6.1. SR 09-16-2002Paver
Police Department
13065 Orono Parkway, Box 490
Elk River, MN 55330
September 10, 2002
Item
Thomas Zerwas
Chief of Police
Jon Anderson
20760 Quincy Street Northwest
Elk River, Minnesota 55330
Re: County Road 33
Dear Mr. Anderson:
I received you letter today concerning the safety of County Road 33 in proximity to the large curve
adjacent to your property. I understand your concerns and I concur that this particular corner is
susceptible to accidents or vehicles leaving the roadway.
It would be an easier issue for me to.address if this roadway was a city street and not a county
highway. I know that the city has appealed to the county on numerous occasions for road
improvements in this area. In fact, the city council passed a resolution in November of 1996
requesting the Sherburne Country Board to pass a resolution requesting the Commissioner of
Transportation to Conduct a study. At this time, I am not sure what the County and/or the State did.
The Elk River Police Chief also recommended to the county board at a joint meeting with the city
council that they consider acquiring right-of-way to straighten out the curve; this recommendation
has not been pursued by the county.
We also did a tour of this area this spring with the Minnesota Department of Transportation and
made our concerns known to them.
With the improvements slated for County Road 33 and Highway 169, I see even more need for more
effective engineering on this particular stretch of roadway. Although I am not an engineer, my
training and education tell me that there are three (3) basic ways to resolve any roadway concerns.
These resolutions are engineering, education and enforcement. I have control over the last two (2)~
but not the first. I don't feel that education is of value here and enforcement is part of the solution
that will be addressed. I do personally feel thai engineering is still the most important piece and the
focal point of future efforts to resolve not only your concerns, but to also address the general safety
of this road.
Phone: 763.441.2324
Fax: 763,441.8937
Page 2
I am, therefore, recommending to the city council that they adopt a new resolution asking that the
Sherburne County Board of Commissioners adopt a new resolution requesting that the Minnesota
Department of Transportation conduct a new traffic study on this roadway. I will also be
recommending that the city council request the county board to consider having this stretch of
roadway evaluated by the county engineer for possible re-design and improvements.
I will be forwarding a copy of your letter to the county engineer so that the items that can be
addressed without waiting, such as the signs and guardrails, can be resolved in a more timely
manner.
I have also directed that all three (3) patrol shifts be assigned directed enforcement duties on this
stretch of roadway during the peak truck times and during the evening bar rush. Results of these
assigned'activities will provide us with some general speed information and basic vehicle counts.
We have also asked that next year we be allowed to add a special truck enforcement officer to our
department. This officer would be given special commercial vehicle training and he/she would
concentrate on the areas like County Road 33 to curtail the unsafe truck traffic that exists in this
community.
None of my proposals guarantee a reduction in hazardous vehicle travel to this roadway, but they are
the steps that exist within the constraints and manpower limitations our agency has. I do, however,
assure you that this problem will be taken seriously and we will do everything within our power to
make this area safer.
Please call me if you have any questions concerning this response.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey A. Beahen
Assistant Chief of Police
JAB/kma
enc.
cc: Patrick Di Klaers, City Administrator
Thomas D. Zerwas, Chief of Police
Elk River City Council
Elk River City Engineer
Sherburne County Engineer
RESOLUTION 96- 105
A RESOLUTION FOR THE CITY OF ELK RISrER
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE SHERBURNE COUNTY BOARD
OF COM1VIISSIONERS TO PASS A RESOLUTION REQUESTING A
TRAFFIC STUDY ON COUNTY ROAD 33 FROM PROCTOR ROAD
EAST TO COUNTY ROAD 13.
WHEREAS,
the Elk River City Council has determined that there are
traffic concerns on a county road in the City of Elk P~iver
relating to speed and improper signage; and,
WHEREAS,
Minnesota Statute requires that the County Board request the
Commissioner of Transportatien to investigate appropriate
speed zones and signage on county oad~,, and,
r ~-
WHEREAS,
the City of Elk River requests the Sherburne Count-¢ Board
of Commissioners to pass a resolu~.iol~ requesting the
Commissioner of Transportation t¢ investigate and
determine the appropriate speed and signage on a county
road.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of
Elk River hereby requests the Sherburne County Board of Commissioners to
pass a resolution requesting the Commissioner of Transportation to
investigate the fo.;lowing count.:y road within the city of' Elk River for the
purpose of determining the appropriate speed and signage:
County Road 33 from Proctor Road, east to County Road 13
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Elk River on this 25th
day of November, 1996.
