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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/14/2007 � • Traffic Safety Advisory Committee City of Apple Valley March 14,2007 7:00 p.m.Municipal Center Minutes 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.by Vice-Chair Harald Eriksen. Members Present: Linda Dolan Harald Eriksen, Charles Grawe, Neal Heuer, Michael Marben,Arthur Zimmerman(arrived 7:10 p.m) Members Absent: Dick Asleson Consultants/Alternates Present: Tom Sohrweide • Others Present: John Bergman, Marian Brown, Jack Fenton, Bill Gossman, Corinne Johnson,Mike Scott, Cliff Tye 2, �proval of A eg nda _ � Mr. Grawe asked to add approval of the Annual Report to the agenda. MOTION: Mr, Marben moved, second by Mr. Grawe, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion passed 5 —0. 3. Approval of November 8,2006 Minutes MOTION: Mr. Heuer moved, second by Mr. Marben, to approve the minutes as presented. Motion passed 5 —0. 4. Audience Items Ms. Marian Brown expressed concern over traffic volumes at the intersection of Pennock Avenue and 142°d Street. Speci�cally, she expressed concern for students crossing the street. She requested stop signs for Pennock Avenue at the intersection. She also'expressed concern over the use of 142"d by snow plows that are not plowing on 142"d Street. Mr. Zimmerman arrived at 7:10 p.m. Mr. Heuer responded that a multi-way stop would need to meet the State's warrant criteria. He said he would need to evaluate the intersection to determine if it meets the warrants. The City would first review the traffic counts on the streets and the accident history of five or more correctable type accidents in the recent history of the intersection. If the intersection appears to � • TSAC Meeting Minutes MarcY► 14, 2007 Page 2 meet warrant criteria, the next step would be to conduct an engineering study to detennine if a multi-way stop would be appropriate. Mr. Marben noted that MNDOT snow plows end their southbound Cedar Avenue route at approximately 140`" Street and the plows often turn onto 142°d Street in order to begin plowing northbound on Cedar. He thought this might explain the frequency of snow plows observed on the street. 5. Resident Concerns over Traffic near Falcon Ridge Middle School (Tabled from Previous Meetin Mr. Heuer said he checked with the School and there is still interest in creating a crosswalk at Falcon Trail. Mr. Heuer said he would like to create some concept drawings for a possible center median similar to what is in place at Greenleaf Elementary School. He also noted that there is potential to re-stripe Johnny Cake Ridge Road to a three-lane design between McAndrews Road and E11ice Trai1. The deadline for the grant application that would be used for the project is October. 6. Resident Concerns Around Alimagnet Park Mr. Heuer said that in the discussions surrounding Frisbee golf course in the park, additional concerns were raised about traffic in the area. The City Council directed the Public Works Depariment to evaluate the traffic issues during 2007. Mr. Heuer distributed a map identifying the locations of the traffic counters that would be used in 2007. While he had not received specific concerns, Mr. Heuer said he believed the residents to be most concerned over vehicle speeds, traffic volumes, and a requested stop sign at the intersection of Ridgeview Drive and Walnut Lane. Several residents were generally concerned by cut-through traffic between Redwood Drive and Garden View Drive. Mr. Bill Gossman said he witnessed two accidents in the past year. He also expressed concern that the lack of sidewalks caused pedestrians to use the street. Ms. Corinne Johnson expressed concern over vehicle speeds at the intersection of Ridgeview Drive and Walnut Drive. Mr. Heuer said that the City is planning to study and evaluate traffic in that area throughout the summer and will issue a report of findings to the City Council in Septen�ber. Mr. Heuer requested that the residents provide him with a written list of any additional concerns so that all issues can be addressed in the study. Mr. Grawe suggested that if the neighborhood is specifically concerned about pedestrians using the street due to the lack of sidewalks, the neighbarhood might consider having sidewalks installed. Mr. Eriksen asked what the City's policy and process is for sidewalk installation. Mr. Heuer said the neighborhood would need to petition the City requesting the sidewalks. The petition would need to demonstrate very strong support among the residents and property owners as this type of project would typically be funded by assessments against the adjoining properties. Mr. Gossman asked if speed humps or signage indicating