10-11-2006 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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W .;.. k Stela ?rnaaa 515 Little Canada Road, Little Canada, MN 55117 -1600 (651) 766 -4029 / FAX: (651) 766 -4048 www. ci.little- canada.mn. us MAYOR Bill Blesener COUNCIL Jim LaVaile Rick Montour Barbara Allan John Keis ADMINISTRATOR Joel R. Hanson MEMORANDUM To: Mayor Blesener & Members of City Council From: Bill Dircks, Public Works Superintendent Date: October 4, 2006 Re: Edgerton St. Speed Study Over the past year or two staff and Mayor Blesener have received calls or letters regarding the speed limit on Edgerton Street from 694 south to County Road B. The current speed limit is 40 m.p.h. Edgerton continues to be 40 m.p.h. north of 694 to Centerville Road. North of that intersection, Edgerton is 30 m.p.h., and south of County Road B the speed limit is also 30 m.p.h. Speed limits are set by the Minnesota Department of Transportation and they are the only agency that can change them. Cities and Counties have the option of requesting that a speed study be undertaken by MN /DOT to determine if the speed is set at the correct limit. The study takes many factors into consideration, including the design of the road, shoulder widths, and the speeds cars drive on the road during the test period. MN /DOT takes all the information into consideration and then makes a decision on the speed limit. The problem is not only can they lower the limit or keep it the same, they can also raise the speed limit if they feel traffic can safely travel at a higher speed. I contacted Mr. Dan Soler, traffic engineer at Ramsey County and he said that the stretch of Edgerton St. in question has not had a speed study performed since 1983. Mr. Soler believes now is a good time to conduct another study due to increased traffic and the Unweave the Weave construction project. Mr. Soler stated that the City Council would have to pass a resolution supporting a speed study and send it on to Ramsey County. Then, the County would pass a resolution aslcing MN /DOT to conduct the study. Mr. Soler said that, in his dealings with MN /DOT on other roads, there have been occasions when the study resulted in an increase to the speed limit but he was able to keep them from raising it. He has also had occurrences when MN /DOT has not agreed and has raised the limit.