6.4. SR 10-03-2011Item # 6.4.
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Police Department
TO: City Council ,
MEMORANDUM
FROM: Bradley R. Rolfe, Chief of Police
DATE: September 27, 201 I
SUBJECT: Orono Parkway Median Visibility Study
As the Council is aware, the center median strip of Orono Parkway near the city hall campus
was seeded with native plants shortly after the public safety building and city hall
construction projects were completed in 2003. Since that time the native plants have
reached maturity.
Over the years the police department has received periodic complaints from area motorists
as well as city staff concerning sight line obstructions due to the height of the native plants.
At the direction of Interim City Administrator Bob Thistle, City Engineer Justin Femrite and
I conducted sight line measurements and photographs in response to ongoing public and
employee safety concerns.
As of this date no accidents have been reported on Orono Parkway that can be directly
attributed to vision obstruction due to the height of the median plants. However, there is
significant anecdotal history and personal experience regarding "close calls" that can be
directly attributed to vegetation height along the median strip.
On August 23, 2011, Justin Femrite and I took sight line measurements and photos from
various key locations along Orono Parkway near the city hall campus. The camera elevation
was 3.5 feet which is an engineering standard for typical driver seated height. The target
object elevation was 4.25 feet, an industry standard for object height of an oncoming object
or vehicle.
Photos were taken at the following locations:
Northbound Hudson St at Orono Pkwy looking east 400' at westbound Orono
Pkwy traffic.
• Westbound Orono Pkwy left turn lane to Hudson St. looking west 200' to eastbound
traffic.
• West public safety building driveway exit, looking west 400' at eastbound Orono
-Pkwy traffic.
• East fire station driveway exit looking 400' west at eastbound Orono Pkwy traffic.
• City hall driveway exit looking 400' west at eastbound Orono Pkwy traffic.
• Elk River Public Library driveway exit looking 400' east at westbound Orono Pkwy
traffic.
In addition to the known distance photos, I took photos from the 3.5' elevation of various
makes and models of vehicles traveling on Orono Parkway. One of the most significant
locations was from the library driveway and median cut out which receives significant daily
vehicular traffic. In several of the photos only the top roof line of the vehicles is visible.
I took measurements of the plant height along the median strip. Plant height ranged from
12 inches to 58 inches with the typical height at approximately 36 inches. With an additional
curb/median height of 5 inches the overall median plant height is approximately 41 inches,
placing it very close to the typical driver's line of sight.
The height of the median plants, in conjunction with the various roadway curves, does
present site line obstructions; particularly when drivers of compact cars are attempting to
view approaching compact cars. It is my opinion that the median plantings as they currently
exist do create a traffic hazard for motorists using Orono Parkway near the city hall campus.
Permanent hazard mitigation options may include:
• Mowing the median strips mid July after plant bloom and near the end of October.
• Create plant "cut outs" at various locations along the median to enhance driver
visibility, (currently median end caps are only cut back several feet).
• Completely remove current native plantings and replace with lower- growing species,
pavers, or other pavement.
In the short term, I was informed by staff at Prairie Restoration Project, Princeton, MN, that
mowing the median strips now that the bloom season is over will not adversely affect the
health of the native plants for next year. This short term fix will allow Council and staff time
to work on a long term solution to this public safety concern.
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