HomeMy WebLinkAbout99-26 - ADMIN Resolution - City Council - 1999/03/01RESOLUTION NO. 99-26
RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING POLICY FOR
THE CONSIDERATION AND INSTALLATION
OF TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES
WHEREAS, the purpose of a traffic control policy is to provide fair and uniform treatment
of all requests for traffic controls and the consistent application of a policy is to serve both the
residents and the motorists within our community, and
WHEREAS, the City Council is granted the authority, under state statute, to approve or
deny all traffic control requests based on conformance with the Minnesota Manual on Uniform
Traffic Control Devices (MnMUTCD) and local ordinances and regulations which may be
influenced by environmental, social, economic, and/or financial implications within the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council understands that because of the emotional situation often
associated with some requests, it is sometimes difficult to analyze such requests using rational
criteria and to enhance the Council's ability to use rational criteria in evaluating stop sign and
other traffic control requests guidelines should be established, and
WHEREAS, guidelines to aid in neighborhood traffic calming by promoting a basketweave
stop sign pattern along with other various specific calming devices or geometric modifications
are felt necessary; and
WHEREAS, it is felt that guidelines will minimize the proliferation of unnecessary signage
or devices throughout the City and provide for safer and more livable neighborhoods and streets
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of St Louis
Park, Minnesota, that.
All traffic control requests will be reviewed by staff, but requests will only be considered and
processed as provided for herein or as otherwise directed by the Council. Traffic controls may be
warranted and authorized by the Council as follows
1 The provisions of the MnMUTCD shall be followed on all arterial, collector and
Minnesota State Aid (MSA) routes.
2. The provisions of the MnMUTCD shall be used as a guideline on all
residential/neighborhood streets In addition, the following criteria shall be used when
determining need for traffic controls within a residential/neighborhood street system:
• Installation of any type traffic controls or traffic calming controls must not
significantly increase traffic volumes on adjacent residential/neighborhood streets.
• Traffic calming controls such as, parking controls, traffic calming devices, or other
traffic controls, must not jeopardize the safety of the motoring public or any non -
motoring traffic using the roadway or sidewalks
• Where 50% of the traffic, as determined by traffic studies, is cut -through, installation
of traffic calming controls may be considered.
• Installation of traffic calming controls for speed control, 60% of the traffic surveyed
must exceed the posted speed limit and/or 35% must exceed posted limit by 5 miles
per hour
• Stop signs will be considered and allowed as a traffic calming measure in residential
areas when fit into a basketweave pattern in an area or a neighborhood This will
require areawide resident involvement to develop and to support this as an area traffic
calming measure or plan (see Policy Section 3) Implicit in this provision is the
understanding that some stop signs may require removal in order to achieve a
reasonable and acceptable basketweave pattern.
• Intersections with volumes less than 5,000 vehicles per day entering the intersection,
one of the intersecting streets may be controlled (2 way controls).
• Intersections with volumes greater than 5,000 vehicles per day entering the
intersection, traffic controls on both intersecting streets may be considered (4 -way or
all way controls)
• Where pedestrian levels in safety sensitive areas (parks, schools, houses of worship,
senior centers, hospitals, trails) warrant, then traffic controls may be considered for
pedestrian safety This may include stop signs, marked crosswalks, and/or other
traffic calming controls.
• When engineering data and/or geometric design clearly indicates the need for traffic
controls, then traffic controls should be considered.
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• If an intersection experiences five (5) or more accidents correctable by traffic controls
in a three (3) year period, traffic controls should be considered.
• If the presence of a sight obstruction is a factor (potential or documented), removal of
the obstruction should be sought before considering traffic controls.
3. Non -qualifying devices (from #1 and 2 above) and traffic calming devices/methods may
be considered if both of the following are satisfied
• 70% of residents within a six hundred (600) foot radius from the intersection/site
request by petition (residents will be provided with a map with the appropriate radius
lines and a petition form) or a neighborhood association supports a neighborhood
study and calming strategy.
• Special studies (site specific or neighborhood wide) and installation of traffic calming
controls (except signs) would be at residents or neighborhood cost (specially assessed
to benefited residents or areas).
4. Necessity of devices is to be monitored and devices should be removed if:
• They prove to be ineffective or unnecessary
• Accidents increase or benefit to the public decreases from prior situation
• Neighboring residential streets would be adversely affected.
5. As with all traffic safety issues, the City Council is the final authority by which a traffic
control change shall be authorized or denied. The City Council will make their decision
based on the facts presented, all pertinent guidelines plus relevant environmental, social,
economic, and financial considerations at the time
Attest
4 --
Ci' Clerk
Reviewed for Administration•
jd.pt:d by the Cit Council March 1, 1999
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