ATTEST:
Sandra A. Thackeray, City Clerk
s:\document\resolu.ti\96-traf, doc
/I~I/ry A. Dtiitsman, Mayor
River
Police Department
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Mayor and City Council
Assistant Police Chief Jeffrey Beahen
September 6, 2002
Resolution concerning County Road 33
I hake received a letter concerning the general safety of County Road 33 east of Highway
169. This letter is attached for your review. This is one of many complaints we have received
concerning this particular stretch of roadway. I have responded to the complainant and my
response is also attached to this memo for your review.
I am asking that the City Council pass a resolution requesting that Sherbume County address
the specific issues as outlined in my letter to Mr. Anderson. This resolution will hopefully
not only show Mr. Anderson that the Mayor and City Council feels that this area is of
concern, but it will also hopefully stimulate Sherburne County to engage in a prompt
response to these concerns.
I would be happy to discuss these issues in more detail with you. Feel free to either contact
me at my office, or I will be happy to answer any questions you have when the issue is
presented to you at a council meeting.
Beahen, Jeff
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Beahen, Jeff
Friday, September 06, 2002 9:06 PM
supervisors
Directed enforcement
Started as soon as possible, I would like directed enforcement on County Road 33 east of Highway 169. Please have
these enforcement activities take place during the heaviest traveled portion of the day and focus on truck traffic, and bar
closing times. I am looking for contacts on improper lane use (over center line), speed and any other hazardous violations.
Results of these projects will be presented to the council so have each officer fill out an enforcement log and send a copy
to me. I would like this to occur several times during A and B shift each day. Periods of time can be 30 minutes in length,
vary the times and happy hunting! (Run these details for the next 4 weeks please)
Jeffrey A. Beahen
Assistant Chief of Police
Elk River Police Department
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
763 -441-2954
j beahen@police, ci. elk- river, mn. us
...............................
.~.'-.-'7~' ~_.'~-. 7'~:-~
.....................................
13880 Highway 10 West
Elk River, MN 55330
(763) 241-7000 · 800-594-5208
Fax: (763) 241-7001
Fax
Transmission
Please respond by Email
Please call to confirm receipt
Please respond by return fax
Call ordy if transmission is incomplete
Date: 9t16/02
To: Tom Zerwas
Fax Number: 763-441-8937
From: Dave Schwarfing
Our phone: (763) 241-7000
Our fax: (763) 241-7001
# of pages including cover page: 4
PAGE
09/1~/2002 10:B2 ?~2~170B~ SHERBURHE ~OUNTY PW PAGE 02
September 16, 2002
Tom Zerwas, Chief of Police
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
P. O. Box 490
Elk River, MN 55330
Sherbu
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
C O UN'I ENGINEER
DA VID $CI-/WARTING
13880 Highway 10 West
Elk River, MN 55330
(763) 241-7000 · 800-594-5208
Re: Speed Zone on County Highway 33 East of TH 169
Tom:
In response to your phone call and Mr. Beahen's letter to Jon Anderson, I have attached a copy
of MnDOT's response to the county request for a speed zone study. A request was made to
MnDOT on February 11, 1997. On February 20, 1998, MnDOT responded. In summary, they
would not reduce the statutory speed limit on County Highway 33. Since 1998, we have
monitored and maintained the traffic control devices as we do for all county highways. We
'appreciate anyone notifying us of any signs that have been damaged or knocked down.
We will continue to review the road with MnDOT personnel to determine whether enough
changes have occurred to warrant another speed zone study. I was glad to hear that patrols will
be increased on this road. This is the only way to control the excessive speed of the trucks.
