HomeMy WebLinkAbout06 04 2019 Minutes
MEETING MINUTES
Traffic Safety Advisory Committee
June 4, 201 9
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Parkview Conference Room
Introductions: (Committee Attendees: Bruce Loney, Jake Theisen, Andy Brotzler, Jim Dellwo, Steve
Frazer, Darcy White, Mark Callahan, Kevin Burkart, Nick Monserud, Patrick Heaney, Rick Steinhaus,
Jeff Petschl)
1. Old Business
• Duluth Street/Colorado St Intersection – Cars running 4-way stop concerns (Rudy McBrayer)
A summary of the last meeting was given regarding this topic. Since then Chair Loney and
Assistant City Engineer periodically observed traffic at this intersection. The majority of cars
were stopping at the intersection in all directions. The Police did provide extra patrols and
issued tickets and verbal warnings.
Sgt. White presented that the Police received 4 complaints in 5 yrs at the intersection in
question and all complaints were from Mr. McBrayer. Also, that there were 2 crashes, one in
2017 and one in 2018.
Guidance from the MnDOT Traffic Engineering Manual was discussed. In general the manual
only recommends the use of LED Stop Signs if two of the following apply. 1) Limited visibility on
approach to the intersection. 2) History of crashes documented to be caused by a failure to
stop and deemed preventable by implementation of conspicuity improvement. 3)At a rural
junction of two or more high speed trunk highways to warn drivers of an unexpected crossing
of another highway. 4) At a rural junction of a trunk highway and a local road which has no
STOP controlled intersection within five miles.
With the proposed 21/13 improvement project the Committee recommends not installing LED
stop signs as requested. With the conversion of the Duluth/21 intersection to a ¾ intersection
this will change the traffic movements at the Duluth/Colorado intersection.
It was recommended that if the Committee ever decided to install LED Stop signs that a clear
City-wide policy be developed to evaluate requests.
2. New Business Update
• Dakota Street – Speeding Concerns (Fred Delarye)
The Committee recommends that the speed wagon be placed periodically on this stretch of
Dakota Street to remind drivers of their speed.
• 16469 Franklin Trail – Shorten turnlane paint striping in front of residence (Christine Dakota)
The Committee discussed the following:
1) Moving the fog line (white line) and lanes over 2 feet to the center. The issue we ran into with
looking at this option was that the signal heads on the traffic signal need to be moved/re-
engineered. Because of this, at this time we can not shift the lanes. It may be more of a
possibility when the signal is replaced. I do not have the timing for replacement currently.
2) As to the initial request of tapering the line past your driveway, we are not able to do because
we need to allow for traffic to stack in both lanes. By shortening the right turn lane, it does not
allow as much traffic going left/straight to stack and keep cars moving through the right-hand
turn movement. The Committee also feels if the lanes were shortened, that cars would ignore
the lines and drive on the painted shoulder anyway to get to the right turn lane.
3) The Committee recommends that the several times of year when you plow or mow along your
curb line, that you put cones on top of the curb to add a visual barrier for cars to see that there
is something different going on. By only doing this when you are out mowing in that area or
plowing, it will allow drivers to associate seeing the cones and someone mowing/plowing
causing them to pay more attention.
• Toronto/Mushtown Rd – Speeding Concerns (Paula Anderson)
The Committee recommends that the speed wagon be placed periodically on this stretch of
Dakota Street to remind drivers of their speed.
• Evanston Ave/Dakota St. – Stop sign request (Kim Churchill)
Ms. Churchill presented her concerns. The Committee discussed her concerns regarding the
closure of 21/13 for construction and cut through traffic. The Committee recommended that
Ms. Churchill stay in contact with the City to let them know if this intersec tion becomes an issue
during the 21/13 construction.
• Luther Rd – School speed zone signage. (Wendy – St. Paul’s Lutheran Church)
The Committee discussed the request and did not feel that there would be speeding on Luther
Rd. due to the length and how steep the road is. The Committee recommended that the
Church put signage on private property.
3. Additional Traffic Safety Announcements or Issues
• New Public Works Director/City Engineer – Andy Brotzler
• New Police Chief – Steve Frazer
• 3-D Crosswalks
4. Future Meeting
• August 6, 2019