10-28-13-R - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Felix Hoover Concerns/Questions from Arden Hills Resident Bethel Proposal - Planning Case 13-013 1)No apparent changes are currently being planned to handle increased traffic over Co. Rd. E and Snelling/MN-51. There is already some congestion, car noise and pollution (idling cars) during peak rush hours...esp at the bridge stoplight by McDonald's...andat the intersection of Co. Rd. E and Old Snelling. We have been a part of the congestion. Do you have a sense about how long will it take for the planned 2015 expansion of the bridge to be completed? City Response: MnDOT is planning to reconstruct theCR E bridge over Snelling in 2015. Although the specific design has not been finalized, the design will likely includea three-lane design (one lane each direction and a center turn lane) and pedestrian facilities on at least one side. In general, a project of this magnitude would be constructed in one construction season (i.e. 3 to 6 months). Also, please be aware that some of the congestion on CR E the last couple of years has probably been because of the MnDOT projects on 694 and Hwy 10/96. Once all that is open this Fall we will likely see traffic changes again. 2)Start times for classes at the proposed East campus will be staggered. What proportion of staff and students do you anticipate will use bus transit to get to the East campus? What proportion are expected to travel by car? Bethel Response: The City did commission an independent traffic study which is attached as Attachment F to the staff report.Since this is a new business model for Bethel, exact numbers are not known, but the consultant did use actual Bethel traffic counts for their modeling.Faculty and staff who work in the Pine Tree building will be “assigned” to that building, significantly limiting the transit between campuses. 3)We noted the possible walking/bike path suggestions. Is any consideration being given to a pedestrian bridge over MN-51 (perhaps nearer to the east entrance of current Bethel campus) so to avoid having pedestrians/bicyclists cross over the Co. Rd. E bridge? CityResponse: The cost of a pedestrian bridgeover Highway 51 would likely exceed $2.0 million due to the length of the span. Because there is no public property on the east side of Highway 51, property would need to be acquired for the bridge to touch down. In addition, it is very unlikely that the railroad would ever allow an at-grade pedestrian crossing. At this point, no options for a crossing have been eliminated, but given that pedestrian facilities will be included in the reconstructed County Road E bridge, that route may be the safest and most cost- effective. 4)Under staff recommendations #5 "no undergraduate programs shall be implemented on the site until the trail is complete". Is there any more news about when the trail will be complete? Why just"undergraduate"?