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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/08/2004 � � • � Traffic Safety Advisory Committee City of Apple Valley September 8, 2004 7:00 p.m. Municipal Center Minutes 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m.by Vice Chair Eriksen. Members Present: Craig Anglin,Dick Asleson,Harald Eriksen, Charles Grawe, Neal Heuer,Arthur Zimmerman Members Absent: Linda Dolan Consultants/Alternates Present: Glen Van Wormer Others Present: Todd Haugesag,Deborah Jones,Valerie Thoennes,Roger Wagner 2. Auproval of A enda There were no changes to the agenda. 3. Approval of July 14,2004 Minutes There were no changes or adjustments to the minutes. MOTION: Mr.Asleson moved, second by Mr. Zimmerman, to approve the minutes of July 14, 2004. Motion passed 6 to 0. 4. Audience Items Four residents requested a discussion of the speed limit signs recently posted on the newly reconstructed Palomino Drive. Ms. Jones expressed concern that the speed limit signs at one section had read 40 miles per hour prior to the reconstruction project and now read 45 miles per hour. She said she would like the speed limit reduced to 35 miles per hour as she believes this is an urban district. She also expressed disappointment that some trees were removed during the reconstruction project. She also said she would like a stop sign at the intersection with 1315t Street. Mr.Haugesag expressed concern that the sign reading 35 miles per hour had been relocated after the reconstruction project. He said he was working with Mr. Heuer on the issue to try to move the sign from its new location and would like the City to consider posting speed advisory signs. Ms. Thoennes also noted that the 35 miles per hour sign was not in the same location as before the reconstruction project. . • t Mr.Heuer explained the changes to the signs. He said that prior to the reconstruction project, speed limits signs were posted incorrectly with the sign reading 35 miles per hour starting on the east side of Hamlet Avenue and the sign reading 40 miles per hour starting on the west side of Hamlet Avenue. Shortly before the reconstruction project, City staff became aware of the incorrect postings. As these signs were not posted correctly,they did not reflect the legally enforceable speed limit. In 1992,the Minnesota Department of Transportation(MNDOT)established the authorized speed limits of 35 miles per hour to the east of Cimarron Road and 45 miles per hour to the west of Cimarron Road. As part of the reconstruction project,the signage was changed to reflect the legal, authorized speed limits set by MNDOT. Mr. Heuer explained that the City does not have discretion over the setting of the speed limits. Speed limits are set by the State of Minnesota. By statute, cities can post one of two speed limits for roadways based on certain criteria: 30 miles per hour and 55 miles per hour. If the City believes that neither of the statutory speed limits is appropriate,the City can request that MNDOT study a section of roadway and establish an appropriate speed limit. Mr. Heuer noted that Palomino Drive was originally a County road and MNDOT set the speed limits at the request of the County. In 1992, the City requested a re-evaluation of the roadway and MNDOT established speed limits of 35 miles per hour east of Cimarron Road and 45 miles per hour west of Cimarron Road. The City has no discretion to change those speed limits established by MNDOT. Mr. Heuer noted that the Council directed staff to post the appropriate speed limit signs after the MNDOT study,but that it appears that an employee posted the incorrect signs without Council authorization. Ms. Jones asked if the City can regulate the placement of stop signs. Mr. Heuer responded that the City does regulate the placement of stop signs,but stop signs are not an appropriate tool to regulate vehicle speed. Ms. Jones noted that there are a number of traffic signals on other major roadways. Mr. Asleson asked if Mr. Heuer believed that a MNDOT study would result in the speed limit being raised to 50 miles per hour. Mr. Heuer said he did not believe it would be likely to be raised to 50 miles per hour,but he would prefer to have the City conduct its own study of the speeds prior to making a request of MNDOT so that the City would have a better idea of the likely outcome. Mr. Asleson reiterated that the City has no authority to change the speed limits and that stop signs are not to be used to control vehicle speeds. He also reiterated that the City is bound by the limits established by MNDOT. Mr.Heuer clarified several issues raised by Mr. Haugesag. He noted that an engineering study would be needed prior to installation of any speed advisory signs. He also clarified that as the authorized transition point from 45 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour