Agenda - Council - 10/28/2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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5.08: Consider a Recommendation on Resolution #14-10-204 Supporting the Highway 10 Access Planning Study Initiated by the Minnesota Department of Transportation Presentation Community Development Director Gladhill presented the Staff Report stating the purpose of this case was 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. A short video defining Mn/DOT' s vision for the corridor was viewed by the Commission. It was noted 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 & Menk have completed the final draft of the study and are requesting that Ramsey and Anoka adopt Resolutions of Support of the study. Commission Business Commissioner Brauer was pleased that the City received letters of support from both Mn/DOT and Met Council. He asked if the study addressed improved safety along the corridor. Community Development Director Gladhill explained the safety would be improved by reducing the number of conflict points along the corridor. He discussed the current problem areas that have had high impact crashes. He further reviewed the traffic modeling and pedestrian improvements that would be completed along the corridor by Mn/DOT. Commissioner Bauer supported the proposed study. He wanted to see the needs of local traffic addressed through the study. Commissioner VanScoy saw the benefits of the proposed Mn/DOT improvements, however, he had concerns with why the State couldn't find the funds to complete the much needed freeway. Community Development Director Gladhill commented the corridor closely reflected a freeway. He discussed the expense of turning the corridor into a freeway, along with the funding issues Mn/DOT was having state-wide. He supported the benefits that would be provided through the proposed plan. Commissioner Brauer discussed the Mn/DOT data and noted traffic along Highway 10 would continue to slow development in Ramsey unless it was addressed. He did not believe population projections were taken into consideration. Community Development Director Gladhill indicated he would review the proposed capacity along the corridor and frontage roads and report back to the Commission at a future meeting.