Agenda - Council - 12/10/2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Our Assign: To work together to responsibly grow our conununity, and to provie quality, cost-effective, an efficient government services CC Regular Session Meeting Date: 12/10/2013 By: Bruce Westby, Engineering/Public Works Information Title: Consideration of Adopting Resolution #13-12-217 Approving Joint Powers Agreement with Anoka County for CSAH 5 /Alpine Drive Intersection Improvements Purpose/Background: The purpose of this case it to review the Anoka County led CSAH 5 (Nowthen Blvd) / Alpine Drive Intersection Improvements and to consider adoption of Resolution #13-12-217 approving the attached draft Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) between Anoka County and the City of Ramsey as related to this project. By approving the JPA the City Council would be providing municipal consent for this project, which is needed at this time to allow Anoka County to move forward with the project in a timely manner. This project is proposed to be constructed in the summer / fall of 2014. Construction is proposed to begin after schools recess for the summer to minimize impacts to school bus routes, especially as related to Ramsey Elementary School which is located approximately one -quarter mile south of the intersection on CSAH 5 (Nowthen Blvd). The CSAH 5 (Nowthen Blvd) / Alpine Drive Intersection Improvements project, designated as City Improvement Project 14-20, proposes various operational and safety improvements at this severely skewed intersection. The primary improvements include installation of a signal system, construction of dedicated right and left turn lanes on all approaching legs, and access management measures including disconnecting the nearby intersection of old CSAH 5 (Nowthen Blvd) with new CSAH 5 (Nowthen Blvd), and constructing raised concrete median islands along CSAH 5 (Nowthen Blvd) both sides of Alpine Drive. Attached is a layout of the proposed improvements. The JPA defines the terms of agreement between Anoka County and the City of Ramsey for constructing the proposed improvements including items such as project purpose, method of delivery, estimated costs, fund disbursements, maintenance considerations, and termination ofthe agreement. Notification: N/A Observations/Alternatives: The primary improvements associated with this project are as follows. Signal system installation — This intersection is currently controlled by a 4-way STOP which was installed several years ago in response to numerous crashes that occurred at this intersection. The 4-way STOP was intended to be a temporary traffic control measure until such time that a signal system could be installed. The new signal system will control traffic operations on all 4 legs ofthe intersection, and will include an Emergency Vehicle Pre-emption (EVP) system to allow emergency vehicles equipped with EVP to change the signal during emergency calls. Access modifications — Raised median islands will be constructed along CSAH 5 (Nowthen Blvd) on both sides of Alpine Drive to physically separate opposing streams of traffic and to restrict access (primarily left turn movements) from abutting properties. The following is a summary of impacts to abutting properties. • Old Municipal Center — Access from/to this property will not be impacted by this project. The raised median on CSAH 5 (Nowthen Blvd) is proposed to end just north of the entrance to this site and will therefore still allow full access to/from CSAH 5 (Nowthen Blvd). • 15200 Nowthen Boulevard NW — Access to be restricted from full -access to right-in/right-out only. . 15220 Nowthen Boulevard NW — Access to be restricted from full -access to right-in/right-out only. • 15250 Nowthen Boulevard NW — Access to be relocated from CSAH 5 (Nowthen Blvd) to Alpine Drive and will remain a full -access. . 15243 Nowthen Boulevard NW — Access to be restricted from full -access to right-in/right-out only. The intersection of old CSAH 5 / new CSAH 5 (Nowthen Blvd) just north of Alpine Drive will be disconnected and the south end of old CSAH 5 will be converted into a dead-end road with a "T" turn -around to accommodate snow plow and emergency vehicle access. All traffic must then access CSAH 5 (Nowthen Blvd) at the current intersection of old and new CSAH 5 approximately one -quarter mile north of Alpine Drive. To address safety concerns due to restricted sight -lines at this intersection as noted by numerous residents during the public Open House held by Anoka County in October, a bypass lane will be constructed along southbound CSAH 5 (Nowthen Blvd), plus Anoka County proposes to remove the existing trees within County right-of-way at this intersection. Stormwater ponding — The City owns a 0.57 acre parcel of property in Alpine Acres in the northwest quadrant of the intersection, which is dedicated in a plat as parkland. According to Anoka County, the property has an assessed value of $3,300 and a portion of the property is classified as wetland, rendering is largely undevelopable. Anoka County is therefore proposing that the city provide a drainage easement over the entirety of this parcel to allow the County to use this parcel for stormwater ponding to accommodate the increased stormwater runoff due to the increased impervious area associated with these improvements. Due to access and grading issues associated with the potential development of this site as parkland, and because an opportunity exists at this time to exchange the use of this parcel for cost reductions related to construction of a missing trail connection north of Alpine Drive between CSAH 5 (Nowthen Blvd) and Krypton Street, staff recommends providing Anoka County with the requested drainage easement over this parcel.