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STAFF REPORT Department ApprovaL• Manager Reviewed: ��/�,• r�- � Item Description: Lovel l Avenue/Minnesota Avenue Curve DATE: 6/27/00 ITEM NO.: F— 3 Agenda Section: Reports/Recommendations Background: At the June 12, 200a City Council Meeting, a letter was read regarding safety concerns at the intersection of Lovel l Avenue and Minnesota Avenue. This intersection was recently reconstructed as part of the Dale Street Bridge proj ect. For many years, The west end of Minnesota Avenue merged with the westbound TH36 off-ramp at Dale Street. Current highway standards do not allow the combination of expressway off-ramps and local streets. Therefore, when the Dale Street bridge was replaced last summer, the connection of Minnesota Avenue to the off-ramp was removed west of Lovel l Avenue. Prior to construction, Lovel l Avenue entered Minnesota Avenue at a"T" intersection. A stop sign on Lovel l Avenue gave the right-of-way to vehicles using Minnesota Avenue. The Dale Street project revised the Minnesota/Lovel l intersection. The "T" intersection was removed and a curve installed in its place. The stop sign was removed since there is no longer an intersection. The new curve was constructed to maximize the design speed within the space available. Ideally, the curve would have met a 30 MPH design speed. However, due to tight site constraints, the curve only meets a design speed of approximately 15 MPH. Pictures showing the curve as constructed and the original letter read at the June 12, 2000 meeting are attached. Staff Analysis: Curves that do not meet standards are acceptable if traffic volumes are relatively low and if the curve is properly signed. When reviewing this type of situation, traffic engineers typically refer to the Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MMUTCD). This manual has been adopted statewide and is based on similar manuals adopted across the nation. The manual is based on ongoing study in the field of traffic engineering and is an attempt to standardize the installation of signs and signals as much as possible. Such standardization is important, since most motorists do not confine their travel to one jurisdiction. Based on the MMUTCD and my review of the intersection, I recommend the following modifications: ❑ Remove the existing 30 MPH speed limit sign at 473 Minnesota Avenue -- The speed limit on all non-posted streets is 30 MPH. Because the sign is fairly close to the curve, some motorists may see the sign as an indication that 30 MPH is an appropriate speed for the curve. ❑ Add a yellow 15 MPH advisory speed plate to the exiting yellow curve warning signs -- This addition would clearly inform motorists of the appropriate curve speed. ❑ Install landscaping to better define the curve -- As part of the Dale Street bridge proj ect, Mn/DOT has committed to landscaping the project area in the spring of 2001. The plan for this project should include plantings to better define the curve without obstructing any sight distances.