05-22-1995 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• ' NffNUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MAY 22, 1995 ( #2 - County Road 15 Improvements - Continued) Polycyzk agreed that driveways and intersections are points of conflict but sees less points of conflict here than in many areas. The traffic counts were 15,000 cars daily in 1991 and estimated to add an additional 10,000 cars by 2001. The center lane will help alleviate some traffic problems. Goetten said her main concern was people using the center lane for passing. Callahan called the formal meeting back to order and asked for comments. Don Gamble said he was concerned with the road widening to two times its present width. The speed of cars on the road now is fast, and the new width will make it look like it can be travelled even faster. Gamble asked if the design can control the speed. He said the speed at Orono Orchard is now 50 mph and asked if it would be posted at 35 or 40mph. The Council said the plan is to police the road to instill the speed limits in those driving on the road. It was noted that traffic will increase on the road and make it harder to speed in the future but these concerns are valid. Hurr noted that the engineering comment was a road design for 40 mph, which means the road cannot be posted above that mark. The Commissioner of Transportation cannot increase the speed limit. It was commented that the road is a county design and cannot be posted by Orono but is a state decision. Jabbour said part of the conditions of the project approval could be not to post the road more than 40 mph. Goetten asked for a plan for police monitoring. She reiterated her concern over cars passing from the center lane noting cars now pass on both the right or left using the shoulders. Robert Floyd of West Ferndale said the road was a stop -gap measure. He noted a 60% increase in the volume of traffic. With an increase in the size of the road, more will be demanded in the future. Floyd said the long -term feeder system needs to be addressed. Callahan was unsure about the 60% increase calculation but noted the need for alternate routes. Callahan said the City is dedicated to the road from the Arcola Bridge not enlarging. It is not geographically able to expand nor is it acceptable in Callahan's opinion. Kelley said the Hwy 12 issue is a concern with growth especially from the Minnestrista area. The plans for work on CoRd 6 and McCulley Road would alleviate some traffic pressure on CoRd 15. 3