Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/13/2009 � � Traffic Safety Advisory Committee City of Apple Valley May 13, 2009 7:00 p.m. Municipal Center Minutes l. Call to Order The meeting was cal�ed to order at 7:02 p.m. by Chair Arthur Zimmerman Members Present: Dick Asleson, Todd Blomstrom, Linda Dolan, Harald Eriksen, Charles Grawe, Jon Rechtzigel, Arthur Zimmerman Members Absent: Consultants/Alternates Present: Tom Sohrweide Others Present: Peter Knight 2. A�proval of A�enda As Mr. Knight was present to discuss Speed Bumps on Haven Drive, this item was moved to immediately follow the minutes. MOTION: Mr. Rechtzigel moved, second by Mr. Blomstrom,to approve the agenda as amended. Motion passed 7-0 3. A�proval of March 11, 2009 Minutes MOTION: Mr. Asleson moved, second by Mr. Zimmerman, to approve the Minutes of March 11, 2009. Motion passed 7-0. 4. Resident Request for Speed Bumps on Haven Drive between Haves Road and 147�' Street � � � Mr. Blomstrom said the average daily vehicle trips on Haven Drive between 2000 and 2002 were between 290 and 470. Earlier this year, the Committee had recommended the installation of signage to warn motorists in advance of a curve ahead and an advisory speed of 20 miles per hour for the curve itself. This signage has already been installed. The Committee also recommended adding a center line stripe. Due to weather conditions affecting the paint, this work will be done during the summer. Mr. Blomstrom said he has received two types of complaints regarding traffic on this street—excessive speed and the prevention of left-hand turns onto 147th Street due to the medians. The medians were installed at the request of a large number of the residents in the � • neighborhood who feared cut-through traffic when the Wal-Mart was constructed nearby. A major expansion of Wal-Mart was approved and construction is expected this summer. Mr. Knight said he does not believe that the curve warning signage has solved the problem and that the medians and islands have not stopped illegal turning movements. He requested that the access from the Wal-Mart property be relocated further north so that it does not align with Haven Drive. He also requested the installation of temporary rubber speed cushions or partial bumps along Haven Drive. He explained that the breaks in the cushions would allow emergency vehicles with wider wheel bases to pass over the cushions, while more standard vehicles would have to slow down to go over the hump. He said he received a traffic citation for going 30 miles per hour in a 20 miles per hour zone in the curve area. Mr. Grawe clarified that there is no 20 mile per hour zone at that location, only an unenforceable advisory speed. Mr. Asleson noted that the medians were installed at the request of a large contingent of the neighborhood who had strong concerns over the development of Wal-Mart. Mr. Blomstrom noted that temporary speed bumps were used in the Diamond Path neighborhood,but were removed at the request of the neighbors after many vehicles would drive up into the yards and boulevards to avoid the speed bumps. Mr. Asleson noted that residents have raised concern about excessive speeds from streets and neighborhoods throughout the community—excessive speed in itself is not a unique problem to any one neighborhood. He said he hasn't heard any unique concerns about this situation that make it different from the other neighborhoods within the City. Mr. Zimmerman asked the resident what the specific concern or problem was that he would like addressed. Mr. Knight said he believed the City should not allocate police officer resources to working speed enforcement and watching for people making illegal turns around the medians near Wal-Mart and Bachmans. Mr. Asleson clarified that police enforcement in the area of the medians would be aimed at enforcing legal maneuvers around the medians, not speed enforcement. Mr. Sohrweide clarified that the concern that led to the installation of the advanced curve warning sign was drivers driving too fast for the condition(a relatively sharp curve)as opposed to actual violations of the speed limit. Thus,the curve warning signs were installed. Mr. Sohrweide also clarified that the low traffic volume counts recorded on the street are a strong indicator that nearly all of the traffic on the street is from within the neighborhood. He recommended using a neighborhood awareness campaign would be a more successful way to make neighbors aware of the concerns and encourage them to drive with caution. Mr. Knight said he has researched traffic calming measures and that chicanes and speed cushions have been successful in Florida and would be successful here. . • Captain Rechtzigel said the Police Department conducted a speed study in that neighborhood last year and found very few speed violators. However,as there have been complaints,the Police Department has retained an enforcement presence. Ms. Dolan encouraged Mr. Knight to organize a neighborhood effort to reduce speed in the neighborhood. Mr.Asleson asked that the Police Department provide the statistics from the enforcement effort in the neighborhood, including the number of citations that have been issued. He also asked for a review of the traffic counts from Haven Drive. Mr. Knight said he would like to know the number of times the educational speed trailer and Car 54 have also been used in the neighborhood. MOTION: Mr. Asleson moved, second by Mr. Grawe,to table the item until the July meeting. Motion passed 7-0. 5. Audience Items There were no audience items. 6. Resident Request for Sidewalk Installation alon� 132nd Street Between Pilot Knob Road and Emmer Place Mr. Blomstrom said at the previous meeting,there was a resident request for a curb cut and pedestrian ramp that would lead from the street surface onto the grass right-of-way boulevard adjacent to 132na Street. Mr. Sohrweide said the Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA)requires that if such a ramp is installed,the area to which it leads must be an accessible route. So the ramp could not lead to a grassy area,but would need to lead to an accessible pathway with a stable surface like a sidewalk. Mr.Blomstrom also noted that the curb height at the corner is important because of the drainage of water off the roadway flowing to Pilot Knob Road. He also noted that there is surmountable curb a few feet up from the corner. MOTION: Mr. Grawe moved, second by Ms. Dolan, to recommend no further action at this time as it appears the requested ramp would violate the ADA and as there is a surmountable curb very close by. Motion passed 7-0. 