Agenda - Council - 01/14/2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

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: 01/14/2014 By: Bruce Westby, Engineering/Public Works Information Title: Consideration of Adopting Resolution #14-01-017 Approving Joint Powers Agreement with Anoka County for CSAH 5 / Alpine Drive Intersection Improvements Purpose/Background: Purpose: 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 #14-01-017 approving the attached draft Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) between Anoka County and the City of Ramsey for this project. Background: By approving the draft JPA, the City Council will effectively be providing municipal consent for this project to allow Anoka County to move forward with the project in 2014 and to take advantage of the available federal funding. This project is proposed to be constructed in the summer/fall of 2014. Construction is proposed to begin after schools recess for the summer which will 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 and new CSAH 5 (Nowthen Blvd), and constructing raised concrete median islands along CSAH 5 (Nowthen Blvd) on 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 project purpose, method of delivery, estimated costs, fund disbursements, maintenance considerations, and termination of the agreement, to name a few. Notification: No notifications were required for this case. Observations/Alternatives: Observations: The primary improvements being proposed include the following. Signal system installation — This intersection is currently controlled by a 4-way STOP which was installed in November of 2006 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 of the intersection, and will include an Emergency Vehicle Preemption (EVP) system to allow emergency vehicles equipped with EVP to change the signal during emergency calls. The signal system will also be equipped to allow the future use of flashing yellow left -turn arrows, when warranted. 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 pondin2 — The City owns a 0.57 acre parcel of property in Alpine Acres in the northwest quadrant of the intersection, which is dedicated in the plat as parkland. This property, which is essentially undevelopable due to access and grading limitations and because most of it is classified as wetland, has an assessed value of $3,300. Anoka County is therefore proposing that the city provide a drainage easement over the entire parcel to allow the County to use it for stormwater ponding to accommodate runoff from the increased impervious area due to the intersection improvements. In exchange, Anoka County is offering to reduce the City's costs to construct a missing trail connection north of Alpine Drive between CSAH 5 (Nowthen Blvd) and Krypton Street as discussed below. Alpine Drive trail connection (CSAH 5 to Krypton Street) —Numerous trails exist in the project area but a gap of approximately 700 feet exists north of Alpine