Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout8A - Rutgers/CSAH 42 Intersection .,,' , STAFF AGENDA REPORT AGENDA #: PREPARED BY: DATE: 8A GREG ILKKA, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 98-XX CONCURRING WITH SCOTT COUNTY'S REQUEST TO PROVIDE A FUll ACCESS INTERSECTION AND INSTAllATION OF A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT THE INTERSECTION OF COUNTY STATE AID HIGHWAY 42 AND RUTGERS STREET; CLOSING TIMOTHY AVENUE AT COMMERCE AVENUE; RESTRICTING THE CSAH 42. AND TIMOTHY AVENUE INTERSECTION TO LEFT-IN, AND RIGHT-IN-RIGHT-OUT; AND DIRECTING STAFF TO INITIATE STEPS TO ACCOMPLISH LONG TERM IMPROVEMENTS TO COMMERCE I BOUDIN I TH 13 INTERSECTION. FEBRUARY 17, 1998 SUBJECT: INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this agenda item is to consider: a) Scott County's request to provide a full access intersection and the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 42 and Rutgers Street; b) closing Timothy Avenue at Commerce Avenue; c) configuration of the Timothy Avenue and CSAH 42 intersection; and d) long term access improvements BACKGROUND: The City of Savage has received a development proposal for property located in the northwest quadrant of the CSAH 42 and TH 13 intersection. The proposal includes a Rainbow Foods store and miscellaneous smaller retail stores. The City of Savage commissioned a traffic study to determine the feasibility of locating a traffic signal at Timothy Avenue as requested by the developer. The results of that study indicated a signal was feasible at Timothy for a short period of time, however, considering projected traffic volumes the appropriate long term location for the traffic signal is Rutgers Street with full access to the north and south. r 16200r~teJ~reek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER At the December 1, 1997 Council meeting, a resolution was passed recommending that Scott County deny the request for access and signal at Timothy. The Council did not take a position on a traffic signal at Rutgers Street. Subsequently, Savage, Scott County, and the developer have reached agreement that the full access and traffic signal should be placed at Rutgers Street. The City Council discussed this matter further at their January 12th work session and directed that a Public Information Meeting be held at the February 2nd City Council meeting. The intent of the public information meeting was to solicit input on: a) a traffic signal at Rutgers Street and CSAH 42; b) closing Timothy Avenue at the intersection with Commerce; and c) short and long term potential solutions to the access issues in the area of the CSAH 42 and TH 13 intersection. Twenty-one concerned citizens spoke at the Public Information Meeting to convey their opinion on the proposed signal options. Minutes from the February 2, 1998 City Council meeting reflect the comments made at the Public Information Meeting. At the conclusion of the meeting the Council provided staff with general direction on issues to be addressed and asked that this item be placed on the February 17th agenda. DISCUSSION I ISSUES: The first issue to resolve is Scott County's request to provide a full access intersection and the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 42 and Rutgers Street. At the public information meeting the issue of stacking at Rutgers Street interferring with traffic into and out of Harbor Place was brought up. The traffic study did not address the queuing of eastbound traffic at a Rutgers Signal, but did address westbound queuing. Under the projected traffic volumes for the year 2020 it is predicted that the westbound through queue length would exceed 160 feet 5% of the time and the westbound left turn into Rutgers would exceed 80 feet 5% of the time. Therefore, there is no predicted problem to the east because the distance between Rutgers and Timothy is approximately 580 feet. RUTGERS2.DOC At the public information meeting it was brought up by a few people that maybe Harbor Place would be the appropriate location for a traffic signal. As was discussed at the previous Council meeting, the topography on the north side of CSAH 42 east of Harbor Place is not conducive to street construction. Also, the sight distance at Harbor Place is not as good as at Rutgers. The results of the traffic study were very clear, the appropriate location for a traffic signal is at Rutgers Street. A signal at Rutgers maximizes the spacing between signals in this section of CSAH 42 given the assumption that there will also be a signal at Boone Avenue. Ultimately, a signal and access at Harbor Place would have to be concurred with by Scott