4223 Trenton Rd - Ltr re: traffic4 0 1 ' . City of Eagan
Mike Maguire
Mayor
Paul Bakken
Cyndee Fields
Gary Hansen
Meg Tilley
Council Members
Thomas Hedges
City Administrator
Municipal Center
3830 Pilot Knob Road
Eagan, MN 55122 -1810
651.675.5000 phone
651.675.5012 fax
651.454.8535 TDD
Maintenance Facility
3501 Coachman Point
Eagan, MN 55122
651.675.5300 phone
651.675.5360 fax
651.454.8535 TDD
www.cityofeagan.com
The Lone Oak Tree
The symbol of
strength and growth
in our community.
September 7, 2010
Mr. Joseph J. Kolar
4223 Trenton Road
Eagan, MN 55123
Dear Mr. Kolar:
Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns about the traffic on Trenton Road.
I have shared your letter and concerns with Russ Matthys, the City's Engineer, and asked
that he provide background 'regarding efforts to establish a cul -de -sac in your
neighborhood. According to Mr. Matthys, Trenton Road and your neighborhood were
created as part of the Northview Meadows plat that was recorded on September 14, 1983.
By reviewing the plat, it is apparent that the two lots next to Diffley Road, 4201 & 4202
Trenton Road, would lose significant portions of their property (up to 25 to 30 feet) likely
requiring the relocation of their homes in order to build a typical cul -de -sac. The next two
properties, 4209 & 4210, would also be impacted by such an effort. Given these impacts,
there are no plans to establish a cul -de -sac on Trenton Road.
While a cul -de -sac is not anticipated, I recognize your concern about the health and
safety of the neighborhood children and pedestrians. Staff shared that a previous concern
was expressed to the City about nine years ago. At that time, staff undertook a traffic
engineering analysis to address the vehicle speeds, as well as volume concerns. From the
data collected in the traffic study, the diagnostic speed of traffic traveling on Trenton
Road was found to be 29.52 miles per hour (mph), less than the posted speed limit of 30
mph. Furthermore, the traffic volume between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on a mid -week day
averaged 52 vehicles per hour. The conclusion from the study was that both traffic speed
and volume were appropriate for Trenton Road.
It is possible that an updated traffic analysis may be appropriate in the near future;
however, I am going to suggest that we try a couple of enforcement measures first. Since
this previous study was completed, the Police Department has acquired a speed display
trailer that may be placed on Trenton Road to both remind drivers of the 30 mph speed
limit and to track the actual speeds driven. This has been found to be a useful tool
throughout the City.
In addition to the speed trailer, an effort that has been successful in other neighborhoods
is for you and your neighbors to write down the license plate numbers of cars driving
unsafely in your neighborhood. You can then contact the Eagan Police Department at
681 -4700 to notify them of the unsafe drivers. The Police Department can not issue a
ticket, but they will contact the owner of the vehicle to inform them of the complaint the
City received about his or her driving.
I have copied our Police Chief, Jim McDonald, on this correspondence so he can initiate
the process to have the speed trailer located in your neighborhood. I hope that our duel
approach will result in an improvement to the traffic in your neighborhood. If you do not
see a noticeable improvement, please feel free to contact City Engineer Matthys at
651/675 -5637 to further discuss whether a traffic study would be appropriate in the near
future.
Thank you for contacting me with your concerns. I always appreciate hearing from residents
about ways we can improve the City of Eagan. Also, thank you for your well wishes, and I too
wish you the best of health in the years ahead.
Sincerely,
Mike Maguire
Mayor
cc: Russ Matthys, City Engineer
Jim McDonald, Police Chief