Agenda - Council Work Session - 01/16/2007

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~ - ~ CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Topic Report: Armstrong Boulevard Reconstruction By: Leonard Linton, Civil Engineer IT Background: The Ramsey Town Center AUAR identified area roadways that would need to be upgraded to handle the traffic from this project. Armstrong Boulevard was .one of the roadways slated for upgrading. The contract for design services was approved in 2005 and the consultant has been working on the plans for this project. Construction is scheduled for the summer of2007. The initial work to create the Ramsey Crossings project commenced after the Armstrong Boulevard design contract was issued. The Ramsey Crossings EA W traffic study recommended additional modifications to Armstrong Boulevard to handle the increased traffic. The comment period for the EA Wends January 17. The city has received verbal comments from the county and the state regarding the Armstrong Boulevard! Sunwood Drive intersection that could significantly impact Ramsey Town Center, Ramsey Crossings and Armstrong Boulevard. Written comments are expected that will formalize the verbal response. The comments recommend restricting the ability to turn left from north bound Armstrong Boulevard to enter the Ramsey Crossings Development due to the proximity of the intersection to Highway 10 and the railroad tracks. Suggested solutions also include relocating the intersection farther north, creating an overpass or restricting westbound traffic through the intersection. Moving the intersection north would be detrimental to the established businesses on the east side of Armstrong Boulevard and would require redesign of a significant portion of the Ramsey Town Center Project. The overpass would require significant design changes and increase the construction cost. Restricting westbound traffic would impact how consumers enter the Ramsey Crossings development. Council directed staff to include a grade separated pedestrian crossing on Armstrong Boulevard when a contract amendment for design services was approved. Staffhas reviewed the potential of placing an underpass similar to the one on TH 47 under Armstrong Boulevard. The groundwater level in this area is approximately 7 feet below existing grade. This would require raising the road grade approximately 8 feet to provide space for the structure; assuming the floor of the structure was placed 1 foot above normal groundwater elevation and noting that the tunnel may have water when the groundwater levels rise. Raising the roadbed would require significant amounts of fill or retaining walls and would impact access to the adjacent properties. Staffwould like to receive feedback on these issues to establish the priority ofthese for use in negotiating with the review agencies. Attachments: Construction Plans Action Statement: Based on Discussion ccws: 1-16-06