HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 17-038 ADOPTING AN INTERSECTION CONTROL POLICYCITY OF ST. ANTHONY VILLAGE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION 17 -038
RESOLUTION ADOPTING AN INTERSECTION CONTROL POLICY
WHEREAS, The City Council for the City of St. Anthony identified during Strategic
Planning the goal of Maintain & Enhance Infrastructure with an action
step of Explore Intersection Control Alternatives; and
WHEREAS, by adopting this Intersection Control Policy, the city will have a consistent
process for evaluating and implementing intersection control; and
WHEREAS, final approval for intersection control will be decided by the City Council;
and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of St.
Anthony does hereby adopt an Intersection Control Policy.
Adopted this 11'h day of April, 2017.
Jerome O. Faust, Mayor
ATTEST: J44�4 �"
Nico e Miller, City Clerk
Review for Administration: vo�
Mark Casey, City Manager
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INTERSECTION CONTROL POLICY
PURPOSE
This document outlines policies for determining the location and type of intersection control signage on
roadways owned and maintained by the City of St. Anthony Village. The City of St. Anthony Village is
implementing this policy for several reasons:
Effective traffic control is achieved by exercising the least intrusive control to achieve safe traffic
flow. When excessive control or unnecessary control is used, motorists feel imposed upon and
frequently will ignore the traffic control device. This can lead to severe consequences involving
collisions and possibly personal injury.
Consistent application of intersection control devices increases safety to both motorists and
pedestrians within the community.
Research conducted by the Federal Highway Administration shows that adding stop signs are not
effective in addressing the issue of speed. The purpose of stop signs is to assign right-of-way at an
intersection, not to control speeding.
The Federal Highway Administration also concluded that adding stop signs do not necessarily
improve safety at an intersection.
A common misconception is that stop signs at an intersection are needed because an accident has
occurred there recently. It is important to keep in mind that accidents are random events. Many
collisions are the result of driver error and are not the fault of poor design or insufficient traffic
control.
Public understanding of the function of stop signs is one of the most critical elements in reducing
speeding and traffic accidents.
A consistent application of the policy serves both the motorist and resident within the City. Stop signs
can be an effective safety measure if properly warranted. However, they should not be installed
inappropriately where they may be ignored by drivers, needlessly interrupt traffic flow, and negatively
affect fuel consumption, the environment, or cause needless noise.
The traffic control at an intersection is critical to the operation of both intersecting roadways. If
incorrect traffic control is installed for the existing traffic conditions and topographic characteristics of
the intersection, undue delays and even unnecessary accidents could occur. The traveling public,
especially persons not familiar with the area, typically drive based on instinct. Drivers subconsciously
evaluate their surroundings to determine if a stop sign should or should not be located on an
intersection approach.
PROCESS
City staff will formalize the traffic safety concern or request. City staff will assist concerned residents to
complete a “Traffic Study Request Form” (appendix A) and gather the pertinent facts to help clearly
define the problem and seek a possible solution. Traffic Study Request forms will be reviewed by the
City Manager (or designee), Public Works Director, Police Chief and City Engineer. City staff will
complete an “Intersection Control Justification Worksheet” (appendix B) and share the results with all
interested parties. If a disagreement with the decision or additional information and/or facts that are
persuasive as related to the City warrants/policies for the requested sign, interested parties may appear
at a City Council meeting and present viewpoint. Any subsequent review of the same or similar request
is at the discretion of the City Council.
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The City Council is the final authority on traffic safety matters, in all cases of traffic control changes to
intersections under City of St. Anthony Village jurisdiction, approval by resolution by Council shall be
required. Requests for removal of a sign will follow the same process.
POLICY
The following information explains St. Anthony Village’s policies on intersection traffic control and the
correct use of stop signs.
LOCAL STREET “RESIDENTIAL” STOP SIGNS
The purpose of the local street stop sign policy is to provide fair and uniform treatment of all
requests for stop signs in residential areas.