is in the middle of the intersection with Cimarron Road,he is looking at moving the sign from one side of the intersection to the other. The sign reading reduced speed ahead would then be relocated by a corresponding distance from that intersection. Mr.Heuer also noted that an additional sign reading 35 miles per hour would be installed for westbound traffic. Mr. Grawe asked Mr. Heuer if a study was requested of MNDOT,would there be a risk that MNDOT would establish a single uniform speed for the entire section of roadway,rather than keeping one section slower than the other. Mr. Heuer said that if the City requested that MNDOT study the entire length,there was a possibility that MNDOT would establish a single,uniform speed for the entire length. He also noted that he would recommend that the City only request MNDOT study the section of roadway from Cimarron to the west. Mr. Asleson reiterated that the residents should consider all the possibilities and decide if the current speed limits are preferable to • • other possibilities that MNDOT could establish with a new study, especially if MNDOT was to raise the speed limit in one or both sections of roadway. Mr. Eriksen asked how MNDOT would conduct a speed study. Mr.Van Wormer said that the roadway prior to the reconstruction project had been designed for 55 miles per hour,but was reconstructed for 45 miles per hour. He said MNDOT would likely look at the property setbacks from the road way and would measure the actual speeds of vehicles on the roadway. Mr. Van Wormer recommended that the City conduct its own study prior to requesting a study of MNDOT. An unidentified resident noted that in 1987 she understood that the construction of McAndrews Road would lead to a decrease in traffic volumes and traffic speeds. She said traffic volumes did decrease once McAndrews Road was opened and she thought the 40 and 35 mile per hour signs were appropriate. Ms.Thoennes asked if the road could be restriped near the service road to create a larger shoulder. Mr.Heuer replied that a wider shoulder was not possible with the service road location. Several of the residents expressed concerns about the location of a bus stop and have said that the School District is not willing to relocate the bus stop. Mr.Heuer said that staff intends to conduct the engineering studies prior to requesting that the City Council submit a request for a study to MNDOT. He noted that the decision to request a MNDOT study is ultimately up to the City Council and that the Council could make the request of MNDOT prior to the completion of the City study. Mr. Heuer also noted that MNDOT staff indicated that they would not likely conduct a study until next spring to allow time for the project planting works to be completed and normal traffic patterns to resume. MOTION: Mr.Asleson moved, second by Mr. Anglin,to table the issue until the May meeting or until such time that the Public Works Deparhnent has been able to conduct its studies and gather information on vehicle speeds and any potential stop sign justification data. Mr. Heuer noted that it is possible that the studies would be ready prior to the May meeting. Mr. Anglin also suggested that staff contact the School District about the location of the bus stop. Motion passed 6 to 0. 5. Update on Traffic Calming Installed on 138"'Street Mr. Heuer said City staff is currently gathering data on the impacts of the traffic calming measures installed earlier this year. The analysis includes vehicle speed studies and accident data comparisons over several years. He noted that there have been three accidents in the area since the calming measures were installed. Two involved a sign lrnockdown and one hit the median. He said he also received one complaint from a resident who said that their garbage hauler refused to provide service after the measures were installed. Mr.Heuer said he had indicated to the Council that he would provide a report on the measures around the first meeting of November,which would normally fall after the Committee meeting. However, due to the Veteran's Day holiday,the Council meeting has been moved up prior to the Committee meeting. Mr.Heuer said he intends to provide the report to the Committee first and then submit it to the Council at the second meeting of November. Mr.Wagner said his is disappointed that the Committee has not been willing to recommend the installation of a stop sign at the intersection of Pennock Avenue and 138`i'Street. He asked what expectations the Committee had for the calming measure prior to installation. Mr.Van Wormer • • said the intent was to reduce the highest vehicle speeds on the roadway. Mr. Wagner asked what the anticipated impact would be on the 85`�'percentile of vehicle speeds. Mr. Van Wormer said the expectation was a possible reduction of the 85�'percentile speed by two or three miles per hour. Mr.Wagner said that if the 85`�'percentile speed prior to installation of the measures was 40 miles '� per hour,then a reduction of that speed by two or three miles per hour would not be acceptable to him. He said he did not feel the investment in the calming measures would be justified by a three miles per hour speed reduction. Mr.Wagner said that the residents of the neighborhood also speed and that they will continue to speed. He expressed his desire that the City install stop signs as a means to stop the speeding. He also noted that it is difficult for school buses to navigate around the calming measures and that the lack of"No Parking" signs near the measures created some problems. 