3A - Draft of Comprehensive Plan

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�. TRANSPORTATION 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. Ensure that locals 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 character. 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-sector development throughout the City's traditional neighborhoods. Ensure a highly-connected road network. Most developers prefer to develop on a cul-desac for a number of reasons that benefit their development in the short-term. Limiting the number of cul-de-sacs and promoting interconnecting 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. Plan for the long-term financial viability of the current transportation system.The City needs to know what its long-term commitments are for maintaining transportation infrastructure,what revenues are created by each of those commitments and what will be necessary to meet those obligations.This knowledge will allow the City to make informed decisions on the City's road standards, approach to maintenance and long-term capital improvements budgeting. 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.