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SIGNAL JUSTIFICATION REPORT • STINSON BLVD. AT 39TH AVENUE BACKGROUND INFORMATION A signal justification report to install a pedestrian signal on Stinson Blvd. mid-block between 38th and 39th Avenues was submitted to the Minnesota Department of Transportation Office of State Aid on February 5, 1993. The pedestrian signal was justified with Warrant 12, Senior Citizen and/or Handicapped Pedestrian Crossing Warrant, in the 1986 MUTCD. The report showed that pedestrians have a difficult time crossing Stinson Blvd. due to the inadequate gaps in the traffic stream. The Office of State Aid approved the signal justification report on July 9, 1993. The City of Columbia Heights Engineering staff approached the City Council concerning plan preparation and construction of the proposed pedestrian signal. Staff voiced concerns with the safety issues involved with a mid-block signal. Based on this discussion, the City Council directed staff to proceed with a signal justification report to install traffic signals at the intersection of Stinson Blvd. and 39th Avenue rather than mid-block pedestrian signal between 38th and 39th Avenues. The proposal is to install a new permanent traffic signal system on Stinson Blvd. at 39th Avenue. This is considered a four leg intersection, although, the west leg is the driveway entrance/exit for the disabled and senior citizen residence at 3850 Stinson Blvd. There is one approach lane on northbound and southbound Stinson Blvd. and two approach lanes on 39th Avenue (left turn and right turn lanes). All four approaches have a stop sign. The posted speed limit is 30 MPH. There is a painted pedestrian handicap crosswalk, however, traffic rarely stops to allow pedestrians to cross. The crosswalk does have appropriate signs in place. The traffic volume at this intersection meets the required volume of Warrant one: Minimum Vehicular Volume for seven of the required eight hours. During the eighth hour, the traffic on Stinson Boulevard had 13 vehicles less than the required volume. The 24-hour traffic count is attached. The estimated cost for this signal is $85,000. There is a need for traffic signals to protect pedestrians attempting to cross Stinson Blvd. The traffic volume on the major street, (Stinson Boulevard), is such that the requirements of Warrant 1 are met for seven of the required eight hours. Traffic on the minor street(39th Avenue) meets the requirements for the entire eight hours. Based on the traffic volume at this intersection and the lack of adequate gap time for pedestrians, the City of Columbia Heights feels a traffic signal at the intersection of Stinson Boulevard and • 39th Avenue is justified.