HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 3, 2020 Minutes
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS TRAFFIC COMMISSION
MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2019
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Olson at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members present: Commissioners Olson, Doty, Nekora, and Schluender
Members absent: Commissioner Clerkin
Staff present: Kathy Young, Assistant City Engineer
Erik Johnston, Police Captain
Sue Schmidtbauer, Administrative Assistant
Council Liaison: Robert Williams
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion by Doty, seconded by Schluender, to approve the minutes of March 4, 2019 as presented. Motion
passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS
None
OTHER OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
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A. REQUEST FOR 4-WAY STOP SIGN AT TYLER STREET AND 41 AVENUE
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Ms. Amanda Kruse lives near the intersection of Tyler Street and 41 Avenue. She has requested the
2-way stop signed at this intersection be changed to a 4-way stop. The concern is unsafe conditions
created by the speed of traffic on Tyler Street.
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At this intersection traffic on Tyler Street currently stops at 40 Avenue and 44 Avenue. Traffic on
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41 Avenue stops at Reservoir Boulevard and Arthur Street and cross-traffic along 41 Avenue stops
on Polk Street and Hayes Street.
When approaching the intersection visibility is somewhat limited by the topography and landscaping
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on the south side of 41 Avenue. Once stopped at the stop sign, visibility of traffic on Tyler Street is
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good. It is necessary to ease out into the intersection to see traffic on 41 Avenue. However, as
vehicles are already stopped and moving out, this is to be expected.
According to Police Department records there have been no reported accidents at this intersection for
the past five years.
Schluender asked about traffic counts. Young stated the normal traffic count for residential streets is
300-400 cars per day. This street may have a little higher count because of the school and church, and
possible activities during the week.
Traffic Commission Minutes – June 3, 2019
Page 2
Schluender stated this intersection clearly doesn’t meet the criteria for a 4-way stop and asked if this
would be an opportunity to test out a neighborhood-size roundabout. There are a few in Minneapolis
and this street is wide enough. A neighborhood roundabout covers approximately 60% of the street
width and is basically a traffic calmer that forces vehicles to slow down as they approach the
roundabout. He knows Columbia Heights currently does not have any and asked if this has come up
before, as a calming method for drivers on neighborhood streets. Young advised that up to this point
the City Engineer has elected not to install the mini roundabouts. Olson commented that it’s basically
an obstacle right in the middle of the intersection. Schluender stated that’s correct, there’s signage
and it’s meant to get people to slow down and go around. He advised there are temporary
roundabouts such as a ring of bollards or a potted plant and some arrow signs to use as a pilot before
installing a permanent roundabout. He suggested we could use the data collector box to see if it’s
effective.
Olson inquired if the speed trailers have been placed on Tyler and Polk Streets. Captain Johnston
advised speed trailers have been set up on Reservoir Boulevard with speeds averaging approximately
29 mph; however, he feels Arthur Street would be busier. There is also a school near that intersection
so there are bus stops. He does not know how this would affect the bus service. Olson suggested
placing the speed trailer somewhere on the 4100 block of Tyler Street. He is opposed to more stop
signs as they can cause more problems for neighborhoods. Schleunder agrees there are compliance
issues with stop signs versus just slowing traffic down. Doty agrees with setting up the speed trailer,
this usually shows speeds slower than expectedCaptain Johnston advised the speed trailer can be set
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up as early as next week; the data collector may take a little more time. The data collector also collects
speed but is not as visible as the speed trailer.
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Motion by Doty to deny the request for 4-way stop signs at 41 Avenue and Tyler Street based on the
MMUTCD guidelines, seconded by Nekora. Motion passed unanimously.
OTHER OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
None
OTHER NEW BUSINESS
None
REPORTS
CITY ENGINEER
None
POLICE CHIEF
In reference to the speed trailer, the Police Department received three new devices last fall. Now that the
snow is finally gone they are putting them into service. Because the trailers are solar powered, they never
need to be brought back in to be charged. The plan is to move them around the City every Monday and put
them in a spot for a week at a time. The data collector is going to be used as more of a special use device.
Traffic Commission Minutes – June 3, 2019
Page 3
It is also a little more labor-intensive to set up. Doty asked the earliest the speed trailer could be set up on
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41 Avenue. Captain Johnston stated the trailer can be set up tomorrow but the data collector may take a
while. Schleunder suggested, if possible, they could put the data collector out before and after the speed
trailer to compare if the speed trailer has any bearing on slowing traffic down. Captain Johnston stated
that if the Traffic Commission has ideas as to where the speed trailer should be placed to please email him.
They have a calendar for the speed trailers and will just keep moving them around. Olson stated that if
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they can put the trailer on 41 Avenue tomorrow and around the neighborhood in the next few days that
would be great. Captain Johnston advised that they’ve had some speeding complaints on the east side of
town due to construction detours so they’re currently using both the speed trailers to try to slow that
down.
COMMISSIONERS
None
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Schluender, seconded by Doty to adjourn the meeting at 5:45 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Schmidtbauer
Administrative Assistant