Agenda - Council - 03/25/2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Our Missio n.. To worktogether to resp onsi lygrow ourco nemunity and top noir iIt q uality, co st-effectiv e, and efficientgrove rnmentset v ices CC Regular Session Meeting Date: 03/25/2014 By: Bruce Westby, Engineering/Public Works Information Title: Consideration of Adopting Resolution 14-03-063 Ratifying Removal of Highway 10 Connection and Median Crossover at Traprock Street. 7. 1. Purpose/Background: The purpose of this case is to review the Minnesota Department of Transportation's (MnDOT) request to adopt Resolution 14-03-063 ratifying the phased removals of the westbound Trunk Highway (TH) 10 median crossover and eastbound TH 10 connection to Riverdale Drive at Traprock Street. A copy of the resolution is attached for reference. The Riverdale Drive Extension/Reconstruction project, proposed to be constructed in 2014 following Council authorization this Spring, includes improvements to the westbound median crossover and eastbound connection from TH 10 to Riverdale Drive at Traprock Street. These improvements will result in a modified three-quarter access including right -in, right -out access for eastbound TH 10, and a left -in access for westbound TH 10 using a median crossover. Figure 1 attached shows the proposed improvements. These access improvements are safety related and are a large part of the reason why the city was awarded $702,000 in Cooperative Agreement funding by MnDOT for the Riverdale Drive Extension project, as is the promotion of a south frontage road to TH 10 which will ultimately serve to keep local traffic off of TH 10 once the frontage road (Riverdale Drive) connects Ramsey Boulevard to Armstrong Boulevard. The Cooperative Agreement funding award letter states "The award is for improvements to TH 10 in the City of Ramsey. The proposed improvements include extending Riverdale Drive from just east of Alpaca Street to Traprock Street, closing right-in/out access to TH 10 from Alpaca Street, and revising the full access intersection of TH 10 and Traprock Street to a 3/4 access intersection allowing only one left turning movement (TH 10 westbound to Traprock Street)." MnDOT contacted City staff this winter to explain that MnDOT's expectation has always been that the westbound median crossover and eastbound connection from TH 10 to Riverdale Drive at Traprock Street will be removed in phases based on specific triggering events. MnDOT also said they met with City staff in 2011 and reached a verbal agreement for the phased removals. As such, MnDOT is now requesting that the City adopt a resolution ratifying the phased removal of the westbound median crossover and eastbound connection at Traprock Street based on the following conditions. First, MnDOT requests Council ratification that the median crossover between westbound TH 10 and Riverdale Drive at Traprock Street be removed when construction of the TH 10 and Armstrong Boulevard (CSAH 83) Interchange is complete. With the removal of this median crossover, vehicles traveling westbound on TH 10 will be required to exit at the new Armstrong Boulevard interchange and use Riverdale Drive to access Traprock Street. Second, MnDOT requests Council ratification that the connection between eastbound TH10 and Riverdale Drive at Traprock Street be removed at such time that Riverdale Drive is extended to Ramsey Boulevard, thereby creating a south frontage road to TH 10 between Armstrong Boulevard and Ramsey Boulevard. With the removal of the connection between eastbound TH 10 and Riverdale Drive, vehicles traveling eastbound on TH 10 could either exit on Armstrong Boulevard or Ramsey Boulevard to access Riverdale Drive and Traprock Street. Lastly, MnDOT informed staff that the City may be responsible for a portion of the costs required to remove the westbound median crossover and eastbound connection at Traprock Street upon their removals. The attached resolution contains language addressing this condition. However, MnDOT also informed staff that they believe these future removal projects would rank highly if the City were to apply for Cooperative Agreement funding. If Council adopts Resolution 14-03-063, staff will pursue Cooperative Agreement funding for both access removal projects at the time they are required to be removed. Another access exists between eastbound TH 10 and Riverdale Drive at Alpaca Street but this access is proposed to be removed near completion of the Riverdale Drive project, at which time eastbound vehicles will be required to access Riverdale Drive via Armstrong Boulevard or the Traprock Street connection. Notification: No notification is required for this item. Staff discussed MnDOT's proposal for the phased access removals with PSD, LLC who owns the undeveloped properties south of Riverdale Drive and west of Traprock Street. While PSD does not consider the phased access removals to be ideal, they are agreeable to the phased removals as proposed. In the spring of 2013, public information meetings were held with existing commercial and residential property owners to discuss the Riverdale Drive Extension/Reconstruction project. During these meetings, staff addressed the proposed removal of the Alpaca Street access to eastbound TH 10 during the Riverdale Drive Extension/Reconstruction project, as well as the fact that MnDOT previously informed City staff that the Traprock Street connection to TH 10 would be closed when Riverdale Drive was extended to Ramsey Boulevard. However, at that time staff was not aware of MnDOT's phased plan for closing the westbound median crossover at Traprock Street when the Armstrong Boulevard interchange was completed. During the public information meetings, staff did receive several comments in opposition to closing the Alpaca Street access to TH 10 as it would take longer to drive to the Traprock Street access on Riverdale Drive than it would to travel the same distance on TH 10. However, no objectionable comments were received regarding the eventual closure of the Traprock Street connection to TH 10. On May 17, 2013 staff received a petition signed by 47 residents from Alpaca Estates opposing the Riverdale Drive Extension/Reconstruction project. Based on comments made by the resident delivering the petition, who also attended the public information meetings, the residents that signed the petition are concerned