1. The provisions of the Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) shall be
followed. Relevant speed, volumes, accident records and sight obstructions shall be reviewed
when considering the installation of a stop sign. The following MUTCD standards will be applied:
a. If an intersection experiences five (5) or more right angle accidents in a three (3) year
period, stop signs should be considered.
b. If the presence of a sight obstruction is contributing to accidents at an intersection, removal
of the sight obstruction should be sought before considering a stop sign.
c. If the 85th percentile speed on any leg of an intersection is more than five (5) MPH over the
posted speed limit, a stop sign should be considered for the intersecting street.
d. If traffic volumes exceed 500 vehicles per day on each of the intersecting streets, stop signs
should be considered.
2. Absent traffic data which clearly indicates the need for a stop sign, a residential intersection
should be left uncontrolled.
3. Residential stop signs shall not be installed in an attempt to control speed.
4. Residential stop signs shall not be installed in an attempt to control volume.
5. Residential stop sign appropriateness will be reviewed as part of any street reconstruction.
COLLECTOR STREET STOP SIGNS
The purpose of the collector street stop sign policy is to provide fair and uniform treatment of all
requests for multiway, all way, and 4-way stop signs.
1. The provisions of the Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) shall be
followed. Relevant speed, volumes, accident records and sight obstructions shall be reviewed by
City Staff when considering the installation of a stop sign.
2. Any of the following conditions may warrant a multiway stop sign installation:
a. An accident problem, as indicated by five or more reported accidents in a 12-month period
of a type susceptible to correction by a multiway stop installation. Such accidents include
right- and left-turn collisions as well as right angle collisions.
b. Minimum traffic volumes:
1) The total vehicular volume entering the intersection from all approaches must average
at least 500 vehicles per hour for any 8 hours of an average day, and
2) The combined vehicular and pedestrian volume from the minor street or highway must
average at least 200 units per hour for the same 8 hours, with an average delay to minor
street vehicular traffic of at least 30 seconds per vehicle during the maximum hours, but
3) When the 85-percentile approach speed of the major street traffic exceeds 40 miles per
hour, the minimum vehicular volume warrant is 70 percent of the above requirements.
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3. Multiway stop signs shall not be installed in an attempt to control speed.
4. Multiway stop signs shall not be installed in an attempt to control volume.
5. Absent traffic data, which clearly indicates the need for a multiway stop sign, control devices at
an intersection will remain unchanged.
6. Multiway stop sign appropriateness will be reviewed as part of any street reconstruction.
Appendix A
3301 Silver Lake Road, St. Anthony, Minnesota 55418-1699 • www.ci.saint-anthony.mn.us •(612) 782-3301 Fax (612) 782-3302
Our mission is to be a progressive and livable community, a walkable village which is sustainable, safe and secure.
Traffic Study Request Form
Date:__________________
Requested by (Name, Address, & Phone Number):
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Description of the Problem:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Time of Day Problem Occurs:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Requested Action of the City:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Sketch intersection of roadway segment showing where the problem occurs:
Return form to City Hall
3301 Silver Lake Rd NE
St. Anthony, MN 55418
Appendix B
RESIDENTIAL STREET ALL-WAY STOP CONTROL JUSTIFICATION WORKSHEET
INTERSECTION LOCATION: ___________________________________________________________
EXISTING TRAFFIC CONTROL: _________________________________ DATE: ____________________
This Residential Street Stop Control Justification Worksheet is applicable only to intersections of residential streets with speed limits of 30 miles per
hour. This procedure is “not” to be applied to the intersection of a local residential street with a major collector or arterial street as
identified in the City’s Transportation Plan.
APPROACH SPEEDS 1 2
Uncontrolled approach speed. Check two boxes, one for the 30 miles per hour or less 0 points
100'
1
0
0
'
Figure 1
Stop Sign Policy - Sight Distance Requirements
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