caution due to the presence of children would be possibilities. Mr. Heuer said that the City does not install speed humps due to the negative impacts on emergency vehicles. He also noted that past experience with the humps has shown that drivers will drive onto the boulevards and yards in order to avoid the humps. Mr. Heuer said the State of Minnesota recommended the removal of all the signs relating to general � . TSAC Meeting Minutes March 14,2007 Page 3 caution for children. However, as there is a park in the neighborhood, a sign relating to the park might be appropriate. He said that if parents of a special needs child contact the City with a request, the City will look at specific signage appropriate to that child's special needs. Mr. Scott asked if the speed limit could be reduced. Mr. Heuer explained that the State law does not allow the City to reduce speed limits below 30 miles per hour. Mr. Scott asked if there were plans for changes to the intersections along County Road 42 that could impact the neighborhood. Mr. Heuer said there are no immediate plans for changes along County goad 42, but that the County's current general policy is to have one half mile spacing between full-access intersections. Ms. Brown asked if crosswalks would be effective. Mr. Heuer explained that crosswalks would not be effective without sidewalks with which to connect. Ms. Johnson asked if driver speed advisory signs similar to those used on Garden View Drive would be an option for Walnut Drive. Mr. Heuer said that Garden View Drive has a much greater volume of traffic with nearly 6,500 trips per day. He also noted that each advisory sign costs approximately $15,000 to install. Ms. Johnson asked if the speed trailer would be used. Mr. Marben said that the speed trailer is an educational tool that is followed by an enforcement effort. He said that the Police Department Special Enforcement Team (SET) was assigned to Walnut Drive earlier in the year, but did not observe a significant number of vehicles at excessive speeds in that area. 7. Resident Request for Guard Rails Alon�Palomino Drive - Mr. Heuer said he received concerns from residents about vehicles leaving the roadway along Palomino Drive approximately between the opposite ends of Hunters Way. The vehicles in question left the roadway and went down an embankment toward private property. Mr. Tye and Mr.. Fenton presented photographs of the results of the t��vo incidents and requested the installation of guard rails to prevent vehicles from leaving the roadway. Both incidents involved intoxicated drivers. Mr. Heuer noted that the City has not installed guard rails for this type of control in the past. There was discussion of the use of guard rails when Palomino Drive was under reconstruction. However, there were safety concems with the placement of the rails that could deflect traffic into the oncoming vehicle lane. Mr. Heuer suggested that reflective chevrons might be an option. Mr. Grawe noted that while the accidents were unfortunate, the green space and planting between the roadway and the private homes acted as a buffer allowing the vehicles to slow. He noted that neither accident resulted in any injuries. He expressed his belief that the Committee should consider the safety of all people in the area including drivers and passengers in both vehicle lanes, pedestrians along the pathway; and people on property adjoining the roadway before going forward with any improvement. Ms. Dolan noted that some private property owners have installed landscape boulders near sharp curves in the roadway to protect the property. Mr. Grawe noted that. vehicles striking landscaping boulders at significant speeds would likely result in serious damage or injury. Mr. Heuer said he would like to further study this request and bring this issue back at the next meeting. Mr. Eriksen left the meeting at this time. � TSA • � C Meetmg Minutes March 14, 2007 Page 4 8. Annual Report MOTION: Mr. Marben moved, second by Mr. Grawe, to approve the Annual Report and send it for the City Council's receipt. Motion passed 5—0. 9. Other Traffic Concerns Communicated to the Citv a) Police Concerns—Mr. Marben di5tributed a copy traffic statistics. b) Public Works Concerns - Mr. Heuer said all concerns were addressed previously in the meeting. c) Other Concerns—Ms. Dolan asked about changes to the signal control on Cedar Avenue. Mr. Heuer said these changes are under the control of Dakota County. Mr. Heuer noted that the"red light"camera issue is currently before the Legislature. 1-0. Education Issues There were no new educational issues. 1 L Adjourn MOTION: Mr. Marben moved, second by Mr. Heuer, to adjourn. Motion passed 5 —0. Meeting was adjourned at 9:09 p.m.