Agenda - Economic Development Authority - 10/09/2014

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Economic Development Authority (EDA) Meeting Date: 10/09/2014 By: Tim Gladhill, Community Development 4. 6. Title: Consider a Recommendation on Resolution #14-10-204 Supporting the Highway 10 Access Planning Study Initiated by the Minnesota Department of Transportation Purpose/Background: The purpose of this case is to consider a recommendation on a Resolution of Support of the Highway 10 Access Planning Study requested by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT). In April, 2013, Mn/DOT initiated the Highway 10 Access Planning Study. The Study Area encompasses a seven (7) mile corridor of U.S. Highway 10 starting at the Rum River in the City of Anoka, through the City of Ramsey, to just west of Ramsey into the City of Elk River. The intent of the Study was to identify fiscally -responsible, high -benefit, incremental improvements that will ultimately work towards the conversion of U.S. Highway 10 to freeway status. Mn/DOT, its project partner Anoka County, and consulting engineer Bolton and Menk have completed the final draft of the Study and are requesting that the cities of Ramsey and Anoka adopt resolutions of support of the Study. The Study approach is broken into three (3) broad categories to address issues identified in the Study: 1. Access Management 2. Westbound Highway 10 Free Flow 3. Eastbound and Westbound Highway 10 Free Flow There were multiple opportunities for citizen engagement over the twelve (12) month study period: 1. Three (3) Public Open Houses 2. Three (3) Business and Stakeholder Meetings 3. Multiple individual stakeholder meetings Notification: Notification is not required to adopt the resolution of support. Observations/Alternatives: Completion of the Highway 10 Access Planning Study is the first of multiple steps that would be undertaken in the next several years in order to advance individual projects along the corridor. Supporting or adopting does not approve any of the projects contained in the Study, but is a planning document in order to advance to design and approval stages of individual projects. The three (3) phase approach can also be described as first improving local roadway connections (frontage roads) to incrementally work towards grade separated interchanges at Sunfish Lake Boulevard and Ramsey Boulevard. According to the Study, this approach proves over 90 percent of the operational and safety benefits of the previous freeway vision for less than 50 percent of the cost. Some of the common themes from Ramsey stakeholders during Public Open Houses and Business Stakeholder Meetings included, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Reduced or modified access, especially for those with direct, private access to Highway 10 is a concern for some businesses. 2. Increased levels of traffic on Riverdale Drive is a concern to some residential property owners.