The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About[09] Pedestrian Crossing Study Council Agenda Item 9 MEETING DATE: May 15, 2017 AGENDA ITEM: Pedestrian Crossing Study, SRF SUBMITTED BY: Administration BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: The City received federal funding to complete a study to review pedestrian crossing on CR 75 and determine what alternatives could increase the safety of crossing CR 75. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The federal funding received for the CR 75 Pedestrian Crossing is a transportation grant that is administered by the St. Cloud APO. Therefore, the APO solicited RFP’s from interested consulting firms to assist with the study process. The APO, Stearns County Staff and City Staff interviewed firms and selected SRF as the consulting firm to complete the study. Since being retained, SRF has completed data collection and public outreach. At this time they are seeking input from the City Council. BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: ATTACHMENTS: Study Update REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION: Discussion CSAH 75 Pedestrian Crossing Study About the Study The Saint Cloud Area Planning Organization (APO), the City of Saint Joseph and Stearns County have united in a Pedestrian Crossing Study along CSAH 75 in Saint Joseph. This study will focus on five (5) pedestrian crossings: four (4) major at grade intersections and a potential location for a grade separated crossing. 1. College Avenue (CR 2) 2. 4th Avenue (Northland Drive) 3. 12th Avenue (CR 133) 4. 20th Avenue (CR 134W) 5. Grade Separated Location Purpose The purpose of the study is to: Understand existing conditions; Evaluate the feasibility of ways to improve safe pedestrian and bicyclist crossing of CSAH 75 in St. Joseph; Enhanced at-grade crossing treatments and grade separated concepts will be considered; A report will be prepared documenting findings and recommendations for further study. May. 12, 17 http://www.stcloudapo.org/st-joseph-pedestrian-crossing-study.html CSAH 75 Pedestrian Crossing Study Page 2 Open House Feedback/Key Issues (Open House March 23, 2017) General Comments Provide grade separated crossings where possible. The high speeds on CSAH 75 make it unsafe to cross. CSAH 75 is a barrier between the residential neighborhoods to the north and south of the highway. A few residents noted that they feel uncomfortable allowing their kids/grandkids to cross CSAH 75. environment. There needs to be better driver education, better enforcement of existing traffic laws protecting cyclists, and a culture change. The city needs to do a better job of getting sand off the major corridors that would really help the bike community. College Avenue/CR 2 Crossing CSAH 75 at College Avenue (controlled by a signal) is more dangerous than crossing at 1st Avenue NW (an uncontrolled intersection) because there is less traffic overall and nobody (or fewer) making right turns and looking left while doing it. The traffic signal at College Avenue creates enough gaps in traffic that he can cross with relative ease. This intersection is known to have higher pedestrian crossings and has higher-density development adjacent. A few residents felt that this intersection was safer to cross than the other signalized intersection locations in the City because vehicles travel slower, look for pedestrians. College Avenue sidewalk connectivity to the north has gaps (east side of College Avenue between Elm Street/Nebraska Street and Date Street/Clark Street); bikes/pedestrians walk on the road to access the Lake Wobegon 4th Avenue/Northland Drive There is minimal storage available on 4th Avenue for vehicles to make a northbound left- turn onto Cedar Street (the Frontage Road north of CSAH 75) space for approximately one vehicle before queues extend to CSAH 75. The close proximity of the Cedar Street intersection to CSAH 75 and the conflicts from vehicles entering/exiting make for unsafe pedestrian conditions. No sidewalk/trail on the north side. The distance to the Lake Wobegon Trail is shorter than when accessing via College Avenue. A few residents mentioned they preferred accessing the trail here due to the shorter distance. Bikes crossing north/south on CSAH 75 have difficulty accessing the push buttons due to the curb cut location. May. 12, 17 http://www.stcloudapo.org/st-joseph-pedestrian-crossing-study.html CSAH 75 Pedestrian Crossing Study Page 3 12th Avenue/CR 133 The channelized right-turns/pork chops make this intersection difficult to cross as a biker. One resident said she gets off of her bike and walks across the intersection in the crosswalk. Pedestrian walk time to cross CSAH 75 is not long enough to cross both the eastbound and westbound travel lanes in one cycle. Pedestrians have to wait in the center median. Residents mentioned that they do not feel comfortable/safe waiting in the median due to the high speeds on CSAH 75 and the median width (narrow near crosswalk markings, not side enough for a bike with a buggy). are only a few inches of pavement on which a cyclist can ride. CSAH 75 @ CR 133 p-turns onto CR 133 because the signal takes way too long to recognize the left-turner and change, so people regularly run through the red light as gaps allow. Residents less likely to walk to the land uses to the north of CR 133 (McDonalds, Clinic, -orientated type uses. 20th Avenue Residents mentioned that they observe a high number of trucks on the north approach. When the trucks drive around the curved segment of the road they travel outside the lane (e.g. use the shoulder). Currently low pedestrian demand to cross CSAH 75. However when the Lake Wobegon Trail is extended to the east, residents living in the southeast part of town may want to cross at 20th Avenue to access the trail. No trail/sidewalk connections north or south of 20th Avenue. Pedestrian signal heads were removed by the County to discourage pedestrian crossings at this intersection. There is a pedestrian push button on the signal pole informing pedestrians to push the button and wait green light. Grade Separated Crossing Consider both a tunnel or bridge