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pa C ALIZEM TRAFFIC STUDY COMPANY Technical Memorandum To: Justin Femrite, P.E., City of Elk River From: Mike Spack, P.E., P.T.O.E. Date: January 6, 2014 Re: Traffic Analysis of 171St Avenue & Twin Lakes Road Intersection in Elk River, MN Purpose of Report and Study Objectives Changes are proposed for the street and intersection network along 171St Avenue NW near its current intersection with 170th Lane NW. Based on these changes, a new intersection of 171St Avenue NW /Twin Lakes Road NW would be created. The purpose of this memorandum is to recommend an intersection configuration for the new intersection that accommodates traffic patterns expected with the proposed transportation network. Summary of Recommendations Based upon the information and analysis presented in this report, the following minimum configuration is recommended for the intersection of 171St Avenue NW /Twin Lakes Road: • One northbound left turn lane and one northbound through lane. • One southbound through lane and one southbound right turn lane. • One eastbound left turn lane and one eastbound right turn lane. • Provide side - street stop sign control at the new intersection of 171St Avenue and Twin Lakes Road, with the stop signs placed on 171St Avenue and free flowing traffic on Twin Lakes Road to the new access with Highway 169. Roadway Network 171St Avenue is an east -west four lane, undivided road with a posted speed limit of 40 mph. A traffic signal currently controls traffic at its intersection with Highway 169. From that intersection, 171St Avenue provides for travel east through an industrial area with access to several public roads and private driveways. At the crossing of the BNSF Railroad tracks, the roadway turns to the north and becomes Twin Lakes Road. Twin Lakes Road is a four lane, divided road that provides access to the Northstar Commuter Rail station and beyond. Figure 1 in the Appendix shows the existing road configuration. As part of the effort to improve safety and mobility on Highway 169, the existing intersection with 171St Avenue is proposed to be closed. A new access, potentially a full interchange in the future, would be created south of the 167thAvenue intersection. This new road intersecting Highway 169 would be extended north creating a new north -south corridor that intersects with 171St Avenue and Twin Lakes Road. As currently planned, the new roadway would be an extension of Twin Lakes Road, providing a continuous corridor from the new Highway 169 access to the Commuter Rail station and beyond. The result of these roadway and intersection changes is a major shift of traffic from the current 171St Avenue corridor to the new Twin Lakes Road corridor.