7. Resident Request far Traffic Control at Intersection of Galaxie Avenue and 157�' Street Mr. Blomstrom said a pedestrian was hit while crossing Galaxie Avenue near 157�' Street. Galaxie Avenue is a four-lane roadway and a large vehicle on the inside lane stopped for the pedestrian. The stopped vehicle shielded the view of the pedestrian for a second vehicle in the outside lane which proceeded through the intersection and ultimately struck the pedestrian. Mr. Sohrweide said he has concerns with left turns on a four-lane roadway. A traffic signal could help with pedestrian crossings,but unfortunately, could also create a new crash hazard for left turns. The current traffic counts on Galaxie Avenue are • • 9,000 vehicle trips per day. This is expected to increase to 14,000. Alternatively, a three-lane roadway design could provide improvements for left-hand turns,but could make pedestrian crossings more difficult. He noted that warrants for a signal are not currently met and suggested that the speed limit might be a consideration. Mr. Blomstrom noted that the intersection is in very close proximity to several other signals, so adding yet another signal could create traffic flow problems. He also agreed that he current 40 miles per hour speed limit seems rather fast for the densely developed Central Village design with on-street bump-out parking. Mr. Asleson asked for clarification for the process of setting speed limits. Mr.Blomstrom said the Minnesota Department of Transportation(MNDoT) sets the speed limits throughout the State. The City can make a request of MNDoT to conduct a speed study to reassess the speed limit. There are no guarantees of what MNDoT will do,and it is even possible for MNDoT to raise the limit. MOTION: Mr. Asleson moved, second by Mr. Eriksen,to request that MNDoT study the speed limits along Galaxie Avenue between County Roads 42 and 46. Ms.Dolan asked about the timing and strategy to the request. Mr. Blomstrom said the City can attempt to persuade MNDoT. Ms.Dolan said she would prefer to have an internal speed study conducted prior to going before MNDoT with the request so we have a better sense of what the outcome might be. Motion passed 7-0. 8. Resident Concerns at Folia�e and 153`d Street Mr. Blomstrom said the City requested a MNDoT speed limit study on Foliage Avenue. MNDoT has not yet conducted that study. There was an accident on Foliage earlier this month and the City continues to encourage MNDoT to conduct the study in the near future. 9. Resident Reguest for Yield SiQn at Henna Ave and 135� Street Mr. Blomstrom said a resident filed a request for a yield sign at Henna Avenue and 135�' Street after a near miss incident. While the City generally does not support the proliferation of yield signs at intersections, the particular unique roadway design at this intersection probably warrants a sign. The intersection is better described as a"Y"rather than a"T", causing confusion as to which street is the"through" street and which street yields to the other. Mr. Blomstrom said he believes a yield sign is appropriate for Henna Avenue to indicate that 135�' Street is the through street. MOTION: Mr. Eriksen moved, second by Ms. Dolan, to recommend installation of the Yield sign in this specific case, but to restrict such signs only to areas where roadway geometry would make such signage beneficial. Motion passed 7-0. • � 10. Safe Routes to School Grant Proeram A�plication Mr. Sohrweide said the City not successful in either safe route to school application and he is attempting to gain feedback to determine why neither was successful. 11. Other Traffic Concerns Communicated to the Citv of A�le ValleX Police Concerns Mr. Rechtzigel said the Police Department has been using the speed trailer and increasing enforcement on Ellice Trail. He reported that the speed sign on Garden View Drive was damaged in an accident. He noted that the Department continues to move forward on pursuing charges for the pedestrian fatality on Cedar Avenue earlier in the year. Public Works' Concerns There were no other concerns reported. 12. Education Issues Pedestrian and Bike Safe�Campaig� Mr. Rechtzigel said the Police Department is currently conducting the program in the schools. Bike helmets were purchased as prizes for students. He also noted a PSA has been posted on the web site. Meetin�Follow-u� Mr. Grawe said that some of the members have expressed frustration in the recent past that the Committee's role and processes do not seem to be understood by the residents who come in with concerns. When the Committee was originally formed, the intent was to listen to the residents' concerns to identify the true traffic or safety"problem". Then the Committee would discuss the possible options for solutions, educating the residents on the pros and cons of each, and hopefully reach some agreement as to the best solution that best solves the problem without creating other significant problems. Over time,more people have approached the Committee, not with a description of a problem, but rather advocating for one particular solution, which in many cases may not be appropriate for addressing the problem. So instead of working with the residents to reach a common best solution for the � • problem, the Committee is often forced into more of an adversarial role trying to explain why the particular solution advocated by the residents may not solve the problem or may create new safety problems. Mr. Grawe said a number of Committee members have discussed possible ways to help residents better understand the Committee's role and its processes in hopes of creating more amore productive meeting environment. He distributed a draft explanation of the Committee that could be printed on the meeting agendas. The group was in general agreement that this could help educate residents about the Committee. Mr. Blomstrom noted that the Committee's meetings have generally been conducted less formally than a Council meeting and this has perhaps blurred the lines for some in attendance as to who is on the Committee. The group discussed some basic changes to the meeting procedure's that would help distinguish the members of the Committee from other members of the public who are attending the meeting. Ms. Dolan suggested adhering more strictly to Roberts Rules of Order if necessary and making sure name plates for Committee members are available. 13. Ad•o� urn MOTION: Mr. Asleson moved, second by Mr. Blomstrom, to adjourn. Motion passed 7 - 0. Meeting was adjourned at 8:56 p.m.