Agenda - Public Works Committee - 10/21/2014

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction Highway 10 is a principal arterial roadway providing a significant transportation connection from Minneapolis - St. Paul to the northwest suburbs and beyond. The 4-lane roadway (Anoka/Sherburne County line to the Rum River) carries average daily traffic volumes ranging from 33,500 to 61,000 vehicles per day. Highway 10 has been studied numerous times over the past decade, each time furthering the planning for con- version to a full freeway. Based upon traffic volumes and safety concerns, a freeway is the proper vision for this corridor. The corridor is commonly congested and has much higher than average crash and severity rates than comparable corridors. In addition, the corridor has five signalized intersections and numerous other access points (14.5 per mile) contributing to the degradation of the facility. Over the past 10 years, 13 people have died in crashes on the 7-mile corridor. Four of these fatalities were pedestrians, including three in the past 18 months. Considering current overall state and federal funding levels, it will be difficult to achieve the vision of a freeway facility on this portion of Highway 10 within the next 20 years. To reduce crashes and improve mobility issues, it is reasonable and responsible to implement lower cost, interim measures that incrementally improve safety and operations for all users of the Highway 10 corridor. The intent of this study was to identify high -benefit improvements that are fiscally responsible so that improve- ments can be funded, programmed, and implemented incrementally. The price paid for waiting for funding to construct expensive, comprehensive improvements will be continued congestion, numerous conflict points, and continued severe and fatal crashes. Study Approach The Highway 10 Access Planning Study included a comprehensive analysis of specific problem areas within the study corridor. Less traditional improvement strategies were considered for these problem areas in order to balance the realities of funding limitations with the need to find solutions that provide significant safety and mobility benefits and could be incrementally constructed. A focus was placed on utilizing existing in- frastructure where possible and developing right -sized, fundable -scale projects which are more eligible for regional funding opportunities. Over 20 smaller projects were identified and vetted through a public and stakeholder outreach process. These projects included local roadway and trail connections, access changes, reduced conflict intersections and grade separations at primary intersections. Consistent with feedback received from elected officials, the public, busi- ness and property owners, the study recommended 18 to 22 right -sized, fundable -scale projects and prioritized them based on their ability to: • Provide immediate safety and/or mobility benefits HIGHWAY 10 ACCESS PLANNING STUDY 5