Consider Recommending City Council Approval for Speed Zone Study on Sunfish Lake Boulevard

On Monday, March 13th, the Anoka County Highway Department received a call from a resident that lives on Sunfish Lake Boulevard  in the area of 155th Avenue with a complaint about excessive speeds on Sunfish Lake Boulevard.  The posted speed limit on this section of Sunfish Lake Blvd is 55 mph, which was set in 1975 by MnDOT based on the results of a speed zone study.  Since it has been more than 40 years since the speed zone study was completed, and since development in this area of the City has increased significantly since then, Anoka County contacted City staff to ask if the City would like a new speed study performed on Sunfish Lake Boulevard.

According to Anoka County, MnDOT requires that speed zone studies be performed on segments of roads not less than one-mile in length, and that reasonable study limits be used, such as between intersecting streets. City staff would therefore recommend that the limits of the study be between Bunker Lake Boulevard/CSAH 116, where the posted speed limit on Sunfish Lake Boulevard changes to 45 mph, and Nowthen Boulevard/CSAH 5 where Sunfish Lake Boulevard terminates.

In order to potentially change the speed limit on Sunfish Lake Boulevard, a traffic and engineering investigation known as a Speed Zone Study needs to be completed. Speed Zone Studies are completed through MnDOT, and the factors that are considered include the roadway type and condition, the location and type of access points and types of development along the route, the existing traffic control devices, the crash history, existing traffic volumes, and the available sight distance along the route, along with radar speed samples from traffic traveling on the route during various times of the day.  Using engineering judgment, MnDOT evaluates these factors, and determines the 85th percentile speed (the point at which 85% of the drivers on the route are driving under). Experience has shown that a posted speed limit near this 85% value is the speed limit that a roadway should be signed at. Once a Speed Zone Study has been completed, it is then formally authorized by the State Commissioner of Transportation, and once authorized, the road authority implements the new speed zone by installing the speed limit signs.

Because the Ramsey Police Department is responsible for the enforcement of the speed limit of Sunfish Lake Boulevard, the City needs to send a written request to Anoka County Highway for a Speed Zone Study to initiate the process.  The existing speed limit of 55 mph is already at the maximum speed for this type of road, so there is no risk that the speed limit would be increased.

Staff estimates this case will take 5 minutes to present and discuss.

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There is no cost to the City associated with this request, other than Staff time. 

City staff supports conducting a new speed zone study and recommends that the Public Works Committee recommend Council approval of the study. If the Committee recommends Council approval, and if Council ratifies the Committees recommendation, staff will work with Anoka County Highway staff to order the study immediately. In the meantime, Ramsey Police Department proposes to increase enforcement of posted speeds in this area.

Recommend City Council approval to request a Speed Zone Study be completed on Sunfish Lake Boulevard between Bunker Lake Boulevard/CSAH 116 and Nowthen Boulevard/CSAH 5.