CR 98-121 Approve Street Marking Plan 10th Ave S Traffic StudyJuly 15, 1998
Primary Issues to Consider.
• Neighborhood traffic issue
• Traffic study — procedures and results
• Recent traffic counts
• Staff recommendation
Jam' Gessele
Engineering Superintendent
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Approve Street Marking Plan
10th Avenue South Traffic Study
Council Report 98 -121
Proposed Action.
Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move that Council approve a roadway
striping plan for the llth Ave. So. /6th St. So. intersection as outlined in a Benshoof and
Associates traffic study dated November 20, 1997.
Overview.
In July 1997, residents in the 600 block adjacent to 10th Avenue South submitted a petition to
the City concerning perceived traffic problems on their street. The petition cited a need for a
traffic study to solve issues of 10th Avenue South used as a short cut and speeding. Council
authorized the 10th Avenue issue to be studied as part of the overall traffic report that was about
to begin over the redevelopment of the Hennepin County Public Works site.
Supporting Information.
• Location map
• Excerpt from traffic study and lane striping graphic
• Notice to resident
Analysis.
• Neighborhood traffic issue
Residents of the 600 block adjacent to 10th Avenue South perceive increased traffic
on their street by virtue of increase in population and by reason of using the street as a
short cut to 7th Street South and onto 1 lth Avenue or 7th Street South to 9th Avenue
South. Residents claim the increased traffic includes an increased number in trucks.
Speeding is also an issue to the neighborhood and the residents have suggested closing
the street as an ultimate solution.
• Traffic study — procedures and results
Benshoof and Associates, Inc. was retained as a consultant to study traffic
implications for Hopkins with the proposed redevelopment of the Hennepin County
Public Works site. It became apparent that 10th Avenue. South traffic issues could be
studied as a small part of the much larger redevelopment traffic. The consultant was
so instructed and on September 18, 1997 a license plate origin- destination study was
conducted at peak hours of 7 -9 a.m. and 4 -6 p.m. The perceived speeding problem
was examined by collecting data from a sample of 592 vehicles over two weekdays.
The origin- destination study confirmed that "there is some traffic on this road neither
originating nor terminating at 10 Avenue residences. A total of 89 vehicles were
observed on 10th Avenue during these four hours. Some of this traffic (36 vehicles)
appears to use 10th Avenue to move between 7th Street South west of 10th Avenue
and 5th Street South north and east of 10th Avenue South, likely to bypass the
intersection of 1 lth Avenue and 6th Street ". The consultant added this was a low
volume and not unusual for a street linking two important neighborhood roads.
Speed data collected of 592 vehicles over two weekdays revealed an average speed of
22 mph. This speed is found to be typical through a residential area.
• Recent traffic counts
The City revisited the traffic study site on July 13 -14 and conducted its own traffic
count project. Over the two- weekday period the total count was 642 vehicles, quite
similar to the 592 count observed by the City's consultant. The City counts do reveal
greater northbound vehicular traffic on this street than southbound. Although limited
in scope, this recent project seems to verify counts taken almost a year ago.
• Staff recommendation
The consultant's recommendation as it concerns the use of 10th Avenue as a short cut
is to focus on the 1 lth Avenue South and 6th Street South intersection. The goal
should be to improve its traffic flow capabilities and thus reducing bypass traffic on
10th Avenue. Attached to this report is an excerpt from the consultant's detailed
recommendations to provide an improved roadway striping plan on portions of 1 lth
Avenue South and 6th Street South. The attached graphic in summary describes
staff's recommendation as a solution to the short cut issue.
Staff concurs with the consultant in his assessment that speeding problems on 10th
Avenue South are not indicated.
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EXCERPT FROM CONSDLTANT'S RECOMMENDATIONS
CHARACTERISTICS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 11th AVENUE
Figure 13 shows the existing striping on 11th Avenue and our recommended striping plan
for 1 lth Avenue. Currently, northbound traffic has a single lane 23 feet wide approaching
6th Street. Generally, motorists form two lines of traffic in this wide lane, one for right
turns along the outer edge, the other for through and left turns. Immediately north of 6th
Street the northbound traffic is faced with two lanes each 12 feet wide. At times this
presents driver confusion as to which lane to enter. To clear up this .confusion and
improve the capacity of the northbound approach at this intersection we recommend that a
shoulder stripe be applied along the outer edge from 7th Street north to create a single,
well - defined northbound lane mid- block. A taper in this stripe about 320 feet . south of 6th
Street would introduce a second northbound lane approaching 6th Street. This lane would
be about 200 feet long and accommodate through traffic and right turns.