County, Savage, and the Developer. Scott County has indicated they would pursue the Dispute Resolution Board option first. It is their position that if there is to be a traffic signal between Boone Avenue and TH 13 it will be at Rutgers or there will be no signal. The ramifications of no signal in this section of CSAH 42, considering projected traffic levels, would mean at some point in time Timothy, Rutgers, and Harbor will all be restricted to right-in-right-out accesses. If the City of Prior Lake does not concur with a traffic signal at Rutgers Street, Minnesota Statutes, Chap. 162, subd. 8a, allows the County Board to request by resolution that the MnDOT Commissioner appoint a Dispute Resolution Board to review and provide recommendations on the matter. The Dispute Resolution Board would be neutral or third parties, not representatives of the communities involved and would be comprised of one County Commissioner, one City Councilperson, one County Engineer, one City Engineer, and one MnDOT representative. The process for the Dispute Resolution Board does not include a Public Hearing. The Board would convene in a public meeting, but it would not be for the purposes of soliciting public input. Essentially, they would only hear from the County and the City representatives as they make their case to the Board. It is staffs opinion this Board would decide in favor of the County and Savage. The second issue to resolve is closing Timothy Avenue at Commerce Avenue. RUTGERS2.DOC One issue brought up at the last Council meeting was a concern about emergency vehicle access to the Boudin's Manor neighborhood due to closing Timothy at Commerce. The Fire Chief has provided his written opinion on this matter and it is attached to this report. One other option in lieu of closing Timothy entirely would be to close off half of Timothy to incoming traffic and make it only one-way out. This could be an option to experiment with. We would evaluate if it deters traffic from cutting through or not. The potential exists that the temptation to go the wrong way through the one way would be too great. Without enforcement it may not have the desired effect. The third issue to resolve is the configuration of the Timothy Avenue and CSAH 42 intersection. The graphic representing the range of options at this intersection is attached. Intersection "A" represents the case where the existing access to and from CSAH 42 from and to Timothy Avenue remains unchanged and a right-in- right-out only access is provided for the property to the north of CSAH 42. It is estimated this configuration would safely function for 2-3 years. Intersection "C" represents restriction of the left out of Timothy Avenue to westbound CSAH 42 and provision of free lefts into properties both north and south of CSAH 42. It is estimated that this configuration would function safely for 3 -10 years. Intersection "B" is the ultimate restriction, right-in-right-out both north and south. This configuration is best avoided as long as possible which is most likely achieved by implementing Intersection "e" now. One of the potential long term solutions to the access issues in this area is to construct both Commerce Avenue and Boudin Street as frontage roads connecting at a common intersection with TH 13. Staff has discussed this project and others with MnDOT. It is their opinion that in order to expedite any project the City should take the lead on this kind of project and seek a Cooperative Agreement with MnDOT to participate in the project. This project and others along TH 13 could benefit the city of Savage as well. Staff will meet with the City of Savage to determine their interest in moving forward on a cooperative and comprehensive basis. RUTGERS2.DOC FINANCIAL IMPACT: RUTGERS2.DOC Another potential long term solution to the access issues in this. area is to construct a frontage road connecting Commerce Avenue to Rutgers Street. In order to get more information on this option staff has contacted the Scott County Housing and Redevelopement Authority (HRA) to get details on how the HRA could assist in the acquisition of properties for this project. The Scott County HRA could assist with this project by acting as the City's real estate agent in the purchase of properties. The cost to acquire the properties would still be the City's with potential participation by the Scott County Highway Department. The HRA could also act as the City's property manager once the properties were acquired to lease or rent the homes until such time that the City was prepared to move forward with a project. The advantage of . this arrangement would be that the eminent domain process would