access County Road C-2. Since the start of construction last summer, there has been a fence across Arona Street limiting access into the Applewood Pointe development to two areas; the first being through the JLT parking lot to the south, the second being through the new Terrace Drive Extension out to Hamline Avenue. Until now Arona Street has been closed to thru traffic. As discussed during plan development, the thru access between County Road C-2 and Hamline Avenue is vital to ---, eme_r�er�y vehicles and traffic operations for this development. Since residents will be moving in, it would appear that it is time to open up Arona Street for public use. In preparation for this, we have completed an intersection analysis for each of the new public street intersections. We have attached a memo discussing the findings of this analysis and what we recommend for traffic control. We wanted to have the Council review these recommendations. Policy Objectives: For all stop controlled intersections, it is engineering practice to perform a warrant analysis consistent with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Device (MUTCD). This is an industry standard and assists decisions makers in evaluating intersections objectively. We have performed warrant analysis on each of the intersections in the new development and have attached them to this council action. The consequences for installing a stop sign that does not meet warrants can be as follows: • Excessive sign usage breeds disrespect for ALL traffic signs - If a motorist perceives a stop sign as not serving any useful purpose (i.e. no or little cross-traffic to justify stopping), their respect for the sign and the officials approving and installing the signs is significantly diminished. Stop signs become part of the landscape, or an every day feature, and their effectiveness is reduced. • Unacceptable levels of stop sign non-compliance - Based on stop sign compliance studies conducted at intersections where all-way stop control was installed but not warranted based on traffic volumes, an average of 30% of the motorists approaching the intersection do not come to a complete stop. In general, if people see no reason for the sign they pay no attention to it. • Potential safety hazard to pedestrians and other motorists - Disregard and disrespect of stop signs by the motorist decreases safety. Pedestrians are often lured into a false sense of security by the stop sign by assuming the motorists will stop. Young children who are brought