Agenda - Council - 09/24/2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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As demonstrated by the attached letter of support, the Anoka County Highway Department has preliminarily approved the proposed alignment and use of the public right-of-way with a request that the trail be located as far from the constructed road surface as possible. No additional approvals are needed for the construction of this trail project. Detailed design and engineering will begin this winter in order that clearing and site preparation can occur in Summer 2012. Trail construction would occur over two construction seasons — Fall 2012 and Spring 2013 — with landscaping and restoration work completed in Spring 2013. It is anticipated that the trail will be open for public use in Spring 2013. 38. 1 Year Round Trail Usage: The City of Ramsey maintains its loop trail system, as well as other popular trails, for year-round usage by walkers, runners/joggers, bicyclists, and inline skaters. During the spring, summer and fall, routine maintenance and cleaning is performed to ensure safety. In the winter, trails are plowed to allow users a safe surface for their chosen mode of transportation. Depending on weather conditions, plowing of trails usually begins as soon as practicable after plowing of streets is completed. Since this trail would be part of the City's loop trail system, the City would maintain it for year-round usage. EVALUATION CRITERIA All applicants must address each of the following seven evaluation criteria that are listed, and in the order that they are presented below. Failure to provide information on each of the criterion will result in the disqualification of the application. 39. 1 Site and Project Quality: The proposed Central Park to Alpine Drive Trail along County Road 83/Armstrong Boulevard will provide a separated multi -use trail on the eastern side of this busy County roadway. The average annual daily traffic (AADT) on County Road 83/Armstrong Boulevard, north of Alpine Drive, is 4,800 vehicles and forecasted to increase to approximately 18,000 AADT by 2030. The City has placed a priority on constructing trails on this corridor as it will ensure a safe and convenient trail that is a critical connection between several important community destinations, including the community's COR (formerly known as Ramsey Town Center), the Northstar Commuter Rail line (2012 construction), Mississippi West Regional Park, the Mississippi River Regional Trail, the Central Anoka County Regional Trail (County Road 116/Bunker Lake Boulevard), Central Park, the Trott Brook Greenway, and Lake Itasca Park. This proposed trail segment will also provide a critical connection needed to create a loop trail system in the western portion of the community that connects these important community features. This proposed trail will travel through an entirely residential area, although the actual trail will be constructed entirely within the public road right-of-way. Since most of the adjoining residential properties do not front onto County Road 83/Armstrong Boulevard, the proposed trail will not cross many private driveways, which will also make it a safer trail and result in less impact on adjoining landowners. Revised 8/9/2011 Page 5