4.3.A. SR 02-14-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item # 4.3.A. River TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: MEMORANDUM Mayor and City Council Justin Femrite, P.E., City Engineer February 14, 201 I 193'd Avenue and Xavier Street Intersection Traffic Control On May 17, 2010, John Stewart from BDM presented a Traffic Study, prepared by the former interim City Engineer John Anderson, along the 193' Avenue corridor. More specifically, the study included analysis of potential traffic control modifications to the intersections of 193 Avenue at Tyler Street and Xavier Street. At the recommendation of BDM, the City Council approved signing and striping for a pedestrian crossing at Xavier Street but no change in the intersection control at either intersection. Direction was given at the May 17, 2010 meeting to continue to review the traffic levels at the intersections and any change in the future would be made based on additional information ox increase in traffic volumes to support a traffic control change. We continue to receive calls with concerns about the poor sight distance and unsafe conditions at the intersection of 193`d Avenue and Xavier Street. The latest concern we addressed was regarding the snow piles west of the intersection that further reduced the sight distance for motorists traveling north on Xavier Street trying to enter 193` Avenue. Upon hearing this concern, I reviewed the intersection in the field and directed the street department to remove some of the snow that was being stored along the boulevard. While the snow storage issue is a common situation at a number of our intersections during the winter months, the sight distance at this intersection was particularly poor. Before the crews removed the snow, drivers trying to enter 193`d Avenue northbound on Xavier Street needed to pull up to the east bound lane edge to obtain about 100-feet of sight distance to the west. With the immediate concern improved, I further reviewed the design and sight distances at the intersection. The MnDOT Road Design Manual identifies a minimum sight distance for a driver that stops at a stop sign to safely make a left hand turn onto a roadway not controlled by a stop sign as 400-feet. This is the required sight distance for northbound motorists on Xavier Street who are trying to make a left turn to go west on 193`d Avenue. The Road Design Manual further states that "In addition to intersection characteristics such as skew and grade, designers should consider the effects of parked cars, guardrail locations, snow storage, signs, or any other roadside appurtenances that might restrict the line of sight.". N:\Public Bodies\Ciry Council\Council RCA\Agenda Packet\02-142011\Engineering Update.docx