Agenda - Council Work Session - 05/02/2006

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Untitled Document file:///w:/Untitled- I .h~n · Upgrading the current 4-lane expressway to a aix-lane freeway through the City of Ramsay. · Reducing md/or consolidating a number of access points, or intersections along the corridor; and · Converting at-grade intersections to interchanges within Ramsey, including one at Sunfish Lake Boulevard, Ramsay Boulevard and Armstrong Boulevard (Ramsey has also expressed interest in maintaining local access at Alpine Drive). Given the constraints within the study area, the proposed freeway alignment would generally follow the existing TH 10 alignment. This conclusion can be determined as a result of the following factors: the BNSF Railroad line limits opportunities to move the TH I0 freeway aiignment to the north of the railroad; and environmental constraints to the south, including The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) and residential development constrain moving the freeway aiignment to the south. While this limits the number of expansion and realignment alternatives to that of the existing TH10 alignment, access management and safety becomes an issue. Improvements to the current roadway require the eIimination of a significant number of existing access points to private businesses and residential properties within the study area. Future access would be limited to interchange locations which would require significant acquisition of right of way to meet design and construction standards, and would preclude any future access to properties within the study area. Project Need Projections estimate a 35 percent increase in Anoka County's population by 2030. Considering much of the southern portion of the County is fully developed, communities to the north will likely experience the majority of this growth. For example, the City of Ramsay population is expected to increase by 65 percent between the years 2000 and 2020. Congestion is greatest during peak hours of travel, and additional population in surrounding neighborhoods will increase the number of commuters utilizing THI0 through Ramsay to travel to and from the metropolitan area. Sherburne County is expected to experience an increase of 89 percent in population by 2030, and the City of Elk River 63 percent. Average daily traffic (ADT) volumes on THI0 between TH169 in Elk River and Ramsay Boulevard were nearly 29,000 vehicles per day in 2000. Between Ramsay Boulevard and Ferry Street in Anoka, ADT volumes totaled nearly 51,000. Projections for 2025 in these segments increase to more than 46,000 and 76,000 respectively_.resulting in an annualized average grew*.h, rate of 1.8 percent. Project Status This phase of work includes the development of conceptual designs and preliminary layouts for future access and/or interchange improvements needed at each of the intemections in Ramsay along THI0. More specifically, a number of drawings and concept alternatives have been dra~ed to share with parmer agencies, policy leaders and residents of the community in an effort to gain input and feedback that will assist in the ultimate selection of preferred alternatives. Each alternative will be weighed against a set of criteria designed to minimize impacts to areas such as right-of-way needs, environmental issues and constraints, traffic flow, etc. These concepts also provide a sense of how much right-of-way would be necessary to construct the improvements. An Open House was held August 28 th at the Coanexus Energy facility from 5:30-7:30 p.m. to provide residents, business owners, policy leaders and other interested parties to preview the various alternatives and provide comments and feedback. Links to these concepts are provided below for review. Input received at the Open House is being incorporated into concept revisions and will be brought back to the community in December as an additional opportunity to provide final comments and feedback before determining a "preferred aIternative" for each improvement location. Timeline of Activities Input from the community is an extremely valuable part of the planning process. To that end, Open House events and regular communication provides an opportunity for residents, business owners and neighboring communities to review concepts and provide feedback that can assist in further refining the various alternatives. Throughout the remainder of 2005, aitemative reviews and modifications will continue, and communication with members of the community and other stakeholders will remain a part of the process. A follow up Open House will be held in January 2006 to provide another opportunity for concept review prior to agency and city council selection of a "preferred" alternative at each intersection location. Future Phases 2 of 3 4/28/2006 9:02 AM