Committee prioritizes rapidly flashing beacons for school crossings, discusses asking county/state for roundabout funding
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Summary
Committee members recommended prioritizing flashing beacons for school crossings (including Vinland and Traeger School), discussed costs (about $24,000 per crossing, $40,000 per roundabout) and agreed to ask the county/state to fund treatments on their roads.
Committee members on Dec. 9 pressed staff to prioritize rapidly flashing beacons (RFBs) at locations that most affect students and pedestrians and to coordinate with schools and police on site choices. Staff reported the city typically budgets about $50,000 annually for bike-and-ped capital improvements and recommended carrying forward a committed crossing at 20th by Traeger School.
Director Collins said the city controls certain frontage-road roundabouts but not ramp roundabouts on Highway 41, which would require state approval. He provided cost estimates — roughly $24,000 for a single crossing RFB and about $40,000 for a roundabout installation — and outlined a balanced package that would, if budget permits, complete two school crossings and add roundabout treatments on Whitsall.
Several committee members urged prioritizing locations where students walk to and from school and suggested consulting principals, the school district and the police department. One member noted the police staff crossing guards at elementary schools only and reminded the committee that some schools (for example, Lourdes Academy) have previously funded RFBs or contributed to safety projects.
The committee asked staff to relay its recommendation to the Common Council and to continue seeking state or county contributions where the other jurisdictions control the roundabouts. Director Collins said he would report the committee’s priorities to council for consideration.