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I I I Council Meeting Minutes October 22, 1996 Page 3 Council Business. continued Option 2 would install the stop sign for a one year test period. Speed counts would be taken at mid block locations before and after installation. If the percentage exceeding 30 mph is not reduced with stop signs, then they would be removed. The majority of the traffic, 97% based on data, should not be required to stop arbitrarily if the stop sign does not show a reduction in the percent of vehicles exceeding the speed limit. Other studies indicate vehicle speeds increase midblock after stop signs are installed. It would be interesting to see if this holds true in New Brighton. Since Option 2 is a test, it would not establish a precedent of installing unwarranted stop signs. This option does allow time to address the issue of a City-wide neighborhood traffic study. Option 3 would install the stop signs as requested by the residents. A traffic study cannot support the stop signs, therefore, staff cannot recommend this option. Benke asked if the study measured both travel directions, and distinguished between eastbound and westbound traffic. Proper said they measured both directions, but it did not distinguish between eastbound and westbound traffic. Proper is unsure whether the Police study measured both travel directions. Samuelson asked if there will be a pedestrian crosswalk. Proper said the proposal involves only stop signs. Larson questioned whether a crosswalk is a correct usage being there are no sidewalks. Benke said an alternative to a crosswalk would be to paint the shoulders in the 3rd St. approach. Proper said 3rd St. is a 32 ft. wide residential street, and questioned whether striping would be a correct use. Gene Fisher, 1400--3 rd St., stated that the sign request is a safety issue addressing pedestrian traffic and excessive vehicle speeds in residential areas. He feels a crosswalk would not be a correct use. Samuelson asked if landscape pruning may improve visibility. Fisher said many trees have already been trimmed to allow for better vision. Terry Dehn, 3rd St., feels the signs may reduce that traffic which use the area as a bypass to 1-35. Many do not stop at the Bristol and 3rd St. sign, and a truck that did not stop hit her daughter. Many run the red light on 3rd St., and she questioned if the previous stop sign arrangement may had been safer. Mike Meanon, 1735 - 3rd St., does not believe the study data stating the signs would not serve a practical purpose. Motion by Gunderman, seconded by Williams, to WAIVE THE READING AND ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ORDERING THE INST ALLA TION OF STOP SIGNS ON NORTHBOUND 14TH AVE. NW AT 3RD ST. NW AND ON EASTBOUND 3RD ST. NW AT 14TH AVE. NW. 5 Ayes - 0 Nayes, Motion Carried. Benke said the appearance of counters may have skewed traffic patterns, and the summer may provide different -counts than in the winter. He is not prepared to support additional stop signs, but recommends monitoring for periodic enforcement. Option 1 should be pursued next spring if renewed problems occur, but does not favor installation of stop signs contrary to normal warrants and staff opinion. There is merit to experimentation, but it needs to be performed with prior understanding of expectations. Council Business 3rd St. and 14th Ave. Stop Sign Request Report 96-236 Resolution 96-091