Agenda - Council - 07/14/2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Option 2: Continue with land acquisition stage of the process and delay the construction until 2010 at the earliest. Advantages: . . Allows time to identify funding alternatives-,Jor an interchange project that would provIde for overpass at the railroad crossing . .Land required for interim improvements would definitely be necessary for interchange' improvements . . Continues project momentum by acquiring additional ROW thereby telling the County that we intend to complete at least the minimum improvements within the JP A . No loss ofBNSF moneys for restocking and engineering for crossing agreement . Could potentially use the money designated for construction on a larger project. Disadvantages: . Good chance (70%) that we lose the $328,000 grant from MnDOT. . Potential adverse impact to future MnDOT grant opportunities Option 3: Stop project altogether and pursue interchange improvements Advantages: .. Represents property owners concerns at 149th Avenue NW . . Access remains constant Disadvantages: . Potential lawsuits by Anoka County and MnDOT . Anotl.1er hurdle to progress Ramsey Town Center as development likely "tied" to interchange timing. . · Other agency participation eliminated . Reconstruction of intersection delayed indefinitely . Other projeCts (Bunker Lake Boulevard) delayed . \. Other agency money diverted to other parts of the region. . Future upgrades or improvements . will be City of Ramsey and/or adjacent property financed. Staff has spent many hours debating and'discussing this difficuit decision and attempted to . provide as much . information to the City Council as possible. After reviewing the information provided by the County, MnDOT, and BNSF regarding the costs for this improvement, Staff believes that the right thing to do is recommend approval of Option 2 - Continue with land acquisition stage of the process and delay the construction until 2010 at the earliest. . -163-