City Council Meeting Date: August 19, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: David E. Bennett, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Title
Consider approval of intersection control modification at these uncontrolled intersections: 6th St & College St., 6th St. & Nevada St., 8th St. & College St., 9th St & Union St, 9th St. & College St.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council approves intersection control modification at these uncontrolled intersections to two-way stop control: 6th St & College St., 6th St. & Nevada St., 8th St. & College St., 9th St & Union St, 9th St. & College St.
Summary Report:
The City has received concerns with residents about the safety of some of the uncontrolled intersections east of City Hall. In addition, a couple of accidents have occurred this year at these intersections.
The City has a Traffic Safety Committed that reviews traffic safety issues. A couple of residents attended the April Traffic Safety Committee meeting; it was recommended in April that the uncontrolled intersections be studied in more detail.
City staff worked with Bolten & Menk Inc. to perform the study at these uncontrolled intersections:
The six intersections are uncontrolled (no yield or stop control on any approach) intersections.
• 4th Street and College Street
• 6th Street and College Street
• 6th Street and Nevada Street (Bike Blvd on Nevada St)
• 8th Street and College Street (Two-way Bikeway on N. side of 8th St)
• 9th Street and Union Street
• 9th Street and College Street
The study reviewed intersection geometry, crashes, roadway type, traffic volume, marked crosswalks, bike lanes, and continuity of the corridors surrounding the uncontrolled intersection.
Crash/Safety Review
A crash review was performed using available data from the Minnesota Crash Mapping Analysis Tool (MnCMAT2) from 2020 to 2025 and were reviewed to determine the types of crashes that have occurred at the intersections to determine potential mitigation. There have been only three crashes identified in the past six years (two recorded in MnCMAT2 and one recent crash not reported in the system). There may be more crashes, but they have not been recorded in Minnesota Department of Public Safety (MnDPS) or Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) records.
• 8th Street and College Street: One angle crash (Possible Injury)
• 9th Street and Union Street: One angle crash (Property Damage Only)
• 9th Street and College Street: One angle crash recently reported on July 7, 2025
The crash history at these intersections does not suggest a concern but it is recognized that not all crashes are recorded by public safety officials or submitted to MnDPS, especially if the crashes do not result in injuries or fatalities (property damage only crashes).
Guide for Determining Traffic Control (MUTCD)
The guidance for Traffic Control at uncontrolled intersections was evaluated following the guidance on Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Device 11th Edition and was used to evaluate the intersection control and possible change to control.
Recommendation
Based on the review of the finding of the uncontrolled intersections, the recommendations are below in the table:
Alternative Options:
Staff recommends the proposed intersection control changes.
Financial Impacts:
~$3,000
Tentative Timelines:
Install signs in late August 2025.