01-19-99 Council Special Minutes

Home Browse Search

MINUTES CITY COUNCIL JANUARY 19, 1999 side of the street and the line is obliterated, cars would move back to the center of the street thus utilizin~; a portion of this bike lane. LaValle asked what MN DOT standards were for a bike lane. The Engineer estimated the standard to be 8 to 10 feet. LaValle pointed out that six additional feet of road surface may provide enough for standard bike (anes on both sides of the street. Scatze asked the cost for keeping these pedestrian areas striped. LaValle estimated the cost at 34 cents per linear foot. He also indicated that the lines would likely need to be restriped after the first year and should last two to three years after that. Dave Brausen, 495 Viking Drive, felt the cost of stripin~ was nominal and that these pedestrian areas should be striped. Steve Brausen, 465 and 475 Viking Drive, pointed out that ifthe pedestrian areas are not striped, the road will feel wider to drivers. This as well as the fact that Viking Drive is parallel to the highway will cause drivers to go faster. The City Engineer pointed out that with the improved road it is likely that traffic speed will increase. Bianchi asked if MN DOT would be willing to ~;rant the City another six feet in order to add standard bike lanes. The Engineer replied that the City has requested 15 feet from MN DOT, hoping it would ~et 10. If MN DOT does give 15, then the issue ofthe width could be revisited. Steve Brausen indicated that he did not think MN DOT will allow the neighborhood to move its plantings much c(oser to Highway 36. The City Engineer,agreed that may be an issue and pointed out that MN DOT is discussing the possibility of adding a third lane to Highway 36. The Engineer pointed out that if MN DOT grants the City the additional right-of-way, the City will be responsible for the cost of moving the freeway fence. Also, the City would want to plat the property so that the issue of who owns what will be cleared up. Scalze asked if there were any other streets in the City that had striped shoulders. The City Administrator replied that Jackson/Old C/Lakeshore is striped as is Country Drive. Arcade Street will also be striped. The Administrator indicated striping Viking Drive is not out of the question. The initial recommendation to not stripe was based on cost; however, pedestrian safety is an important consideration.