Agenda - Economic Development Authority - 02/11/2021

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Economic Development Authority (EDA) 4. 3. Meeting Date: 02/11/2021 By: Bruce Westby, Engineering/Public Works Title: Receive Comments on Concept Level Layout Review for Anoka County's Interim Improvements Proposed to Bunker Lake Boulevard/County Road 116 Purpose/Background: Purpose: The purpose of this case is to receive review comments from the Economic Development Authority on the concept level layout for Anoka County's interim improvements proposed to Bunker Lake Boulevard/County Road 116. Background: This case was originally prepared for the City Council. Text from that case continues below. Staff is looking for any additional feedback from the EDA. This is not the final review, and the EDA will have additional opportunities for input before plans are approved. Numerous major improvement projects are proposed along U.S. Highway 10/169 through the cities of Anoka and Ramsey between 2022 and 2025. In 2022 and 2023, proposed Highway 10 improvements include replacing the Highway 10 bridges over the Rum River, reconstructing the grade -separated interchange at Highway 10/169 & Trunk Highway 47, reconstructing the grade -separated interchange at Highway 10/169 & Main Street, grade -separating Fairoak Avenue from Highway 10/169, and constructing a new grade -separated interchange at Highway 10/169 & Thurston Avenue. In 2024 and 2025. proposed Highway 10 improvements include replacing the at -grade intersections at Highway 10/169 & Sunfish Lake Boulevard/CSAH 57 and Highway 10/169 & Ramsey Boulevard/CSAH 56 with grade -separated interchanges, along with replacing the adjacent at -grade BNSF Railway crossings on Sunfish Lake Boulevard and Ramsey Boulevard with grade -separated rail crossings. During these proposed improvement projects, traffic is proposed to be reduced to one lane in each direction at times during non -winter months. This will result in delays for drivers, which will cause many of these drivers to look for alternate routes to take until the project is complete. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) enlisted SRF Consulting Group to study potential traffic impacts to nearby roadways. It was determined that Bunker Lake Boulevard will be the most commonly used alternate route since it runs parallel to and acts as a reliever route to Highway 10. It was also determined that traffic volumes on Bunker Lake Boulevard between 7th Avenue/CSAH 7 and Armstrong Boulevard/CSAH 83 will double from 2022 through 2025, and that Bunker Lake Boulevard requires improvements to safely accommodate the added traffic. In 2004, SRF Consulting Group prepared an Access and Corridor Study for Bunker Lake Boulevard between 7th Avenue and Armstrong Boulevard for Anoka County and the cities of Anoka and Ramsey. The purpose of the study was to identify and evaluate existing and future transportation and access needs, to develop a long-term Corridor Plan that addresses those needs, and to provide a framework for how Bunker Lake Boulevard would need to change over time to safely accommodate planned growth in the area. A copy of the 2004 study is attached. Figures 22 and 23 from the 2004 study, which are attached separately for reference, show the then -existing and