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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/11/2005 • . Traffic Safety Advisory Committee City of Apple Valley May 11,2005 7:00 p.m.Municipal Center Minutes l. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m.by Chair Arthur Zimmerman. Members Present: Craig Anglin, Dick Asleson, Linda Dolan, Harald Eriksen, Neal Heuer, Arthur Zimmerman Members Absent: Charles Grawe Consultants/Alternates Present: Tom Sohrweide � Others Present: Valerie Thoennes,Todd Haugesag,Norm Bixby " 2. Approval of A�enda Agenda was approved as presented. 3. Approval of March 9, 2005 Minutes Minutes were approved as presented. 4. Audience Items . , There were no audience items. 5. Traffic Concerns on Palomino Drive(tabled from September 8 2004� Mr. Heuer presented background to this issue and indicated the concerns were traffic speed, mailbox access, and a request for an all-way stop at 131 St Street/Palomino Drive. Mr. Heuer indicated traffic voluxne and speed data were collected. The speed limit on Palomino Drive is 45 mph to the west of Cimarron and 35 mph to the east of Cimarron. The speed data collected indicates an 85�'percentile speed of 42 to 43 mph, which indicates the 45 mph speed lunit in that area is appropriate. He further indicated the traffic volume data collected, when compared to the Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices warrants far an all-way stop, found an all-way stop is not warranted at the intersection of 131StStreet/Palomino Drive. Issues presented by the neighbors in attendance concerned a naxrower paved shoulder area in front of mailboxes, the change in speed limit and speed limit location after construction, and the level of enforcement. Mr. Heuer indicated the resident was provided a rear access mailbox to minimize the need to be in the roadway to access the mailbox. He also indicated the speed limit locations and speed limits TSAC Meeting Minutes • � May 1 l,2005 Page 2 were changed to be in accordance with adopted speed zones by Mn/DOT. He further indicated since the data collected by the City with regard to existing speeds found those speeds to match the speed zones, the likelihood of Mn/DOT changing the speed limits and their locations is not very good. If the speed limits were studied by Mn/DOT, changes could be made that would conflict with the desires of the residents. The residents expressed their support for b eater enforcement effort and the use of the City's decoy car,"Cax 54". Ms. Dolan indicated busy streets are a reality and often times it is found the immediate neighborhood is the biggest part of a speeding problem. She further indicated the Committee utilizes the three Es, engineering, enforcement, and education. The neighborhood could assist in the education portion of this process through leafleting, which would address the neighborhood concerns and desire to control speeds in this area. Mr. Heuer offered Pam Walters of the Police Departrnent as a resource for the neighborhood for information that could be distributed. The neighbors indicated they have done leafleting in the past and would consider some � additional. They also indicated they do like the "Check Your Speed" signs the City has installed on the speed limit signs in the area. Actions as the result of discussion: a) The Police Department will continue to enfarce the speed limit in this area. b) "Car 54"will be used in this area when the vehicle is again available. c) The City will consider a perinanent speed limit radar advisory sign at this location, subj ect to effectiveness of e�sting signs and funding. d) The City will check on replacing a tree that was knocked down across the street from Todd Haugesag's house, 316 Palomino Drive. e) The City will add an orange flag to enhance the presence of the "Check Your Speed" sign. 6. Traffic Concerns on Pennock Avenue between 140�' Street and 138�'Street No residents were present to discuss this issue. Mr. Heuer indicated several e-mails have been received indicating cut-through problem for southbound traffic leaving Cedar Avenue and cutting through the neighborhood during the p.m. peak hour. City staff has conducted three traffic counts on different days during the p.m. peak hour and found a maYimum of 30 vehicles per hour making a left turn from westbound 138`� Street to proceed south on Pennock Avenue. This is approxisnately 1 vehicle every 2 xninutes and does not suggest a significant cut-through problem. In conversations with Dakata County, Mr. Heuer indicated there were several days when Cedar Avenue did have additional traffic due to work on I-35. . _ TSAC Meeting Minutes • � May 11,2005 Page 3 As part of the study of this area, Mr. Heuer indicated the City has included $430,000 in its 2007 Capital Improvement Program to install left turn lanes on 140'� Street at Pennock Avenue. Mr. Sohrweide reviewed with the Committee a proposed sia jpg plan for Pennock Avenue that signs the three curves individually with differing advisory speed limits based on the degree of curvature. Ms. Dolan moved to approve the attached si°;ng plan as shown. Motion seconded by Mr. Asleson. Motion approved unaniinously. 7. Other Traffic Concerns Communicated to the Citv a) Police Concems — Captain Anglin indicated a child seat safety clinic will be held on June 4 at Wings Financials. Captain Anglin informed the Committee there has been a fatality as a result of an April 14 vehicle�crash at the intersection of IDiamond Path Road/160�Street. � General discussion occurred regarding the area of Diamond Path Road/160�' Street. Mr. Heuer indicated Diamond Path Road is below traffic carrying capacity even with Pilot Knob Road under construction. A traffic signal will probably be warranted for that intersection when Diamond Path Road is extended to the south. Mr. Eriksen requested the Police Department monitor vehicle speeding on 160�' Street in this area. b) Public Works Concerns—Mr. Heuer discussed the City's plan to coordinate with the City � of Eagan in converting Johnny Cake Ridge Road north of McAndrews Road from a four-lane roadway to a three-lane roadway with a two-way center left turn lane. He indicated this is change will be a positive benefit to the School of Environmental Science, who has had concerns about safety at their entrance. There was concern on the part of one particular student who is conducting a project related to safety at that access, that a recent traffic death was related to safety at the driveway entrance. In fact, the traffic crash was in the City of Eagan, not near the school entrance and did not relate to any concerns at the school entrance. Mr. Heuer presented, for informational purposes, traffic complaints dating from March 18, 2005 to May 10, 2005. In addition, Mr. Heuer informed the Comm.ittee of an e-mail concern regarding`jake braking" on 160�Street and a request for a crosswalk and traffic signal at 160�' Street/Granada. Mr. Heuer indicated signs are up signifying vehicle noise ordinances are enforced and Minnesota State Statutes cover this issue. He also indicated City practice would not look at installing a crosswalk on 160 Street at an unsignalized location. A traffic signal in this area would increase vehicle noise for which this resident had a concern. A traffic signal at Granada would not receive approval from the Dakota County due to their traffic signal spacing guidelines. . TSAC Meeting Minutes � • . May 1 l,2005 Page 4 Mr. Heuer informed the Committee of the construction underway and associated traffic control on Galaxie Avenue in the vicinity of 153rd Street and Founders Way. Mr. Eriksen requested the City contact Wal-mart with regard to installing pavement marking to indicate the exit lanes on their access at Pennock Avenue. 10. Education Issues Mr. Sohrweide indicated he would provide the Comxnittee with the web address for the Minnesota Local Road Research Board's web site on traffic calming. That web site is www.mn- traffic-calming.org. The Committee requested the City provide them with up-to-date City maps. 11. Adj ourn Motion was made by Mr. Asleson to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Mr. Eriksen. The motion was approved unanimously with the meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m.