Minutes 11-04-09RICHFIELD TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 4, 2009
7:00 p.m. | Richfield City Hall | Council Chambers
Commission members in attendance: Martin Kirsch (Chair); Sara Nutter; Gail Lund; Pat Sorensen; Bob Shotwell; Steve Lindgren; Peter Easterlund; Gary Ness; Gerald Charnitz; Maureen Scaglia;
and Council Member Sue Sandahl.
Others in attendance: John Griffith, MN/DOT; Jennie Read, MN/DOT; Jeff Rhoda, SEH, Inc.
City Staff: Jeff Pearson and Kristin Asher Osberg.
Excused absence: Barb Kritzman
CALL TO ORDER
M. Kirsch called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion to approve the agenda by Lindgren, s/Easterlund. Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES
Motion by Easterlund to approve August 5, 2009 meeting minutes, s/Lund. Motion carried.
I-35W/494 INTERCHANGE PRESENTATION
Jeff Rhoda from SEH, Inc. presented on the current layouts of the I-494/35W interchange that are being studied by the interagency Technical Advisory Committee. The process involves looking
at the 2001 FEIS layout for I-494 and comparing it to several alternative layouts in an attempt to select an option that can be constructed in phases to make the costs of construction
more realistic. All layouts would also facilitate a BRT Station between American Blvd. and 82nd Street on 35W.
TRAFFIC SIGNAL REQUEST LETTER
Motion by Lindgren to table this issue until further information and correspondence between Mr. Schadegg and Steve Devich is available, s/Lund. Motion carried.
UPDATES
LYNDALE BRIDGE OVER I-494 PROJECT RIBBON CUTTING
The commission viewed a picture slide show and brief recaps were provided by several members in attendance.
METRO SEWER PROJECT
Asher summarized the status of the plans and upcoming bidding process. The City Council approved the plans in October.
PORTLAND AVE/66TH STREET ROUNDABOUT SIGNAGE/STRIPING REVISIONS
Asher summarized the conversations and correspondence that has taken place with Hennepin County and explained that the intersection is now their responsibility.
NON-MOTORIZED GRANT PROJECTS
Pearson recapped the grants RFP process and noted that the city received six proposals from consultants. A selection will be made by November 13th.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
NO TURN ON RED POLICY
Pearson explained that the City of Minneapolis implemented a NTOR Policy in 2008 and is finishing up a one-year study of intersections in which the signs were removed. Staff will review
the study when it is complete and use the information to form a NTOR Policy for the commission to review.
TRAFFIC CALMING POLICY
Pearson noted that this policy is just beginning to be studied but that the City of Edina uses a ranking system to address concerned neighborhoods. Ideally a similar system could be
used in the Richfield policy to differentiate and prioritize concerned residential areas.
BICYCLE PLANNING SUBCOMMITTEE
Pearson stated that he hopes to pick up where Tom Foley left off in bike planning for the City of Richfield. He asked for a summary of what was presented to the commission in January
of 2009 by Kirk Johnson. There will be future discussion to determine in what form a Bicycle Advisory Committee would take and what the commissions role would be in this planning.
73RD/NICOLLET TRAFFIC SIGNAL DISCUSSION
Based on the earlier motion, staff will assemble the requested documents for future discussion.
ADJOURNMENT
M/Easterlund to adjourn the meeting, s/Lindgren. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 8:45 P.M.
THE NEXT TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING WILL BE HELD ON DECEMBER 2, 2009 AT 7:00 P.M. AT THE RICHFIELD CITY HALL.