Title
Review Traffic Control Harpers Street
Background
Engineering and Police Department staff continue to field a few traffic complaints on Harpers Street north of 125th Avenue. A majority of the complaints are concerned with the speed of the traffic in both directions of Harpers Street. Staff has conducted data gathering over several years indicating that the 85% speeds are 4-5 miles over the posted speed limit of 30 mph. The PD continues to conducted education and enforcement campaigns along the corridor. As previously reported to the commission, patrol has noted that over 85% of the traffic violators that were pulled over all lived within three blocks of Harpers Street indicating that this is a neighborhood issue.
The Harpers Street area continues to grow and is on one of the leading edges of development for the past decade. The street network continues to expand off Harper Street, but there are several key street connections that are not constructed, forcing a majority of the traffic to use Harpers Street, i.e. 131st Avenue to the east, 132nd Avenue to the west, 129 Avenue to the east. Please note as of 2022 there will be a new connection on 129th Avenue to the west connecting with Xylite Street. Also planned for 2022, Anoka County will be upgrading 125th Avenue from Harpers Street to Lexington Avenue and will include a traffic signal at Legacy Creek Parkway.
Harpers Street is approximately ¾ of a mile long with a signal at 125th Avenue and a stop sign at the intersection with 132nd Avenue/131st Avenue. All of the current side streets to Harpers Street have a stop condition.
Staff has purchased two additional temporary driver feedback signs. One set is currently placed on Cloverleaf Parkway between 99th Avenue and Polk Street.
Recommendation
Staff recommends installation of the new temporary driver feedback signs on Harpers Street for one year. Staff to continue to collect data once signs have been installed and to monitor the new connection of 129th Avenue to determine if traffic control needs to be altered at this intersection with Harpers Street.