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Minutes 9.3.08RICHFIELD TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 3, 2008 7:00 PM | Richfield City Hall | Council Chambers Commission Members in attendance: Pat Sorensen, Sara Nutter, Jay Hermann, Bob Shotwell, Steve Lindgren, Bob Elliott, Peter Easterlund (Vice-Chair), Martin Kirsch (Chair), Barbara Kritzman, Sue Sandahl (Council Member), Maureen Scaglia, Gerald Charnitz, Gary Ness Others in attendance: Debbie Goettel (Mayor), Matt Jones, William Svoboda, Joe Hoover City Staff in attendance: Tom Foley, Sarah Trumm CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by M. Kirsch at 7:00 PM. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES G. Ness noted a correction to be made. At the August 6, 2008 meeting, it was G. Charnitz, not G. Ness, who motioned that if bids came in lower than the Engineer’s estimated cost for the Lyndale Bridge, use the difference as the incentive. S. Lindgren motioned to accept the August 6, 2008 meeting minutes with the correction. B. Elliott seconded. Motion carried. LYNDALE AVENUE BRIDGE The Lyndale Avenue Bridge bid opening is scheduled for September 11, 2008, 2:00 PM, Council Chambers. The contract will be awarded after MN/DOT and the Federal Highway Administration approve the lowest responsible bidder. S. Lindgren requested an aesthetic view of how the Lyndale Bridge and 76th Street Bridge will look once completed. The aesthetics of the 76th Street Bridge will look like that of the Diamond Lake Road Bridge in Minneapolis. Directive: Staff will post on the website PDF images of the Lyndale Avenue Bridge and 76th Street Bridge. OLIVER AVENUE BIKE PATH AND PEDESTRIAN / BIKE PATH ALONG 35W & HWY 62 A neighborhood meeting was held on August 14, 2008 to obtain public feedback on the Oliver Avenue Bike path and pedestrian / bike path along 35W & Hwy 62. Seventy people attended the meeting. Feedback from comment cards, emails and letters was compiled and provided to the Transportation Commission in the September 3, 2008 commission packet. The overall majority of Oliver Avenue residents were opposed to the Oliver Bike Path, while most bicyclists favored the path. M. Scaglia informed the Commission there is currently a bike trail on Upton Avenue in west Richfield. P. Sorensen added that Quality Bicycle Products employs many avid cyclists. The company provides an incentive per diem for those who commute to work. Many of their employees are from south Minneapolis and currently use Upton Avenue. P. Sorensen estimated 100-150 cyclists using that route per day. He added that the neighbors have commented that having the bicyclists pass by has been a positive experience as it has motivated them to lead a healthier lifestyle. B. Shotwell stated he never sees bicyclists toss garbage on the streets. S. Sandahl requested pedestrian / bike accident counts on Upton Avenue. G. Ness questioned why not use Humbolt Avenue as an alternate bike route to Oliver Avenue? T. Foley noted that Humbolt is not as direct of a route as Oliver and would be better for the purpose of recreational biking. T. Foley noted that 90% of the federal grant money would be spent along Hwy 62. If the funding agency allows, Upton Avenue may be a route to pursue in place of Oliver as Upton is also shown in the comprehensive plan as a bike route. J. Hoover (7627 Harriet Ave) invited the Commission to follow Edina’s lead and create a bike task force to educate the public on biking. S. Nutter stated bike routes are an amenity to the community. The Commission made a unanimous decision to table discussion on this project until the arterial study is complete and the future of Penn Avenue is known. Upton Avenue may be considered as an optional bike route to be pursued. Directive: Staff will complete the following tasks: 1) Provide the Commission with bike/pedestrian accident counts on Upton Avenue. 2) Mail / email the feedback obtained to those who attended the August 18, 2008 meeting. 3) Check the status of the Edina Bike Task Force on the specifics of their program. 72ND STREET & 11TH AVENUE PROPOSED STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS A neighborhood open house was held on August 28, 2008 to discuss the 72nd Street and 11th Avenue proposed streetscape improvements. Five residents attended the open house. Feedback was compiled and presented to the Commission at the September 3, 2008 meeting. Concept A was the most popular design. Most want to see on street parking and are opposed to the bump outs. They wanted the street width to remain as is. T. Foley noted that bump outs are an attempt to reduce speeding at intersections. The question now for the Commission is whether or not to build bump outs. Directive: Staff to investigate creating a pilot program to test before and after analysis of the bump outs to determine if they influence speeds. TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL FOR LYNDALE AVE & 66TH STREET The City of Richfield submitted a Transit Oriented Development grant request to Hennepin County for $85,000 to improve the “Family” Plaza located at the northeast corner of 66th Street and Lyndale Avenue. The project did not get funded. 66TH STREET & RICHFIELD PARKWAY ROUNDABOUT TRAFFIC COUNTS At the August 6, 2008 meeting, the Commission requested traffic counts of the 66th Street and Richfield Parkway Roundabout. Traffic counts were taken in August 2008 for each entrance of the roundabout and the Annual Adjusted Daily Traffic counts were as follows: Intersection leg Forecasted traffic 2008 Estimated daily volume traffic volume North leg 10,000 AADT 11,100 AADT East leg 18,000 AADT 16,500 AADT South leg 3,500 AADT 1,600 AADT West leg 14,000 AADT 14,400 AADT LAKE SHORE DRIVE AT LYNDALE AVENUE INTERSECTION At the August 6, 2008 meeting, Vern Luettinger (6711 Lakeshore Dr.) asked if anything could be done to improve safety for cars making left turns on Lake Shore Drive at Lyndale Avenue. In response to V. Luettinger’s concern, staff reviewed traffic operations at the intersection of Lake Shore Drive and Lyndale Avenue. Records showed that the number of left-turns was very low at 18-20 vehicles per hour during peak hours. The average delay of 30 seconds in the morning AM peak hour was a “C” Level of Service rating for AM and an average delay of 40 seconds in the evening PM peak hour was a “D” Level of Service, which is more than acceptable for urban areas. A review of crash data revealed two crashes from 2004-2006, of which neither involved left turns. T. Foley recommended no changes be made to the intersection. SIDEWALKS Directive: J. Hermann requested a quote on cost per linear foot to install a 6’ wide sidewalk. FUTURE AGENDA TOPICS: Arterials study Safe Routes To School study MEETING ADJOURNED G. Ness motioned to adjourn the meeting. B. Elliot seconded. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 8:20 PM. Next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 1, 2008, 7:00 PM, Richfield City Hall, Council Chambers.