04-24-1995 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON APRIL 24, 1995 ( 92 - Old Beach Road - Continued) • Staff has worked with the residents and Hennepin County Dept of Transportation to develop alternative solutions to these problems. One alternative solution is speed enforcement. With the high volume, this would be only temporary; as history shows, speed is increased once police leave the area. An extensive effort would be needed. This, however, would only respond to the Old Beach Road problem and not to the turning movements problem. Moorse identified another alternative solution as reconstructing Old Beach Road to MSA standards as a collector road. This is an expensive alternative. Old Beach Road is not eligible for MSA funding. This also would not solve the turning issue; and in fact, would draw more traffic and increase the number of turns. CoRds 15 and 19 were designated for handling that traffic; and this solution would be a duplication of that effort. A third solution would be to restrict or eliminate the connection between Old Beach Road and County Roads 15 and 19. The purpose would be to shift the thru traffic to CoRds 15 and 19. The best alternative was found to use a cul -de -sac, which would eliminate the traffic. It is Staffs recommended solution to install the cul -de -sac at the CoRd 19 end of Old Beach Road. The advantages found to this solution are the elimination of the safety problem on Old Beach Road that is being caused by the high volume of through traffic; the shift of traffic • volumes to the roads designated to carry higher volumes; and the shift of turning movements to a controlled intersection that is much better designed to facilitate these movements. When open, the road allows left turns at CoRd 15 and at CoRd 19 resulting in two unprotected left turns. The solution of a cul -de -sac places the turns at one spot which is a controlled intersection and cuts the amount of turning, movements in half. In discussions with the County over the operation of the intersection, the County said the impact on the level of service should remain at the same level it is now, which is a "b ". There are six different levels, a -f, "b" being good. The disadvantages with the installation of a cul -de -sac are that it would cause longer trips between CoRds 19 and 15; the potential of blocking of access to some of the homes if the cul -de -sac becomes blocked at any point along its length; and Old Beach Road would not be available for use as an alternate route between CoRd 19 and 15 if a temporary closure of the intersection of CoRd 19 and 15 were to occur. In balancing the pros and cons, the advantages to the safety improvements point to the recommendation for the installation of the cul -de -sac. Moorse relayed other related items. The cost of the cul -de -sac improvement is estimated at $9,500. The residents on Old Beach Road have agreed to pay the full cost of installing the cul-de -sac. The property owners affected have verbally agreed to providing the necessary easements; and the costs involved with the acquisition, if any, will be borne by the Old Beach Road residents. • 2