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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL — July, 11, 2011 5 6.A. Highway 96 /TH 10 Interstate Project — Public Hearing (continued) the City a copy of the approved layout for the proposed improvement. According to the Mn/DOT Municipal Consent guide, the City must hold a public hearing on the final layout for the purpose of considering granting Municipal Consent. State Statute requires Municipal Consent because the project alters access. After the conclusion of the public hearing, the Council has 90 days to take action on the request for Municipal consent. The Council has three options: approve Municipal Consent, disapprove Municipal Consent, or disapprove Municipal Consent with conditions. If the Council takes no action within 90 days after the public hearing, Municipal Consent is deemed to be granted. Mr. Jim Tolaas, Director and County Engineer, Ramsey County Department of Public Works, explained that the volume of traffic per day entering the Highway 10 /Highway 96 intersection area was 58,600 vehicles in 2006 and is projected to be over 80,000 by 2030. He outlined the major features of the project including Highway 96 will be lowered and will be routed under Highway 10, temporary ramps on the north side of Highway 96 will provide access to and from the north, Highway 96 will be reconstructed as a four -lane roadway, Prior Avenue will be realigned to line up with Round Lake Boulevard, new traffic signals will be installed at Round Lake Boulevard /Prior Avenue and at the southbound Highway 10 ramp at Highway 96, a multi -use trail will be built on the south side of Highway 96, a sidewalk will be built on the north side of Highway 96, existing accesses along Highway 10 will remain in place, and there is flexibility in the road design to accommodate a variety of uses when TCAAP redevelops. He clarified that the project is being coordinated with the improvements that are being planned for I -694 west of Lexington Avenue. He added that even though the surface of Highway 10 will change, it is not a long -term noise abatement solution. Councilmember Holmes stated that it would be safe for people riding their bikes to cross at the light on Highway 96 and the trail and sidewalk would be safe. Mr. Tolaas, stated the intersection would be equipped with the newest ADA equipment for pedestrian access. There will be bituminous surface trail on the south side of Highway 96 that will go to the regional trail in White Bear Lake, and a concrete sidewalk on the north side. Bicycles can travel along the sidewalk but at a slower speed than they would be able to on a trail. Councilmember Holden asked if there were any trails planned from Round Lake Road to I -3 5 W. Mr. Tolaas stated the structure at I -3 5 W is not adequate to allow for the extension of the trail from Highway 96 to Round Lake Road. If a new structure is put in place, the trail will likely be extended. At this time there are plans for redecking this structure and aligning the lanes to make them narrower to allow for one additional east bound lane. Councilmember Holden stated the addition of a lane and not widening the bridge would put more pressure on pedestrians trying to cross at this location. Mr. Tolaas clarified the realignment of the lanes would not change the outside lanes where the pedestrians currently cross.