This section of County Highway 33 has been identified in the Sherburne County Long Range
Transportation Plan as a corridor that needs further study. Since the Plan, MnDOT has scheduled
an interchange to be constructed at County Highway 33 and TH 169. This project will draw even
more traffic to the area and a joint study of the eastern section will be conducted in cooperation
with Anoka County to determine a new alignment to best handle local and regional traffic
demands. The City of Elk River must play a key role in the decisions to be made since the City
controls land use, development and fight-of-way acquisition of any road alignments that will be
made. I understand the City is updating their Land Use Plan. I am currently waiting for a
transportation outline section of that plan from the City to help facilitate beginning a County
Highway 33 study.
Mr. Beahen's letter mentioned that the County has not pursued straightening the curves. As I
mentioned above, the City is responsible to obtain right-of-way. Limited funds and growing
demand for transportation dollars requires the County to rely on local governments to share the
cost of increased traffic due to the tremendous growth in this area.
09/~G/2002 10:32 ?G3241700I SHERBURNE ~OUNTY PW P~GE 03
Mr. Beahen left out many factors in addressing the solution to the traffic on County Highway 33.
I think education is the major factor in developing a solution. Without educating ourselves and
the public about what is and will be happening to traffic on this road, we could do a tremendous
dis-service by building the wrong type of highway. Secondly, the city council and county board
need to know what the public wants for this road. They are the ultimate decision makers and
must know all the alternatives and the consequences of each. Any solution will impact
landowners and many of them may not agree with the solution that is decided upon, but we must
go through the process to hear all sides.
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to call me at the above phone
number.
ierely' ~,
Dp~~ineer
Cc:
Brian Bensen, Sherburne County Administrator
Amie Engstrom, Sherburne County Commissioner
Elk River City Council
Patrick Klaers, Elk River City Administrator
Terry Mauer, Elk River City Engineer
Jeffrey Beahen, Elk River City Assistant Chief of Police
89/16/2882 18:32 7632417881
09/12/20B2 11:¢3 7634~12254
SHERBURNE COUNTY PW
PAGE 84
PaGE 01
DEPARTMENT: Ftel~
STATE OF MINNESOTA
OFFICE MEMORAaNDUM
DATE :
TO :
FROM :
PHONE
February 20, 1998
Mike Ofllen/ATTN: Dan Brannan-M.S.725
Traffic Engireering
Tom Dumont-$t. Cloud '"ff'~
Assistant District Traffic Engineer
320- ~54-5105
C,u,L i T ENGINEF. FI
Speed Zon~g
County Road 33
~lerbun~ County
We have completed an ensineering and traffic investigation to determine a reasonable a~l safe spe~.d
limit for County Road 33, This study was conducted as requested by Shed~m-ne County in a tesolulion,
dated February I ~, 1997. If you agree wt~ our recommendation, pkase forwa, r~ a speed limit
authorization to Sl~rbume CoUnt.
Based on investigation t~sults, we recommend thc following speed limit for County Read 33.
Statutory between CSAH 13 and County road 77.
County Road 33 to thc cast of USTH 169 is situated in a rural environment wi~ scattered reaidentia!
houses on both sides. This e~tern section has numerous vertical and horizontal curves which cause
awid= var/ation iI~ sl~eeds. Dee to Iow volumes, test runs were conducted and they ranged from
~0 topi in ~ curves to 55 mpll m the straight sections. A consistent speed was difficult to maintain,
On~ speed check was taken af~ Clle stroll sample also indicated a wide variation in speeds.
The area from USTH 169 west ~to C.R. T7 is surrour~d~ by a large sand pit and concrct~ company litat
have trucks accessing C,R. 33 ion a regular basis. A long vertical grade influences the spe~d for this
section of C.R. 33. Due to t~stimns and speed ch~cks we believe a statutory speed limit is appropriate.
The above speed iimk is rccommended contingent upon curves aad hazards being signed with the
approprlat~ warning signs, including appropriat~ speed advisory plate~, The roadway should b~
t~ir, ved for traffic control devices impacted by the reeom~nd~ spezd limit before posti~l the sl~ris.
All signs ~hall bc in conformaace wi~ the MMUTCD. The above speed limit is based on roadway
conditions on the date of thc r~;ommendation.
We have disr. uaaed our flndin&siwit~ Shelly Peder~on, Assistant Sberbume County Engineer, ar~ she
concurs with our recommendations.
Gary Dirlarn,Baxter MN/DOT
Shelly Pederson-Assistant Sherbumc County EngLneer