Agenda - Council - 03/13/2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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40. Accessibility: The City is committed to providing for accessibility for users of all ages and abilities consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This trail will be designed in accordance with ADA guidelines and the MN/DOT Bicycle Facility Design Manual. 41. Public Need for and Benefit of Project: The City of Ramsey has a goal of developing a system of safe trails throughout the community as part of its Parks, Recreation & Open Space Plan. This plan is a chapter of the City's 2030 Comprehensive Plan, which was recently updated and adopted by the City Council. The City has placed a priority on providing a loop trail system that knits all of its parks and natural resource areas together, while providing a desirable recreational resource unto itself for walkers, joggers/runners, bicyclists, and inline skaters. As traffic levels increase within urbanizing areas, trail development is a significant element of park planning as a means of providing safe and convenient connections between residential areas and places to work, shop, and recreate. Since County Road 83/Armstrong Boulevard is the only north -south arterial roadway in the western portion of the community and, likewise, the primary planned north -south trail route, this trail segment is a critical need for enabling walkers, joggers/runners, bicyclists, and inline skaters safe access to the community's loop trail system and nearby community destinations. The City was able to construct the trail segment from Bunker Lake Boulevard/County Road 116 to Alpine Drive in 2011. `Phase one' was a priority due to recent land development in the vicinity, which also provided the funding as a part of that development (south of Alpine Drive). The City desires to parlay that investment to extend the trail up to Central Park, a 45 acre community park with athletic fields, restrooms and a drinking fountain. This also maintains the momentum of trail developent and avoids users' frustration with an incomplete system. This trail is an important link in connecting residents to the 400-acre, mixed use COR (formerly known as Ramsey Town Center). The COR is a pedestrian orientated development that will have a mix of residential, commercial, park and public uses. Currently the site contains the Ramsey Municipal Center (with Anoka County's motor vehicle licensing center) and a commercial/retail center, as well as significant numbers of townhomes — all of which have sidewalks connecting to the existing trails within the COR. The site is also the location of a VA Medical Clinic and 2012 Northstar Commuter Rail station mentioned above. Once the trail is in place residents will be able to patronize businesses and services in the COR on foot or bicycle. Further, connecting residents to retail destinations generates economic activity, which in turn builds supports for additional trails, which provides increased connectivity — which thereby provides more utility and users. The proposed Central Park to Alpine Drive Trail along County Road 83/Armstrong Boulevard fills in a critical gap in the community's loop trail system and provides a much safer option for non -motorized travel along this increasingly busy County roadway. Currently trail users must Revised 8/9/2011 Page 6