Tag: East Neighborhood

60% of East Neighborhood Traffic is Cut Through, residents seek solution

May 10th, 2016

East Neighborhood daily traffic counts from a 2009 SRF Counsulting report.

The East Neighborhood again asked the City of Wayzata to come up with a practical solution to address cut through traffic on May 3rd at the City Council Meeting, this time with speed humps. The Council decided to table the speed hump petition and revisit the issue in a workshop.

According to consulting work done on behalf of the City of Wayzata by SRF in 2009, approximately 60% of traffic in the East Neighborhood is cut through traffic. One of the reports from the City of Wayzata states, “Traffic volumes in the East Neighborhood exceed levels perceived to be appropriate.”

Lisa Penningroth who lives on East Lake Street voiced her concerns at the meeting, indicating the speed humps were a band-aid to address the larger issue of traffic volume.

66% surveyed supported permanent closure

A 2009 survey of residents after a temporary closure of the intersection of Lake Street and East Circle Drive showed broad support for the permanent closure of the intersection, with 86% of respondents with a preference reporting a reduction of cut through traffic. Additionally, 61% or respondents with an answer believed that speed was reduced, and 66% of respondents with an answer supported a permanent closure.

The neighborhood continues to collaborate on what to do with regard to the issue. Have a suggestion as to how to address the issue? Fill out this survey.

Wayzata.com publisher Dan Gustafson, who lives in the neighborhood asked the Council to make a determination of policy regarding the use of the streets, posed a number of questions, and reviewed the results of consulting work from 2009. Watch for the City Council to continue to work on the issue in the coming months.

East Neighborhood experimental closure to begin July 6, 2009

June 18th, 2009

The City of Wayzata and the SRF Consulting Group have been working with East Neighborhood residents to resolve cut-through traffic issues in the area.

At the Wayzata City Council meeting on Tuesday, June 2, 2009, the Council decided upon an experimental closure of the Arlington Circle/Lake Street intersection as a potential remedy to residents’ concerns.

The experimental closure will begin July 6, 2009 and go through July 27, 2009, according to the City of Wayzata.

According to a memo sent out to Wayzata residents, the City will perform traffic counts and analyze intersections during the closure. Residents will also be sent a survey toward the end of the closure to determine whether or not the closure improved cut-through traffic and speed issues.

For more information, visit the City of Wayzata Web site.

Further questions may also be directed toward City Engineer Mike Kelly at 952-404-5316 or by e-mail at mike@wayzata.org.

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East Neighborhood to be closed to through traffic

June 4th, 2009

The proposed East Neighborhood closing, which had been delayed until 2010, was revisited at the June 2, City Council meeting.

In the new proposed plan, advanced signage could be put up the week before the Fourth of July and be closed the week after, according to City Engineer Mike Kelly. Work will begin immediately, and a formal outline for the plan will be given at the June 16, City Council meeting.

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East Neighborhood works together to solve traffic problem

April 1st, 2009

Kate Myers
Wayzata.com Editor

Like the current economy, the agenda for the Wayzata City Council has been slow. But despite a decrease in downtown activity, the council is moving forward with several projects in the East Neighborhood and area around Lake Street.

The East Neighborhood is dealing with traffic issues, specifically speeding cars and what to do about them.

“We’ve tried everything from speed bumps to stop signs to partial turns to police patrols,” said City of Wayzata Mayor Ken Willcox. “Not very much has worked consistently … and we’ve basically concluded that we ought to start trying to cut off some of the access points in and out of that neighborhood.”

As of March 18, the current plan by the City Council to regulate traffic in the East Neighborhood includes a test period, where access to streets in the area will gradually be closed off with temporary barricades, starting with Lake Street E and Circle Drive E. During this time, public safety issues and ease of access will be measured.

Willcox has seen and heard about dealing with the cars and working with neighbors to find a solution. He commented on the process at a recent public forum. “The benefit of a public hearing is, a lot of things are brought up that you had probably never thought about,” Willcox said. “And when you put that many brains together, you can pretty much wrestle an issue to the ground.”

“I think we are headed down the right path,” Willcox added. “There is a lot of neighborhood involvement.”

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Reminder for the East Neighborhood: City Council to weigh plans about traffic

March 16th, 2009

Just a friendly reminder to the East neighborhood residents that the Wayzata City Council will be meeting (7 pm on Tue Mar 17) to discuss traffic calming plans for our area. If you live in the neighborhood and are concerned, please try to make it so a large representative voice will be heard.