Consider Recommendation to City Council Authorizing Flashing Yellow Arrow Studies at Select Intersections

Purpose:
The purpose of this case is to consider a recommendation to the City Council to hire SEH, Inc. to analyze the feasibility of modifying one or more signal systems in the City of Ramsey to add flashing yellow arrow operations.

Background:
Flashing yellow arrows (FYA’s) are gaining momentum as an alternative to a standard green ball light for left-turning motorists. They signal to the motorist that it is safe to turn left so long as they yield to oncoming vehicles, which have the right of way. These permitted left turns are unlike protected left turns, where the left-turning motorist does not need to consider opposing traffic because those vehicles have a red light.
 
In 2017, the City paid to modify the signal system at the intersection of Armstrong Boulevard/CSAH 83 & Sunwood Drive/147th Avenue to include FYA improvements. At the request of Anoka County, the City hired SEH, Inc. to analyze the signal system for potential FYA improvements.  A copy of this analysis is attached. The cost for this analysis was about $1,700, which was funded by the Public Improvement Revolving Fund.
 
Anoka County annually budgets approximately $100,000 to convert 4 to 10 of their 200 signal systems to FYA operations.  Anoka County solely utilizes SEH, Inc. to study their signal systems for FYA conversions, and requests that the City also utilize SEH to study signal systems for potential FYA modifications if/when the City is interested in doing so.  This helps to ensure that the evaluations are performed consistently County-wide for safety and liability purposes.
 
During the regular City Council meeting on September 22, 2020, Planning Commission Chair Randy Bauer requested that the City consider adding FYA operations to the signal system at the intersection of Sunwood Drive & CSAH 56/Ramsey Boulevard.  In addition, he requested that the City look into whether the operating hours for current FYA operations could be expanded to include the morning and afternoon rush hours.  Chair Bauer feels these restrictions are not needed.  
 
According to Anoka County, all costs associated with adding FYA operations to the signal system at Sunwood Drive & CSAH 56/Ramsey Boulevard would be 100-percent a City cost. That said, it is Staff’s understanding that Anoka County would support this request.
 
Regarding process and costs, the City would need to hire SEH, Inc. to analyze the existing signal system(s), including crash histories, traffic volumes and turning movements, to ensure that a FYA installation is warranted, to estimate costs for revising the signal system to include FYA operations, and to determine allowable hours of operation, among other things.
 
When FYA improvements are first operational, SEH, Inc. recommends that FYA’s not be used weekdays from 6 - 9 am or from 3 - 7 pm due to higher traffic volumes.  But after FYA’s are in service for a year or more, the time of operation can be increased if there are no safety issues or significant increases in traffic volumes.
 
Staff was also recently questioned as to whether FYA operations could/should be added to the signal systems at Sunfish Lake Boulevard/CSAH 57 & Alpine Drive, and to Nowthen Boulevard/CSAH 5 & Alpine Drive. Since Alpine Drive is a City Street the City would be responsible for all costs associated with installing any FYA improvements at these intersections. 

Construction could easily occur in 2021 if SEH, Inc. is directed to start their analysis efforts in December 2020 and required future approvals are granted in a timely manner. 

Approximately 25 minutes for presentation and discussion. 

Observations:
The final construction cost for the FYA modifications to the signal system at Armstrong Boulevard & Sunwood Drive/147th Avenue was $29,760.  The estimated average cost to modify an existing signal system to include FYA operations is $20,000 to $50,000. 
 
Plans and specifications would be required to advertise for bids for construction of any FYA modifications, which would require separate approvals. Costs to prepare plans and specifications for the FYA improvements at Armstrong Boulevard & Sunwood Drive/147th Avenue were around $6,500. 
 
It should be noted that traffic volumes and patterns are likely to change after the grade separation improvements occur at CSAH 56/Ramsey Boulevard & Highway 10, after CSAH 116/Bunker Lake Boulevard is reconstructed between CSAH 83/Armstrong Boulevard and CSAH 57/Sunfish Lake Boulevard, and after a signal system is installed at CSAH 116/Bunker Lake Boulevard and Sunwood Drive.  All of these are likely to have some impact on FYA operations at Sunwood Drive & CSAH 56/Ramsey Boulevard, which could result in a future Anoka County request to remove or modify FYA improvements.  This should be confirmed as part of the analysis.  

Alternatives:
Alternative #1 – Motion to recommend City Council authorization to hire SEH, Inc. to analyze the feasibility of modifying signal systems to add flashing yellow arrow operations at the intersection(s) of _____________.

Alternative #2 – Motion of other.  

The estimated cost for analyzing the feasibility of adding FYA operations to one signal system is $1,800 if the City provides traffic counts, and $3,500 if SEH needs to provide traffic counts.  If multiple intersections are analyzed, the cost per signal system would be reduced accordingly.  For example, if 6 signal systems are analyzed the estimated cost per signal system would be closer to $1,300.
 
The Public Improvement Revolving Fund would be the funding source for any such analysis. 

Staff supports either alternative. 

Recommend City Council authorization to hire SEH, Inc. to analyze the feasibility of modifying signal systems to add flashing yellow arrow operations at the intersection(s) of _____________.