We also recommend improved striping on the westbound approach to 1 lth Avenue on 6th
Street. Currently, westbound traffic has a single lane 22 feet wide approaching 1 lth
Avenue. Generally, motorists form two lines of traffic in this wide lane, one for right turns
along the outer edge, the other for left turns (and a small number of through movements).
We recommend that a right turn lane and a shared through/left turn lane be created by
applying appropriate striping on the approach and shoulder as shown in Figure 13. This
will increase the capacity of this approach and accommodate the expected increase in
westbound right turns associated with the roadway changes of Scenarios A and B.
We believe overall operations will improve at this intersection if these changes are made,
despite the increase in traffic at this location. The capacity improvements introduced by
this striping will improve traffic flow. Two further contingency measures that are
available are to 1) introduce southbound two lane operation on the approach to 6th Street
and extend two lane operation northbound and southbound past 7th Street, and 2) install
traffic signal control at this intersection.
As discussed earlier in this report, the operation of the Excelsior Boulevard and 1 lth
Avenue intersection is expected to function adequately when the planned improvements
for this intersection are implemented. The Supervalu expansion plans for phase 1 and
2020 will not result in operational problems at this intersection.
PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE SYSTEM
Currently, there are sidewalks along both sides of 1 lth Avenue north of 6th Street. South
of 6th Street the sidewalk is only on the east side. A segment of sidewalk also exists along
the south side of 5th Street between 6th Street and 7th Avenue in front of the Westside
Business Park. This discontinuity in sidewalks makes pedestrian access between the Park
Valley neighborhood and downtown Hopkins difficult and unpleasant. Clearly, there is a
need to connect the neighborhood with the broader pedestrian system. Also, there is no
sidewalk along 5th Street between the neighborhood and Buffer Park. Neighborhood
6TH ST.
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EXISTING
7TH ST.
11 . 6 THST
7TH ST.
RECOMMENDED
APPROXIMATE SCALE
P"'W•mil
0 100'
TRAFFIC STUDY
FOR
SUPERVAUL EXPANSION
IN HOPKINS
CITY OF HOPKINS
BENSHOOF & ASSOCIATES, INC.
TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERS AND PLANNERS
FIGURE 13
EXISTING AND
RECOMMENDED LANE
STRIPING ON 11TH
AVENUE AND 6TH STREET
July 15, 1998
Dear 10 Avenue Resident /Owner:
In July 1997 your neighborhood presented a petition to the
City requesting a traffic study to determine means of
minimizing perceived excess traffic and speeding on 10
Avenue South.. The City Council authorized inclusion of
your request in a larger study analyzing impacts from the
redevelopment of the Hennepin County Public Works site.
The traffic consultant has completed his report and results
and recommendations are included. The study confirms there
is some traffic on 10 Avenue originating outside the
neighborhood but at a low volume and not unusual for a
street linking two important neighborhood roads. Speed
data collected indicates an average speed of 22 MPH which
is typical through a residential area. The consultant
recommends a striping plan at the intersections of 11
Avenue /6 Street South that improves traffic flow
capabilities at that location and thus reducing bypass
traffic on 10 Avenue.
Staff will recommend the striping plan as an initial
measure in reply to the neighborhood concerns at the July
21 Council meeting. The session will convene at 7 :30 P.M.
in City Hall. You are invited to attend this meeting to
voice your opinions and concerns. Any questions can be
directed to me at 935 -8474.
Sincerely,
44440,
James Gessele
Engineering Superintendent
Enclosures
City of Mopkins
1010 First Street South • 5fopkins, 11.9V 55343-7573 • Thone: 612 -935 -8474 • Fax 612 -935 -1834
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