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4.7 SR 09-18-2023Request for Action To Item Number Ma Tor and CinT Council 4.7 Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by Consent September 18, 2023 Ryan SandhoefneY P.E., EngineeY 1 Item Description Reviewed by Remove Crosswalk at School Street and Irving ustin Femrite P.E., Public Works Director Avenue Reviewed by Cal Portner, Ci r Administrator Action Requested Approve, by motion, the removal of the Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) system and associated cross��alk across School Street at Irving Avenue. Background/Discussion On behalf of ISD #728, CoordinatoY of Prevention Nicole Stottlemyre has formallyr Yequested removal of this crosswalk to reduce the number of cYossing points at uncontrolled intersections. ISD #728 officials propose diverting all student walkers to the t�vo controlled cYosswalks located at Jackson and FYeeport, as well as the remaining mid-block cross`valk located in front of Parker ElementaryT. The e�stence of the cross`valk and RRFB syTstem was originally intended to support the front entrance of Lincoln elementaryT school. As stated in the attached letter, renovations to the school this summer moved the entrance to the west side along Jackson Avenue. If approved, the solar RRFB would be salvaged and inventoried for future use. Staff supports the proposed route consolidation and removal of this crosswalk at an uncontrolled location of School Street. Financial Impact The main removals of the cross�valk elements `vill be accomplished by city staf£ The removal of the paint markings `vould be from an outside contractor and be at a cost of $2,300. This amount can be covered `vithin the approved Streets opeYating budget. Mission/Policy/Goal Meet changing needs - Agile Attachments Letter from ISD #728 The Elk River Vision A 2a�elcolning co�nlnunity 2a�ith T evolutiona� y and spizzted T esou� cefulness, exceptional se�vice, and coln�nunity engagelnent that encou�ages and ins�iz•es pTo�pe�zty. rowEREo ar �I'1 ���� Up�iited.• August 2020 I�I�DEPEND�NT �CHO�L DISTRI�T 728 ELK RIVER aTSEG�J R�GERS 21MMERMAN Members of Elk River City Council, 1 15C� 193rd A�+�_ NW ��� ����ra r�� s���� 7C+����41.341'� f���t����:4�:������,�f� ,�,��.������.�� September 7, 2023 Greetings! My name is Nicole Stottlemyre, and I am a Coordinator of Prevention and Safety for ISD 728. I am writing this letter on behalf of Principal Justin Sperling of Lincoln Elementary, Principal Kate Loveland of Parker Elementary, Superintendent Dan Bittman, Assistant Superintendent Jamie Nord, and the Prevention and Safety Team. We are writing to request the removal of a crosswalk on School Street at Irving Avenue to help create safer routes to school for our students. Currently, students walking to Lincoln and Parker Elementary Schools have the option to cross at four crosswalks: School Street and Jackson Avenue, School Street and Irving Avenue, School Street and Gates Avenue, and School Street and Freeport Avenue. However, as you are aware, only the crosswalks at Jackson and Freeport Avenues are at controlled intersections. Students using the crosswalks at Irving or Gates Avenues must do so with the assistance of adult crossing guards. In recent years, the volume of traffic on School Street and the number of close-call incidents between vehicles and student walkers/adult crossing guards have increased at these crosswalks, leading to significant safety concerns. We propose diverting all student walkers to the two controlled intersection crosswalks and the crosswalk directly in front of Parker Elementary's main entrance at Gates Avenue. This would reduce the number of students crossing the street where vehicles may not see or stop for a crossing guard, all without requiring students to walk significantly further distances to get to school. We believe that the most effective way to accomplish this is through the removal of the Irving Avenue crosswalk by the City of Elk River. This crosswalk will no longer lead to the front entrance of Lincoln Elementary as it did in the past as this entrance was relocated to Jackson Street during the Lincoln construction project. We appreciate your time and hope that you will consider our request. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions. Best regards, � r ���, . Nicole Stottlemyre Office: (763) 241-3400 ext. 1259