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<br />4.2 <br /> <br />ITS TECHNOLOGIES FOR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Safety and Mobility Benefits <br /> <br />Mobility and safety impacts were expected to be low to moderate depending on the location <br />of the improvement. <br /> <br />Environmental Impacts <br /> <br />There would be visual impacts associated with this alternative. However, they are <br />considered minimal. <br /> <br />Cost <br /> <br />The cost of this option was expected to be relatively low (for example, variable message <br />signs costs about $50,000 each). <br /> <br />4.3 ACCESS CONSOLIDATIONIFRONTAGE ROAD DEVELOPMENT <br /> <br />Safety and Mobility Benefits <br /> <br />Providing access control in some form, whether through grade-separated crossings, frontage . <br />roads or right-inlright-out entrances and exits, reduces the number of traffic conflicts and, <br />therefore, reduces crash potential. A number of studies have demonstrated a direct <br />relationship between the number of full access points and number of crashes, including the <br />Federal Highway Administration (FHW A) Access Research Report No. FHW A-RD-92- <br />044. The results of this federal study are presented in Figure VI-I. <br /> <br />Safety and mobility benefits would be most considerable in urban areas along the corridor, <br />namely in the Cities of Anoka, Ramsey, Elk River, Coon Rapids, Fridley, Columbia <br />Heights, and Minneapolis. These areas have dense development and closely-spaced access <br />locations along the TH 10/47 corridor. Access consolidation and frontage roads would <br />limit areas of potential conflict between turning and through-traffic. Frontage roads would <br />better serve local traffic that would otherwise use TH 10/47. <br /> <br />In some areas of the corridor, frontage roads already exist. These areas include Becker <br />(north ofTH 10), Clear Lake (north ofTH 10 and west of Sherburne CSAH 6), and Fridley <br />(along TH 47). <br /> <br />Environmental Impacts <br /> <br />In Anoka, Ramsey, Elk River, Coon Rapids, Fridley, Columbia Heights, and Minneapolis, <br />access consolidation and/or the development of frontage roads was most important because . <br /> <br />Northstar Corridor Major Investment Study <br />Conceptual Definition of Alternatives <br />February 1999 <br /> <br />VI-4 <br />