DEPARTMENT: Transportation
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Establish And Install School Zone Speed Limits Along County State Aid Highway 73 In City Of Rosemount In Proximity To Emerald Trail Elementary School
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize the establishment and installation of school zone speed limits on a segment of County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 73 (Akron Avenue) near Emerald Trail Elementary School in the city of Rosemount.
SUMMARY
To provide a safe and efficient transportation system, Dakota County designs and operates traffic control in accordance with the Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MMUTCD). Several infrastructure, education, and law enforcement tools have been implemented in school areas to enhance safety for students walking to school. The school zone speed limit is a part-time speed limit in effect when children are present, going to, or leaving school during opening or closing hours and school recess periods. The school speed limit shall not be lower than 15 miles per hour (mph) and shall not be more than 30 mph below the established speed limit. However, research has shown that effective school zone speed limits should only be 10 to 15 mph less than the established speed to maximize driver compliance and safety.
Minn. Stat. § 169.14 Subd. 5a enables local authorities to establish speed limits within a school zone of a public or non-public school upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation as prescribed by the Commissioner of Transportation. The prescribed engineering investigation for the establishment of a legal school speed zone is set forth in the MMUTCD, Chapter 7E, Section 7E.1, “A Guide to Establishing Speed Limits in School Zones”.
Emerald Trail Elementary School, within School District 196, is in the southwest quadrant of CSAH 73 (Akron Avenue) and Bonaire Path (Attachment: Project Location Map). While vehicles and buses use Bonaire Path to access the school, pedestrians can cross on CSAH 73, which has a speed limit of 50 mph. A mid-block crossing with pedestrian-actuated Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons serves as an access for students walking to the school and was installed in 2025. School District 196 staff expressed concerns with the speed limits on the roadway segment adjacent to the school and crossing safety.
A school zone speed limit engineering evaluation (Attachment: CSAH 73 Emerald Speed Limit Study) was completed in February 2026. Based on study data and discussions with school district and City staff, a school zone of 35 mph is appropriate in the vicinity of Bonaire Path, specifically 675 feet north of the mid-block crossing to 500 feet south of the mid-block crossing. School zone speed limit signs (to be in effect when children are present) will be installed, as well as advance signage denoting the school zone speed limit signage in accordance with Minnesota Department of Transportation School Zone Speed Limit Methodology. Staff will review placement of noted signage and may make modifications if required. These efforts will be supplemented with local speed enforcement measures. These improvements were created in conjunction with the school’s School Route Plan.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends authorization of a school zone speed limit of 35 mph along CSAH 73 adjacent to Emerald Trail Elementary School in consideration of the School Crossing Assessment and School Route Plan, data, discussions with City and school district partners, and the findings of prescribed engineering investigation as required per Minnesota Statutes § 169.14 Subd. 5a and recommends implementation of corrective actions in accordance with the MMUCTD.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
Costs for establishing the school zone speed limit as recommended are estimated at roughly $700 and are accounted for within the 2026 Adopted Transportation Fund operating budget.
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, to provide a safe and efficient transportation system, Dakota County designs and operates traffic control devices in accordance with the Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MMUTCD); and
WHEREAS, school zone speed limits can be effective in promoting pedestrian safety in school zones adjacent to County Highways; and
WHEREAS, Minn. Stat. § 169.14 Subd. 5a enables local authorities to establish speed limits within a school zone of a public or non-public school upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation as prescribed by the Commissioner of Transportation; and
WHEREAS, the placement of signage for a school zone speed limit must comply with the MMUTCD; and
WHEREAS, a school speed limit shall not be lower than 15 miles per hour and shall not be more than 30 miles per hour below the established speed limit on an affected street or highway based on the results of the prescribed engineering investigation; and
WHEREAS, effective school zone speed limits consider the roadway design elements and area conditions to gain compliance with the established speed to maximize driver compliance and safety; and
WHEREAS, implementation of a school zone speed limit based on the engineering and traffic investigations at Emerald Trail Elementary School is desired as a tool to enhance safety; and
WHEREAS, the current speed limit of the roadway in the vicinity of Emerald Trail Elementary School is 50 miles per hour; and
WHEREAS, Independent School District 196, the City of Rosemount, and Dakota County worked together to improve pedestrian safety, including engaging in the development of a school route plan and implementation of safety enhancements and education for the crossing of County State Aid Highway 73 (Akron Avenue) adjacent to Emerald Trail Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, the engineering investigation for the establishment of a legal school speed zone that maximizes safety was prepared and recommended a school zone speed limit for County State Aid Highway 73 (Akron Avenue) of 35 miles per hour in the vicinity of Bonaire Path; and
WHEREAS, an engineering investigation was conducted for the roadway based on the implemented improvements to establish a legal school zone speed limit that maximized safety; and
WHEREAS, the school zone speed limit, in conjunction with a sound school route plan, school zone hazard evaluation, correction, pedestrian education, and enforcement, can effectively promote pedestrian safety in school zones.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the County Engineer is hereby authorized to establish and place signage creating a school zone speed limit of 35 miles per hour on County State Aid Highway 73 (Akron Avenue) focused around the mid-block crossing south of Bonaire Path in the City of Rosemount in accordance with the Minnesota Manual On Uniform Traffic Control Devices and design guidance based upon the School Route Plan for the area established by Independent School District 196, the findings of prescribed engineering investigation required per Minn. Stat. § 169.14 Subd. 5a, and recognizing the implementation of roadway, school enhancements, and education.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Project Location Map
Attachment: School Zone Speed Limit Engineering Study
BOARD GOALS
☐ Thriving People ☒ A Healthy Environment with Quality Natural Resources
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Erin Laberee
Author: Tyler Krage