Agenda Packets - 1994/05/02 - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 26, 1994 Mounds View City Council City of Mounds View 2401 Highway 10 Mounds View, MN 55112 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers: I would like to present an issue for your consideration that is having a seriously negative impact on the quality of life for myself and other residents of County Road I in Mounds View. My complaint concerns the markedly increased volume of semi-truck traffic on County Road I during the past two years, specifically that section between the Ramsey County border at Pleasant View Drive and Silver Lake Road. As a resident of 3008 for over twenty years, I think that some immediate action needs to be taken to preserve the sanctity and safety of this purely residential neighborhood. Specifically, the problem concerns three trucking companies that are all located near the intersection of Osborne Road (Co. Rd. I) and Old Central Ave. in Spring Lake Park and Fridley. The trucking companies are, in order of traffic volume, Crow Wing Transport, Shorty's Truck Towing, and ATS/MCT. All of them are using Co. Rd. I as a short-cut to Highways 10 & 35W when they should be using Hwy. 65 to which they are adjacent. I would estimate the volume of truck traffic to be from 75 to 100 trucks daily during the week and from 30 to 60 daily on the weekend. Their activity is 24 hours a day and many of their drivers unnecessarily use compression brakes for stopping in this residential area. The resultant noise level is enough to wake even the soundest of sleepers. The two main issues involved here are safety and annoyance. Having driven semi-trucks myself, I question the safety of this section of road for their use. Not only is the road narrow and winding and in poor repair, but it is frequently used by pedestrians and bicyclists, many of them children. I believe that with the present situation, a serious accident with possible fatalities is inevitable. As Mounds View progresses to a mature city, the annoyance or quality of life issue should be of significant importance also. The mix of residential and industrial interests is a delicate one; an effort should be made to afford them as much separation as possible. I think it is most improper to allow unlimited semi-truck traffic through a purely residential area. This section of road boarders Mounds Views only lake; wouldn't it be better to make it a parkway than to allow it to become another highway? The most obvious solution to this problem is to put such weight restrictions on this section of Co. Rd. I that would prohibit its use by semi-trucks. Surely the deteriorated condition of this roadway would provide enough justification to warrant a cooperative effort between Mounds View and Ramsey County to get a restriction enacted.