Agenda - Planning Commission - 04/07/2011

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FIVA "Ta planning minnesota Vol. 30 No. 2 March, 2011 The Benefits of the Collaborative Process of Compromise: A Case Study from Alexandria, MN Guest Writers t y,fl t Easy To Get Toy Nerd To Jerre Jack Forslund, PTP — WSB & Associates, Inc. Reuben Collins, EIT — WSB & Associates, Inc. Karin Tank — City of Alexandria The City of Alexandria is a beautiful city of approximately 13,000 in west- central Minnesota. Alexandria offers its residents and visitors nu- merous lakes, parks and trails for recreation, a strong economy and a vi- brant downtown filled with numerous commercial establishments Imme- diately north of downtown is the Central Lakes State Trail, which is a 55 mile asphalt trail linking three counties and numerous communities. It is used by cyclists and pedestrian for both recreational and utilitarian pur- poses by local residents, as well as being a significant tourism amenity drawing users from across the State of Minnesota. Inside this issue 3 Trisha Rosenfeld, AICP New Chapter VP 4 2011 State Planning Conference 5 Statewide Health Improvement Program 7 Planning & Zoning 8 Executive Committee Explained 9 Chapter News 10 Upcoming Brown Bag Events 12 Employment Opportunity 13 Event Calendar Separating the trail from the downtown area is 3rd Avenue (TH 27/29), which is a 5 -lane state high- way approximately 60 feet wide and averaging nearly 17,000 vehicles per day. While Minnesota law requires all vehicles on a roadway to yield the right -of -way to pedestrians at un- signalized intersections, drivers often fail to properly yield. Recognizing that this situation could be improved, Douglas County along with the City of Alexandria, through a partnership between Douglas County Safe Communities and Active Living Douglas County, applied for and received a grant supported by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota to conduct a study to identify potential infrastructure improvements. This study evaluated a seven -block east -west segment of 3rd Avenue with signalized intersections on either end. While these signalized intersections were equipped with pedestrian actuated walk signals, these intersections (Broadway and Nokomis, respectively) were also complicated by the presence of high traffic volumes — particularly by the number of turning vehicles. Working with a Steering Committee consisting of representatives from area agencies and businesses, the first step was to identify a "catalogue" of potential pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure enhance- ments that may have application throughout the area. Also, a more focused analysis was conducted to identify a preferred strategy to improve the crossing of 3rd Avenue by pedestrians and bicyclists, par- ticularly at a location between the signalized intersections of 3rd Avenue at Broadway and Nokomis Street. The intersection of Jefferson Street with 3rd Avenue was identified as a key location where additional pedestrian enhancements would be particularly helpful. The intersection is located roughly halfway be- tween Broadway and Nokomis Street, and Jefferson Street has been identified by the City of Alexandria as a bicycle route through the City connecting the high school, Alexandria Technical College, and major employers. - continued on next page -