Agenda - Council Work Session - 09/25/2018

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53 Principal Arterials Principal arterials are roadways that provide the greatest level of mobility and access control. Within the metropolitan area, the great majority of principal arterials are under MnDOT jurisdiction. Principal arterials are typically Interstate highways or other state or US freeways or expressways. These facilities are intended to serve trips greater than eight miles and express transit trips. Spacing of principal arterials varies within developing areas of the metropolitan area. Typically these facilities are spaced between two and six miles apart. These facilities connect regional business and commercial concentrations, transportation terminals, and large institutions within the metropolitan area. Principal arterials also connect to other cities, regions, and states outside of the metropolitan area. Principal arterials are intended to maintain average speeds of 40 mph during peak traffic periods. To maintain mobility and speeds on principal arterials, land access and transportation system connections are limited. There is little to no direct land access from principal arterials. Intersections are limited to interstate freeways, other principal arterials, and "A" Minor arterials. Access points are typically grade -separated or controlled with a signal and are spaced one to two miles apart. One existing principal arterial is located within Ramsey. US Highway (US) 169/US Highway 10 crosses the southern portion of the city in a northwest -southeast direction parallel to the Mississippi River. US 169 and US 10 join in the City of Elk River to the west of Ramsey and diverge again in the City of Anoka, just east of Ramsey. US 169 connects northern Minnesota with the Twin Cities metropolitan area, Mankato, and areas further south. US 10 provides a connection between the western portion of the state and the Twin Cities metropolitan area and Wisconsin. These roadways are also trunk highways (THs) on the MnDOT system, and these combined highways in Ramsey are hereafter referred to as "US 10" in this Plan. The 2040 Transportation Policy Plan does not propose any additional principal arterials within the city. Minor Arterials Minor arterials maintain a focus on mobility, but provide more land access than principal arterials. Within Ramsey, all minor arterials are under the jurisdiction of MnDOT or Anoka County. Minor arterials are intended to serve trips of four to eight miles in length. Within developing areas of the metro, these facilities are spaced between one and two miles apart. Minor arterials connect cities and towns within the region and link to regional business and commercial concentrations. Access points along minor arterials are generally at -grade and typically controlled with signals or stop signs. During peak traffic, minor arterials in developing areas are intended to maintain 30 mph average speeds. As a result, transportation system connections are limited to interstate freeways, other principal arterials, other minor arterials, collectors, and some local streets. Land access is limited to concentrations of commercial and industrial land uses. The Metropolitan Council has established a system of "A" Minor and "B" Minor arterials. "A" Minor arterials are eligible for federal funding administered by the Metropolitan Council. The Metropolitan Council has further split "A" Minor arterials into four types, described below: • Relievers: Arterials located parallel to congested principal arterials. The purpose of "A" Minor Relievers is to provide additional capacity in congested corridors. Cily of RAMSEY August 2018 Draft Comprehensive Plan 2040