6. Update on Status of Recommendation for Traffic Calming on Diamond Path between Pilot Knob Road and McAndrews Road Mr. Heuer said the Committee recommended that the Council proceed with plans and specifications for traffic calming measures on Diamond Path between Pilot Knob Road and McAndrews Road. As the results of the study on similar measures on 138`�'Street were not yet available and as the measures would not be installed on Diamond Path unti12005, the Council chose to refer the issue back to the Committee for further evaluation pending the results of the 138`�'Study. Mr. Heuer noted that enforcement activities continue. Mr.Heuer also noted that the City of Minneapolis is proceeding with"traffic cop"cameras to capture the license plates of red light violators. He said the City is also looking at similar camera assisted speed enforcement methods used in other states. Mr. Anglin distributed a list of citations issued on Diamond Path in 2003. He noted that 18 of 58 drivers receiving citations had addresses in that neighborhood, 28 of the 58 citations were issued to Apple Valley residents,and seven citations were issued to out-state residents. Mr.Van Wormer noted that it is common for some of the drivers with other addresses to also reside in the neighborhood but to have not yet changed their address on their driver's license. 7. Traffic Safetv Education Efforts Mr. Heuer noted several articles in the packet that had been written for Golden Valley. He suggested that they could be published in the quarterly newsletter. Mr.Van Wormer said that as Apple Valley and Golden Valley have shared the engineering staff and their expertise,they also share the traffic safety articles. He said that Golden Valley has a staff person who modifies the engineer's articles to make them more reader friendly. Mr.Van Wormer requested that members review and provide comments on the proposed articles for publication. 8. Traffic Concerns Communicated to the Citv Mr.Anglin had no new concerns to report. He noted that commercial truck traffic appears to be decreasing from earlier in the year. Mr. Heuer noted the Dakota County has posted"Vehicle Noise Laws Enforced" signs on County Road 46. The City also submitted a request for similar signs for Cedar Avenue to MNDOT with the intention of posting the signs at the crest of the hill approaching the decreased speed zone. However,MNDOT only authorized the signs to be posted at the border with Eagan. . • � Mr. Heuer distributed a list of concerns received by Public Works. He noted that major improvements in the area of Galaxie Avenue and 153id Street are schedule for the near future. These changes will likely impact the traffic flow in the area of 157"'Street,which does not meet warrants for a traffic signal at this time. He also noted that the intersection of Foliage Avenue and Florence Avenue is a standard design. 9. Other Concerns Communicated to the Citv Mr. Asleson requested that staff prepare a quick review or set of criteria for stop sign consideration. As many residents come to the Committee requesting a stop sign,he said it would be nice to demonstrate immediately that an intersection did not qualify,rather than waiting for a full study to be completed. Mr.Van Wormer noted that when a study is conducted, in some cases, the data quickly reveals that a stop sign is not warranted,but in other cases,more detailed study is required. Mr. Heuer noted a request to remove"No Parking" signs from Guthrie Avenue near the Apple Valley High School. He said he asked the resident to submit a petition to the City demonstrating strong neighborhood support for the removal of the parking restrictions. He said he has not received a petition to date. Mr. Heuer noted that the City has contracted for repainting a number of crosswalks, including the referenced crosswalk and stop bar near Southview School. Mr.Van Wormer asked if a traffic calming measure seminar would be useful for the Committee members. The group agreed that such a seminar would be appropriate for the next meeting. 10. Adj ourn MOTION: Mr. Asleson moved, second by Mr.Anglin,to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:59 p.m.