10-25-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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STAFF REPORT TO: Mayor Keis and Members of City Council FROM: Bill Dircks, Public Works Director DATE: October 20, 2017 RE: Little Canada Road Crosswalks Before installing the flashing crosswalk at the mid-block crosswalk on Little Canada Road at St. John’s Church, staff received a request to install a flashing crosswalk at the Little Canada Road and McMenemy Street crosswalk. In light of that request, staff did some research of the area to figure out the best course of action to take with respect to the crosswalks. Crosswalk History: The mid-block crosswalk has been in place since at least 1991. It shows up on the aerial photos in 1991 but does not appear to be there in 1985. It serves the people who park in the lot on the north side of the street and walk across Little Canada Road to St. John’s Church. There are events at the Church every day of the week, including Mass, funerals, weddings, school events, and other activities. About ten years ago the City received a request to try and make the crosswalk more visible to drivers as some users felt it was quite dangerous due to its location. Staff purchased a stand-up crosswalk sign that can be placed on the center line of the street to draw attention to drivers that there is a crosswalk on the road. The sign worked for a while but then became a target for cars, who continually ran it over or dragged it down the street. It was not replaced the last time it was hit and damaged. An example is shown below. Staff was again contacted by users of the crosswalk within the last year requesting something to help make drivers aware of both crosswalks to the Church. That is what led to the flashing crosswalk concept. When Little Canada Road was reconstructed in 2014, staff had requests to put in a crosswalk at the intersection of Little Canada Road and McMenemy Street to connect the sidewalks on each side. Staff spoke to Ramsey County Public Works, they agreed to paint the crosswalk, and it was completed in