option. Feasibility, ROW impacts, costs, aesthetics should be reviewed to determine appropriate option. o If tunnel option selected, it should be well lit and safe. Based on the O-D exercise and discussions with residents, the grade separated crossing should be located between College Avenue and just east of 4th Avenue. o Connects the residential neighborhoods north and south of CSAH 75. Primary users of the crossing would likely be kids crossing to/from residential areas, parks, etc. and Lake Wobegon Trail users to/from the residential area south of CSAH 75. Provide sidewalk/trail connections to the grade separated crossing. Check into the feasibility of constructing the crossing to the west of 4th Avenue/Northland Drive where there is vacant land. May. 12, 17 http://www.stcloudapo.org/st-joseph-pedestrian-crossing-study.html CSAH 75 Pedestrian Crossing Study Page 4 o May require crossing both CSAH 75 and Cedar Street due to the close proximity of the frontage road. College of St. Benedict Pop-Up Meeting Feedback/Key Issues (Pop-Up April 18, 2017) Build more bike lanes and sidewalks. Pedestrian signal at College Avenue is not long enough and takes too long to change. Overpasses are nice but location can make them inconvenient if I need to walk farther to use them. Be mindful of people with visual impairments provide audible warnings and crossing improvements along College Avenue for students with disabilities. May. 12, 17 http://www.stcloudapo.org/st-joseph-pedestrian-crossing-study.html 5 Page rate ) study.html - APS efuge r ehicle conflicts . crossing - estrian Mitigation Options pedestrian - provided below Marked crosswalkPush button activators on sepapoleTruncated domesAPSMedian ped joseph Potential No right on redAccessible pedestrian signals (Increase pedestrian walk time To reduce pedestrian/vwith Cedar Street consider restricting/discouraging pedestrian crossings on the west and north approaches.Provide pedestrian crossing enhancements on the east and south approaches, such as: - - Trail preliminary mitigation options are http://www.stcloudapo.org/st of the Cedar Street intersection unsafe pedestrian conditions Assessment Crossing at College Avenue can be more dangerous than crossing at 1st Avenue NW High pedestrian crossings and highdensity development adjacent to intersectionVehicles tend to travel slower and look for pedestrians Gaps in sidewalk connectivity to the north. Bikes/pedestrians walk on the road to access the Lake Wobegon ProximitycreatesNo sidewalk/trail on the north sideDistance to the Lake Wobegon Trail is shorter than when accessing via College AvenueBikes crossing north/south on CSAH 75 have difficulty accessing the push buttons and engineering assessment efuge r ountdown timersountdown timers estrian cc ped estrianestrian feedback received, Existing Crossing Conditions Marked crosswalkSidewalk connectivity Push button activatorsPush button activator on separate poleTruncated domesPedStop bar for trafficMedian Push button activatorsPed ) ive site reviews, Intersection Key College Avenue (CR 2)4th Avenue (Northland Dr CSAH 75 Pedestrian Crossing Study Key Intersection Conditions/Assessment/Potential Mitigation Options Based on May. 12, 17 6 Page e study.html - crossing - (northbound) pedestrians that are destined destrian walk time clearance Mitigation Options pedestrian - e pedestrian movements to/from North of CSAH 75: East side of the road to the trail South of CSAH 75: West side of the road to Minnesota Street Stop bar for trafficNo right on red Sidewalk connectivity oo Marked crosswalkPush button activators on separatpoleTruncated domesAPS providing a crossing on the west joseph Potential Push button activators on separate poleAPSRelocated marked crosswalk to align through the center median or extend the center medianTime the peto allow pedestrians to walk across both directions on CSAH 75 Relocate Lake Wobegon Trail Crossing to the north approach of the intersectionProvide designated pedestrian crossings on the west and south approaches to facilitatthe future Lake Wobegon trail extension (approach would reduce conflicts with vehicles for to/from the trail) - road bicyclists - turns - http://www.stcloudapo.org/st Assessment Channelized rightShort pedestrian walk timeNarrow median width near crosswalk markingsNot enough space for onMotorists regularly run through the red light as gaps allow Low existing pedestrian demand, but will likely increase when the Lake Wobegon Trail is extendedNo trail/sidewalk connections north or southNo pedestrian signal heads efugeefuge rr ountdown timers estrianestrian c estrian Existing Crossing Conditions Marked crosswalkSidewalk connectivityPush button activatorsTruncated domesPedStop bar for trafficMedian ped Push button activatorsMedian ped Intersection (CR 134W) Key 12th Avenue (CR 133)20th Avenue CSAH 75 Pedestrian Crossing Study May. 12, 17 7 Page study.html - to trail crossing - ountdown timers c Mitigation Options pedestrian estrian - PedStop barSidewalk connectivity joseph Potential Consider restricting pedestrian crossing on east and north approaches (low demand) - http://www.stcloudapo.org/st Assessment Existing Crossing Conditions Intersection Key CSAH 75 Pedestrian Crossing Study May. 12, 17 8 Page study.html - crossing - pedestrian - joseph - http://www.stcloudapo.org/st CSAH 75 Pedestrian Crossing Study Grade Separated Crossing Considerations Overpass/Underpass Examples: May. 12, 17 10 Page study.html - crossing - pedestrian - joseph - http://www.stcloudapo.org/st Concepts and CSAH 75 Pedestrian Crossing Study Grade Separated Typical Sections May. 12, 17 11 Page study.html - crossing - pedestrian - joseph - http://www.stcloudapo.org/st CSAH 75 Pedestrian Crossing Study May. 12, 17 12 Page study.html - crossing - pedestrian - joseph - http://www.stcloudapo.org/st CSAH 75 Pedestrian Crossing Study Alignment Alternatives May. 12, 17 13 Page study.html - crossing - Summary Document_170512_cv.docx CSAH 75 \\ pedestrian - joseph - 170515_City Council Workshop \\ Meetings \\ _Correspondence \\ http://www.stcloudapo.org/st 10295 \\ 10000 \\ Projects \\ ProjData \\ mpls1 - vs \\ \\ CSAH 75 Pedestrian Crossing Study May. 12, 17