Minor Amendment-MUSA Expansion Requests

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I I I' I: I!: I I; I~ 1- I:~ I~ I Ii I! I~ '.. Ii t . I~.i i j,: ,r I~ Figure 8 illustrates the existing and projected traffic volumes for T.H. #10 and major roads within the City. The projected volumes are from Anoka County's 2010 Comprehensive Plan. The plan states that the capacity of most roadways in the year 2010 system will operate at la evel of service "0" or better. The current daily capacity of T .H. #10 is 32,000 vehicles and the hourly capacity is estimated at 1,600 vehicles per lane (6,400 vehicles/hr. total). Highway #47 is an arterial running north-south on the east side of the City. This highway is undergoing review and is being proposed for realignment to eliminate several curves and gradient problems. The City is adequately served with north-south collectors which are predominantly county roads. A major concern, however, is that all major thoroughfares in the City cross the Burlington Northern railroad tracks at grade with the exception of Dysprosium/Thurston Avenue on the east side of the City. The Ramsey Highway 10 Corridor Study proposed an above grade crossing at County Road #57. The City should continue to explore this in conjunction with the proposed Mississippi River Crossing/S.H. #47 realignment. The City will continue to work with the County in providing adequate right-of-way for County roads particularly to provide adequate queuing for turn lanes at T.H. #10. Internal east-west circulation is disjointed at present, however, the City is addressing this problem with the extension of 153rd Avenue N.W.. Additional east-west collectors are proposed (Figure 9) and will be implemented as land is platted or by City initiative as appropriate. PROPOSED MISSISSIPPI RIVER BRIDGE A proposed new bridge crossing for the Mississippi River has been incorporated into the City's transportation plan (Figure 9). The crossing was studied earlier by the North Metro River Crossings Task Force. Anoka County currently owns the future bridge head on the north side of the river and right-of- way has been provided to T.H. #10 through outlots in Tooth Acres Subdivision. The County's recent 2010 transportation study includes the proposed bridge crossing in conjunction with a proposed realignment of State Trunk Highway #47. The southerly section would connect to CSAH #115/Fernbrook Lane in Hennepin County. On the Hennepin County side of the river, favorable discussions have occurred with Hennepin County and the City of Dayton has included the proposed bridge crossing in its comprehensive plan. Mn/DOT has similarly expressed interest in the proposed bridge crossing. It is recognized that the proposed bridge crossing is inconsistent with the MC's transportation policy plan because it currently is situated outside of the MUSA. However, it is located within the City's urban reserve area and is anticipated to ultimately be located in the MUSA. Since major crossings may take 20 years or more to come to fruition, the location may easily be within the MUSA by the year 201 0 or 2020. In the meantime, all other concerned parties favor providing the opportunity for the future bridge crossing to enhance capacity which will otherwise not be met with the planned improvements to the T.H. #169 river bridge. TRANSIT Transportation alternatives other than private automobiles are limited in the City. The City is not served by regional transit systems nor is it likely to be in the near future. 1 6