CR 98-143 Request for Traffic Controls- 19th Ave N/4th St N & 17th Ave N/3rd St NAugust 28, 1998
Proposed Action.
Council Report 98 -143
Request for Traffic Controls — 19 Avenue North /4 Street North
and 17 Avenue North/3 Street North
Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move that Council
disapprove the installation of additional stop signs at the intersections of 19 Ave
N/4 Street North and 17 Avenue North/3 Street North.
Overview.
Staff received a letter from a 19 Avenue resident requesting stop signs at the
above locations. Staff provided a written response to the resident addressing the
concerns and stating that the city would consider the requests once traffic
information is obtained. A formal traffic study has not been done but staff
believes the traffic count and speed information is sufficient for City Council to
act. Council may authorize a more detailed traffic study, per Legislative Policy
8A, if deemed necessary.
Primary Issues to Consider.
Traffic Count and Speed Data — 19 Ave N & 4 Street N
17 Avenue North/3` Street North Intersection
Recommendations
Supporting Information.
• Resident letter
• City of Hopkins letter
Steven J. Stadler
Public Works Director
Council Report 98 -143
Page 2
Analysis of Issues.
Traffic Count and Speed Data —19 Ave N & 4 Street N
On August 18 -21, staff completed traffic and speed counts on 19 Avenue North,
360 ft south of 4th Street and on 4 Street North 150 ft west of 19 Avenue.
Average daily traffic was recorded as 346 for 19 Avenue North and 294 for 4th
Street North.
The highest hour volume on 4 Street North was 26 vehicles, 19 Avenue North
was 45.
The average speed on 19 Avenue North was 20.74 mph. The 85% speed (85%
of all vehicles are within this speed) was 27.7 mph.
The average speed on .4t Street North was 22.19 mph. The 85% speed was
28.2 mph.
Traffic volumes are within a typical range for low volume residential streets. The
counts could certainly be up slightly due to road construction at Shady Oak
Rd /Excelsior Blvd. The recorded speeds show that most drivers are driving
below the statutory limit of 30 mph. This is expected on 19 Avenue where there
is a narrower driving lane due to frequent on- street parking.
17 Avenue North /3 Street North intersection
The ADT on 17 Avenue North between TH 7 and 3 Street North is 8,600
vehicles, the ADT drops to 6,500 at 1st Street North. It is difficult to turn from 3
Street onto 17 Avenue during the am or pm traffic peak periods. Staff feels that
local residents probably avoid this by using alternate routes such as 1 Street
North or TH 7. Converting this intersection to a 4-way stop would be costly
(8,600 vehicles /day would be making an additional stop /start), cause severe
backups and impact the TH 7 /17 Avenue intersection during the pm traffic peak.
Recommendations
Council may choose one of the following options.
1) Approve action as recommended by staff, i.e., disapprove additional stop
signs
Council Report 98 -143
Page 3
2) Direct staff to investigate further, provide more information and report back to
Council at a future meeting.
3) Approve installation of stop signs at 19 Avenue N /4 Street N intersection.
4) Approve installation of stop signs on 17 Ave N at 3rd Street N.
5) Approve installation of stop signs at both locations.
Based on site investigations, traffic and speed counts, and expected impact of
additional stop signs on 17 Avenue, staff recommends disapproval of requested
additional stop signs. Staff recommends option 1.
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Subject: Resident Traffic Issues
Avenues West Neighborhood
city of Yropkins
1010 First Street South • Ifopkins, %X 55343 -7573 Phone: 612 -935 -8474 • Fav 612 -935 -1834
July 14, 1998
Vida Percy
325 19 Avenue North
Hopkins, MN 55343
Dear Ms. Percy:
Your recent letter to the City concerning traffic issues in
the Avenues West Neighborhood has been directed to me. The
letter indicates four perceived problems that you feel
could be solved with the installation of stop signs:
T . /996
1. There is increased traffic in the neighborhood due
to 19 Avenue North being used as a short cut
between T.H.7 and Mainstreet or vice versa in order
to avoid stop lights at intersection of Shady Oak
Road and T.H.7 or 17 Avenue North and T.H.7.
2. There is increased traffic generated by the Elder
Homestead care facility.
3. Pedestrians and bikers are at risk because no
crosswalks or signs give them clear right -of -way.
4. Heavy traffic on 17 Avenue North poses difficulties
in accessing or crossing 17th Avenue at its
intersection with 3 Street North.
In addition you related a recent incident of drag racing on
4 Street North and that speeding had become a neighborhood
problem. My understanding is that the offenders were
apprehended and that you personally participated in a
Juvenile Conferencing Center session that met to bring
resolution to the case.
To address your other concerns, the City at a later date
this summer will take and traffic. counts on 1 and 4th
Streets North and 19 Avenue North to determine level of
vehicular use. Counts are necessary to determine if signs
Page 2 07/15/98
are necessary. One factor that may skew the traffic counts
or heighten the perception of heavy vehicle use is the
County Road 3 reconstruction project. We find other areas
of the City are experiencing more noise and heavier traffic
that we are confident stem from this project and will be
temporary in duration.
The Police Department will continue to pursue the issue ofs
youth drag racers in your neighborhood and post the "speed'
reader" trailer at strategic locations.
I will contact you in the future once we have traffic count
data in hand.
Sincerely,
James Gessele
Engineering Superintendent
Copy: Steve Mielke, City Manager
Steve Stadler, Public Works Director