I am opposed to the proposed J-turns for Heron Lake. After reading information on MNDOT, including parts of the 2016 study in the cities of Cologne and Vermillion, and the statistics that suggest J-turns prevent fatalities, I am still opposed to J-turns and do not feel this proposal is right for this community. I do not feel I am the only person who holds this opinion, and I would like the Heron Lake City Council to know how many people feel the same way. I have created a petition at www.change.org
 
J-turns are relatively new and long term data is limited. Heron Lake has a unique situation that not many if any other towns find themselves in with the 4 lane divided highway cutting through Heron Lake. This is a rural community where big equipment is crossing Highway 60 often, especially during the planting and harvest seasons. I find it hard to believe that forcing semis, combines, trailers, and tractors pulling wagons who simply want to cross the highway to turn right, cross all lanes of traffic, make a left turn, cross all lanes of traffic again in order to make it to the other side to make their final turn will create a safer option. I believe J turns cause stress, frustration and confusion, which cause driving errors, which lead to accidents.  I believe that J-turns will cause fatalities because there is more opportunity for cars to crash into the big equipment that is maneuvering  their way across the lanes.

An alternative solution is to reduce the speed of traffic going through Heron Lake. However, MNDOT wrote on their site, “a reduced speed limit on Hwy 60 or warning signs in advance of the 10th St intersection would either exacerbate the problems being experienced and/or won’t yield the crash reduction benefits necessary to solve the problems at 10th St.”  How do they know that?  Reduce speed signs are used frequently in Minnesota, why not in Heron Lake? Alternative solutions need to be explored because the J-turn fix coupled with distracted driving could be worse than the current situation. People traveling at 65 mph running into the back end of a semi will not end well.

An even better solution to improve safety is to create awareness of the problem by creating a public service announcement educating drivers on how to cross divided highways with a median  Most accidents occur when crossing the furthest 2 lanes.  There are existing 4 lane highways where it is necessary to cross all 4 lanes at once, so it is understandable why people who approach our Hwy 60 intersections assume that they need to cross all lanes at once. Many do not realize that they can stop in the median to yield to traffic. The use of a public service announcement demonstrating the correct way to cross the divided 4 lane highways compared to the 4 lane intersection like that of Hwys 60 and 71 for the entire state to view would be an effective teaching tool; along with encouraging parents to practice with their son/daughter. Creating awareness about the problem and educating drivers is key to preventing accidents.

The economic impact for Heron Lake could be devastating. Currently, it is not complicated to enter Heron Lake, but once those J-turns are in, people will be less inclined to stop.  Since the number of businesses in Heron Lake has greatly declined in recent years, it would be awful to lose the businesses we now have because it is inconvenient for drivers to reach them.

Any fatality is too many and I do not want to belittle the importance of safety, but this solution in my mind will create more fatalities, not just fender benders. I want to see the City Council of Heron Lake revisit this and vote it down.  Mountain Lake is fighting a similar proposal, but they are making their opposition to this plan heard. 

If you are opposed to the J-turn proposal, please go to www.change.org and sign your name. Perhaps if our city council sees that there is significant opposition to this proposal, they will revisit and vote no. This is a farming community and we need to speak up about what we feel is best for our community.  When talking to Representative Rod Hamilton he told me, “If change is going to happen it has to begin at the local level.”  It is not too late.

Voice your objection at www.change.org

Sincerely,

Terri Stenzel

Full disclosure:  I did not attend the informational meetings or the city council meeting.