Traffic safety a concern in Washington County

Because of distracted and drunken drivers, Washington County residents feel less safe on the roads, a new survey shows.

Residents also fear the rise of identity theft and said they feel only "somewhat safe" from violent crime, property crime and crime in their neighborhoods, the 2013 county survey concluded.

Overall, 572 residents responding to a mail survey rated the quality of life in Washington County between "excellent" and "good," similar to ratings in previous years, and gave high marks to the county's abundant recreational opportunities and what they saw as a positive image.

Services of county government — especially parks, trails and libraries — ranked high. So did the 911 emergency dispatch system and help for veterans, older adults and job seekers.

Traffic, however, has escalated in recent years as the county's population grows. Cities along Hwy. 36, for example, have reported increasing congestion and problems with commuters taking short cuts through neighborhoods. Just about everyone can relate to experiences with distracted and impaired drivers who clog lanes, swerve unexpectedly and tailgate other vehicles, said Sheriff Bill Hutton.

"It's a legitimate concern," said Hutton, whose deputies patrol under the Toward Zero Death (TZD) program, which includes seat belt enforcement. "We know drunk drivers are still on the street because we're still arresting them."

Drivers distracted with texting and phone calls are as dangerous as drunken drivers because they're not paying attention to the road, he said.

The County Board has been working to accelerate transit development on three fronts: the Gateway Corridor along Interstate 94 from St. Paul to Manning Avenue in Woodbury; the Red Rock Corridor from St. Paul southeast through Newport and Cottage Grove, and the Rush Line Corridor from St. Paul to Forest Lake. Also under consideration is a transit plan along Hwy. 36.

When a new four-lane St. Croix River bridge opens late in 2016 at Oak Park Heights, the two-lane Stillwater Lift Bridge will close to vehicles and become part of a loop trail. Minnesota Department of Transportation projections show traffic will grow substantially on Hwy. 36 after the bridge opens.

It's in the arena of economic development that a majority of residents responding to the survey want more action from their county government. This interest was far greater than shown in the county's previous survey in 2008, and reflects changing perceptions during the recent recession.

The County Board's two newest commissioners are former mayors. Ted Bearth of Oakdale and Fran Miron of Hugo said before they were elected in November that they wanted to make economic development a priority for the county. That sentiment is shared by the other three commissioners.

None of the criticism in the report fell into a range considered serious, according to the survey firm, National Research Center (NRC) of Boulder, Colo.

Respondents rated county services significantly higher than the norm for NRC's clients nationally. Results also were equal to or higher than the four other Minnesota counties — Dakota, Olmsted, Scott and St. Louis — that participated, NRC said.