be avoided and the properties could be acquired over many years versus all at once. This would be easier for the City from a budgetary perspective. The attached resolution reflects what staff perceived to be general Council consensus on the issues. The resolution should be reviewed item by item to determine if this is correct and appropriate amendments offered if incorrect. In accordance with Scott County's policy on cost participation, funding for a traffic signal at Rutgers would be split between Scott County and the Cities of Prior Lake and Savage according to the number of legs of the intersection within the respective jurisdiction. The City of Prior Lake would be expected to fund one-fourth of the signal installation, approximately $30,000. If the traffic predictions prove correct, the City's share could be incorporated into the Capital Improvement Program, advance funded by Scott County, and paid to them in the programmed year. The County Engineer, without benefit of a detailed final design feels the cost to incrementally close off the left-out of Timothy to westbound CSAH 42 would be less than $15,000. In accordance with the Council's February 2nd discussion the Resolution provides that the County, Savage, or the Developer pay for these improvements ATTACHED CORRESPONDENCE: ALTERNATIVES: RECOMMENDATION: ACTION REQUIRED: RUTGERS2.DOC The cost to close Timothy at Commerce is estimated at approximately $5,000. To construct a cui de sac at the dead end would be approximately $25,000 and would need to be programmed into the C.I.P. The estimated cost to construct both Commerce and Boudin as frontage roads that lead to a common signalized intersection is $390,000 including signal with right-of-way costs estimated at an additional $150,000. With the exception of right-of-way costs MnDOT would probably participate in this project. The estimated cost to construct a connection between Commerce and Rutgers is $110,000 with right-of-way costs estimated at an additional $650,000 to $900,000, depending on the number of properties that would need to be acquired. Such a project would benefit the County and they should be. willing to participate in the cost. Memo from Dave Chromy, Prior Lake Fire Chief Letter from T. F. James Company The alternatives are as follows: 1. Adopt Resolution 98-XX concurring with Scott County's request for installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of CSAH 42 and Rutgers Street; closing Timothy Avenue at Commerce Avenue; restricting the CSAH 42 and Timothy Avenue intersection to left-in, and right-in-right-out; and directing staff to initiate steps to accomplish long term improvements to the Commerce I Boudin I TH 13 intersection. 2. Deny this resolution for a specific reason. 3. Table this items for a specific reason. The recommendation is Alternative No.1. recommended ~ '-,--'-~' -... ---- - RESOLUTION 98-XX A RESOLUTION CONCURRING WITH SCOTT COUNTY'S REQUEST TO PROVIDE A FULL ACCESS INTERSECTION AND INSTALLATION OF A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT THE INTERSECTION OF CSAH 42 AND RUTGERS STREET; CLOSING TIMOTHY AVENUE AT COMMERCE AVENUE; RESTRICTING ,THE CSAH 42 AND TIMOTHY AVENUE INTERSECTION TO LEFT-IN, AND RIGHT-IN-RIGHT-OUT; AND DIRECTING STAFF TO INITIATE STEPS TO ACCOMPLISH LONG TERM IMPROVEMENTS TO COMMERCE I BOUDIN I TH 13 INTERSECTION. MOTION BY: SECOND BY WHEREAS, the City of Savage has received a development proposal that requested a traffic signal at the intersection of Timothy Avenue and CSAH 42, and WHEREAS, the traffic study concluded a traffic signal at the intersection of Timothy Avenue and CSAH 42 was not feasible considering projected traffic volumes, and WHEREAS, the traffic study concluded that the Rutgers Street and CSAH 42 intersection is the appropriate location for a traffic signal, and WHEREAS, a traffic signal at the Rutgers Street and CSAH 42 intersection is consistent with Scott County access spacing guidelines and with the current efforts of the CSAH 42 Corridor Study, and WHEREAS, the City Council has held a Public Information Meeting to solicit public input on this issue. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA, the City of Prior Lake hereby concurs with the installation of a traffic signal at CSAH 42 and Rutgers Street to provide full access to CSAH 42 from the residential areas south of CSAH 42 in the City of Prior Lake and to proposed development north of CSAH 42 in the City of Savage and that the costs of such improvements be borne by the developer, the City of Savage, and/or Scott County. