City, county officials ponder roundabout in SW Rochester

Source: Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.存倉Oct. 16--A proposed roundabout at 16th Street Southwest and Mayowood raises safety worries for somemembers of the Rochester City Council and Olmsted County Board of Commissioners.At Tuesday's joint city/county meeting, some City Council members were surprised to find out that county and city transportation planners had chosen a roundabout as the best solution for slowing traffic there."When you look at that place during the holidays, with Apache Mall and all the traffic that goes through there, those are times with slippery roads and congestion. And I'm really concerned that it's not going to be a positive thing for everybody involved," council member Ed Hruska said during the meeting.Construction at the intersection is a county project, but the city is paying for 25 percent of the approximately $1.1 million cost. The city is helping foot the bill because, eventually, it will build a road heading north at the intersection where only a gravel road exists today. Also, the county plans to turn over jurisdiction of 16th Street Southwest (also County Road 25) to the city, probably within the next five years, said Olmsted County Public Works Director Mike Sheehan.Sheehan and Rochester Public Works Director Richard Freese informed the City Council and county board of the decision to go with a roundabout in a letter dated Sept. 9.Roundabouts, such as the ones near University Center Rochester and at U.S. 63 and 75th Street Northwest (Olmsted County Road 14), allow vehicles to keep moving through intersections. The one planned for 16th Street Southwest and Mayowood Road would have two lanes.The council and board will have the final say on the project when resolutions come before them during upcoming meetings, said Olmsted County Engineer Kaye Bieniek.Traffic has increased on 16th Street between South Broadway and U.S. 52 during the last several years, especially during the holiday season, making it increasingly difficult for people to get in and out of driveways and adjoining streets.A senior housing development now underway in the southwest corner of 16th Street and Mayowood Road (also County Road 125) is expected to increase traffic even more.The average daily traffic count for 16th Street Southwest is 17,490, and it is expected to increase to 24,486 by the year 2033, according to the Olmsted County Public Works Department. The average daily traffic count for Mayowood Road is 5,936 today and is projected to be 8,310 by 2033.Hruska, whose Ward 1 includes the intersection, near Apache Mall and Apache Shoppes, said he was surprised to 儲存ear about the roundabout because he thought the city and county had agreed a couple of years ago to put a traffic signal there. He said he worked with former Olmsted County Commissioner Dave Perkins on that agreement."At that point, it looked like it needed to be done, and we were all on the same page. And then I started to hear rumors about a roundabout, and my first opinion was I didn't think that was a right fit," Hruska said.He also said he was frustrated that Public Works staff didn't communicate with the city council about the plans. He said he heard of the roundabout a couple of weeks ago from some of his neighbors who had spoken with Sheehan at their church."They had a map and layout and all the information, and I'm like 'Oh, that's nice.' Since I've been involved in this thing for two years, I would think the county would want to share this with the elected official in the area," Hruska said.Council President Randy Staver said he had heard the county was leaning toward opting for a roundabout, but he wasn't sure of the final decision. He said he was caught off guard when Bieniek said a resolution will be coming to the council for its decision on the project."And the planning appears to be well downstream," Staver said. "That puts us in an awkward situation. I'm not sure we're convinced yet that a roundabout is what should be in that spot."He said he's concerned that the project will be delayed, should the council end up opposing the plan.Also expressing doubt at the meeting was Rochester Mayor Ardell Brede, who lives near the intersection, in the Stone Barn Estates off of 16th Street."I can tell you that getting out of Stone Barn today is not easy," he said, adding that he doesn't think a roundabout would make it any easier because traffic would never be stopped along 16th. He said he does not support the county's plan.Bieniek, who provided updates on several county road projects during the meeting, said roundabouts create random delays and breaks in traffic, making it possible for people to get in and out of adjoining streets and driveways.She said county transportation planners chose the option because it will be safer, more efficient and less costly. Councilman Michael Wojcik said he agreed."I think new things can be scary for people, but there's a reason for doing this. And the fact that the engineers -- people we pay to be smart folks -- came up with this, it's hard to overrule them on the basis of emotion," he said.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Post-Bulletin Visit the Post-Bulletin at .postbulletin.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