4.8. SR 10-08-2001 Howard R, Green Company
October 3, 2001
File: 814361J-0060
Item~
4.8.
Mr. Pat Klaers
City Administrator
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
P.O. Box 490
Elk River, MN 55330-0490
RE: SCHOOL STREET / JACKSON AVENUE SIGNAL MODIFICATIONS
Dear Mr. Klaers:
Last week when Police Chief Tom Zerwas, you, and I met to discuss potential changes to School
Street traffic patterns in order to improve the situation relative to school traffic, we concluded that at
this time the only change needed would be to add left turn phases to the School Street and
Jackson Avenue signal system. We would recommend, based on observed traffic patterns, that
left turn phasing arrows be added for northbound traffic on Jackson Avenue and eastbound traffic
on School Street. These left turn phases could be added by replacing two 3-bulb heads (red,
yellow, green) in each direction with 5-bulb heads (red, yellow, green, yellow arrow, green arrow).
The easiest way to have this system operate would be on a strictly timed basis, simply telling the
signal computer that for certain times in the a.m., the left tum arrow for northbound Jackson
Avenue should come on first with each green cycle for Jackson Avenue, and at certain times in the
p.m. the left turn arrow for eastbound School Street should come on first for each green cycle for
School Street. This should help to clean out the intersection of traffic with each green cycle.
We have reviewed the record drawings for this signal system and concluded that there would be
no need to change any control cabinet equipment nor add any additional loop detectors. It would
be simply the replacement of the four signal heads and some additional widng for the new signal
heads. We estimate that the construction cost for these improvements would be under $10,000.
It should be noted that in order to add green arrow phasing to either of the two remaining legs of
the intersection, geometric changes would have to take place on the street. This would essentially
mean that each street would have to be restriped to a three-lane configuration. An exhibit of what
the intersection would look like with green arrows each direction is attached. It should also be
noted that the improvements described above would not preclude additional green arrow phases
being added in the future and, in fact, the improvements recommended now would not be wasted if
additional modifications for green arrow left turns were added in the future.
If you have any questions regarding this information, please call.
Sincerely,
Howard R. Green Company
Te~P.E.
TJM:tw / Attch.
Ltr 9-21-01 Klaers
1326 Energy Park Drive · St. Paul, MN 55108 ° 651/644-4389 fax 651/644-9446 toll free 888/368-4389
0 60
October 05, 2001 4:55:40
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STRIPING IMPROVEMENTS
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