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• <br />• <br />WS — Item 9 <br />WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />Work Session Item 9 <br />Date: Council Work Session, March 7, 2011 <br />To: City Council <br />From: Michael Grochala <br />Re: CSAH 34 Corridor Study Final Report <br />Background <br />The City recently received correspondence from a resident expressing concern over <br />vehicle accidents along Hodgson Road near Egret Street. Egret Street is located <br />immediately west of the Rice Creek Bridge. The resident requested that the city consider <br />initiating a speed study of the corridor to have the speed limit reduced. <br />Analysis <br />Hodgson Road (CSAH 49) is under the jurisdiction of Anoka County. The speed limit <br />along Hodgson Road between Lake Drive and Birch Street is 50 mph. Speed limits can <br />only be adjusted by the Minnesota Department of Transportation ( Mn/DOT) following <br />completion of a speed study. The local road authority (Anoka County) can request an <br />investigation by Mn/DOT. However, Anoka County as a matter of policy, requires a <br />resolution from the city prior to forwarding a request to Mn/DOT. <br />The speed study includes collecting vehicle speed data over a period of time under ideal <br />driving conditions. The speed limit is set based on the 85th percentile, i.e., the speed at <br />which 85 percent of vehicles are traveling under. Speed limits posted near this number <br />have been shown to be the maximum safe and reasonable speed. One concern over <br />requesting a speed study is that the speed limit can get adjusted upward. It is very <br />possible that a speed study on this corridor could result in the speed limit increasing to 55 <br />mph. <br />Accordingly, staff recommends a preliminary review be conducted internally before a <br />formal speed study request is made. Public Safety is in the process of assembling crash <br />data for the specified location over the last 10 years. Preliminary results do not indicate <br />an increase in the crash rate for this location. However a more specific review will <br />provide us with a better understanding of the rate, type of crashes, and likely cause. <br />Speed may be only one factor. Sight distance may also play a roll. Additionally, upon <br />improved weather conditions (late spring), staff is proposing to collect additional speed <br />and traffic data using the Public Safety speed trailer. Once this information is compiled <br />1 <br />