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City shall close Timothy Avenue at Commerce Avenue concurrently with the construction of Boudin and Commerce as frontage roads to a common signalized intersection and these improvements shall be programmed in the Capital Improvement Program for completion as soon as feasible. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Prior Lake approves the restriction of the Timothy Avenue and CSAH 42 intersection to a left-in and right-in-right-out configuration and that the costs of such improvements be borne by the developer, the City of Savage, and/or Scott County. RUTGERS2.DOC BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the staff be directed to work with MnDOT and Savage to schedule improvements to the TH 13 , Commerce Avenue, and Boudin Street area. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the staff be directed to investigate a frontage road from Commerce Avenue to Rutgers Street and report back to the City Council. Passed and adopted this 17th day of February, 1998. YES NO Mader Mader Kedrowski Kedrowski Petersen Petersen Schenck Schenck Wuellner Wuellner {Seal} Frank Boyles City Manager City of Prior Lake RUTGERS2.DOC <D .::> c2 <D C > Q) <( ~. >-. o >-:-L ...c 0.. -+- E o \' C C 0 . - :;:: l-u Q) CIl . _'->I. ~ O()_ C . .. "-.-' N Q) ""'"' -D. CIl I CIl 0 <( D- en N ... Prior Lake Volunteer Fire Department To: Mr. Greg Ilkka Subject: Timothy Avenue closure at Commerce Avenue From Dave Chromy, Fire Chief The closing of Timothy Avenue on the North end at Commerce Avenue would not hinder emergency vehicles of the fire department at this time because we enter Timothy Avenue from the south side. In the future if an additional fire station were to be constructed on the North side of Prior Lake, access would be slowed from that station but access would still be faster than our current situation. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact me. 4JJ9dr ;2-~ ,{) -"1~ 4629 Dakota St. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 02/~0/98 TUE 11:36 FAX 612 829 7535 T F JAMES CO [4]002 4 dES February 10, 1998 The Honorable Wes Mader, Mayor Prior Lake City Council City of Prior Lake 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 . RE: Intersection of Timothy & Co Rd 42 Dear Mayor Mader and City Council Members, Our company owns four of the ten commercial lots along Commerce Ave at the southwest comer of Highway 13 and County Road 42. Following up on the City Council meeting of Monday February 2, 1998, we would like to reiterate our concerns regarding the proposed changes to the intersection of Timothy Ave. and County Road 42. 1. We have no objection to closing Timothy Avenue south of Commerce into the residential area. 2. It makes little difference to us whether the traffic signal light is located at Rutgers or Harbor Place since there appears to be little likelihood of a connection from Commerce to the new signaL If a service road connection is possible, we would certainly be interested in having access at the signaled intersection. 3. We are very concerned about the possible loss or restriction of our turn movements at Timothy Ave. We want to retain both left turn movements, especially, the left turn out from Timothy to westbound Co. Rd. 42. Losing our ability to go west on Co. Rd. 42 will have a very serious impact on the businesses located on Commerce. If the City decides to support a restricted access, no left. turn to westbound 42, then at a minimum, there should be signs placed notifying the general public that westbound 42 traffic should travel eastbound on 42 and perform a U turn at the end of the median. I personally think: that most people will feel somewhat uncomfortable making this U turn movement. 4_ We want to know what is going to happen to our access at Commerce and Highway 13. We want a clarification of the location and the timing of the proposed new intersection on Highway 13 between Commerce and Boudin. Whatever happens on Co Rd 42 has a direct impact on our Highway 13 access and vice versa. T.F.James Company P.O. Box 24137 Minneapolis Minnesota 55424 (612) 828-9000 REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT 02/10/98 TOE 11:37 FAX 612 829 7535 T F JAMES CO l4i'o' 0 3 4 dES It is imperative that we retain full access to both Co. Rd. 42 and Highway 13 including all left turn movements into and out of Commerce Ave. Restriction of this access will have a serious detrimental impact on the businesses in this area. If you have any questions or would like to discuss any of these issues! please call me at 828-9000. Sincerely, I?~~~ Richard K vanbeek T.F. James Company P.O. Box 24137 Minneapolis Minnesota 55424 (612) 828-9000 REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT