DEPARTMENT: Transportation
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
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Authorization To Update School Zone Speed Limits Along County State Aid Highway 28 At Simley High School In Inver Grove Heights And County State Aid Highway 30 (Diffley Road) Adjacent To Eagan Area Schools
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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 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, Roadway improvements were recently implemented along both County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 28 (80th Street) near Boyd Road adjacent to Simley High School in Inver Grove Heights and along County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 30 (Diffley Road) from west of Daniel Drive to east of Braddock Trail in Eagan; and
WHEREAS, implementation of an updated school zone speed limit based on the engineering and traffic investigations at both Simley High School and the Diffley Road School Area is desired as a tool to enhance safety; and
WHEREAS, Independent School District 199, the City of Inver Grove Heights, and Dakota County worked together to improve pedestrian safety, including engaging in the development of a safe route to school study, development of a route plan, and implementation of safety enhancements and education for the crossing of CSAH 28 at Boyd Avenue adjacent to Simley High School; and
WHEREAS, the engineering investigation for the establishment of a legal school speed zone that maximizes safety was prepared and recommended for CSAH 28, 80th Street of 25 miles per hour in the vicinity of Boyd Avenue; and
WHEREAS, Independent School District 196, the City of Eagan, and Dakota County collaborated on a Safe Route to School study, following the roadway changes in the area and education effort plus school guards to improve school crossing; and
WHEREAS, an engineering investigation was conducted for each roadway based on the implemented improvements to establish an updated legal school speed zone that maximized safety; and
WHEREAS, the school zone speed limit, in conjunction with a sound school route plan, school zone hazard evaluation and 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 25 miles per hour on County State Aid Highway 28 ( 80th street) focused around the crossing at Boyd Avenue, in the City of Inver Grove Heights in accordance with the Minnesota Manual On Uniform Traffic Control Devices based upon the School Route Plan for the area established by Independent School District 199, the findings of prescribed engineering investigation required per Minn. Stat. § 169.14 Subd. 5a, and recognizing implementation of roadway, school enhancements, and education that was put in place based on the Safe Route To School Report and School Area Travel Safety study completed in fall 2021, consistent with the investigation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the County Engineer is hereby authorized to retain the school zone speed limit of 30 miles per hour on County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 30 (Diffley Road) between CSAH 43 (Lexington Avenue) and Dodd Road, in the City of Eagan in consideration of the project updated completed in fall 2021 and in accordance with the Minnesota Manual On Uniform Traffic Control Devices 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 implementation of recommended corrective actions required by the investigation.
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