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

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The three-mile Mississippi River Trail project is a significant opportunity to complete this Regionally and Nationally significant trail through Anoka County and the northewest metropolitan area. Currently the Mississippi River Regional Trail extends eight miles through the cities of Columbia Heights, Fridley, Coon Rapids and Anoka. The construction of the 2013 segment from the City of Anoka into the City of Ramsey will leave only the three mile gap proposed to be addressed in this project. Funding of the Mississippi River Regional Trail 'extension' project will maintain the momentum of trail developent and avoid users' frustration with an incomplete system. The construction of the Mississippi River Trail 'extension' in Anoka County will also ultimately contribute to the completion of the National Mississippi River Trail. The National Mississippi River Trail will traverse 3,000 miles through ten states from the Mississippi River headwaters at Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico. (Of the 3,000 miles, over 2,000 miles already are in place, with the gaps quickly being closed.) The following quote is from National Park Service Superintendant Paul Labovits: "Since 1996, the National Park Service, through its Trails and Open Space Partnership (TOSP), has been working with the City of Ramsey and over 50 agencies and organizations to complete a continuous trail and open space, and now transportation system along the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities metro area. The proposed project is a high priority of the TOSP, is a critical missing link in the regional trail system, and the MRT in MNRRA. The MRT passes through the Twin Cities as it winds its way from the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. It is poised to become a premier national recreational trail comparable to the Appalachian Trail and East Coast Greenway. The 72-mile segment in MISS is the first stretch to be signed in Minnesota and within a national park. Its completion is paramount to developing a world class recreational, economic, and transportation experience along the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities metro area. We strongly support the city's funding request and encourage the Transportation Advisory Board to fund this project." This trail also will build upon the major park and open space asset of Mississippi West Regional Park that is currently being developed in phases. This trail is also in essense an extension of this new recreational jewel on the Mississippi River. In addition to being a regional recreational trail, this trail project is critical to creating a connected bicycle/pedestrian network within the City of Ramsey in the vicinity of the U.S. Highway 10/169 corridor since there currently are no designated bike/walk routes in this area. As U.S. Highway 10/169 is converted from a highway to a freeway in the future, it is critical that this key trail segment is constructed to provide a safe, convenient and enjoyable route for bicyclists and pedestrians. 2. Impact (300 points). Discuss how the project addresses each element below (respond as appropriate to A. or B., not both): A. Bike/Ped Infrastructure (QA #1, and QA #8): ■ Fills gaps, overcomes barriers, connects system segments and/or otherwise seizes on a significant opportunity in pedestrian/bicycle network. The applicant should provide a map showing the location of the project within the context of an existing and planned bicycle or pedestrian network. If the project is removing a barrier, the applicant should demonstrate the magnitude of the barrier (number of lanes, average daily traffic, posted speed, etc.) and how the proposed project will improve travel across that barrier. RESPONSE: This three mile trail segment will fill a major gap in the Mississippi River Regional Trail, essentially completing the trail within Anoka County. The Mississippi River Regional Trail 18