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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL — July, 11, 2011 9 6.A. Highway 96 /TH 10 Interstate Project — Public Hearing (continued) traffic movements and the need for certain intersections. The current project has looked at the environmental impacts as well as costs in preparing the design for the project. If there is a large development that occurs on the TCAAP property, this will impact traffic and warrant an additional traffic study. Mayor Grant asked Mr. Tolaas to explain the difference in noise levels if a bituminous surface was used versus a concrete surface. Mr. Tolaas stated the bituminous overlay of Highway 10 would occur as soon as the reconstruction project is completed. The bituminous surface will sound differently than the concrete surface and may provide less noise in the beginning. The noise levels will change as the road surface changes. He also stated that Ramsey County is coordinating this project with Mn/DOT and the I- 694/I -3 5 W project. Mayor Grant asked if it would be possible to restrict the truck traffic, jake-braking, or introduce weight restrictions on Highway 10 that would be similar to those on I -3 5E. He also asked if it would be possible to restrict trucks to the I- 694/I -3 5 W interchange since this would be a more suitable interchange for this type of traffic. Mr. Tolaas stated Highway 10 is a US Highway and by definition it has to allow truck traffic. This is in order to reduce the truck traffic that occurs on neighborhoods. In St. Paul, it took 25 years and special legislation to get the restrictions on 1-35E. These restrictions have not necessarily proven to provide a positive impact because the restrictions are not always followed and they are difficult to enforce. He explained the interchange at I -694 and I -3 5 W would not be able to accommodate the increase in traffic that would occur with redirecting all truck traffic to this interchange. Ramsey County is not suggesting the current speed limits change on Highway 10 through Arden Hills. The speed for a road is not something that is dictated by the County but rather by MnDOT based on a traffic study that would look at the speed of traffic currently in the area and what the road would be able to accommodate. Mayor Grant asked if there were any funds from this project being diverted to the I-6944-35W project. Mr. Tolaas stated the Highway 10 /Highway 96 project is mostly funded by Surface Transportation Program funds and these funds could not be diverted to other projects. If these funds are not used for this project they would be returned to be redistributed. Mayor Grant asked about the rumor of a four lane ramp being installed at Scherer Brothers as part of the Vikings Stadium proposal. Mr. Tolaas stated as part of the Vikings Stadium proposal there have been several different traffic plans. One of the early proposals did have a four lane ramp in the same location as Scherer Brothers but, due to the costs involved, this plan was dismissed.