Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 10/15/2018

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The draft Scoping Document for the Northwest Metro Corridor and River Crossing Study4 has been completed by Mn/DOT and the final is expected to be published in May 2003. This document explored a reasonable range of alternatives for a new Mississippi River crossing and for the highway and network elements needed to connect the crossing to the existing regional roadway system. The new crossing would be located west of the TH 169 crossing in Anoka and east of the TH 101 crossing in Elk River. The Scoping Document has established the purpose and need for the study and the Draft Scoping Decision has identified a corridor for the crossing. It is anticipated that the northern terminus of the crossing will likely be west of Armstrong Boulevard and will likely connect to an extension of Industry Avenue. The next step for the crossing would be to start preparation of an EIS, but this work has not been initiated because of the current state budget status and issues with the City of Dayton about alignments south of the river. It is unlikely that interchanges with TH 10 would be allowed at both Armstrong and the river crossing, but might be possible and would depend on the distance separating the interchanges and the function of each in the roadway system. Detailed planning for the section of TH 10 adjacent to the project site would be part of an EIS for the river crossing, if/when it is initiated. Traffic volumes on Armstrong Boulevard and Industry Avenue would be directly affected by the proposed river crossing if the new roadway terminates in an extension of Industry Avenue. The portion of Armstrong Boulevard south of Industry Avenue, currently a direct connection to and across TH 10 would become a local -serving street, while north of Industry Avenue, its regional role serving traffic north and west would be expanded since it would directly connect to the new river crossing. Similarly Industry Avenue would be expected to see an increase in regional traffic. Anoka County's proposal to change the functional class on these roadways to Principal Arterial is in anticipation of this increased regional role. The project site is located west of the portion of Anoka County served by fixed route transit service and is currently served only by Anoka County Traveler demand responsive service. The North Star commuter coach operated by Mn/DOT, which currently provides peak period, peak direction, express service between Elk River, Coon Rapids and Minneapolis, is expected to serve a park and ride at the project site in the future. The Northstar service is a demonstration project that is operating motor coaches along the proposed route for the Northstar commuter rail service and is currently carrying between 500 and 600 passenger trips per days. A Final Environmental Impact Statement6 has been completed for the Northstar Corridor. The preferred alternative for the corridor is a commuter rail service that would operate on the freight railroad tracks that are adjacent to the site. In the FEIS, the Ramsey station location was dropped in favor of the Anoka station location for the preferred alternative. However, the Ramsey station location is listed in the EIS as a candidate for expansion once service has commenced. 4 Northwest Metro Corridor and River Crossing Study, Mn/DOT, Draft, April 2002 5 Rider Report, Northstar Commuter Coach, Mn/DOT, October 2002 6 BRW, Inc., Northstar Corridor FEIS, Mn/DOT, March 2002 21-3