05/19/97 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Case REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF T.H. #47 LOCAL INITIATIVE PROJECT By: City Engineer Steve Jankowski Background: The purpose of this case is to review the history of the project and to determine whether this project should continue to be pursued further or whether a change in project scope or funding is appropriate. History: Beginning in fall 1995, the City undertook the preparation ora Corridor Study for T.H. #47. As a result of the study process, the Council determined that the improvement of the segment between CSAH #5 and 142nd Avenue N.W. was a high priority. The Council was advised that MnDOT had a fund for projects on State Highways which were specifically requested by local units of government, hence the title "Local Initiative Program." Projects submitted for this funding would be evaluated comparatively with other local requests. On May 14, 1997, the Road and Bridge Committee and the City Council were advised of this program and the possibility of submitting an application was initiated. At the July 9, 1996 Council meeting, a proposal to develop and submit an application for a project under this program was authorized by the Council upon the recommendation of the Road & Bridge Committee. The action authorized SRF, Inc. to prepare the necessary submittals at a cost not to exceed $5,400.00. At the September 9, 1996 Road and Bridge Committee, the scope of the project was reviewed and was reported to the Council. On October 3, 1996, a public informational meeting was held on the application and a formal application for the project was submitted to MnDOT on October 7, 1996. On November 12, 1996, an update to the Road and Bridge Committee and City Council suggested that a successful project would likely have a MnDOT share of no more than $500,000 and that the submitted application would require MnDOT's participation of nearly twice that amount. It was suggested the project be divided into two segments and that the application be modified to include the segment involving CSAH #5 since that segment would have a higher importance to MnDOT and consequently more likely to be successful in securing funding. On November 12, 1996, the Road and Bridge Committee recommended, and Council concurred, authorizing a revision to the application which sought Local Initiative Funding for the CSAH #5 segment of the project with the 142nd Avenue N.W. segment being pursued concurrently with funding undertaken by the City. On February 11, 1997, it was reported that the City's application was determined to be successful contingent upon resolving access control issues. These issues were later clarified in a March 21, 1997, letter from Kevin Hoglund P.E. On March 11, 1997, concern was expressed by Council that the proposed project may not deal with long term issues associated with T.H. #47 and suggested meetings with MnDOT, and others.