06.03 Comprehensive Plan Update - Laserfiche WebLink

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The roads turnback process, between the City,Crow Wing County,and MnDOT for CSAH (Main Street), TH 371(Patriot Avenue),and County Road 112(Rasmussen Road),have allowed the City opportunities to create a more walkable and bike-able community due to the safer traffic pattern that has emerged in the downtown area. This,along with the future improvements to Trailside Park,will create a more cohesive community to live,work,and play. LOCAL ROADS AND STREETS The City has had an informal policy of working to bring every road up to meet the City's official standard. As the economy has evolved and the explosive growth of the 1990's and through 2008 has vanished,there is reason to reconsider this approach. Even in the best of economic times,the City had difficulty keeping up with road and street maintenance.With a less vigorous economy projected for some time to come,it does not seem to be possible that the City could keep every implied road and street maintenance commitment. The reality is,however,that the City does not know exactiy how much that implied commitment is.While some projects that have been in the works for years are continuousiy delayed for lack of funds (Government Drive being the prime example),other urgent projects are added to the near-term list.Many of the roads that were built by developers or through a direct assessment of petitioning property owners are still in their first life cycle,so major maintenance expense has not been an issue.. In order to greater understand these pending expenses the City has developed a Street Criteria Policy which provides for the evaluation and rehabilitation schedule of all of the City streets. It is also becoming more apparent that the assumptions behind the current road and street sections may be faulty, or at least not in line with the public's financial expectations. For roads, it is always assumed that two cars must be able to meet going in opposite direction at high speed without the need to slow down or yield.While being able to drive 40 mph instead of 20 mph can save minutes on a trip,this design may be a luxury we are no longer willing to pay for. Similarly with City streets,the design in the traditional neighborhoods has also encouraged high-speed auto traffic at the expense of any other mode of travel.Not only is the approach very expensive,it erodes private-sector investment in areas where the City has significant additional investment in expensive public utilities(sewer,water,storm sewer).The City's approach to streets needs to be reevaluated to ensure it creates value and attracts additional private-sector investment to the City's neighborhoods. POLICIES The following policies are proposed to guide all future transportation—related decisions in Pequot Lakes: Promote a safe transportation system.The most important design factor for a transportation system is safety.Proven methods for increasing safety on rural roads are to slow speed and limit intersections.New roads and reconstructed roads should use traffic calming designs to slow traffic. The number of intersections in new developments should be limited, especially along collector roads. Within urban areas,crosswalks,clearly defined intersections,and narrowing of the roadway with vertical elements such as trees or store-fronts are needed to slow speeds and increase driver awareness.Urban areas must have an approach that does not emphasize automobile trips to the detriment of other forms of mobility. 2