Agenda - Council - 11/13/2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNTY OF ANOKA Public Services Division HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT 1440 BUNKER LAKE BLVD. N.W., ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304-4005. (763) 862-4200 FAX (763) 862-4201 October 31, 2007 Mr. Brian Olson City Engineer.- City ofRamsey 7550 Sunwood Dr: NW Ramsey, MN 55303 Dear Mr. Olson: The purpose of this letter is to request City of Ramsey approval of the CSAH 57 (Sunfish Lake Boulevard) Reconstruction Project. The 60% Construction Plan is attached for your review and approval. This project extends. along CSAH 57 (Sunfish Lake Boulevard) from Riverdale Drive to Sunfish Lake Court, approximately 1250 ft north of the BNSF Railroad tracks. This project includes the upgrading of the roadway to a four lane divided-section with center concrete median, traffic signal improvements at TH 10 and CSAH 57, and a railroad crossing upgrade to the crossing surface and signal. It should be clearly noted that this project was initiated by the City ~f Ramsey to accommodate traffic impacts associated with the Ramsey Town Center development project. The plan that we are seeking approval includes a concrete median from TH 10 through the BNSF Railroad crossing. This design is consistent with the terms identified in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) dated Apri129, 2004 between the City, County and MnDOT,.and the Joint Powers. Agreement (JPA) dated April 12, 2005 between the City and County. The County has attempted to address significant issues brought forward by the City. We have shortened the length of this specific project to leave full access at McKinley Street. We have incorporated additional storm sewer work to accommodate the City's drainage needs. The one issue that the County cannot accommodate is the removal of the raised concrete median. The TH 10/CSAH 57 intersection has the third highest accident rate of all intersections in the metro area and needs to be fixed. This project will make it safer by adding. channelization on CSAH 57, additional turn lanes, traffic signal improvements at TH 10, and railroad crossing improvements. Anoka County has acted in good faith working with the City in developing this project. Failure by the City to _ move forward at this time would result in a failure to provide the necessary improvements required by the Ramsey Town Center Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) and would be a breach of the MOU and JPA noted above. At this point, we again are formally requesting the City to provide municipal consent for this project. As an alternate, we would consider taking to the Board a request by the City to take over the jurisdiction of Sunfish Lake Boulevard from TH 10 to CSAH 5 (Nowthen Boulevard). As a city street, the City could make the improvements that you feel are appropriate. Under this scenario, Anoka County would perform the federally Affirmative Action /Equal Opportunity Employer _ 2 5 ~ _