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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/10/2018 Traffic Safety Advisory Committee City of Apple Valley January 10, 2018 7:00 p.m. Municipal Center Minutes 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Arthur Zimmerman. Members Present: John Bermel, Charles Grawe, Fred Puente, Matt Saam, Joe Shaw, Arthur Zimmerman Members Absent: Linda Dolan Consultants/Alternates Present: Brandon Anderson, City Engineer Others Present: Carol Coakley, Tom Coakley, Ted Hansen, Ken Masterman, Mike Preble, Victor Thiesse 2. Approval of Agenda MOTION: Mr. Saam moved, second by Mr. Puente to approve the agenda as presented. Motion passed 6-0. 3. Audience Items There were no audience items. 4. Approval of November 8, 2017 Minutes MOTION: Mr. Grawe moved, second by Mr. Saam, to approve the Minutes of November 8, 2017. Motion passed 4-0. (Mr. Bermel and Mr. Zimmerman abstained.) 5A. Resident Request for Stop Signs at Granite Ave and 142nd St Mr. Hansen said he was representing the residents of Summerhill and referenced a petition previously distributed to the Committee. He distributed photos of the intersection of Granite Avenue and 142nd Street from various angles. Mr. Hansen expressed concern that due to the hill, westbound vehicles approaching the base of the hill on 142nd Street may not see stopped cars on Granite Avenue. He also expressed concern that parked cars on 142nd Street west of the intersection can obscure visibility of eastbound vehicles on 142nd Street. Mr. Hansen requested the addition of stop signs at the intersection on 142nd Street to create an all-way stop. Mr. Anderson noted that this request has been heard several times in the past two years by the Committee. The Committee has recommended improvements to make the intersection safer, including a stop sign on Granite and advisory signs near the base of the hill. Committee members explained that the State publishes engineering standards for stop signs in the Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Under the MUTCD, certain warrants or criteria should be met before installing a stop sign. One type of warrant involves frequent crash history. Mr. Anderson said there have been no recent vehicle crashes reported at the intersection. Another type of warrant involves high levels of traffic volumes at the intersection. Mr. Anderson said the most recent traffic counts are well below the levels required to meet warrants. Mr. Hansen expressed concern that traffic volumes will increase with new development in the area. Mr. Anderson said that traffic projections for the new development do not indicate that warrant volume levels will be met, but the City will re-examine the traffic volumes at the time the development is completed. Mr. Anderson said that the City is planning on a roadway improvement project for 142nd Street in the next several years and staff is proposing to regrade and reconstruct the crest of 142nd at that time in order to improve visibility. Mr. Anderson also explained that placing a stop sign at the crest of 142nd Street at this time would increase the probability of rear-end collisions, making the intersection less safe. 5B. Resident Traffic Concerns on Garden View Drive North of 140th Street Several residents expressed concern about commercial vehicle traffic on Garden View Drive between McAndrews Road and County Road 42. The City is not able to prohibit commercial traffic on the roadway, but may be able to look at ways to encourage the traffic to use larger roadways if the travel destination of the vehicles was better understood. The residents were unable to provide specific details that would identify the types of commercial vehicles, but said they would bring that information back to the Committee. The Committee also recommended scheduling the temporary driver feedback signs on Garden View in 2018. 5C. Elect Officers MOTION: Mr. Grawe moved, second by Mr. Puente, to elect Mr. Zimmerman Chair and Mr. Shaw as Secretary. Motion passed 5-0. (Mr. Shaw abstained.) 5D. Approve 2017 Accomplishments MOTION: Mr. Saam moved, second by Mr. Puente, to approve the memo to the City Council of accomplishments. Motion passed 6-0. 6A.Other Traffic Concerns Communicated to the City of Apple Valley Police Concerns There were no other police concerns reported. Public Works Concerns There were no other public works concerns reported. 6B.Educational Issues and Grant Opportunities Mr. Zimmerman provided a brief update on the Toward Zero Death Conference. 7. Adjourn MOTION: Mr. Puente moved, second by Mr. Shaw, to adjourn. Motion passed 6 - 0. Meeting was adjourned at 8:22 p.m.