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Staff noted that this intersection would be part of future Rice Street corridor <br />phased construction projects; with members noting the ongoing safety concerns at <br />this intersection <br />#4 -Rice & First Bank (in Little Canada <br />Ms. Bloom noted that this intersection was under the jurisdiction of the City of <br />Little Canada and Ramsey County; but advised that staff would provide comment <br />to those jurisdictions, with potential resolution for future access limited from <br />private businesses and/or right-in-right-out access similar to that achieved at the <br />redeveloped Walgreen's site. <br />#5 -County Road B-2 and Hamline Avenue (Cedarholm Golf Course -west of <br />High School) <br />Ms. Bloom noted that this intersection was skewed, adding to sight line issues and <br />impacting safer geometric designs; however, she advised that having already held <br />numerous discussions with Ramsey County, this was not under consideration <br />before 5-10 years. <br />As a result of discussion, members asked that staff submit a formal written <br />request to Ramsey County for modeling potential solutions for lane <br />reconfiguration, possibly right-turn only for westbound traffic and left turn for <br />eastbound traffic, with a left turn center lane north on Hamline Avenue. Further <br />discussion included Ramsey County modeling a roundabout at the intersection <br />adjacent to the High School to maintain flow and avoid installation of a signal, <br />particularly during peak morning and afternoon bus routing; and in cooperation <br />with School District safety concerns. <br />Ms. Bloom suggested that intersections #5 and #8 be considered in conjunction <br />with the 2014 project for the Lexington Avenue bridge south of Highway 36 for <br />further study of related impacts to County Road B-2. Ms. Bloom did advise that <br />Ramsey County gave high priority to considering roundabouts. Ms. Bloom <br />reviewed the process for modeling options, including traffic counts during a. m. <br />and p.m. peak periods, as well as Saturdays and use of signal software to build a <br />model using various intersection configurations and options and potential impacts <br />to determine the optimum design indicated for cost, right-of--way availability, and <br />other factors. Ms. Bloom advised that consultants were hired to perform <br />modeling, and were an expensive process. Ms. Bloom further noted that in urban <br />settings, intersections were the prime cause of bottlenecks for traffic. <br />#6 -Snelling Avenue at County Road C <br />Ms. Bloom provided background information from staff's perspective, when the <br />2006 project was completed by MnDOT and Ramsey County and their modeling, <br />with not enough right turns to warrant aright-only turn lane. <br />Mr. Toogood noted the frustration from the perspective of citizens with the <br />resulting conclusions for this design and current and projected traffic flow. <br />Page 8 of 12 <br />