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• Access management is an important aspect of planning new road alignments. A number of studies have demonstrated a relationship between the number of full access points on major roadways and the number of crashes. Managing access to the arterial roads in the study area supports several goals, including• maintaining an acceptable level of mobility on the roads; reducing the potential for safety problems; promoting appropriate property access; and facilitating cooperation between different agencies and jurisdictions. The Anoka County Highway Department has adopted access spacing guidelines for intersections on county roads. The table below lists spacing for minor arterial roads. Access Spacing Guidelines: Anoka County Highway Dept. Functional Class Route Speed (mph) Area or Facility Type Primary Full Movement Intersection Conditional Secondary Intersection Signal Spacing Private Access Minor Arterial 50 -55 Rural 1/2 mile % mile % mile subject to conditions 40 -45 Urbanizing 1/4 mile 1/8 mile 1/4 mile by exception or deviation < 40 Urban Core 1/8 mile 300 -660 feet 1/4 mile subject to conditions Source: Anoka County Highway Department Development Review Process Manual, December 2003 Both Hodgson Road and CR J are classified as minor arterials. The speed limit is 50 mph on Hodgson north of CR J, but 45 mph to the south in Ramsey County. On CR J, the speed limit is 35 mph at the Hodgson intersection. The speed limit increases to 50 mph approximately 2,000 feet to the west and about 2,600 feet to the east of Hodgson Rd. Defining the access points also includes recognizing that access to the arterial roads will be limited. The intent is that access to land will be via the new local roads rather than with individual driveways onto Hodgson and CR J. One of the important benefits of creating new access points will eliminating existing driveways that now access the arterial roads. If internal roadways are created, there would be one access to Hodgson from each side. There also would be one access to CR J between Hodgson and Ware, and one access between Hodgson and Woodridge. Approximately 15 existing driveway access points on Hodgson and CR J would be reduced to four access points: three at public road intersections and one parking lot access (the CR J access west of Hodgson). This reduction from 15 individual, random driveways to four properly designed access points would be a significant public safety improvement . Parcel Size: In addition to access needs, road alignments should allow for the creation of parcels of property that are large enough to develop. The parcels must accommodate buildings, parking, access drives, and site amenities such as landscaping or DRAFT December 8, 2005 Hodgson/CR J Master Plan page 1.4