Consider Speed Limit Reduction on Quicksilver Street

Purpose:
The purpose of this case is to consider a request to reduce the speed limit on Quicksilver Street, south of 167^th Avenue and north of Elmcrest Park.
 
Background:
Staff received a request from the property owner at 16601 Quicksilver Street to reduce the speed limit on Quicksilver Street, south of 167^th Avenue and north of Elmcrest Park.  This property owner has reported excessive speeds along this segment of Quicksilver Street, and recently experienced damage to their landscaping and mailbox due to vehicles leaving the roadway.
 
Attached are three figures showing the segment of Quicksilver Street under consideration and all accesses into Elmcrest Park.
 
This section of Quicksilver Street currently has no posted speed limit, but based on its functional classification as a local street and the properties it serves, this street could be posted at 30 mph.
 
Minnesota Statute 169.14 establishes statutory speed limits on most typical roadways under ideal conditions. All other speed limits are set by the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) based upon an engineering and traffic investigation (speed study) in which the following factors are considered:

• Road type and condition
• Location and type of access points (intersections, entrances, etc.)
• Sufficient length of roadway (1/4 mile minimum)
• Existing traffic control devices (sign, signals, etc.)
• Crash history traffic volume sight distances (curve, hill, etc.)
• Test drive results

 
The most common speed limits observed throughout Minnesota are:

• 10 mph in alleys
• 30 mph on streets in urban districts
• 55 mph on other roads
• 65 mph on expressways
• 65 mph on urban interstate highways
• 70 mph on rural interstate highways

Where speed limits are not posted, these are considered the default speed limits.

Local road authorities (cities, townships, and counties) can determine advisory speeds for local roads and post the roads with advisory speed signs without authorization from the MnDOT Commissioner.
 
Local road authorities can also pass a resolution requesting a speed study investigation by MnDOT.  The local road authority that owns and operates the segment of road to be studied is responsible for submitting the request to MNDOT.  Anoka County owns and operates Ramsey Boulevard/CSAH 56 so they are required to submit the Speed Study request to MnDOT.
 
Based on the speed study results, which often take in excess of a year to receive, MnDOT may authorize the local road authority to post the road with new speed limits.  However, it is important to note that the study could find that the new speed limit should be greater than the existing speed limit, which is typically contrary to the desired outcome.  In this case, Staff would not expect the speed limit to increase given the functional classification of the road and the properties it serves.
 
Additional information regarding speed limits is available on MnDOT’s web site at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/speed/index.html.

Staff estimates 15 minutes will be required to present and discuss this case.

Observations:
Staff does not recommend requesting a speed study from MnDOT.  Based on the functional classification of the road and the properties it serves, staff believes the lowest posted speed MnDOT would authorize would be 30 mph.  As such, Staff recommends either leaving this segment of Quicksilver Street as is with no posted speed limit, or posting this segment of Quicksilver Street at 30 mph.  Staff does not support posting an advisory speed of something less than 30 mph.  In any scenario, the Police Department can only enforce a 30 mph speed limit.
 
As always, it is best to maintain uniform speed limits along roadway corridors where the functional classification does not vary to meet driver expectation.
 
The applicant intends to attend the Public Works Committee meeting to explain their concerns in detail.
 
Alternatives:
Alternative #1 – Motion to leave the segment of Quicksilver Street between 167^th Avenue and Elmcrest Park unposted as to the speed limit, and to direct staff to place the speed trailer along this street segment when the trailer is available.
 
Alternative #2 – Motion directing Staff to furnish and install two 30 mph speed limit signs along the segment of Quicksilver Street between 167^th Avenue and Elmcrest, one at each end in the direction of travel, and to direct staff to place the speed trailer along this street segment when the trailer is available.

No costs are anticipated if alternative #1 is selected.  If alternative #2 is selected, each speed limit sign would cost roughly $300 to furnish and install.

Staff recommends alternative #1, but would support alternative #2.  If the Committee selects alternative #2, Staff recommends installing two speed limit signs, one in each direction of travel.
 
Staff also recommends placing the speed trailer along this segment of Quicksilver Street to help deter speeding as soon as the trailer is available.

Motion to leave the segment of Quicksilver Street between 167th Avenue and Elmcrest Park unposted as to the speed limit, and to direct staff to place the speed trailer along this street segment when the trailer is available.