Agenda - Council - 02/23/2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CASE #7.09. CONSIDER JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT (JPA) WITH ANOKA COUNTY FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF COUNTY STATE AID HIGHWAY 116 (BUNKER LAKE BOULEVARD) FROM GERMANIUM TO BASALT STREETS IN THE CITY OF RAMSEY By: Tim Himmer, City Engineer Background: City staff has been working with the Anoka County Highway Department since 2008 on the design of a reconstruction project for Bunker Lake Boulevard (CSAH 116) between Germanium and Basalt Streets. This section of roadway serves as a reliever for TH 10 and has an existing volume of approximately 7,000 vehicles per day. Future projections show this volume increasing to approximately 13,000 vehicles per day by 2030 assuming a no -build scenario, which would far exceed the capacity of this two lane roadway and create significant delays through this segment. Speeds during the evening westbound rush hour are projected to decrease to 12 mph under this scenario. This increased volume would further exacerbate the existing delays at the four -way stop located at the intersection of CSAH 116 and Sunfish Lake Boulevard, and cause additional delays through the corridor. Anoka County attended a City Council work session on September 15, 2009 to introduce the project, discuss its specifics, and answer questions. The discussions at that meeting primarily focused on two issues; hard channelization and access, and impacts to local traffic in the surrounding neighborhood. It was determined that additional supporting information would be compiled and presented to the Council at a future date. The County then attended a City Council work session on October 27, 2009 and presented the requested information for review and discussion. The direction from that meeting was to investigate the option for a round -a -bout at the intersection of CSAH 116 and Sunfish Lake Boulevard (attached is a sketch for your review), and to request that the County reconsider the inclusion of the proposed concrete median for access management. Implications of the round -a -bout design include additional right -of -way requirements; and associated local business impacts and financial considerations, and maintenance challenges for the County that they are unwilling to take on at this time. Additionally, whether a round -a -bout could be included in the design does not change the County policy related to access management that was previously supported by the City. Further, medians were included in the County application for federal funding as a safety feature so if the medians are removed from the project the federal dollars would go away and there would not be a project at this time. Observations: Currently the signalization and installation of additional turn lanes at the intersection at Bunker Lake Boulevard and Sunfish Lake Boulevard is a requirement of the existing Joint Powers Agreement with Anoka County related to Ramsey Town Center transportation improvements, and these improvements are estimated to cost between $350,000 and $450,000. This project is being proposed to increase mobility and safety through the CSAH 116 corridor for a more efficient transportation system within the City and across the County, and includes the construction of a four lane divided highway with center medians for dedicated turn lanes and access control. The JPA outlines a City cost share for this project of approximately $592,263, with the remainder of the $6 M project coming from State, Federal, County, and City of Anoka contributions. The $3.7M Federal contribution was secured by Anoka County through a Surface Transportation