Workshop Item: 1 - Robert Therres, Public Services Manager
Title
TRAFFIC STUDY UPDATE
ASPEN LAKE DRIVE AND 116TH AVENUE
Background
In September 2007 staff received a petition to evaluate speeding and traffic volumes on 116th Avenue between Radisson Road and Yancy Court. Traffic study data was taken and determined the volume and speed to be reasonable. The residents disputed the findings of the traffic study and as such staff worked with the neighbors to determine the optimal times and locations to recollect traffic data. In June of 2008 data was collected and this data supported the first study. As a final step to this study, staff requested that the Police Department place a traffic patrol detail on this block of 116th Avenue in an education/enforcement campaign which resulted in no citations issued.
During the spring of 2011 staff received several calls concerning the intersection of 116th Avenue and Radisson Road (CSAH 52). Staff requested that Anoka County review the intersection for appropriate signage, striping, sight distance, and traffic counts. The county findings were that all aspects of the intersection were within acceptable tolerance.
In May of this year, Council received a petition and report from residents on Aspen Lake Drive and 116th Avenue area concerned with the volume of traffic utilizing these two streets to access Radisson Road and the surrounding neighborhoods. Council directed staff to conduct a traffic study of these two streets.
At a Council Workshop on July 18th, staff presented the results of the traffic study and several different options for the Council to consider in addressing the resident's concerns. Council direction was to meet with Anoka County to discuss the Radisson Road/116th Avenue intersection, post 116th Avenue with a "No Trucks" sign, continue to research resident issues on Aspen Lakes Drive and 116th Avenue, and provide residents information on how to petition for speed humps.
The following is the list of activities since the July 18th Council Workshop:
· Public Works installed the "No Trucks" sign on 116th Avenue on July 26th.
· The Police Department has responded to calls regarding trucks not adhering to the "No Trucks" signs. They have made contact with trucks that appear to be using 116th Avenue as a cut through and have issued verbal warnings if the trucks do not appear to have business on that street.
· A copy of the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program was sent to a resident on Aspen Lake Drive for the speed hump petition process. Speed hump cost would be approximately $6,500 per each.
· Tube counters were put out from July 29th to July 31st. The tubes counted vehicles and speed on 116th Avenue and Aspen Lakes Drive. Results indicated that there was no apparent speeding issue with the 85 percentile speeds of 25 to 30 mph.
· The radar trailer was put out on 116th Avenue from August 7th to August 9th. Results indicated that there was no apparent speeding issue with the 85 percentile speed of 25 mph.
· On August 8th, a letter was sent to active builders in The Lakes of Radisson development requesting their construction vehicles and subcontractors utilize the Parkways to access construction sites.
· On August 15th, a meeting was held with the Anoka County Highway Department on the intersection of 116th Avenue and Radisson Road. The County said they would review crash data, traffic counts and turning movements. The County recently completed an analysis of the intersection of 116th Avenue and Radisson Road and provided some alternatives for the intersection that included restricting turning movements. In all of the alternatives, the right turns onto 116th Avenue from northbound Radisson Road are still an option and do not alleviate traffic volume concerns raised by the residents.
· On October 26th, Council asked staff to provide examples of residential streets that have traffic counts of 2500 vehicles per day or more. The following is a list of residential streets and their latest average daily traffic count:
o 105th Ave east of University Ave 2938
o Cloverleaf Pkwy south of 99th Ave 3093
o Cloud Drive east of Radisson Rd 2130
o 89th Ave between University Ave and TH 65 6400
o Able St north of County Rd 10 3700
o Polk St between 89th Ave and TH 10 4650
o Territorial Rd from Jefferson St to Polk St 2450
o Jefferson St between 109th Ave and 113th Ave 3200
o 117th Ave between University Ave and Ulysses St 5000
o Oak Park Blvd between Jefferson St & Paul Pkwy 2700
o Jefferson St between 117th Ave and 119th Ave 2700
o Rice Creek Parkway at Xylite St 5000
· On October 26th, Council asked staff to change GPS designation on 116th Avenue. Our City GIS Coordinator has researched this question with Google Maps. Google Maps will consider suggestions made for map updates if their map is incorrect or if there is a problem with their street view or imagery. Google does not receive data from the City for their map service; therefore we have no control over how their search algorithm calculates driving directions. Using the big four map search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing and MapQuest) all take a driver on 116th Avenue if coming from the south and going into the southern portion of The Lakes of Radisson subdivisions.
· On October 31st, Council asked staff if additional "No Trucks" signs could be placed on Radisson Rd. Signage on Radisson Rd requires authorization from Anoka County. The County has been contacted and is looking into what signage could be installed and if a formal truck route would have to be established on The Lakes Parkway. Additional Council action may be required if additional signage is requested of the County.
In summary, if any changes to the public roadway system are proposed in this area, a neighborhood information meeting is necessary that includes all adjacent neighborhoods that would be impacted by proposed changes.