STOP SIGN REMOVAL IN
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June 28, 1983
'. To: City Council & City Manager
From: City Engineer
Re: Stop Sign Removal in Hobby Acres
On June 7, 1983, the Council considered a report recommending the removal
of certain stop signs in the Hobby Acres area due to the decrease in traffic
volumes. These decreases were caused by the (1) closing of the connection of
Hazelane to State Highway 7 and (2) the closing of Farmdale Road at the Burling-
ton Northern tracks. Prior to the freeway construction, these roads were used
extensively by non-residents of the area as a convenient shortcut or to avoid
the backup on local streets such as Minnetonka Mills Road and Washington Avenue
when they were still functioning as County Road 18. These conditons were the
justification for the installation of stop signs.
The Council ordered a public hearing which was held on June 21, 1983. The
response to this hearing was very limited and the Council asked the Engineer to
provide further information on the proposed stop sign removals.
Attached are copies of pages 2B-2, 2B-3, & 2B-4 taken from the Manual on
Uniform Traffic Control Devices and were adopted by the Federal Highway Adminis-
tration as a national standard for all classes of streets and hilghways. These
pages describe warrants or simply justifications for the installation of a traffic
control device. The Minnesota Commissioner of Highways, p~rsuant to authority by
Minnesota Statutes 1971, adopted and prescribed such manual for streets and high-
ways of the State of Minnesota. It is the intent that the provisions of this
manual be standards for the installation of traffic control devices, but not a
legal requirement for installation.
COMMENTS:
Traffic counts were not taken as it is my personal observation by being a
resident of the area for 21 years that conditions have drastically changed due
to the road construction conditions previously mentioned. Warrant 2B-5 lists
four conditions which if one or more of these conditions are present, may warrant
a stop sign. None of the conditions appear to be met, although some replies re-
ceived for the hearing showed concern for current speeding. Since the stop signs
are in existence, it may be concluded that the stop signs do not have the effect
of reducing speed for those drivers who are determined to speed. Visibility is
not restricted and serious accidents have not been recorded either before or after
the traffic volume changes. Street lights are also present throughout the area to
enhance pedestrian safety.
The intersection of Farmdale Road and Hollyhock Lane is a Multiway stop con-
dition. This type of stop is installed when heavy traffic volumes are present on
both roads and onten prior to the installation of a traffic signal. The volumes
shown on 2B-6 needed to warrant a multiway stop far exceed the actual traffic
volumes.
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Stop Sign Removal in Hobby Acres
Page 2
CONCLUSION:
From a traffic engineering and safety standpoint, the vehicle volumes and
physical conditions do not justify the existence of stop signs. I have discussed
the elements of the question with the Police Department and they do not feel that
there are any conditions existing which would justify ~top signs. We recommend
for Council consideration that the signs as listed in the original report be
authorized to be removed.
Respectfully submitted,
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John J. Strojan
City Engineer