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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTraffic Safety Commission 01-16-08 NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA ST. CROIX COUNTY TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION January 16,2008 10:00 A.M. Government Center Sheriff s Office — Training Room 1101 Carmichael Rd Hudson WI 54016 CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING — April 16, 2008 ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES OLD AND NEW BUSINESS 1.) Review fatalities 2.) Hwy 64 / T intersection — safety funding approved for 2009 improvement 3.) Hwy 35 / E intersection, Houlton — modification on west leg of E — 2008 4.) Hwy 35 / V intersection — potential safety project for offset right turn lane 5.) Hwy 65 curve complaint — north of River Falls, west of North Liberty Road 6.) 1 -94 / Hwy 65 interchange — reconstruction scheduled for 2012 7.) Hwy 65 / 70 Ave, Roberts — safety and congestion complaint ANOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDANCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING ADJOURNMENT (Items may be taken in different order) St. Croix County Traffic Safety Commission Minutes St. Croix County Traffic Safety Commission meeting was held on January 16, 2008, in Sheriff's Office training room of the Government Center in Hudson at 10:05 A.M. Present were: Mike Winberg, Charles Grant, Buzz Marzolf, Trooper Aaron Prohovnik, Dennis Johnson, Greg Helgeson, Miles Wittig, Jim Harer, and Marion Standaert. Meeting was called to order by chairman Winberg. Chairman Winberg asked everyone to take a look at the minutes and then asked if there were any corrections to be made. Motion was made to adopt the October 10th minutes, seconded and approved. Chairman Winberg then inquired if anyone had any items that did not get on the agenda. No one had any items to be added. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Chairman Winberg asked if there was any unfinished business and there was not. NEW BUSINESS Starting off the new business, Chairman Winberg stated that there have been three more fatalities since the October meeting, bringing the total for 2007 to 18. The first fatality happened on October 26, 2007, on Hwy 65 be the Super Wal- Mart and was due to driver error. The second fatality happened on November 4, 2007, on Hwy 35 at the entrance to 1 -94 and was alcohol related. The last traffic fatality of 2007 happened on November 22, on Crestview Rd and was due to a medical condition. Mr. Helgeson addressed the six issues on the agenda. He started with the intersection of Hwy 64 and Cty T. They will be resurfacing the road in 2009. He was notified that they were approved for receiving safety funds and they will update the intersection. The County is contributing $10,000 towards the project. Along with resurfacing, they will install permanent rumble strips and modify the north side a bit. Mr. Helgeson then went on to discuss a modification in Houlton at the intersection of Hwy 35 and Cty E which is set to happen this year. They are going to resurface the road and shave a little bit off of the island. At the intersection of Hwy 35 and Cty V, there is a potential for a safety project to offset the right turn lane. This project is still in the works and would not happen for 3 or 4 more years. Mr. Wittig stated that he was concerned with the curve on Cty V and Mr. Helgeson assured that that would be fixed if the project goes through. 1 s The next area of interest is curve on Hwy 65 west of North Liberty Road. A resident had sent in a letter informing Mr. Helgeson that the two houses on the inside of the curve were for sale and that the State should purchase the houses in order to "fix" the curve. Mr. Helgeson went out and checked the curve and it is well within the design inference. He stated that the problem people have with the curve is driving too fast for conditions in inclement weather. He also stated that even if they did have to "fix" the curve, it would not require them to purchase the houses, but just to purchase a sliver of land. At this point there will be no action taken. The last two concerns are interrelated. The intersections at 1 -94 and Hwy 65 and Hwy 65 and 70 Avenue. They have the bridge slated for replacement in 2012 and they are going to try and lengthen the project to include the intersection at 70 Avenue. The eventual plan is to bypass Roberts, but that is a long ways away yet. Mr. Helgeson said they are also looking at putting in right and left turn lanes on Hwy 65. Mr. Marzolf inquired on how the round -a -bout on Hwy 35 has been doing and Mr. Helgeson stated that he has not received any complaints on it. Mr. Helgeson then stated that in 2011 they will be adding another round -a -bout to St. Croix County at 4 corners (intersection of Hwy 63 & Hwy 64/46). Mr. Helgeson informed the committee of the two surveillance cameras that have been installed and are now operational on 1 -94. One is at the Carmichael overpass and the other is on the 11 th Street overpass by Taco Johns. These cameras feed to Minnesota Transportation and Wisconsin Transportation. Anyone can go to the MN DOT website and view what the cameras are seeing at any given time. It is not a continuous live feed, but a shot is taken every 10 seconds or so. These cameras are informational for law enforcement, the highway department, and the public in general. Mr. Grant asked about a Baldwin bypass in the works and Mr. Helgeson stated that it is mapped out, but they do not have any funding as of yet and that it wouldn't be happening for at least 10 years. Mr. Helgeson then went on to explain that there will be work on Hwy 63 through Baldwin this year. They are adding a traffic signal to the Fern Street intersection and they will be rebuilding the intersection at Cedar Street to accompany more turn lanes. They will also be replacing the bridge by Windmill Park. Mr. Helgeson estimates it to be a two and a half month project. Mr. Marzolf informed Mr. Helgeson that they need better signage on Hwy 65 near the Cajun Club and Mr. Helgeson will look into it. It is thought that the signage is too small. Mr. Johnson informed us that there have been 19 crashes with 19 fatalities so far this year. We are a bit behind 2006. Mr. Johnson then stated that there are two 2 V bills of interest coming up. One bill would prevent people with a GDL from using a cell phone while driving. The other bill would be to make the seatbelts law a primary offense. The "Law of the Month" for last November was "Yellow lights don't mean you speed up." Going through a red light has a fine of $160.80 and worth three points. The "Law of the Month" for last December was "Drunken driving can ruin your holidays." And January's law is "What is the real cause of crashes ?" Speeding too fast for conditions has a fine of $198.60 and is worth four points. Mr. Marzolf had some questions on how to deal with tailgaters and Mr. Johnson said that the best thing is to pull aside and let them pass you. Trooper Prohovnik stated that you should keep four seconds between you and the next vehicle. Next Mr. Wittig inquired on the mile road sign issue. Chairman Winberg stated that he talked to the fire chief and EMS and no one seems to have any problems finding anything, so no action will be taken at this time. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 11.04 A.M. Respectfully submitted, Marion Standaert 3