06.03 Comprehensive Plan Update - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

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 ofmobility. Ensure that local roads and streets enhance the public realm.Rural roads need to be physically and aesthetically designed to be rural.Excessively wide road widths and clear zones increase traffic speed and create a road that lacks chararter.Narrower road sections slow traffic speeds and maintain a rural character,especially where the roads are tree lined.Urban streets need to provide for mobility choices beyond automobiles.These streets need to be designed so that they add value to adjacent properties and induce higher levels of private-sertor , development throughout the Cit�s traditional neighborhoods. Ensure a highly-connected road network.Most developers prefer to develop on a cul-de-sac for a number '� of reasons that benefit their development in the short-term. Limiting the number of cul-de-sacs and promoting �' i inter-connecting roads creates redundancy that improves safety, provides alternative routes, and ensures a more efficient transportation network. It also reduces maintenance costs and facilitates future growth and development. � i Plan for the long-term financial viability of the current transportation system.The City has developed a Street I Criteria Policy which provides for the evaluation and rehabilitation schedule of all of the City streets.This � evaluation is reviewed annually. Maintenance of city streets and roads should be a primary objective allowing � for safe and connected travel within the city.Maximization of use of turn-back funds should be analyzed to make sure sufficient funding is available for repairs and growth in our road system.Wise investment of the funds to I insure that they are available at the time of need should be considered.In addition to capital fund projections,a ' cash flow analysis should be done and updated periodically on the cost to maintain our streets and roads. � Direct new residential growth toward existing roads and limit the amount of roads in new developments. Residential growth is rapidly occurring in Pequot Lakes and will continue to occur in the rural areas whether the City promotes it or not. Development in the remote areas of the City is more costly to maintain service than � development closer to the downtown or along existing roadways.There is no need to subsidize development, either directly or indirectly, outside of the downtown area, especially when doing so increases City expenses more than a development of equal size that is more efficiently located. Comprehensive Plan Update-November 2018 25 � P a g e