Council Votes for Traffic Light
At the January 9th, 2006 Meeting, the Council voted to pursue a traffic light at 3rd Street and Highway, the intersection bordered by the Quarterback Club and State Farm Insurance. The memo on the item is below:
Resolution 2006-002
ITEM: Consider passage of a resolution asking the Minnesota Department of Transportation to install a traffic signal at the intersection of Trunk Highway 3 and 3rd Street
REQUESTED BY: Council Member Bond
SUBMITTED BY: Heidi Hamilton, Director of Public Works/City Engineer
REVIEWED BY: Bill Bassett, Interim City Administrator
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUESTED:
Members of the City Council and many citizens of Northfield believe that a traffic signal should be installed at Trunk Highway 3 (TH3) and 3rd Street in order to improve the ability for pedestrians to safely cross TH3 in this location and to improve the connectivity of downtown to the west side of TH3. In response to an offer by State Representative Ray Cox to work with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) on this issue if the City Council passes a resolution requesting the signal, Council Member Bond requested that a resolution be brought forth for the City Council consideration.
There is a long history of requests from the City to MnDOT for a traffic signal at 3rd Street. The Minnesota Department of Transportation has consistently denied this request because the intersection does not meet necessary traffic signal warrants. The most recent request for a signal was sent to MnDOT in March 2005. MnDOT responded that traffic counts will be completed at 3rd Street in the summer of 2007, after TH3 construction is complete, to compare traffic volumes to signal warrants. Staff supports MnDOT’s plan.
CITY COUNCIL GOAL(S):
* Maintain and enhance downtown Northfield as the focus of social, commercial and community life.
The resolution passed unanimously. Members of the Northfield community have been working toward this goal for at least ten years. The NDDC has aided these efforts since its very beginnings in 2000. We would like to offer our sincerest thanks to the Council for taking this important and visionary step, as well as Staff for sensitively word-smithing the resolution.
The actual resolution is contained in the extended entry:
CITY OF NORTHFIELD, MINNESOTA
CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION #2006-002
A RESOLUTION BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORTHFIELD, MINNESOTA REQUESTING INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT THE INTERSECTION OF TRUNK HIGHWAY 3 AND 3RD STREET BY MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
WHEREAS, The City of Northfield is grateful to the Minnesota Department of Transportation for the significant investment being made to improve Trunk Highway 3 through Northfield and the accommodations that have been made to accommodate community concerns; and
WHEREAS, The intersection of 3rd Street and Trunk Highway 3 is a key entrance to downtown Northfield; and
WHEREAS, 3rd Street is a preferred point for pedestrians to cross Trunk Highway 3; and
WHEREAS, Improving connectivity of the west side of Trunk Highway 3 to the rest of downtown Northfield will enhance economic development in downtown Northfield; and
WHEREAS, The city has previously asked the Minnesota Department of Transportation to install a traffic signal at 3rd Street numerous times and continues to desire a traffic signal at this location; and
WHEREAS, The City of Northfield believes that traffic signal warrants are not adequate to judge the social and economic value of a signal at this location.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL THAT: The City of Northfield hereby requests, again, that MnDOT install a traffic signal at 3rd Street on Trunk Highway 3.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL THAT:
The Council requests the support and assistance of our State elected officials in obtaining a signal at this location as soon as possible.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Northfield on this 9th day of January 2006.
ATTEST
_______________________ ________________________
Interim City Clerk Mayor
VOTE: ____ BOND ____ DAVIS ____ LANSING ____ MALECHA
____ NELSON ____ POKORNEY ____VOHS