The crackdown on distracted driving along Northdale Boulevard in Coon Rapids has gotten a boost through state funding, with police zeroing in on motorists flaunting cell phone restrictions, according to a recent statement from the Coon Rapids Police Department. Demonstrating a targeted approach this Wednesday, officers kept a close watch near the Foley and Northdale Boulevard intersection, pulling over drivers guilty of illegal phone use while navigating the notorious stretch of road.
Sgt. Tyler Sinclair from the department shed light on the need for additional enforcement efforts, emphasizing these bolstered operations are a response to the worrisome traffic incident frequency in that area, "So the state of Minnesota has provided extra funding for our department so we can have extra traffic enforcement to help cut down on some of the issues that we've seen across Northdale Boulevard over the years,” Sinclair told Coon Rapids MN. Part of the broader 'Be Aware, Get There’ campaign, partially underwritten by a Safe Road Zone grant, the police effort is a direct consequence of the 218 traffic-related incidents and 64 accidents reported last year on the boulevard between Hanson Boulevard and University Avenue.
Back in November, the focus of the police was on ensuring pedestrians' right of way is respected, with actions against drivers neglecting to yield at crosswalks, as they continued their drive while these crosswalks were in usage; these efforts are in tandem with the city’s broader initiative to enhance traffic management and pedestrian safety. The city's Public Works Department, in collaboration with the Anoka County Highway Department, anticipates the installation of new dynamic speed display signs intended to keep motorists well-informed and compliant with varying speed limits along Northdale Boulevard.
City Engineer Mark Hansen elaborates on the role of these technological additions, saying "The Engineering Department's role in the Safe Road Zone grant from the State includes the installation of dynamic speed display signs, driver feedback signs that will let motorists know what the speed limit is and then how fast they're going," articulating these statements to Coon Rapids MN; by improving infrastructure, the city hopes to instill a greater sense of awareness and encourage adherence to the fluctuating speed limits along the busy corridor. As the 'Be Aware, Get There’ campaign continues into the early summer, residents should start noticing the new signage installations slated for later this spring.
