Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 02/12/2015

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Central Anoka County Regional Trail Proposed Lake Ramsey Commons The Draw Proposed Municipal Plaza New Armstrong Interchange The COR Pedestrian'I rt priented Development Mississippi River Regional Trail Mississippi River Regional Trail National Park Service Boundary y Appendix E, Figure 1 - Project Location and Trail Map Alternatives and Barriers to Safe Pedestrian Movement The Mississippi Skyway will provide a safe grade -separated pedestrian and bicycle connection between The COR and the Mississippi River and across the existing barrier of the TH 10 corridor and rail line. TH 10 is a 4 -lane divided highway that is a primary east -west route in Anoka County, serving as a commuter corridor to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metropolitan Area with annual average daily traffic of 43,500 vehicles per day in the project area. BNSF runs parallel to TH 10. There has been a nearly 40 percent increase in freight traffic since 2012, when approximately 48 freight trains passed through each day. In addition to freight trains, these tracks also facilitate the Northstar Commuter Rail system. In the Fall of 2014, the City of Ramsey constructed an extension of Riverdale Drive from Alpaca Street NW to Traprock Street NW at the regional park. This roadway extension is parallel to and LEGEND Existing Trails Proposed Trails Existing or Funded Mississippi RiverTrail Existing or Funded Central Anoka County Regional Trail = Rail Existing/Proposed Green Space I ,50 400 �ore� Y immediately to the south of the existing Minnesota Department of Transportation's ROW occupied by TH 10. The closest alternate pedestrian and bicycle crossing of TH 10 is at Armstrong Boulevard when the new interchange design is constructed. A user traveling from the Ramsey Northstar Station to the proposed south touch -down point of the Mississippi Skyway by way of Armstrong Boulevard would travel an additional 1.7 miles or an estimated 35 minutes of walking time. Such an extensive non -direct route would be prohibitive from a user's standpoint, and will continue to invite illegal pedestrian crossings as has been problematic throughout the highway and railroad corridors. Absent a pedestrian overpass, TH 10, the railroad corridor and the parallel Riverdale Drive will continue to act as a physical barrier between Ramsey's mixed-use development, commuter rail station, and regional investments on both sides of the highway and the amenities along the Mississippi River which could hinder sustainable development potential and economic growth in the region. December 2014 Mississippi Skyway OverTH10 Preliminary Engineering Report ii