Agenda - Planning Commission - 09/10/2015

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City of Ramsey 2030 Comprehensive Plan Chapter 6: Transportation of Ramsey recognizes the need to adopt several key transportation policies. Four specific policies that the City will apply are: • Continue to cooperate with Mn/DOT, Metropolitan Council, Anoka County and other agencies to increase the capacity of TH 10 and TH 47. The Transportation System Plan for Mn/DOT's Metro Division recognizes a need for improvements on both TH 10 and TH 47, however these upgrades are classified as "unfunded" at the present time. However, the City also realizes that both highways presently are at or over their capacity limits, that significant volume growth is expected, and that a large portion of existing and future trips has neither an origin nor destination in Ramsey. The Anoka County Transportation Plan recommends capacity improvements to both TH 10 and TH 47. • Continue to extend and upgrade local east -west roadways to reduce the need for local motorists to use TH 10. The transportation plan includes major improvements to multiple roadways. • Apply travel demand management measures. The City recognizes that an important strategy to preserve adequate mobility on the roadway system is the limit the magnitude of traffic volume growth, especially during the peak periods. The City intends to take the following steps to strengthen its future travel demand management program: • Encourage businesses to offer flex hours to employees. • Encourage and promote the development of telecommuting. • Allow for the development of mixed-use development that is design with transit orientation. • Guide future land use along the railroad corridor to accommodate a Northstar commuter rail station and adjoining transit oriented development. • Promote alternatives to solo commuting, including transit, bicycling, ridesharing, and car or van pooling. • Continue to work with Metro Transit and Anoka County Traveler in developing a transit system that serves Ramsey residents. • As the employment concentration in Ramsey grows, continue to work with the Anoka County transportation management organization (TMO). TMO's are public/private partnership established to deal with transportation concerns, especially mitigation of peak traffic congestion. • Continue to actively manage access to the arterial roadway system in order to preserve its mobility function. For years, the City has recognized the importance of access management. With effective access management, conflicts involving vehicles turning to and from arterial roadways are reduced. Such a reduction in conflicts enhances traffic flow along the roadway and improves safety. The City's support for access management is demonstrated by its previous actions and continuing efforts to construct frontage roads along TH 10 and reduce direct access to this highway. The City supports the following specific access management policies: City of Ramsey 2030 Comprehensive Plan Pg. 6-16