Agenda - Economic Development Authority - 10/09/2014

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NEXT STEPS / CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP Fairoak Signal Removal The Fairoak Avenue signal removal project would provide a significant safety and capacity benefit to the system. Further preliminary design efforts are necessary to determine how the area transitions over time. Access and impacts to the many commercial property areas are going to take significant effort to work through. The study recommends that a detailed study of this area commence immediately to maintain the relationships, opportu- nities, and momentum that has been generated by this study. Further analysis includes exploring options for the initial project and how that can affect future access as other improvements are constructed. Anoka County should take the lead on this effort to navigate the political pressures from this project. The project requires strong participation and support from MnDOT and the City of Anoka. At the writing of this report, there is agreement among the City of Anoka, businesses and residents in the Fairoak Avenue area that Highway 10/Fairoak Avenue traffic signal needs to be removed. However, there are differing opinions among these groups on how the traffic signal should be removed. Some feel the Fairoak Avenue traffic signal removal should be transitioned as outlined in the implementation plan with projects in both the immedi- ate and short-term timeframes. There are others who feel improvements to this area should occur as one large project rather than phased as multiple individual projects. The goal of this implementation plan is to allow flexibility so that either individual projects or larger combined projects can be pursued. The City of Anoka, busi- nesses and residents understand that a preliminary design process will work out the final decisions on access and available funding may dictate the sequencing of improvements. The flexibility to implement improvements in multiple sequenced projects or one larger project does leave some uncertainty; however, additional technical and fiscal evaluation is necessary to determine the next steps. There are many components to this project which can leverage many different sources of funding. Some of the key sources include Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) for the pedestrian improvements, Highway Safety Improvement Program Funds (HSIP) for intersection and corridor improvements, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Funds for the capacity improvements (signal removal), Municipal Agreement funds for the supporting roadway network and access closures. There are many more potential funding sources as well. Again, maturing the project development through preliminary design will allow the project partners to better understand the issues, impacts, opportunities, and cost. It will also show a mature project that will enhance competitiveness when pursuing the aforementioned funding sources. Frontage Road from Sunfish Lake to Anoka Tech (North Side) and North Frontage Road from Ramsey Boulevard to Sunfish Lake Boulevard (North Side) The City of Ramsey should further the development of the frontage road concept on the north side of TH 10 from Ramsey Boulevard to the Anoka Tech College in Anoka. The section between Ramsey Boulevard and Sunfish Lake Boulevard and then Sunfish Lake Boulevard to Anoka Tech have been identified as standalone projects providing significant safety benefit to TH 10. The City of Ramsey should complete a preliminary design effort to better understand the alignment, impacts, and to continue working with property owners. Extend Frontage Road from Traprock Street to Ramsey Boulevard (South Side) A frontage road extension on the south side of TH 10 is occurring this year. The study recommends extending that frontage road to Ramsey Boulevard which will provide continues local connectivity to the future Armstrong Boulevard interchange. This project would be an excellent candidate for Municipal Agreement funding. The City of Ramsey should complete preliminary design on this connection in close coordination with Anoka County and MnDOT to further project development and obtain funding. HIGHWAY 10 ACCESS PLANNING STUDY 108