HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-07-27 PACKET 08.2.Cottage
Grove
If-here Pride and VCOsperitY Meet
To: Planning Commission
Jennifer Levitt, City Administrator
From: Amanda Meyer, P.E., Assistant City Engineer
Date: July 22, 2020
Re: Trail Crossing Policy
Background/Discussion
At the June Planning Commission meeting, the Planning Commission asked City staff to review
if a trail crossing location policy existed for the City and if so, how it compared with any County
and/or other agency policies. The location of trail crossings as they relate to the location of stop
signs and intersections has been an ongoing discussion for the City. Cottage Grove does not
have a policy in place to dictate the exact distance from an intersection that a crossing should be
placed that is optimal and applicable in all scenarios. The case of 80th Street was specifically
discussed at the June Planning Commission meeting regarding the trail along the north side of
80th Street between Jamaica Avenue and Keats Avenue. The current trail crossings adjacent to
80th Street are set back from the intersection more so than the running alignment of the trail in
the right-of-way, and the trail will be reinstalled in its previous location as part of the reconstruction
project.
The primary benefit to having the crossings offset from the major roadway when possible, such
as 80th Street, is that it allows the traffic along 80th Street traveling at higher speeds more reaction
time to pedestrians as they turn onto the intersecting streets. Since this segment of roadway being
reconstructed is a State Aid route, staff reviewed State Aid standards to understand if there were
any specific regulations for locations of trail crossings at the intersecting roadways. None were
found as it appears to be a case-by-case review to look at the existing conditions of the roadways
at the intersection. Many factors play a role in determining the optimal location of the crosswalk
at an intersection including sight distance, stop sign locations, speed limits of approaching
vehicles, types of roadways at the intersection, number of lanes, etc. Staff will continue to review
each trail and sidewalk crossing at intersections as they are brought forward to evaluate the safest
location based on the present factors.
Lastly, while it is not part of the City's crosswalk policy to stripe or sign crosswalks that are at
intersections, staff recommends striping the trail crosswalks adjacent to the segment of 80th
Street being reconstructed to provide an additional visual alert for drivers.
Recommendation
Receive information on trail crosswalk locations and analysis.