The Transportation Operations staff have many different responsibilities. Some of their responsibilities include:
- Maintain traffic control and street signs
- Maintain street lights
- Maintain pavement markings
- Maintain street drainage systems
- Trim boulevard trees and shrubs to maintain the sign sight lines
- Assist with the set-up and traffic/crowd control for special events such as the 4th of July Parade and the Eagan Safety Camp.
To apply for a stop sign, cross walk, no parking signs, or other similar requests, please use the petitions that the City has available.
Pavement Markings
The City of Eagan uses contractual agreements with vendors to provide painting of centerline striping, painted pavement messages, and striping in parking lots. Staff monitor these contracts to assure quality work.
Signage
One way in which the City maintains efficiency is through a computerized sign inventory program. The program monitors traffic control signs by tracking sign type, description, location, type of face material, type of post base, condition, and maintenance action.
Street Lights
The City owned street lights are generally throughout City owned buildings and parks. The city is also responsible for the streetlights above all traffic signals. For the lights under the City's jurisdiction, repairs to lamps, luminaries, ballasts, photocells and poles are performed through contractual agreements with vendors. Working closely with vendors, we have established a streamlined procedure of an approximate 3-day turnaround for reporting street light outages. The maintenance facility can be reached at (651) 675-5300.
Dakota Electric owns the majority of the streetlights in Eagan (over 3,000) and Xcel Energy owns about 250. This map shows which areas Xcel Energy and Dakota Electric generally own. They maintain and repair the streetlights themselves, so residents are welcome to contact them directly.
Traffic Signals
What to do when a traffic signal goes dark...
During the severe weather season, it is not unusual to have power outages due to high wind or lightning strikes. Traffic signals throughout the city rely on electricity to function. If a traffic signal is in an area of a power outage, it will go dark.
If you approach a traffic signal without power, remember that the rules of right-of-way still apply. You should:
- Slow down and prepare to stop.
- Determine who has right-of-way to proceed through the intersection.
If there is a lot of traffic at the intersection, it will naturally begin to function as a four-way stop. Remember that vehicles have right-of-way in the order in which they arrive regardless of which road they arrive from. If two vehicles arrive at the intersection at approximately the same time, the vehicle on the left must yield to the vehicle on the right, and left turns must yield to oncoming traffic.
Always assume that other drivers may react unpredictably or that they may not even slow down when driving through an uncontrolled intersection. Drive defensively, even if it means waiting beyond "your turn" to proceed through the intersection safely.
What to do when traffic signals are flashing...
When signals are flashing all red lights: Drivers must come to a complete stop always making sure that it is safe to proceed before entering an intersection, as the crossing traffic may not be required to stop.
When signals are flashing yellow lights: There is no need to come to a stop when approaching a flashing yellow light, but be alert for drivers entering and proceed with caution. Follow the same rules as any two-way stop intersection, including yielding to oncoming traffic when turning left, and yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks.
Traffic signals are managed by the county and state. To report a signal malfunction, call the Eagan Maintenance Facility at (651) 675-5300 and we would be glad to pass the concern to the appropriate responsible party. If it is an emergency, call 911.
Turn Arrows
A number of intersections throughout Eagan use flashing yellow arrows to better control left turn movements. Flashing yellow arrows have been used in conjunction with solid turn arrows for more flexibility, less delay and safer driving. The flashing yellow arrows are part of an effort to increase traffic flow while maintaining safety by helping move cars through the intersection without waiting for the green arrow.
What to do when turn arrows are illuminated...
Solid Red Arrow: Drivers intending to turn left must stop and wait. Do not enter an intersection to turn when a solid red arrow is being displayed.
Solid Yellow Arrow: The left-turn signal is about to change to red and drivers should prepare to stop or prepare to complete a left turn if they are legally within the intersection and there is no conflicting traffic present.
Flashing Yellow Arrow: Drivers are allowed to turn left AFTER yielding to all oncoming traffic and to any pedestrians in the crosswalk. Oncoming traffic has a green light. Drivers must wait for a safe gap in oncoming traffic before turning.
Solid Green Arrow: Left turns have the right of way. Oncoming traffic has a red light.
View a map of Flashing Yellow Arrow locations in Eagan.
For more information, visit the MnDOT webpage.
Traffic signals are managed by the county and state. To report a signal malfunction, call the Eagan Maintenance Facility at (651) 675-5300 and we would be glad to pass the concern to the appropriate responsible party. If it is an emergency, call 911.
