Agenda Packets - 2009/01/09 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

2008 Mounds View Comprehensive Plan ________________________________________________________________________ Chapter 6: Transportation Access Management Guidelines The management of thoroughfare access along roadway systems, particularly arterial and collector roadways is a very important component of maximizing the capacity and decreasing the crash potential along those roadways. As mentioned previously, arterial roadways have a function of accommodating larger volumes of traffic and often at higher speeds. Therefore, local governments and agencies must limit access to such roads to protect the integrity of the arterial function. Collector roadways provide a link from local streets to arterial roadways and are designed to provide more access to local land uses since the volumes and speeds are often less than arterial roadways. MnDOT studies have shown that as the density of access increases, whether public or private, the traffic carrying capacity of the roadway decreases and the vehicular crash rate increases 1. Businesses suffer financially on roadways with poorly designed access, while well designed access to commercial properties support long-term economic vitality. As with many transportation related decisions, land use activity and planning is an integral part of the creation of a safe and efficient roadway system. Every land use plan amendment, subdivision, rezoning, conditional use permit, or site plan involves access and creates a potential impact to the efficiency of the transportation system. Properties have access rights and good design will minimize the detrimental effect of excessive or improper access to the roadway system. Minnesota State Statutes state that “reasonable, convenient, and suitable” access to property shall be provided. Access management is a combination of careful land use planning and effective design of access to property. The State, Counties, Cities and Townships all share in the granting of access to roadways with each having the permitting process responsibility over the roadways under their control. The aforementioned authorities also may require the following while examining property access: • Dedication of public rights-of-way • Construction of public roadways • Mitigation measures of traffic and/or other impacts • Change in and/or development of new access points Using proper access guidelines helps all involved agencies to be consistent in their standards and requirements. However, access spacing is important not just for new developments, but for existing developments and their accesses as well. Cities and counties should develop processes to deal with existing corridors that now have improper access spacing. It is possible that the number of access points exceed the current access spacing guidelines. Local agencies must handle these existing access points in a different manner than with new access points. The City and Ramsey County desire to 6-14 1 “Toward an Access Classification System and Spacing Guidelines”, Technical Study No. 4, MnDOT, February 1999.