Minutes

1. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Chair Arthur Zimmerman.

Members Present: Linda Dolan, Charles Grawe, Neal Heuer, Arthur Zimmerman

Members Absent: Craig Anglin, Dick Asleson, Harald Eriksen

Consultants/Alternates Present: Tom Sohrweide

Others Present:

2. Audience Items

There were no audience items.

3. Other Traffic Concerns Communicated to the City

a) Police Concerns - There were no Police concerns presented.

b) Public Works Concerns - Mr. Heuer said he received a concern over pedestrians crossing and lighting on the Apple Valley High School property adjoining 145th Street. The lights are school property. He spoke with the Principal of the school who said the lights were being repaired. Mr. Heuer said that while many students are parking on 145th Street, from his observations, it appears that drivers are aware of the parking situation and are respectful of the pedestrians crossing the street. Mr. Heuer noted that the street lighting policy provides for specific light spacing as well as intersection lighting. He did not believe it would be appropriate to create an exception for one collector street and not others.

Mr. Heuer said he received three complaints on traffic volume, a concern about a bus stop location, and a request for a crosswalk and signal at 153rd Street and Foliage Avenue. He said there have been two accidents at the intersection. However, he said the traffic volume appears to be abnormally high at this time due to the Pilot Knob Road construction project and a volume decrease is expected once the road is finished. He said he notified the Police Department of the concerns so that the Special Enforcement Team could monitor the area. He also contacted Mary Smith of ISD 196 to find alternative bus stops. Ms. Smith provided an alternative location so that students would not need to cross Foliage Avenue to get on the bus. He said that Ms. Smith would be contacting the parent about this option.

Mr. Heuer said the Principal of Highland Elementary informed high that a neighborhood group is interested in efforts to slow traffic speeds on 142nd Street south of the school. There have been reports of older students giving the crossing guards trouble. Mr. Heuer said the concern over vehicle speed may have been the result of a police enforcement effort in which a number of vehicles were pulled over along that street. The neighborhood group expressed an interest in establishing a school speed zone. Mr. Heuer noted that an in-house study of a similar zone on Garden View Drive showed little actual change in vehicle speed after a sign posting speeds of 20 miles per hour when children are present was installed. He also noted that there is often confusion as to the meaning of "when children are present". He said the speed zone generally only applies to times when children are going to or from school during the school year.

Mr. Heuer noted there was an accident near Greenleaf Elementary School in which one vehicle stopped for a pedestrian, while another vehicle in the far lane failed to stop. Fortunately, the injuries were relatively minor.

Mr. Grawe noted that the County Road 42/ Diamond Path intersection is not functioning well with the heavy Pilot Knob Road detour traffic.

Mr. Heuer said he received a request from a resident for a three-way stop on Galleria Place and 132nd Street. The request is due to a legally blind student and deaf child in the area. The person making the request thought a three-way stop would help the child more safely cross the street. Mr. Heuer said the intersection does not meet warrants for the stop and the signs could make the intersection more hazardous. He asked the City's traffic engineering consultant to study the situation and present possible options.

Mr. Heuer said Johnny Cake Ridge Road was re-striped to a three-lane design. He said he has received some initial complaints, but nearly all have accepted the new design once they understand how a three-way design can improve safety by protecting the left-hand turns and removing turning vehicles from through traffic lanes. Eagan will be striping its portion of Johnny Cake in the same design.

Mr. Heuer said he asked Mr. Sohrweide to review the section of Galaxie Avenue near Safari Pass where there was an accident this summer. Mr. Sohrweide recommended installing a speed advisory sign posted 35 miles per hour on the curved portion of the road.

c) Other Concerns - Ms. Dolan asked if centerline rumblestrips could be used on the curved sections of Johnny Cake Ridge Road. Mr. Heuer said they would probably create significant noise impacts.

Mr. Heuer informed the Committee of the tragic death of the City's Streets Superintendent in a motorcycle accident.

Ms. Dolan noted observing a bicyclist doing illegal maneuvers that ultimately led to an accident with a car.

4. Approval of July 13, 2005 Minutes

MOTION: Mr. Grawe moved, second by Mr. Heuer, to approve the minutes as presented. Motion passed 4 - 0.

5. Education Issues

There were no educational issues presented.

6. Adjourn

MOTION: Mr. Grawe moved, second by Mr. Heuer, to adjourn. Motion passed 4 - 0. Meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.